NC Real Estate & Cabin Rentals

Last week I started my blog about What Makes a Successful Vacation Cabin Rental - Part 1, by focusing on Location and Cabin Floor Plan/Layout.

I get that question "What Makes a Successful Vacation Cabin Rental" so often from our vacationers who enjoy this area of Western North Carolina (right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) so much. They want to investigate rental property management, that is, purchasing a cabin that they can turn around and rent when they aren't here for their Carolina Mountain Vacations.

So, you have identified a cabin that meets your first two selection criteria for successful vacation cabins:
1) Location: in the right location to be attractive to vacationers, e.g. near attractions, mountainviews, creekside, etc.
2) Inviting, open floor plan and right number of bedrooms for your target market.  Now, it’s time to address what amenities are most important for vacation cabins, and how to decorate them for maximum “screen to curb appeal”.

We manage over 60 vacation cabins and have more than a decade of experience in this specific mountain vacation market. Here is what we’ve learned:

The most important amenities: (Remember, the fewer the amenities you have, the smaller the target market your cabin appeals to.)

1. A Hot Tub is a MUST. Period.
2. Here’s why, even in the height of summer: Water activities are big spring through fall in our vacation market. Even in heat of summer, a hot tub is appreciated after the cold water of the Nantahala River rafting, Deep Creek tubing, or other cool lakes and mountain streams.
3. We have found that people may not have time for hot tubs at home, but they definitely make time to enjoy hot tubs on vacation. Vacationers expect to get a hot tub when they rent a mountain vacation cabin. One of our new luxury homeowners experienced this in spades this spring:

The Nantahala River Retreat, is a new luxury home that had no hot tub. Well, the house sat there for 60 days until the homeowner put in the hot tub.  As soon as the hot tub went in, Yellow Rose booked 4-5 weeks worth of reservations in one and a half weeks alone! Don’t you want that working for YOU?!

Fireplace: Gas fireplaces are indeed better than wood ones because gas fireplaces minimize wear and tear in the home, guests don’t always understand to open the damper in a wood fireplace, etc. I encourage homeowners to replace wood fireplaces for gas ones if they are turning the cabin into a rental.

Dining seating capability: if sleeps 8 must have same # of seating for all that number. sitting down to share a meal together is really really important on vacation time. Remember, your cabin is a silent facilitator of vacationers’ Quality Time.

Furniture:

1. I get asked what kind of beds are most preferred. Can you guess? Yes, king size beds are truly preferred. Trundle beds for extra sleeping are useful, twin beds are good for an extra bedroom but not for main bedrooms because it limits couples.
2. Futons are better than sleeper sofas. Sleeper sofas without springs are better than those with springs.
3. Sofas, chairs, recliners, dining/kitchen tables, etc.: Go for comfortable. You want guests to see furniture that invites them to relax in it.
4. Pool table or game room is a great advantage. Again, folks may not play much at home, but on vacation they will use them.

Decks/Porches and What’s On Them:
These are Quality Time amenities! Think socializing and relaxing. Vacationers to our beautiful mountain area want to enjoy the outdoors and each other on their vacation. Anything that facilitates this is helpful.

1. Rocking chairs, good seating on porch, hammock, porch swings, double gliders, etc.
2. Table(s) (with enough seating!) for eating out, with umbrella for shade or covered porch.
3. Good grill is essential.
4. Some yard is helpful, but the porch is the big thing. The yard is a bigger benefit to families with young children.

Vacation Amenities: Convenience is Key

1. Dishwasher
2. Washer/Dryer
3. Microwave, Toaster/Toaster Oven, other small kitchen appliances
4. A kitchen stocked with enough pots, pans, place settings, mixing bowls, and storage bags/plastic wrap/foil for leftovers. Vacationers will cook in your cabin; make it easy for them to do so! It is frustrating to try to cook a nice meal for your family on vacation when you don’t have the right “equipment”.
5. Satellite TV, DVD Player, Alarm Clocks
6. Stereo or music channels through the satellite TV. And/or, how about a portable speaker set for Ipods/MP3 Players?
7. High Speed Internet: While this is a really attractive amenity to offer guests, depending on your cabin location, it may not be very realistic. DSL is still not widely available in our mountainous, sparsely populated area. Satellite Internet is available, at greater cost. If your vacation home is managed by Yellow Rose, you get access to free wireless at our Bryson City office (conveniently in the middle of town with easy access). Wireless access is free for renters and homeowners.

Interior Decorating:
Successful vacation cabins have great “first impression appeal”. In other words, they immediately convey the feeling of a warm, comfortable mountain home, perfect for vacation.  It’s what I call "Screen to Curb" Appeal. We all know what “curb appeal” is with homes for sale. Well, nowadays, most vacationers will find your home online, so your “screen appeal” needs to be exceptional, in order to attract renters to choose your cabin over others.  How do you accomplish this?

1. Mountain décor. Leave the floral prints and seashell lamptables at the beach, and decorate your home with art and colors that blend well with our Appalachian mountain landscape and sensibilities. Your guests want to feel like they are indeed in the mountains.
2. Wall hangings and/or pictures are important. Don’t try to save some money by sparsely “decorating” the cabin. Attractive walls can be as powerful as furniture and layout in online pictures.
3. Green plants are warm and inviting. Can’t have real ones? Go for a synthetic arrangement (at least for pictures), and maybe offer fresh plants/flowers for each visitor. You can bet guests will appreciate this.

Follow our tried and true guidelines and you are on your way to a successful vacation cabin rental. Good luck!