5 Helpful Tips For New Rental Homeowners

Fisher is continually expanding our rental portfolio, so if you’ve been thinking about renting your home, Lara breaks down some of the most commonly asked questions from homeowners:

Q: When is the best time to list my house for rent to maximize rental bookings?

A: Nantucket requires more advance planning than many other travel destinations. This is due to its popularity and factors such as ferry reservations, which open up in January. Listing your house for rent in the early fall for the following summer is best. This will ensure that your Nantucket vacation rental home is being viewed on fishernantucket.com well in advance of our busy booking season, which is in the wintertime. 

Q: What is Fisher’s intake process?

A: First, an agent will set up a time to visit your house to get a sense of the location, layout, and amenities. We have a packet of paperwork for new rental homeowners that one of our agents can help fill out. It consists of a rental agency contract that spells out our duties, a property information section, tax forms, and calendar & rates which we can help you with based on comparable rental properties. If your home was built prior to 1978, you will also be required to fill out a lead paint disclosure form. If you have great photos of your house, you can share them with us, otherwise we can arrange to take photos.

Q: How can I prepare my house for rental photography?

A: Houses should be professionally cleaned before photos are taken. Your cleaners should go the extra mile to ensure that everything is just so – this includes fluffing pillows, evening out bedding and curtains, and straightening up items on shelves and tabletops. If your outdoor furniture, deliveries, or other miscellaneous personal items are stacked inside for winter storage, it is not time for photos. Along the same lines, exterior photos should be taken in spring when landscaping is in bloom, outdoor furniture is set up, and the pool is open if you have one. The house, inside and out, should look like it is ready for renters to check in. In some cases we have no other choice but to snap a few photographs in the off-season, but one of our agents will work with you to upgrade photos so your property is shown in its best light.

Q: Do you have specific standards for rental houses?

A: Each rental house has its own history and personality and provides for a unique experience for its guests. Our rentals range from brand new modern houses to charming historic cottages. Renting a house is not meant to mimic a hotel experience (see our blog on why a vacation rental beats a resort stay!) but we aim to have rental homes reflect the same level of maintenance and care as a hotel, no matter its age or style. One of our agents can share our minimum furnishings list, which addresses amenities like kitchen appliances, beach gear, linens, and cleaning supplies. Please don’t hesitate to lean on us for advice if you are thinking of making upgrades to your home – whether it’s a simple refresh of some furnishings and decor or a more serious renovation, we are happy to have a conversation with you about concepts that work best!

Q: Is there anything I can do to attract more renters?

A: Many guests are driven by location, but a close second is the condition and amenities of a house. Air conditioning, comfortable furnishings, updated linens, beach chairs, and usable outdoor space help keep people coming back. Getting the renters is only half of it – keeping renters coming back is the ultimate goal. Another way to garner more bookings is by offering a discount for multi-week bookings.

If you enjoyed reading this blog, click below for another rental blog that I recently wrote.