| Owning a Whistler rental property: it’s about | | | | rental management companies—who often |
| realizing a dream. But it’s also about sustaining | | | | demand your participation with them be exclusive) |
| yourself long enough to enjoy the dream. While | | | | - Charge whatever you’d like, and receive 100% |
| some relish the idea of relinquishing control of their | | | | of the profits |
| real estate investment and letting someone else do | | | | The Cons of Trying Direct-Rentals |
| the dirty work, others prefer to take matters in to | | | | Much like any project undertaken without external |
| their own hands. | | | | support, doing direct-rentals in Whistler can be |
| In our last article, we assessed the pros and cons of | | | | overwhelming: |
| using a rental manager to handle the ins and outs of | | | | - Complete control means more tasks to accomplish |
| renting out your Whistler vacation home. We | | | | and duties to juggle |
| discussed marketing, emergencies, reservations and | | | | - Responsibility to process payments, refund damage |
| commissioned nightly rentals. Of course, using a rental | | | | deposits and field complaints |
| manager is not the only option. | | | | - Process of attracting and screening guest |
| Today, we’ll hit the other end of the spectrum | | | | - Organizing cleaning rotations, emergency contacts |
| and discuss the parameters of direct-rentals. | | | | and maintenance |
| Whistler Direct-Rentals: Breaking Down the Expensive | | | | Where Do Homeowners Advertise Their Whistler |
| Wall Between Owners and Guests | | | | Properties? |
| Owner-direct rentals are exactly what they sound | | | | Doing direct-rentals does not necessarily mean relying |
| like: owners renting their properties directly to | | | | on word of mouth or community bulletin boards to |
| Whistler guests. Instead of using a rental manager to | | | | communicate the availability of your Whistler |
| entice customers, owners undertake the task | | | | property. Many owners use online directories to help |
| themselves. They advertise their property, screen | | | | with the marketing of their properties, and others |
| guests, update their reservation calendars, collect | | | | employ online software to manage their |
| payments and are completely responsible for the | | | | administrative tasks. An example of online directories |
| guests’ experiences in their home. | | | | that support owner-direct rentals include: |
| Owners have complete control over how often a | | | | - Owner Direct Vacations |
| guest rents their property and must employ their | | | | - - Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO) |
| own resourcefulness to advertise their vacancies and | | | | - Home Away |
| maintain their property. | | | | Each business varies in its commitment to customer |
| The Pros of Trying Direct-Rentals | | | | service for both Whistler property owners and those |
| Many of the pros associated with trying direct-rentals | | | | looking to book Whistler accommodations. It’s up |
| have to do with asserting control over your Whistler | | | | to you to decide if owner-direct rentals are for you, |
| property. | | | | and whether you’ll need an external business to |
| - Control over guest screening and enhanced peace | | | | turn your money making potential into a profitable |
| of mind | | | | real estate venture. |
| - No fees to pay to a rental manager | | | | Be sure to read our third and final article about |
| - Personalized calendar—only rent when you want | | | | Whistler property management, where we outline |
| to or need to | | | | the pros and cons of owner-assistant rentals in |
| - Multiple advertising options (unregulated by a strict | | | | Whistler. |