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7 mistakes to avoid when renting out a vacation home

7 mistakes to avoid when renting out a vacation home

Owning a vacation home is a luxury that can also be a lucrative investment. Many people who own vacation homes let the property pay for itself by renting it out. It’s a great way to earn money, but it can also be slightly tricky, considering one will be letting strangers live in their home. To get the best out of the investment, here are some common mistakes to avoid when renting out a vacation home.

Taking on too much responsibility
Putting a vacation home up for rent is a lot of work, especially for one person. Outsource the work instead; make use of apps for accounting and apps to fill vacancies to simplify the process. Hire a maintenance crew to clean up after each renter leaves or a property manager to check up on things while the house lies vacant and prepare it for the next renter.

Wrong and inflexible pricing
Pricing is everything. In a high tourist-traffic area, keeping the prices too high could deter potential renters, while low pricing could send a barrage of queries, which will take ages to sort through. Consider the location, the scope of the property, and, of course, the demand. Events near the home, proximity to seasonal holiday spots and famous landmarks all determine the cost of rent. Keeping an open mind regarding flexible pricing will go a long way in determining a constant flow of interested renters.

Not having vacation rental insurance
Short-term rental insurance is great for homeowners looking to rent out their vacation homes. It covers potential liabilities that could occur while the home is being rented out. Standard short-term rental insurance covers theft and liability, guest liability, and property insurance. What short-term insurance does not cover is intentional damage, damage to the guest’s property, and wear and tear. Not having this insurance leaves one open to a lot of liability that could result in hefty payments.

Not considering laws
Laws and by-laws differ from state to state, and these need to be studied well to rent out a vacation home legally. Consult a real estate lawyer to understand the legalities of owning a vacation rental home and the rules, regulations, and laws that could apply when it comes to noise offenses, illegal parking, and garbage disposal. Also, look into the area’s occupancy limitations, procedures, and regulations for registration and tax collection.

Not having a rental agreement
Renting out a home may be a lucrative venture, but it could turn into an expensive one if the rental agreement is not clear and precise. A real estate lawyer can help draw up the agreement in accordance with the area’s codes and regulations to protect one from any kind of liability, unforeseen expenses, or even difficult, unruly renters.

Skimping on maintenance
Maintaining the home and the attached property, if any, will allow for a great first impression. Simply expecting the renters to leave a clean home is not an option, and one must always have a backup plan, like a professional cleaning service, to spruce up the place before the next set of renters arrives. Alternatively, consider hiring a professional property manager to handle bookings, maintenance, and guest communications.

Not focusing on marketing and advertising
The most luxurious homes won’t have any takers if no one knows about them! Get the word out there through listings on booking websites and social media. Create a great-looking profile with vivid, high-quality, attractive photographs of the property accompanied by tastefully written copy to ensure the listing gets the right kind of attention.

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Think of the human body as a car. Pouring the cheapest gasoline (unhealthy food) in a car can damage the engine (bodily organs). Instead, if you can take care of yourself by committing to fitness via proper nutrition, it can take you a long way. In a recent study, it was found that approximately 55 percent of people derive daily calories from refined and processed foods. This can be counterproductive as these foods are full of unhealthy fats and devoid of essential nutrients. How are fitness and nutrition related to each other? Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand. Consuming foods containing healthy nutrients enables your body to function in a way conducive to physical and mental well-being. You may find yourself becoming more active, and burning calories off in a healthy manner. If you continue to maintain an exercise routine without getting adequate nutrition, it will have an adverse effect. So, here are some useful tips that can help you to be at the top of your health game: Keep a tab on your calories This is one of the smartest tips to stay healthy. Several diet plans focus on the number of calories that need to be eaten each day.
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Hearing loss, deafness, or impairment is the partial or total inability to hear sounds. People with low to moderate hearing impairment face challenges in understanding what the other person is saying in a noisy environment. Whereas, people with severe deafness cannot hear anything, and rely completely on lip-reading and sign language skills. There are three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and a combination of both. Let’s understand these types in detail and learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of each type. Sensorineural hearing loss It’s the most common type of hearing loss. Sensorineural is permanent hearing loss often caused by damage to the tiny hair cells that line the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The damage stops or weakens the transfers of nerve signals to the brain. These signals are essentially the intensity and clarity of sounds. Causes: Aging and exposure to loud noises for a long period of time are the most common cause of the damage. Certain medications and illnesses can also increase risks. It can even be genetic, and pass on to the child in the mother’s womb. Treatment: There is no medical or surgical treatment available to repair the tiny hair cells once they’re damaged.
Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

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The heart is the most crucial organ in the body and as the system will cease to function if the heart stops or loses momentum pumping fresh oxygenated blood. This is why it is vital to not neglect your heart health at all and responsibly maintain a healthy, stress-free, and more importantly, a happy lifestyle. Here are a few simple lifestyle changes that will help support a healthy heart function. Switch to a healthy diet Avoid eating foods that are rich in trans and saturated fats. Most foods you find on the shelves of the supermarket contain large quantities of one or the other. Instead, switch to low-fat high fiber alternatives to help manage cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level in the body automatically reduces the risk of heart diseases. The simple reason for this is that fats that normally block major arteries and blood vessels are eliminated from these foods choices. It is also advisable to limit the salt (sodium) intake to control blood pressure and sugar to reduce the risk of diabetes simultaneously. Change certain lifestyle habits Reduce the number of alcoholic or carbonated drinks you have regularly. For men, it is advisable to have not more than two drinks and day and women must have only one.

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