If you’ve lived in Laguna Beach for any amount of time, then you already know the tourist trade is hopping. If you have a beach house or guest cottage, you might consider putting it up for rent during the peak tourist season.
However, there’s a little more to renting out a guest cottage than just slapping a sign out front and taking people’s money for the week. First, you need to prepare your cottage to be rented and make it friendly and appealing to tourists. So, how can you get that cottage ready? Read on to find out.
Make All Necessary Repairs
If you want renters to pay top-dollar to rent your cottage, then you’re going to have to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. That means making all necessary repairs. For example, suppose the insulation in the attic has been there since it was built years ago. In that case, you’re going to need to schedule someone to come out and perform attic insulation removal, then replace it with new insulation.
The same for the roof and floors. If the carpets are worn and cleaning just won’t do, replace them. If the roof is leaking or old, replace fix it. The more money you put into fixing up the cottage, the more money you’ll be able to get for rent.
Install an Outdoor Shower
If your cottage is on the beach, or at least close to it, installing an outdoor shower only makes good sense. No one wants to come back from the beach and track wet sand into the cottage. Putting in an outdoor shower lets your renters rinse off before going inside and saves your carpets from getting sand trampled into them at the same time.
Keep Connected
Believe it or not, not every beach cottage is internet friendly, and people want to stay connected. So hook up the internet and cable in your beach cottage, and you’re more apt to rent to tourists than the people with the cottage down the road who don’t have it.
Today, Wi-Fi is almost a necessity, so why wouldn’t you want to provide that to your guests?
Provide Security
The world we live in isn’t as safe as it once was, and your renters will more than likely be in a strange place. If you provide a security system to keep them safe, they’ll be more likely to rent from you and come again.
Provide Protection Against the Elements
Whether it’s a hurricane, tropical storm, or just an afternoon thunder boomer, when you have a cottage on the coast, you must be prepared and protected against the elements. Make sure to install hurricane shutters and high-impact windows on your cottage before you rent it out. These windows will help with your electric bills as well, so it’s something to think about.
Your renters will see that you’re taking steps to protect them in case bad weather happens and be willing to come to revisit you when they’re in the area.
Install a Pool
Just because tourists are at the beach on vacation doesn’t mean that they like the beach. Many people don’t enjoy the salt, sand, and waves and would prefer to just hang out by the pool on vacation, all across Southern California from San Diego to Palm Springs and even Santa Monica hotels compete to have the best possible pools, but you know what always beats a hotel pool? A private pool! Should you install a pool in your cottage’s backyard, then renters will have the option of swimming in the pool or going to the beach whenever they like.
When you’re looking for the best ways to make your beach cottage appealing to tourists in Laguna Beach, following the tips above will go a long way to making your dream come true.
