Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
From Snowflake to Snowbird A Mini Report from a Former Snowflake I wasn’t familiar with “snowflakes,” which are a variation of snowbirds, until a reader contacted me about it. Online Artificial intelligence (AI) defines the primary difference between snowbirds and snowflakes as the former have …
In a competitive snowbird housing rental market, it’s essential to know your top priorities [Seaside Florida] The Snowbird Housing Scramble Top Three Essentials: Planning, Communication and Decisiveness This season there has been a major scramble to secure snowbird housing for next year. Don’t be fooled, …
It is no longer unusual for properties of all kinds to be placed on the rental market. Couples who each retain their own residences may decide to rent one out and live together in one. Snowbirds may lease their primary home while away for the winter season. There's no shortage of anecdotal stories of guests who prefer a private residence or apartment when staying in another area for a weekend or longer.
More than ever, reputable third party online brokers such as vrbo.com, airbnb.com and bringfido.com connect owners with guests. Other web sites such as cozycozy.com gather info from hotels and third party brokers to give a comprehensive overview of what is available in an area for any budget.
Over the years I've been asked about the rental business by friends who are seriously considering placing their property on the rental market. It has lots of appeal due to popular acceptance of rentals as well as potential revenue. However, it is not without a lot of work and risks, which is why it is not a decision entered into lightly. It's perfectly OK to decide it isn't a good fit after all.
Before proceeding with any decision, thoroughly research your options and look at the best and worst case scenarios. Consult with your professional advisors for the impact on taxes, insurance, legal/liability and much more.
With many years of experience owning/managing a long term condo rental in my primary city and a few years owning a vacation rental in my southern community, I can assure anyone that there's no way to anticipate everything. Do your best and know when to hire a professional, it can be worth every penny. With our vacation rental we didn't hesitate to immediately hire the same property manager who managed it with the previous owner. It was and remains the best decision we made once we purchased the property.
In the meantime, I've created a general checklist of 15 considerations prior to placing your property into a rental program. The goal is to think about, research and be informed of what is involved and be prepared as much as possible. As they say, you never know until you try.
It's critical to identify what distinguishes your property from the competition. What does your property offer? Fully furnished? Recently updated? Water, mountain, wooded or scenic views? Privacy? Fenced yard? Covered parking? Proximity to area attractions?
Are you seeking weekend guests? Vacationers? Business travelers? Families with children? Solo travelers? Couples? Sports enthusiasts? Pet owners? Guests who are relocating to the area? Corporate housing? Tenants who are constructing new homes? Groups? Guests with special interests? Guests who are celebrating a special occasion?
Do you plan to promote your rental based on any or all of the following: Referrals? Paid advertising? Online broker sites? Signage? Local agents such as realtors and housing services? Corporate relocation services?
An online presence is essential for most short term rentals. The primary method is via a web site and/or social media landing page at the very least. Do you have enough basic knowledge to create and maintain your own web site or landing page, such as a business Facebook page? If not, are you comfortable hiring someone or a third party entity to create your site for you?
Do you plan to take your own photos or hire a photographer to promote your rental? Can you create and write the copy to promote your property?
Who will take care of the following: Cleaning? Maintenance and repairs? Pricing? Schedule, bookings and collections? Guest relations? Lock-outs? Property damage? Snow removal and yard work?
Have you figured out how much time you need in-between guests to clean and prep?
Do you plan to hire a property manager? Are you familiar with the scope of work property managers provide and their standard fees?
How will you handle dispute/conflict resolution? All of these areas and more will need to have solid systems in place. Be prepared for what you will do if your cleaning crew is ill or quits. It does happen , it's only a matter of time.
Private rentals have more flexibility to screen potential guests than hotels do. Check your local, state and federal laws of course, but you are perfectly entitled to refuse to allow pets, guests under a certain age, such as 25 and guests who exceed the maximum number of occupancy as an example.
Check your max occupancy before renting your property. As an example, if your property has three bedrooms and a sleeper sofa with a max occupancy of 8 and you have a group of 15 guests asking to book your space, they will need to be turned away. If you allow pets, check with your insurance company of the potential liability for that, including prohibited breeds. You need all of the facts before being faced with the difficult questions from potential guests. It is not worth risking everything you own because you made a bad decision to host a guest with a pet that isn't covered by your homeowner's insurance.
Calculating your burn rate is the first step of knowing what your daily/weekly/monthly/annual costs are. How much is the mortgage? Insurance? Utilities? Cable/wi-fi? HOA fees? Taxes? Administrative and professional fees? Cleaning costs? Credit card/payment fees? Marketing and promotional fees? Maintenance/upkeep and repair expenses? Property manager fees? Damage/theft costs? Don't forget to calculate depreciation of your property and furnishings because it will wear out faster with rental guests. Replacing linens every season as well as furniture are examples of costs for your rental business.
It's easy to get starry eyed about the rental dollars rolling into your bank account. It all might seem so lucrative until you actually get into the realities of running a rental business.
Be realistic about your profit margins. If your property is available a maximum of 52 weeks of the year and your total possible revenue is $50,000 for filling all 52 weeks, don't think for a minute it will be booked solid. You will need to allow for vacant dates, reduced rates, standard expenses and unexpected costs. Loss of use from fires, floods, disasters and other problems is another potential issue that should be factored into your business plan.
Who will take care of the administration of your rental property? What method of payment will you accept? Who will collect the funds? Who will pay the bills such as mortgage, utilities, HOA, etc? Who will keep track of the bookkeeping? Refunds? Credit card and other fees? Federal, state and local taxes? Unexpected fees?
Complaints are part of any business and there's many motives for guests who complain. Some are looking for refunds and freebies and others are offering valuable feedback, no matter how difficult it may be to receive. Having a complaint resolution procedure in place is important for any rental program. There may be complaints regarding cleanliness, linens and furnishings, odors, bugs, noise, broken or missing items and even ridiculous complaints that are beyond anyone's control, such as weather and traffic. You may also find that complaints are not only from guests, but your own HOA and neighboring property owners as well. Being able to separate and resolve valid complaints is essential to managing a rental. All too often guests wield the power of posting a negative review online and you will need to be prepared for that.
Setting up an adequate security system is the lifeblood for not only the security of your property, but the security of your guests and their belongings. Deadbolts, privacy latches, key-pad coded entry systems, cameras, alarms, drive-by inspections and much more are required. Only you can decide to what degree your security will entail, but you must have a security system. It's non-negotiable.
Guests who stay in a rental home are going to expect plenty of space for their items, including closets. You will want to make sure your personal belongings are not accessible to your guests. Therefore, it's essential to create a space where you can move your stuff and keep it locked up. This is not easy for many people. Locked owner's closets, garages and entire rooms are options. However, you may encounter guests who find it irresistible to stay out of your locked areas. They may use excuses such as "the lock broke" or was left open and on and on. If you are going to store your personal items on site, be ready for anything. Do not store anything of sentimental or high value on site unless you are OK with it possibly getting ruined or coming up missing.
Rental/s are not a nine-to-five weekday business. Being ready for after-hours requests for everything from help with entry access to malfunctioning tv's or wi-fi, missing remote controls, housekeeping issues, maintenance/repairs and much more are all part of the deal when your property goes onto the rental market. Our property manager jokes that she never makes social or dinner plans on load-in day because it will almost always be interrupted.
If you are your property manager, plan on taking time to help your guests with any real or perceived problems as they arise. Never underestimate your guests. I've heard stories of guests expecting help with the TV in the middle of the night. Set boundaries, communicate what they are and stick with it.
If you are unable to politely say "No" when appropriate, it will be very difficult to run a successful rental business. Requests for mundane and outrageous demands and everything in between will come up. You may get requests for below market rental rates, extensions/modifications of dates that may not be available or reasonable and/or early check ins and late departures.
You may not want every guest to come back if you've had a bad experience with them. Family and friends may ask to stay at your place for free. If you cannot or will not say no, consider hiring a property manager to be the buffer. They are worth every penny if it will help you run a profitable business, which is the point of doing it after all.
Real estate, particularly your primary home, is the largest emotional and financial investment most people make. It can be difficult to deal with the thought and/or reality of someone living in your home and very likely not treating it the way you would. Things happen. Items come up missing or break, get dirty, ruined and wear out. There's also the emotional cost of rejection of your rental property from harsh feedback or online reviews. Many properties will be vacant for periods of time due to rental cycles and competition. Not every rental earns a profit. Sometimes you might be fortunate to break even or you may even lose money. Do you have enough reserves to cover costs when your property is operating at a loss? Be honest with yourself and decide if you can cope with the ongoing stress of renting your property to strangers. It's not easy and although you may believe you're ready to let go and give it a try, it's not for everyone.
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-- Idowu Koyenikan, Internationally acclaimed organizational consultant and author
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
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Snowbird Housing Deal Breakers Hint: The Deal Breakers are Personal and Nuanced Price, location, view, pet friendly and availability are all deal makers. They’re also the deal breakers. However, there’s more to it than that. It’s the nuances of a particular rental that may or …
An example of a gulf front private home in Miramar Beach, NW Florida with full unobstructed views and two reserved off-street parking spaces Top Terminology for Snowbird Rentals 100 Terms to Know Before Renting a Vacation or Snowbird Residence As a long term member, and …
With the popularity of online shopping, online scams are also at an all time high. Rental scams can be especially devastating because guests may not even realize they've been taken until they show up to the property. Yes, it happens and it's heartbreaking.
I'm a member of several regional rental groups via Facebook where renters and rentals are matched via posts such as, "In search of a pet-friendly, 2/2 gulf front condo with pool and amenities for January/February of 2023. Max budget is $8,500, including fees." Property owners post photos and details of their units if it matches the request.
I cringe when some of the replies provide no link to "their" listing, yet ask the potential renter to "PM me for a special discount" or they provide a link and say, "Your dates aren't showing as available due to a computer gliche, but PM me and I can book your stay." These are huge red flags. Your instinct should be kicking into overdrive. If there is no direct electronic trail to the listing and/or there's explanations that aren't logical, be extremely careful or consider moving on. If it's not adding up, something is wrong.
Prior to our first season as a snowbird, my husband and I became very nervous. We booked our rental nine months in advance of our stay via a web site that promotes/manages about 50 properties. I conducted a fair amount of research to be confident enough the listing was legit. Sixty days prior to arrival, per the contract terms we pre-paid the property manager in full for the entire stay, which was a large amount of money. We had no first-hand information about the property, only the online description and photos.
A few days before we were to depart, we received a message that we would not be able to check in to our 3/3 gulf front unit due to exterior maintenance that would block our access to the door. Another much smaller 2/2 unit in a building down the street would be ours for the first week. Oh heck no! This was NOT what we signed up for. After much back and forth, we negotiated concessions to move into the 3/3 for two days, then would move down the street for 4-5 days and then back to the original unit. I was very apprehensive of the possibility that not only the property management company could be a scam, but that the rental was fake too. We were so relieved to find that we were wrong. I conducted even more research and affirmed the rental was real and the property management company has a stellar reputation.
If you are seeking a new property and are unfamiliar with it or the area you're considering, I've offered 14 tips to assist with spotting potential rental scams. Although there's no way to be 100% sure, whether staying at a new place during snowbird season or the off season, careful research can result in a better outcome.
Credible is the key word here. Well known rental web sites such as VRBO, Airbnb, Home Away and BringFido.com are a few examples. Web sites that broker thousands of listings AND have a budget to advertise their sites are typically acceptable sources. However, having said that, it doesn't guarantee the LISTINGS are legitimate. Fake listings are rampant and the images are usually stolen from actual listings. This is why it is important to conduct further research once you locate a potential rental.
Craigslist is a well known web site, but it is not devoted strictly to vacation rentals and therefore it is not what I consider a good source for vacation rentals. Regardless of the source, further research is recommended.
Some property owners don't want to pay the fees for listing on a well known web site. Smaller rental web sites may be a good option. They may have names such as "Vacation Homes by Owner" or something regional such as "Texas Vacation Rentals." If a listing is on both a smaller source and a well known source, that adds credibility. However, it is not a guarantee of anything.
Typically, if a property is professionally managed, it will also be listed on the property manager's web site. You can compare various dates with the major web site and the property manager's web site. Both sites should show the exact same dates as open or unavailable because they are synchronized by the computer. If there is a discrepancy, that's a major red flag.
Typically, booking directly through the property manager will save additional fees. The major web sites usually add more fees to the guests with line items such as "Host fee," "Service Fee" or something similar. The fees are in addition to the cleaning, taxes and other state and local fees.
As mentioned above, online referral groups are a great way to match renters with rentals. However, as previously stated, be very careful about responses that do not have a direct link to the property and/or there are requests to private message instead of publicly message each other. The social media groups attempt to keep scammers out, but there is usually no formal vetting process. Specialized social groups are always targeted by scammers who create fake accounts with stolen photos of innocent people.
I devoted a recent post entirely to evaluating online photos and listings of vacation rentals. It is worth reading prior to booking a new or unfamiliar rental property.
Domestic and international scammers typically are not English scholars. Typos, poor grammar and punctuation are all red flags; however, perfect English is no guarantee of anything either (or vice versa). If the listing and/or correspondence are riddled with poor grammar, punctuation and typos, ask to personally speak with someone. If you can get someone on the phone, that's the first step. I doubt they will be available for a call if they are a scammer. If they can speak English, yet their written correspondence is poor, proceed with caution.
Be aware listing photos and descriptions may be stolen from legitimate properties. Conduct multiple online searches for the property and look for conflicting information, such as multiple listings for the property with differing contact information.
Perhaps a listing shows an attractive smiling woman or a family with young kids and a dog on their social media profile and refuses to correspond with you via any other method than electronically, that's a red flag. Scammers pretend to identify with their targets by appearing to be trustworthy. Chances are the photos are stolen.
Public records such as tax and property records are easily located online in the county in which the property is located. Look up the name of the owner/s, how long they've owned the property and how many other properties they own. Their primary address will also be listed in the records as well as the names of any other owners.
If a property is owner-managed and the address of the contract doesn't match the address of record, find out why, then verify the answer. Some properties are owned by siblings or partners as an example. That's fine, but it would seem odd to have differing addresses on a tax record versus a rental contract. Look up all addresses to verify the facts to tie it all together. If all of it doesn't match, beware.
If you are in the vicinity of the prospective rental, ask for a personal showing or meeting. If you cannot meet in person, a phone conversation with the owner or PM is helpful to get an idea of their opinions and feedback of whether a property may be a good fit for your needs. Especially if you are staying more than a few days. They may have other properties to recommend and you can ask questions about how many properties they manage, if they are local, how long they've been in business and so forth. Ask for references from previous guests.
Ask if the property is for sale. If it is, there is a chance your reservation may be cancelled due to the owner transferring the title, which will negate your contract. If you are unable to personally speak with someone after multiple attempts and you're only receiving electronic communication, that is a huge red flag.
Ask to speak with previous guests who have stayed in the property and can verify the advertised images are fair, the condition is what was advertised and whether they received prompt attention in the event of issues that needed resolved. Ask seemingly random questions about the neighborhood that you already know the answer from online research, such as "Where is the nearest pharmacy?" How far away and what is the name of the closest restaurant? If your "reference" hesitates or doesn't know the answers fairly quickly, they are perhaps not valid references.
Compare the cost of the prospective rental with similar properties. If the availability, terms and rate are too good to be true, that's a huge red flag. Ask a lot of questions about why the rates are so low. Is it new to the rental market? Was there a last minute cancellation? Are there any problems that may be a factor such as a bug infestation, ongoing construction or other inconveniences? What guarantees can the PM or owner make to assure their property is legitimate?
Never pay a deposit with funds that aren't protected in the event of fraud or misrepresentation. If you pay by credit card, you'll still have to go through the process of requesting a refund, but there's a better chance of recovering your deposit. Many popular money apps provide zero protection to the person sending the funds. Once the money is sent, it's gone. Do your homework prior to sending money to anyone for any reason. If the money app's policy is no refunds, you will have zero chance to recover any of it in the event of fraud or any other reason.
Typically, because of the credit card fees and significant expense of a long term rental, the balance is typically paid with a check 60 - 90 days before arrival. Look into the address of where the check is to be mailed. Does the address match the property manager or owner's address? If not, ask why.
You will have no protection from fraud, cancellation or any other issue without a valid signed lease agreement. The lease agreement will have the full names of you and the property manager or owner and the terms listed, including the amount of the deposit and balance, dates of stay, due dates for the balance/payments, policies including the cancellation terms as well as refund and dispute resolution policies. Never accept a contract or agreement unless it thoroughly addresses everything to cover yourself as well as the property owner. If you are getting high pressure to hurry up and pay a deposit without signing a complete valid lease, walk away. That is a huge red flag.
If your rental is offered online and there is an electronic contract that you can sign to reserve it, that's a standard industry-wide practice. Reserving electronically protects the renter and rental agency from disputes about when and what was agreed to. It also takes the unit off the market so it doesn't become double-booked. If the property you are considering does not offer an electronic contract, find out why. It may be the owner prefers signed paper contracts. Allow enough time for a contract to be prepared and signed, but ask for assurances that the rental will be held during this time.
Perhaps they don't offer any contract. They may say they don't like contracts or haven't had time to prepare one or downplay that it isn't that important. If there's no contract, there's no deal. Walk away.
If your potential property is desirable, it will have more people interested in renting it. However, if the PM or owner is using high pressure tactics such as indicating it will be off the market before the contract can be executed and signed, that's a red flag. Never agree to pay a deposit or rent a unit without first or simultaneously executing a valid contract.
If the property legitimately has multiple offers at the same time, ask how they will determine who is accepted. If they have a reasonable explanation, you can either go along with the plan or find another place. Sometimes taking a property with less demand will make it easier for you to keep coming back because there is less competition fighting for it.
Always conduct thorough research and listen to your instinct before renting a property that is new or unfamiliar. Once you are confident of your choice, you can focus on prepping for your stay.
-- Albert Einstein, German Theoretical Physicist
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
BE THE SNOWBIRD WHO IS WELCOME BACK How to Be Irresistible to Your Hosts Snowbirds who rent their winter residences are plentiful and there is typically not a shortage of guests who want to stay in a great property, which means it is important to …
Map of The Emerald Coast, Southern Alabama and Northwest Florida LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Peak vs. Off Peak Affects the Cost of Housing As snowbirds return home to begin the off-season, much reflection goes into what can be done differently for the next season. Life changes …
Travel and snowbirds are synonymous. Snowbirds by definition seasonally migrate to a warm climate and for many that means selecting a place to stay with very basic information such as online photos, reviews and a description of the property. From personal experience, before ever selecting our snowbird community in Northwest Florida, I looked at hundreds of properties online via specialized travel sites. The photos that got my attention were taken by professionals, had great lighting and flattering angles.
I consider myself to be rather astute evaluating a property from afar, whether hotel or other type of rental; however, every once in awhile there are blunders. My sister and I spent time in Saugatuck Michigan and selected a specific, beautifully decorated ground floor suite of an expensive boutique hotel based on photos, reviews and web site. Prior to arrival we envisioned ourselves walking from the porch of our suite across the expanse of lawn and reading books while seated next to the lovely lake. Wrong. Upon checking in, we discovered the enclosed porch does not have an exterior door, a road separates the lake from the hotel and the expanse of lawn is actually not part of the hotel's property. Worse, a new residence was under construction directly across the street from our hotel. Not only was it noisy, the new home completely blocked 50% of our view of the lake. We loved the hotel and had a great weekend regardless, but finding out about a blocked view from online photos that had not been updated was not fun.
I've compiled 11 categories below to assist with selecting a rental, whether during snowbird season or the off season. As always, careful research can result in the best success.
Once you've narrowed down your top options, look at an online map and compare the distance of the property address with the online photos. Look at both 360 degree street view and the overhead bird's view. Is it physically impossible to see a great view from inside the unit, such as the water or mountains? Many times a rental listing will show supporting photos that are not actually views from the rental unit itself, but are from around the resort property or neighborhood. Just about every listing for a rental near a beach will show an image of the beach, yet the view shown in the photo isn't necessarily what you will actually see from your kitchen, living room or balcony. Same for mountains, rolling hills or even the community pool.
Of course every rental owner wants to show their listing in the most flattering manner, which usually includes professional photos that have been lightly retouched for brightness and color. Now compare those photos with actual photos guests have posted online, if available. If the decor and images tell the same story, it's a good sign. Remember, guest photos may not reflect the most current version of the property and the reverse may also be the case: the rental photos may not be current. Guest photos are likely taken with clutter in them or poor angles and/or lighting, which is to be expected. Guests typically want to share their enthusiasm for a place, but don't forget motive. If a guest is unhappy, they may unfairly post photos and reviews that show the worst or exaggerated attributes of a property.
Online reviews, when available, can reveal details that may not be obvious from the photos. Typically this might include clarification that a view is partially obstructed, that the water is much further away than it appears, that the unit's space is much smaller than it looks or that there is a road in-between the property and the beach. Most owners do not intentionally mislead their guests or do not realize that guests who have never been to the area don't have the personal experience of having seen the neighborhood in person. If there is a valid suggestion that can privately be sent to the owner to improve their listing, that is always appreciated. As mentioned before, remember the motive for reviews. If a review seems unfair or one-sided it may be because of an unhappy guest who does not have the best intentions.
Drone photos showing the bird's eye view are great for getting an overview of an area, particularly in relationship to a particular feature, such as a body of water. Be realistic of where the property you are considering actually is and what obstacles will be in the way of your rental compared to the feature shown in the photo. You are not going to be in a drone looking at the view, so don't confuse the purpose of the drone photos.
I know first-hand of guests who rented a private home with fenced private pool directly facing the gulf and beach with just a road in-between. What isn't obvious is that because of the fence, to get from the home's pool to the beach, it's necessary to walk a block West down the street to exit the housing addition, walk over and cross the main road and then walk back East another block to get to the neighborhood's beach access point. Because of the fence, it isn't as quick or simple as merely walking across the street.
Many times photos are stretched on purpose or inadvertently which causes the space to look much larger than it is. Be aware of stretched photos that may have unnatural proportions of the items that you can see are wider than taller, such as appliances. Misconceptions about the size of a space are likely to cause the most distress upon actually renting a place only to find it's smaller than they realized.
Photo angles are a legitimate method of showing the expanse of a space, but recognize that angles also can make an object appear much larger than it actually is. This is especially apparent with angles used to show features such as a yard, swimming pool or interior rooms of a home or condo. Low angles or cameras mounted on the ceiling looking downwards can make a room or feature seem much larger than it is. When you are actually in a space, you will not have the same "fly on the wall" or "worm's" view which means the space will not look as large as it does in the photos.
It's frustrating to see listings promoting rentals that don't accurately portray the property. As an example, I commonly see photos of "gulf view" properties that actually have a side view of the water from way back in a condo complex. An unsuspecting guest may not realize the view from the interior of the unit is going to be of the homes adjacent to the unit, not the water. The only way to see the gulf is by stepping onto the balcony and looking into the distance. Technically, it is a gulf view, but there is a huge difference in what that gulf view is compared to a unit where you can directly see the gulf from the interior rooms and the balcony. Ground floor units that promote themselves as "gulf view," present a different challenge. Be aware of what that gulf view might actually be. For anyone not familiar with ground floor units, your actual view may be a sliver of the gulf due to natural topography where the ground floor unit is lower than the dunes next to the gulf and it results in limited views. If you aren't sure of what view you are getting, ask for photos that are not "zoomed in."
Visual cues provide a wealth of information. Look for hints in the listing photos that show the balcony railing in the foreground and other details such as the pool, road and beach in the background. High rise photos typically show great views looking across the water and/or other natural features. However, the view looking down from say, the 11th floor, may be terrifying for you, your pet or guests. I have friends who stayed on upper floors of high rises just one time. It was too much and they returned to the same complex only in a lower location. Visual cues can indicate the distance from your potential rental unit to get to the nearest parking lot, pool, attraction such as golf course or body of water. There are many great rentals in buildings that are second or third row to the beach, just make sure you are aware of it from studying the photos.
I've seen plenty of online photos of beautifully staged rentals with props that are not likely included in the rental. This may be items such as dishware or glassware, food, beverages, napkins, accessories, beach equipment and much more. If a staged photo shows these excluded items, it should specifically say on the photo "Food and beverages are not included" to make the potential guest realize the photo is for illustrative purposes. I have also seen rental photos with items such as laundry soap, beach towels or high end barware and the description does clarify that the soap, barware and beach towels are indeed part of the rental. To be sure, read the fine print or ask the owner or property manager.
As is commonly known in psychology, don't be distracted by dazzling photos, pay attention to what is not being said or shown. Prime photos, also known as "Hero" shots might show an amazing view looking in one specific direction. However, what is to the left or the right that is not shown in the photo? Telephone poles? A privacy fence, dumpsters or other obstruction?
Does the rental have a dishwasher or washer and dryer? Photos of appliances such as an in-unit washer and dryer may or may not be shown online for various reasons, so you should clarify what is available. If in-unit washers are lacking and there's no visual cue from a listing photo, it can easily be missed prior to arriving and realizing coin-op laundry facilities are located in a common area. Similarly, distance to parking, dumpsters, elevators, stairways and much more may not be photographed. Always ask for clarification.
Don't assume every room has a nice or any view. The bedroom window in our condo looks at a covered walkway and swaying palm trees. The bedroom of the unit directly next door looks at a covered walkway and a dark stairwell. I cannot say it enough, "Pay attention to what is not being said or shown." It's ok to ask for photos showing each view or all perspectives of the rental so there's no surprises.
It is expensive to hire a professional photographer, but current photos that accurately portray a property are invaluable for potential guests as well as owners. Professional photos are designed to dazzle you, however, don't overlook the gems that may be bypassed due to poor quality photos. Over time, furniture, appliances, rugs, lighting and decorations change. If you aren't sure of how recent the photos are, don't hesitate to ask.
Overall, take your time to carefully study the promotional photos, reviews and then make an informed decision. If necessary, try out different places until you find the one you want to return to over and over again.
-- Bruno Barbey, French Photographer
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Location, outdoor space and a gorgeous view are all tops on the list of the most sought-after rentals in snowbird communities What to Look for in A Snowbird Rental Figuring out your warm weather rental home is the single-largest factor to being happy when away …