So you have invested in a vacation rental property. Congratulations! This is often the perfect start to a career in real estate investing and gives you a place to stay when you travel. But how do you make sure people see it, want to stay there, and then follow through with plans? Here are some great tips on how to make your vacation rental stand out.
Listings Online
When you list your property, you have to make sure it’s the one people remember, share, and book. You want them to feel the pressure of time, so someone else doesn’t get it on their dates.
To make your property stand out, make sure it has the best décor, upgraded appliances and is stocked with the basics plus. For instance, don’t just stock the kitchen with staples like coffee, tea, bottled water, pasta, etc. Stock it with the best of those items so you can tell them that your kitchen has top-quality things that any chef would envy! Don’t just supply towels. Supply thick, plush towels from a well-respected company and then tell prospective clients about them.
Amenities
Is your vacation home big enough for a family? Then make sure they know it’s not just family-friendly. Tell them it’s child-friendly and supply some toys and games. You could even build a small game room inexpensively.
Is your vacation home in a complex where they would have access to pools, fitness rooms, and such? Get some photos of those amenities and post them with short, punchy descriptions.
Are there community amenities like nearby convenience/grocery stores, upscale restaurants, and fun attractions or activities? Describe these in detail to make people not only want to go there but want to stay at your property.
Get a Property Manager
One of the best things you could do for your new vacation home business is to get an experienced property manager to help you. It’s worth the expense of having someone in your court handle advertising, screen clients, get reliable payments, and monitor the property when you’re gone or if you’re not in town.
For more information on how a property manager can help you, call our experts at JZ Vacation Rentals. See what a difference it makes to have an expert on your side!
St. Louis is a popular destination for many families that want to tour the Midwest United States. Our St. Louis vacation rentals are conveniently located to all types of family activities and other great things to do. With its numerous attractions and delicious food destinations, you can’t go wrong while visiting. But lots of people don’t like the crows that go along with tourism. Here are the top places to visit in St. Louis. As a bonus, we will also give you the best times to go there!
Grant’s Farm
First owned by Ulysses S. Grant, you can now visit this popular St. Louis attraction. Take the little ones to the petting zoo, bottle feed baby animals, and learn about all the exotic animals they have collected there. The best times to go are in the fall and early in the week due to children being in school, and the summer crowds are gone.
Gateway Arch
You can visit this ever-popular attraction on the tram ride all year round, prized for its amazing views of the St. Louis skyline and surrounding areas. The best times to visit are during the school year, early in the morning, but if you come in the summer, get there first thing or later in the evening. The summer hours go until 10:00 p.m. so that you will have plenty of time for a beautiful nighttime view of the lights of St. Louis.
St. Louis Zoo
Early mornings are the best times to visit the St. Louis Zoo and the best time to get good parking. One of the best reasons is that the Children’s Zoo, Conservation Carousel, and the Stingrays at Caribbean Cove are free during the first hour.
Myseum
The St. Louis Myseum is always a favorite with the kids! The exhibits and play at this museum are all science-based, from Alien Landscapes and Glo-Shapes to Imagination Playground and a Zoo Vet Clinic. They also offer birthday parties, which tend to happen on weekend daytimes. For the quietest times, visit on a weekday before school gets out in the fall or after 8:00 p.m.
There are many attractions in St. Louis, and a quick internet search will help you find and plan the best times for your family visits. For your vacation home plans, call JZ Vacation Rentals. Let our experts handle the details of your stay while you be the family hero and arrange the fun activities.
If you have purchased a vacation home that you want to rent out, you may be wondering how you should go about managing the property. You have many choices when it comes to hiring a property manager, but you may want to do it yourself. There are some benefits to both.
Self-Managing a Vacation Rental
If you live near your vacation rental, it may save you both time and money to manage it yourself. This is especially true if you’re not working anywhere else. Here are a few aspects of managing your rental that could be of benefit to do yourself.
Cleaning and Property Maintenance
If you leave this to a property management company, you may not get what you want. You want to offer a clean and well-maintained place for people to stay. No one wants to walk into a vacation rental that is dirty or in disrepair. Your property will need to be cleaned and sanitized, and any repairs made before your next guests. If you have a lot of experience in these areas, it can save you money to do it yourself.
If you have no experience, it’s not a problem: simply interview as many cleaning and maintenance contractors as you can and hire them! Even if you do have maintenance experience, this can help save you time so you can spend the hours necessary to get your property booked.
Accepting Reservations
You will be working hard to make sure your rental is occupied as much as possible, so sometimes you may want to run a special deal. You also want to make sure that you choose renters that are high quality. So it will pay for you to advertise, post on social media, and get the word out by any outlet possible.
You may even want to set up and maintain a website so people can book directly. Do it yourself, and you will have control over how the website looks, the photos you post, and the descriptions you write. Those are all critical to getting maximum occupancy.
So You Did All That: Now What?
Now your phone is ringing, you’re getting emails, and people are booking your property on your new website. This is excellent news!
But you will need to make sure you communicate with them promptly and make check-in and check-out as smooth as possible. You must also respond to any complaints or other needs immediately. When they are gone, get the cleaners in quickly.
The most significant benefit to doing all this yourself is that you control what happens at your property. You won’t be wondering if it’s being taken care of every time a guest checks in or out!
Once you have purchased the vacation home you would like to rent out, you have some more decisions to make. You must make sure the house is perfect and ready to go, but if you want to have a vacation rental property management company take care of the details. Here are some reasons why it might be advantageous for you and what to look for when choosing a property management company.
Why Choose a Vacation Rental Property Management Company?
A management company can save you a lot of time, effort, and headaches. Because they are specialists and have many years of experience, they can focus on the little things. At the same time, you work on collecting your real estate empire—or just a few income properties, depending on your goals.
A property management company will take care of listing your property, which can be a massive headache for an individual owner. They know where, when, and how to post your listings. They will make sure the listing has the best photography, graphics, and copywriting. If you’re not an expert writer or photographer, you will understand how important this is. Make sure you choose a property management company that has a good cleaning and maintenance service.
Cost Management
If you had to do all the things a management company does for you, you’d be keeping track of dozens of invoices and their payments, guest payments, credit cards, websites, and so much more. That’s not your job. Your job is to find properties for your portfolio. Make sure your management company can give you fair accounting with one management fee. Your bookkeeper will thank you for it!
Easy Reservations
Do you really want to be available 24/7 to answer questions about reservations? Let a management company handle it! Getting reservations is your bread and butter, so make it convenient for your guests by using a management company’s online reservation system. They also have lots of tentacles out in the social media and advertising world, saving you both time and money.
Expertise
An experienced property management company has seen it all and learned from it. Ensure the company you choose has a history of excellent quality in the area where your vacation rental property resides. As with any other big decision, check their references! If you applied for a job with them, they would ask for yours, so do your due diligence. It’s too important a choice not to.
Vacation planning almost always revolves around the time of year you want to travel. Some areas are best visited in the summer or winter because they have the best seasonal activities for those times of the year. The best time to visit St. Louis is spring and fall due to the milder temperatures and attractions that are favorites during those seasons. Here are a few reasons for each.
Things to Do in St. Louis in the Spring
Some people would say that spring time is the best time to visit St. Louis, because that’s when the lush green carpet in America fills out, and the splashes of colorful flowers grow above it. April and May in St. Louis are not yet warm enough to be uncomfortable for some people, but the flowers are blooming, and the scent of new things growing is in the air.
One of the favorite spring attractions in St. Louis is Grant’s Farm. Initially owned by Ulysses S. Grant, this farm has a petting zoo, shows about and with animals, and has lots of exotic animals on display. Six Flags St. Louis is also a must-see if you have the kids with you. This family fun park opens mid-May with its full schedule and has some of the best rides and activities in St. Louis.
The St. Louis Zoo is also a favorite. In the spring, they present a sea lion show that will thrill all ages. And don’t forget the Gateway Arch! In addition to visiting the arch monument, you can take a riverboat cruise on the Mighty Mississippi and view it from the water.
Things to Do in St. Louis in the Fall
Others would say that autumn is the best time to visit St. Louis. The temperatures are very mild, but there is less rainfall in the fall, making the air a little drier and more pleasant.
The Apple Fest at Eckert’s is a lot of fun for the whole family. Eckert’s is a fabulous day trip, from wagon rides and children’s attractions to live music and food. Another excellent day trip is Brookdale Farms, which has a pumpkin patch and hayrides available. And don’t miss the Corn Maze! With a whopping 17 acres of winding and twisting paths, this is a favorite of visitors for fall fun.
Other activities include a river cruise, Halloween parties, and haunted house tours, and Big Muddy Adventures, which offers paddleboat tours of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
While you’re here, make sure you book a vacation rental at JZ Vacation Rentals. We know St. Louis and can help you find fun activities for the whole family!
Real estate has always been an attractive yet mythical beast when it comes to safe investing. There is competition, but there are so many different kinds of real estate investing that there is enough to go around. But one of the best ways to make money in real estate is the vacation rental. A lot of that is due to property management companies and the expert help they give. You may be asking yourself, “should I invest in vacation rental property?” In this article, we’ll find out why the answer to that is a definite “yes!”
Vacation Rentals vs Hotels
Vacationers in the past used to accept that they were going to stay in a tiny, cramped hotel room with no home-away-from-home amenities. Over time, companies began looking for long-term rentals for their traveling employees. But what to do with the property between corporate visits? Rent them out to vacationers, of course.
Easy Investing
Because the popularity of vacation homes is growing, many people are buying them as their first investments. It’s easy because you would be basically purchasing a second home and just renting it out between your visits.
A vacation rental is a great way to be near your college student, aging relatives or have a more pleasant environment during winter weather in your home town.
Income Potential
What you’re looking for is positive cash flow, like any other investor. If you choose an attractive property and a highly rated management company, you have a much better chance of having that cash flow sooner. Although this will not guarantee that you’ll cross the break-even point quickly, it will help ensure that it happens.
The location can make all the difference, too. If you like to visit the beach during the winter months, for example, you might choose a property in Florida and stay there yourself for a week or two and rent it out the rest of the time. You may like to avoid the hot Florida summers, so you’d rent it out to vacationers. With that in mind, you do well to choose a property near the theme parks, water sports havens, or other vacation draws that Florida offers.
As you can see, owning a vacation rental can be a great way to start your real estate portfolio. It can also make it possible for you to have a second home-away-from-home in an area that would benefit you. A top-notch vacation rental property manager can make details like cleaning and maintenance, finding renters, automating check-in/check-out, and keeping track of income and expenses more manageable. Take your time to find the best one for your needs.
When you’re making vacation plans, one of your biggest concerns will be where to stay. There are dozens upon hundreds of choices in almost every popular destination, depending on the size of the city or town. So how do you decide between a vacation rental vs hotel room? Here are some things to ask yourself when making that critical decision.
What Environment Do You Want?
Do you want to be wall-to-wall with another family or group—people you don’t even know? How about having to go to a central area for morning meals without knowing precisely what the hotel means by “continental breakfast?” Do you want to get up when you want and take a shower when you want without remembering to hang a tag on the door, so housekeeping doesn’t barge in and see you in all your glory?
Of course not! No one wants to enjoy a day on vacation, then come home to a small space that is nothing but a bedsit with a direct line to over-priced room service and a big unknown for breakfast. For a little more cost, you can have a vacation home.
Why Are You Visiting?
If you’re on vacation, having a vacation home where you can sprawl out after a day of fun is convincing enough. But what about other reasons?
Family Matters
If you’re in town for a wedding, you will likely be hosting people at your place at least once, and you may want a nicer place than a hotel for such a joyous occasion. For a family reunion, again, you will probably have visitors—and lots of them. If it’s for a funeral, no one wants the impersonal space of a hotel room.
In all these cases, a vacation home is the best choice. For just a few dollars more, you can have private space that’s well-stocked with amenities that a hotel could never fit in the tiny rooms.
Business
Lots of people travel for business, and one of their biggest complaints is about the hotel. The rooms are small and impersonal. You usually have to go out for meals or order room service. Most of them claim to have high-speed internet—but it’s often slow if you can get on at all. They have hundreds of guests competing for their bandwidth.
Solution? Call Us!
Contact the experts at JZ Vacation Rentals. Let us know why you’re visiting and what you’re looking for. We’ll find a property to meet your needs—and wants!
If you like to see the world beginning to teem with life, color, and action, St. Louis is the perfect spring destination. One internet search will give you dozens of things to do here in the spring, along with ideas for places to stay while you’re here. One of the best is JZ Vacation Rentals and for good reason!
Spring Time in St. Louis
This region is well-known for springtime beauty. The hallmarks of spring in St. Louis are new lush grass, an explosion of colorful flowers, and the opening of parks and other outdoor recreation. Here are a few things to do in St. Louis to enjoy the season of new life while you vacation to this perfect spring destination.
The Gateway Arch
This landmark, built to “commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a transcontinental United States,” is an annual favorite, and there is no time better than when temps are mild. You can take a tram ride to the apex or enjoy a riverboat cruise for a different view of this magnificent monument.
Visit Lafayette Park
Locals will say this is the oldest public park west of the Mississippi and was the first public park in St. Louis proper. This beautiful park is full of events. Don’t miss the House Tour!
National Dance Week
If you or someone in your group is into dance, don’t miss this week! This event is a movement-lover’s dream vacation—with everything from ballet, modern dance, and other traditional western-world forms to Middle Eastern and African troupes.
Eat!
No matter where you go in St. Louis, you will always find a spectacular restaurant choice. That said, most people go to the Central West End. But if you’re a true foodie, zero in on the Cortex District to the south. Officially called the Cortex Innovation Community, it’s a technology and cultural hub with some inventive eateries you won’t want to miss.
Why JZ Vacation Rentals?
Simply put, we know St. Louis. Our staff lives here and is nearby if there is anything you need at your vacation home. Our homes are well-appointed, with stocked kitchens and rooms that are spacious but still cozy and comfortable.
When you rent one of our vacation homes, you will see the difference the details make. We’ll take care of those while you tour and enjoy St. Louis and everything it has to offer—which we think is quite a lot!
Here’s to Your Escape to St. Louis
As we make our way through winter days, the only thing that makes the cold, wet, and eternally gray skies bearable is knowing that warmer days filled with sunshine and flowers are not that far off. Maybe you need a little something to look forward to, like an escape to St. Louis for Easter. If you’re working from home, with the kids doing distance learning, you can plan your stay and get away. JZ Vacation Rentals in St. Louis offer the perfect place to celebrate the holiday in warmth and coziness. The beauty of our Midwestern town gives you a much-needed change of scenery!
The Serenity of the Season
It’s true that an escape to St. Louis for Easter can result in some crazy changes of weather. But when you are sitting in your seasonal sanctuary, enjoying the comforts and the warmth that envelopes you, chances are you won’t notice the weather at all! Kitchens are cheerful spaces filled with light, creating the perfect environment for creating the holiday meal. While the kids are coloring the eggs, you can complete all those holiday chores. Start the preparations early by coloring the eggs at the dining room table, and once the kids fall into an exhausted sleep, put together their Easter baskets, giving our comfortable living rooms an extra touch of holiday happiness.
Not traveling with children? Sipping holiday cocktails on plush sofas in front of a roaring fire is all the holiday decorations you will need! This is your time to rest and recover from your real life worries and troubles as you enjoy a getaway designed to do just that. Sleep deeply in our bedroom retreats, waking on Easter Sunday feeling refreshed as you haven’t in months. State of the art televisions found throughout the house allow guests to watch the big game, keep up to date with the news, or watch Easter themed movies that make them happy!
And on the big day, make sure you sample some of greatest restaurants for Easter dinner, including the Walnut Grill in Sunset Hills, Polite Society Restaurant and Bar or Tempus. When you push away from the table with full stomachs and happy hearts, you will think back over your escape to St. Louis for Easter and realize that your decision to travel here was one you are grateful you made!
Happy Easter!
Every day is a new adventure when you spend any holidays with JZ Vacation Rentals in St. Louis! Reserve your stay today!
Top Restaurants in Cabo
One of our favorite parts of any vacation is having the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the town. Every state, town, city, and country have a flavor that is specific to them, and in Cabo, you have to expect the meals are going to be tasty and hot! Yes, Mexican food and seafood rules the day here in Cabo San Lucas, and JZ Vacation Rentals has compiled this guide to the top restaurants in this seaside village, ensuring that your south of the border getaway will be a tasteful experience that will speak to your soul!
Mariscos Las Tres Islas, Revolución de 1910 23469
Eating where the locals eat ensures that the meals will be inexpensive (compared to other spots) and absolutely delicious, two things that Mariscos Las Tres Islas is famous for! Offering a seafood-centric menu that never fails to tempt your taste buds, its thatched roof makes it easy to find! And as you will discover in most restaurants in Cabo, the casual atmosphere and simple décor allows the food to be the star of the show; walk in and take a deep breath as you walk to the table and the spot that will be your new happy place!
Los Claros, Ignacio Zaragoza, Downtown, Centro
Taco Tuesday is an immensely popular day all over the world, and when you are in Cabo, Los Claros and their out of this world seafood tacos is where you want to celebrate. Their claim to fame is proudly acknowledged on their marquis, advertising the best seafood tacos in Cabo, and we think you will agree at first bite! Each taco comes piled high with seafood that is sweet and fresh and topped with pico and a special sauce so delicious our mouths start salivating at first sight.
Pitahayas Restaurant, Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos, Cabo del Sol Km 10 Lote D Cabo del Sol
Although Cabo is a casual and laid back town, not every meal has to follow suit! Pitahayas Restaurant offers a luxurious dining experience that will make this much loved spot become one of your favorites! Featuring a fusion of Pacific Rim meals, this multiple award-winning place features seaside views that will take your breath away, an elegant décor, and food so good your taste buds will stand up and applaud.
Create Your Own Memories
Sometimes the best meals are the ones you create in your own home, and our JZ Vacation Rentals fully equipped kitchens offer the perfect spots to try out your favorite recipes. Reserve yours today and enjoy a Mexican getaway!