For years you dreamed of owning a vacation home at the beach, maybe even in Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, or some other part of Carteret County. But now that you have one, you find you don’t use it as much as you thought you would. Why not rent it every now and then to make a little bit of extra money?
For those that are new to owning a vacation rental property, here are some tips for building or remodeling a home that will be rented out to tourists:
Lockable Storage Space For Owners
If you plan to make this a short-term rental property, you’ll likely still be using the home, just not as your primary residence. Including a lockable storage space is a must-have. This could be as simple as locking up a hallway closet or taking on a big project like adding a storage shed to your property.
Either way, you won’t have to haul your personal items back and forth each time you visit your vacation home, and you won’t have to worry about your renters getting into your belongings.
Resilient Flooring – A Beach House Must
The floors in a beach home get wet, sandy, and take a beating. As an investment property, you will want to install something that looks good while requiring little maintenance.
Luckily, there are plenty of good choices in flooring materials. Believe it or not, hardwood is an excellent choice because it stands up to a great deal of punishment, and it looks great. It does require some maintenance to keep it looking good, however.
Luxury Vinyl Plank has become a popular option since it can be made to look like wood or tile while being durable, waterproof, and easy to clean. Another added benefit is that it won’t warp, so you won’t have to worry as much about wet feet wrecking your floor.
Ceramic tile is another excellent choice for your beach house since there are so many styles to choose from. Tile is also easy to clean and comes at many different price points depending on your budget.
Plenty of Outdoor Space For Renters
If you’re considering spending time and money-making improvements to the property with the intention of drawing vacationers in, it is wise to make that investment in your outdoor space.
Most people renting on the North Carolina coast, or really any beach location for that matter, want to be outside in the salty ocean air. Give them a good place to sit and include covered spaces like a pergola or covered patio where they can enjoy being outside but not out in the hot, bright sun.
If you have the room to allow for it, you can include a fire pit or outdoor kitchen space to optimize your outdoor living area. When owning a vacation rental, this really is a big plus for renters.
Low Maintenance Deck
Along with providing a great outdoor space, is investing in a low-maintenance deck with enough space for your renters to relax and enjoy the view. After all, that is one of the main attractions to the Carolina beaches.
Your deck will take a beating from the weather, so it is vital to take the time to use quality materials that don’t need to be refinished multiple times a year. This is important with any real estate investment.
Consider using composite decking material. It may be more expensive at the beginning, but it won’t need to be replaced as often and it’s relatively maintenance-free. It also doesn’t need to be refinished or re-painted, and time spent refinishing the deck is time that you don’t get rental income.
Energy Efficient Rental Property
Investing in energy-efficient construction is excellent for the environment as well as your pocketbook.
Renters aren’t exactly known for being conscientious about energy use, and they tend to run the air conditioner much more than they would at their own homes. The more energy-efficient your vacation property is built, the more effectively it will keep the cool air in, and the less your AC unit will have to run.
Other Considerations For Owning A Vacation Rental
If you’re considering buying a vacation rental just for the investment, think about using a vacation rental management company to manage the property. They help keep an eye on things when you are not around and they know the ins and outs of the vacation rental industry.
That’s the basics. If you’d like more information on building a vacation home, updating your beach house, or making changes to your property to use it as a rental, give us a call! We work with many vacation rental owners and can help you make choices that will keep your guests happy and help you get a good return on your investment.