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The three most common mistakes owners make in the kitchen of their Cape Cod vacation rental home.


What’s the most important single room in your Cape Cod vacation rental when it comes to managing your summer rentals? You know it’s the kitchen. A big part of the reason so many people rent private homes like yours instead of staying at a resort is they get to prepare their own meals and save a pile of money on restaurant tabs. So the kitchen is absolutely key. Rather than...

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What’s on TV? Five things you need to know about television and your Cape summer vacation rental guests.


There are families who will tell you they could care less whether they have TV In their Cape Cod rental property. But they are a decided minority. Most people want and expect to have television. For many, a vacation without TV would be more like a prison sentence. So do what the market wants — you need TV. Here are five things about rentals and TV you should know: It...

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Fix your “broken windows”: how making little things right can make a big difference in your Cape vacation rental success.


OK, so your Cape Cod property probably doesn’t actually have any broken windows per se. But what about that outdoor shower door that doesn’t latch right any more? Or that toilet in the half bath where you have to hold down the flush handle or the bowl won’t empty completely? Broken Windows, Broken Business is a business book by Michael Levine which has direct application to your summer vacation rentals...

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Don’t let accidental guest damage put a dent in your Cape Cod vacation rental success.


First of all, if you’re going to rent, you can’t sweat the small stuff. How will you feel about that water ring left on your coffee table? When you do summer rentals, you’re running a small business that can gross up to $50,000 each season or more, depending on the property and its location. There will be the inevitable costs of doing business, including expected wear and tear. Vacationing families,...

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Four ways to encourage good behavior by your vacation rental guests.


Your rental summer vacationers are generally good people who want to do the right things when they stay at your Cape Cod vacation property. As an owner/host, you need to do the right things to encourage them to behave as you hope they will. Create the conditions for success!   Share your expectations — in writing. Guests are not mind readers. Surely, you have specific guest guidelines for your property....

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A Day at the Beach: How to Optimize Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental Guests’ Beach Experience.


Why is Cape Cod such a popular family vacation destination? Basically, it’s the beaches. So if they’re coming for the beach, what can you do as an owner/host to enhance their Cape Cod beach vacation? Beach chairs are a must. If your property is directly on the beach, you may want to furnish those Adirondack-style resin chairs. They’re comfy, pretty durable with no parts to rust and seem to hold...

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Take on pests before they take over your Cape Cod vacation rental season.


When your vacation rental guest sees a mouse or an ant in your house, you’ve got a problem. The guests want the pests gone, of course, but many guests, especially those with young children or pets, will not allow an exterminator anywhere near the place. You can offer them “green” products that are safe to use around children and pets, but it may be too little, too late.   That’s...

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Safety First! Three preventive steps a Cape Cod homeowner should take before vacation rental guests arrive.


    So you fixed the running toilet, patched the torn screens, scheduled a professional deep spring cleaning and bought some new beach chairs to replace those old rusty ones. You’re all set for the vacation rental season, right?   Not if you haven’t taken the following property management safety issues into account:   Check your insurance. If you haven’t already, ask your insurance agent or carrier if your current...

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Show us a Cape Cod house with a swimming pool, we’ll show you a lot of vacation rental guests eager to jump in.


We’re not talking about an inflatable kiddie pool. Or even a good sized above ground pool. We’re talking about a real Cape Cod rental with pool – in-ground, reasonably sized, ideally heated – with plenty of nicely landscaped and comfortably furnished outdoor living space around it. But wait a minute: We all know why people flock to the Cape each summer. Duh, it’s to go to the beautiful ocean beaches,...

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What’s the best day of the week for your Cape Cod rental turnovers?


Out of the approximately 120 properties we represent and manage for summer rentals, about 88% of the owners schedule their weekly turnovers on Saturday. Most rental guests much prefer a weekend day to start and end their Cape Cod vacation, and most of them prefer Saturday, because when they return home, it gives them an extra day to unpack, do the laundry, re-acclimate, and relax before starting the new school...

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