The Vacation Property Challenge
The challenge for many rental vacation property owners is how to effectively and efficiently manage their homes to have satisfied renters, while increasing their profits and keeping their property and household possessions in top condition. So what are your options?
Many vacation rentals in the Lake Chelan Valley are managed by various vacation rental companies requiring the homeowner to commit to a management contract with the rental company. These contracts can result in significant fees depending upon the menu of services offered. A VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) property is one that is self-managed by a distant homeowner. With this form of management, there also comes a very unique set of challenges. Every renter results in numerous turnover needs ranging from check-in/check-out, key handling, house cleaning, fresh linens, propane refill and many other sundry items. There are also the additional ongoing maintenance and seasonal needs of maintaining any home whether it be a vacation property or not! Emergency repairs can arise at any time of the day or night making it difficult for the distant owner to respond quickly.
When Renters Leave
When a renter leaves, it is also important to verify that all windows and doors have been properly closed and locked so that expensive household items and electronics are not easily accessible to burglars or vandals. Heat and A/C settings need to be constantly checked and reset so that energy isn’t wasted and proper temperatures are maintained to prevent more serious damage to the home and its contents. All of this is difficult to accomplish when the actual homeowner is either out of state or many hours of driving time away.
When Renters Leave
When a renter leaves, it is also important to verify that all windows and doors have been properly closed and locked so that expensive household items and electronics are not easily accessible to burglars or vandals. Heat and A/C settings need to be constantly checked and reset so that energy isn’t wasted and proper temperatures are maintained to prevent more serious damage to the home and its contents. All of this is difficult to accomplish when the actual homeowner is either out of state or many hours of driving time away.
Under current Chelan County ordinances, all vacation rentals of 30 days or less are required to secure a permit and also provide a local contact person within a one hours drive of the vacation property. This local contact person needs to be available 24 hours a day for 7 days a week to respond to any issues that come up on your rental.
A Variety of Solutions
Fortuantely, there is now a solution to the above challenges. At Lake Chelan HomeWatch , we have a variety of solutions and services you need to properly manage and rent your vacation home. Our secure Keyholder service provides the solution to key handling and the Check-In/Check-Out process for your renters. We meet with your renter to open up the home and to go over any particular conditions, instructions or requirements that you have for your property. We also offer a home inventory service that will keep track of your furniture, electronics and other important household goods.
Our Concierge Service
Our Concierge Service manages the turnover cleaning, fresh linens, replacement of missing/damaged items and food shopping as well as other guest oriented services to make your renter’s stay memorable. Our Handyman/Maintenance service can take care of the ongoing repairs and emergency requests so that you don’t need to manage these unexpected events and incur more rental downtime and unhappy renters. Our Cold Food service monitors refrigerator and freezer temperatures so your renter’s are assured of proper and safe storage of their refrigerated foods. Most importantly, we are your local contact person to satisfy the vacation permit requirements of Chelan County.
Our Concierge Service
Our Concierge Service manages the turnover cleaning, fresh linens, replacement of missing/damaged items and food shopping as well as other guest oriented services to make your renter’s stay memorable. Our Handyman/Maintenance service can take care of the ongoing repairs and emergency requests so that you don’t need to manage these unexpected events and incur more rental downtime and unhappy renters. Our Cold Food service monitors refrigerator and freezer temperatures so your renter’s are assured of proper and safe storage of their refrigerated foods. Most importantly, we are your local contact person to satisfy the vacation permit requirements of Chelan County.
During the Off Season
During the off season, our Home Watch service continues to manage and monitor your property, using our 90 point checklist, to insure that it is kept in good condition. We can prepare your home for winter. We check the heat and A/C settings and make sure no flood damage has occurred from frozen water pipes. We inspect the property for pest/insect infestation and signs of intrusion or vandalism and check for storm damage. We are also a significant partner in the emergency response to your home. We can meet with emergency personnel to unlock the home, make temporary repairs, re-secure the windows and doors and document all damage for your insurance carrier.
Listed below are some of the VRBO services we offer:
- Check-In and Check-Out
- Keyholder Service
- Concierge Service
- Cleaning
- Fresh Linens
- Propane Refills
- Grocery Shopping
- Maintenance/Handyman
- Emergency Response
- Home Inventory
- Seasonal/Storm Preparation
- Storm Damage Inspection
- Insurance Documentation
- Pool & Spa Maintenance
Our goal is to assist you in having satisfied renters since happy renters continue to come back year after year. Let Lake Chelan HomeWatch help you achieve this goal while increasing your profits and maintaining your valuable property for all seasons. Why leave your home alone when we can be your eyes, ears and feet on the ground. Click here to contact us today!