If you are considering investing in a luxury vacation rental property in the
Blue Ridge area, here are 5 things you should know:
- Choosing a Cabin: If the decision is between two homes, one that is larger with more bedrooms and a smaller home with large picture windows and an outstanding view (of the mountains, a lake, or a creek), choose the smaller home with the large windows and outstanding mountain/lake view. Most prospective guests are interested in homes with a mountain view and/or one that is located on water. It’s also very important the home photographs well. Magazine quality homes will photograph very well which is very important - Pictures “sell the house”. Bottom Line: a smaller house in a great location with an extraordinary view that photographs well will typically produce more annual revenue than a house with 1 or 2 additional bedrooms that has an average view.
- Seasonality of Rentals: North Georgia ”Peak” rentals occur during the summer (June, July, August), the Fall Leaf Season (October), and Major Holidays. 75%+ occupancy during these periods is not unexpected. “Off Peak” months should rent consistently on weekends provided the rental rates correspond to amenities and the view. Look for a property manager that has targeted marketing campaigns and does not rely upon discount-pricing to acquire clients. While discount-pricing should translate to higher occupancy levels, it will also produce more wear, tear, and damage to a home without the necessary revenue to cover repairs of a luxury home (i.e. it may match the mortgage payment but little else).
- Pets: Allowing pets will increase the home’s marketability, and in some cases increase rentals by a factor of 2x. However, allowing a large number of unsupervised pets free reign over a house while guests are sightseeing can lead to serious damage to both the home and furniture. Depending upon the damage, it could even depreciate the value of a home. Solution: if pets are allowed, specify (in your contract with the property manager) the specific types and quantity of pets allowed and require guests to bring pet-crates for times they will be leaving the home. Also ensure the property manager has pet-crates available if the guests can not provide their own.
- Furnishing / Equipping the Home: …Do I need a Hot Tub or a Game Room? …How well do I need to outfit my home? In making these decisions, please remember clients searching for a vacation home would like to enjoy things they don’t necessarily have at home. Executive clients are specifically searching for vacation homes that “have it all” and will not be interested in anything less to which they are accustomed. Ironically, many clients may ask for a hot tub and never use it. However, they will eliminate a home from their list of choices that does not provide one. As for Game Rooms, having the room is not enough if it is poorly equipped or has low quality entertainment. This does not mean it should cost a fortune, but it is necessary to have a mix of high quality traditional and contemporary games. Regulation Pool tables (professional 8' or 9' tables only) are requested frequently and also important are professional-grade air-hockey and foosball tables. Small 7’ pool tables or poor quality air hockey and foosball tables predominant in “rental cabins” only serve to disappoint guests who will search elsewhere for accommodations on their next visit. Electronic games, such as PS2 or X-Box, are necessary for adults as well as kids (be sure to include some games). Caveat: it is imperative that no “adult” games of any kind are in the home due to legal liabilities. Quality stereo equipment, including DVD’s and VCR’s, are fundamental requirements. Having a small library of movies at the home will delight guests. Finally, to round things out (for both families and couples), there’s something to be said for stocking up on classic board games. They are rather inexpensive, are great for families and groups, and quite often add a nostalgic flavor to the experience of staying in a log cabin that many have dreamed about since they were kids.
- Insurance: Make sure the house insurance policy is a “renter’s policy” and covers liability for any injuries to a guest or property damage caused by a guest. While it may never be needed, it is critical to the home owner. While a “homeowner’s” policy is less expensive, it will not cover a rental home, provides a false sense of security, and exposes the homeowner to financial and legal risk.
Mountain Paradise Properties:
All of our properties are located on water or mountains and provide breath-taking views of the North Georgia Mountains,
- All have fireplaces, hot tubs overlooking the view and have well-equipped game rooms,
- All are well furnished and exceptionally appointed to meet the luxury standards required by our guests,
- Each home is unique in either theme or the “special touches” it offers making it unforgettable to each guest who visits,
- Access to each home is simple and not uncomfortable to someone who is accustomed to driving in town (i.e. 4 wheel drives and pack mules are not necessary).
Why Trust Your Investment to Mountain Paradise:
Mountain Paradise is a luxury cabin resort offering guests superior accommodations and concierge services – this is a service unlike “traditional” cabin rental companies/real estate agents and enables us to distinguish ourselves in a very “cluttered” and fragmented marketplace that often present themselves as low-cost vacation solutions. Additionally, we are focused on the vacation industry and our guests, not on selling homes.
Mountain Paradise views management of luxury properties as providing a service for our owners. This means respecting that you, as an owner, have made an investment in your property, and it is our responsibility to ensure that your property is not only rented but rented appropriately:
We do not exceed maximum guest limits and we rent to mature, responsible adults only. How can we be sure? We check guests in personally at the cabin,
We respect your position regarding pets in your home. If you do not want them, we will not put a pet in your home. If you are willing to accept pets, we honor your choices as to type and number allowed (and of course, we have pet crates available for guests who cannot bring their own),
We maintain your home to the same exacting standards we use for our own homes,
We de-ionize cabins to remove pollens and dander and treat them for nuisance pests – i.e. spiders, etc., twice yearly to help preserve your investment,
When maintenance is needed, we can either help you coordinate the service or handle the arrangements for you. We do NOT have hidden revenue streams such as upcharging / overcharging for maintenance. Original receipts from respective repair vendors illustrating repair costs are provided to owners at the end of each billing cycle.
Mountain Paradise was founded by highly experienced business professionals. Our management team consists of an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, a network marketing vice-president with 10+ years of experience creating marketing strategies for successful companies and the former general manager of a luxury property management company who also has over 11 years of experience in federal service.
Our internet marketing and technology expertise has garnered an Alexa ranking in the top 200,000 web-sites, and page 1 placement for the top cabin rental search terms used on key search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Overture.
Our extensive ongoing marketing campaigns targeted at “non-vacation” travelers have created ties to church groups, travel agents and organizations such as the US Military, Homeland Defense, many law enforcement organizations, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Our strategic relationships with investors developing new businesses in Blue Ridge have provided access to the vacationing Atlanta executive marketplace.
Labels: North Georgia Cabin Management
