Top Tips for Renting Out Your Cottage This Summer

As the last of the snow melts around the province, Ontarians are beginning to shed those winter layers and think about the best season of all cottage season! If you own a cottage or country property that you are looking to rent out for all or part of the summer, the time to list it is now! So grab your Realtor, and get started on that rental ad. Here are just a few tips to get you started

Find a local Realtor
When it comes to listing, selling, and negotiating the rental agreement for your cottage property, you are going to want to work with a local agent who has a great knowledge of the area and the ability to meet potential renters to show the property. We have a fabulous team of seasoned agents in markets all around Ontario, including Muskoka, Lake of Bays, South Georgian Bay, Thousand Islands, Port Hope, Prince Edward County, Caledon and more!

Expose your property to the right audience
With the help of your Realtor, narrow down a list of some of the best sites to post your rental, keeping a keen eye on who your potential renters will be. Are you advertising your luxury family compound on Lake Joseph, or a quaint cabin in Creemore? Some, like CottageCountry.com, will charge a fee, some are completely free, like Kijiji.

Write a thrilling and thorough description
Of all the fabulous features of your cottage, potential renters will only know as much as you can tell them in a listing advertisement. Make sure that your property description is attention-grabbing, well written, and includes all pertinent information. Once again, your Realtor will be instrumental in helping to put this together.

Its all in the details
Entice renters and cut down on a lot of back-and-forth emails by providing every last detail you can about the property; from number of bedrooms, to included appliances, to square footage, and beyond. The more information you provide, the more qualified inquiries you will receive on your property.

Be a tour guide for the area
Along with all the precise details about the property itself, dont forget to mention the highlights of the region where your cottage is. Are you close to a town with restaurants and other amenities? Does your lake hold a sailing regatta? Do the surrounding hills provide excellent hiking and bike trails? Make sure to paint a picture about how the property and its surrounding area might be enjoyed.

High quality photos
A picture is worth a thousand words, so they say, and this could not be more true when it comes to listing a rental property. Many potential renters will skip right over an ad if it contains too few, or low quality images. Make sure to showcase every angle of the property with high quality, professional images.

Feature image via Georgina Ratcliffe, Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd.

This entry was posted on May 21, 2016 by Jim and Iris

Words of Appreciation

“Thank you for the memorable sales and closing experience of finding the cottage of our dreams. A perfect fit for our needs.”

I & E – Lake Muskoka cottage buyers

“Jim and Iris Gardiner were both amazing to deal with. A truly professional team. They shared a great deal of knowledge with us and really shed important light regarding potential Island Cottage ownership – all the pros and cons. Not only did they sell our existing cottage in 24 hours for much higher than our asking price they helped us find our new slice of paradise on Lake Muskoka in a very tight market. We are thrilled with our new cottage and love being on Eilean Gowan Island! We would highly recommend either Jim or Iris for any of your Real Estate needs!”

J & D – Sold on Echo Lake and bought on Lake Muskoka

Jim did me a favor 20 years ago and I wanted to return the favor – I approached him and Iris at the cottage show and, even though I already had a real estate agent, he recommended a cottage property that I purchased and enjoyed for those 20 years. I therefore, tracked him down and had him be our agent in selling that property. Our priority was to find new owners that would be friendly and fit in well with the neighbors and Jim and Iris found the perfect couple Jim and Iris made the entire sale most enjoyable. The experience was so smooth and enjoyable that the sellers, the buyers and the real estate agents all got together for supper the following summer at our old cottage!

K & L – Lake Muskoka

It is with great pleasure and appreciation for me to recommend the services of Jim Gardiner and the entire Gardiner Team. Jim’s awareness of community by-laws and market related activities extracted incremental value for us when we were finalizing the purchasing agreement.

JB – Mirror Lake

Just want to tell you that you did a fine job for me on the cottage sale on Lake Muskoka. The sale has removed a huge load from my shoulders. Iris, just a note to thank you again. Money is in the bank!!!!!!

BJ – Lake Muskoka