Purchasing an income property on Cape Cod is a great investment. Cape Cod is an extremely popular vacation destination for people of all ages and walks of life. Taking advantage of the opportunity to own your own slice of beautiful Cape Cod and make some money by renting it out is a wise financial move. Whether you own a condominium at Ocean Edge or a waterfront property in Chatham, most investment property owners will tell you that it is in your best interest to rent your property through a Cape Cod rental agency. Websites such as HomeAway make it seem easy enough to rent your property yourself, cutting out the middle man and maximizing your profit. However, most websites charge you a fee for listing your property and provide you with little to no of protection if things go wrong with your renter. You are then lost in the sea of multiple listings available on Cape Cod. Listing your property with a Cape Cod rental agency such as Leighton Rentals ultimately maximizes your rewards and minimizes risks.
Here are some of the benefits of using a rental agency to rent your investment property instead of renting your property on your own.
Check-in / Check-out
When renting your property on your own, there is no way to know who you are renting to. You also need to figure out a way to get the key of your property to each tenant. Working with a Cape Cod rental agency such as Leighton Rentals can help you with these concerns. Before a tenant arrives at your rental property, a Leighton Rentals staff member meets your tenant at one of our offices. The tenant is given two keys, the property is discussed as well as the town and any questions from the tenant are answered. At the time of check-out, the tenant again meets us at our office to turn over the keys which are kept for the next tenant check-in. Meeting with the tenants at check-out gives the tenant an opportunity to discuss any issues they may have had during their stay so it could be communicated to you, the owner and resolved before the next tenant goes to your property. This meeting also gives the rental agency the opportunity to see if the tenant is interested in renting the property again the following season, potentially booking your property again next year. Departure walkthroughs are available for some properties to ensure that your home is ready for the next tenant.
Experience
Working with a Cape Cod rental agency gives you piece of mind. Leighton Rentals has been in the rentals market since 2003, and has seen a swell in not only the number of properties we represent, but also our returning renters. Due to this increase, we have become one of the top locally owned agencies in the area. When pricing your property for rent, you want to price it appropriately to attract tenants.
The rentals manager has the experience and knowledge of the area and comparable rentals to ensure that you are charging a price for your rental that is both competitive in the market and appealing to potential tenants. Working with a Cape Cod rental agency instead of renting your property privately gives you access to the best cleaning companies in the area as well as contractors that can do work needed on your property during the high season which can be difficult to do that time of year. During the summer season, most contractors are booked which can make it difficult to find someone to fix your air conditioner, television or repair damage to your home. Leighton Rentals has a list of trusted contractors and cleaners that they have used for years and can help you coordinate the work so your property is up and running throughout the season.
Support
Tenants have needs, and they expect you as the owner or the rental agency representing the property to respond to their needs immediately. It is their vacation after all, and they paid good money to rent your property so it is only fair their issues are being addressed and resolved in a timely manner. Instead of having to run out to replace a light bulb that burned out or batteries in the remote that died, a rental agency could handle these issues for you. If there is an issue with the WiFi signal or television the rental agency can trouble shoot and involve you when necessary. It gives the tenant piece of mind to know that 7 days a week, there is someone there that can help them if there is ever an issue with the property they are renting. The Cape Cod rental agency you are working with gives the tenant a phone number to call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so if the tenant locks themselves out of your property in the middle of the night, there is someone that can let them back into the property.
Receiving and coordinating payment as an owner can be tricky. When renting with a Cape Cod real estate agency such as Leighton Rentals, that is taken care of for you so all you have to do is wait for the checks to come in. Leighton Rentals has an owner portal where you can access your owners statements, rental calendar and rental status. Leighton Rentals even offers direct deposit so you do not have to wait for a physical check to come in the mail to get paid for your rental (although you will receive a paper copy along with your direct deposit). Owners are paid on a schedule so you know exactly when you will get paid for the rental of your property. Leighton Rentals is staffed by licensed agents and an experienced accountant who can assist you with any questions you may have regarding a payment for your property.
Bookings
Working with the Leighton Rentals not only gives you the support and professional experience to successfully rent your investment property, it also gives your property the exposure necessary to have a successful rental season. More exposure means more money in your pocket! We advertise your property on our rentals website, but we also list it on multiple rental websites such as HomeAway, Flipkey, VRBO, TripAdvisor, Expedia and Cape Cod Online. Leighton Rentals stays on top of rental trends, checking out new and up and coming methods of advertising rental properties to ensure maximum exposure for their owners.
In addition to advertising on travel websites, Leighton Rentals has a social media presence and regularly campaigns via email to boost bookings by reaching out to previous tenants. Pictures of the property are updated as needed to showcase improvements on the property, and virtual 360 degree tours are taken of every property. There are also YouTube videos available, so tenants can see the property in its entirety before booking their reservation. Leighton Rentals has many inquiries on these websites year round, so there is a skilled professional who is familiar with your property marketing your investment throughout the year. Another benefit of working with the Leighton Rentals is the tenant’s ability to book your property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on our website. Leighton Rentals also offers electronic lease agreements where tenants can agree to the lease agreement immediately after booking, which decreases the number of cancellations. Renters insurance is also offered to all renters upon booking, which is very appealing to potential tenants.
Why Rent with a Cape Cod Rental Agency?
Renting your investment property with a Cape Cod rental agency such as Leighton Rentals with a bank of potential tenants and marketing your property through multiple venues is in your best interest. For a small fee, you gain the experience of a professional, increased booking potential, 24hr support for your tenant and piece of mind that your keys are safe and someone has met the people that will be in your property. Set up an appointment with the rental manager at Leighton Rentals and see what they can do to help you have a successful rental season!
