Monday, January 27, 2014

Purchasing the “Right” Home for a Vacation Rental Property

Finding just the right home at the Lake of the Ozarks can be a challenge.  Purchasing the wrong home can cost you a lot of money, money that may be hard or impossible to recoup.  The right home can bring in $20,000.00 to $100,000.00 per year in gross rental income.  Those numbers depend on three essentials: location, size and amenities.

Location


Location, location, location could not be more true here at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Since I am more familiar with the East side of the Lake (Osage Beach, Horseshoe Bend and the North Shore) those are the areas that I will focus on.

Most rental inquires (for us 98%) are for the Osage Beach/Lake Ozark area and most of them want to stay somewhere between the 7 and 22 mile markers.  The home you’re looking for must be a waterfront home at Lake of the Ozarks and have at least some sort of Lake view. Please note that there are certain areas here at the Lake that do not allow the nightly rental of homes.  Your Realtor should be able to help you identify those areas.  You do not want to purchase a home only to find out that you cannot use it as a vacation rental. 

Size


Once you narrow down the location you can move on to step two:  Size.  And size does matter when it comes to a vacation rental home.  In our current economy, families are looking to save money.  One way to save money is to share a rental home with another family.  As a general rule, the more bedrooms, the more you can charge per night and the more rental nights you will receive.  Over the last five years our three bedroom homes have averaged around $7-$10K in gross income, four bedroom homes around $12-$22K and five bedroom homes $35-$55K and there is about a 30% to 50% increase in average rental nights each time you add a bedroom.

Amenities


Finally you need to look for the best possible amenities.  The perfect home would have a great view, attached garage, a driveway that isn't too steep, only a few steps down to the dock with at least two large boat slips (not having a dock is a deal killer for a private home), an open floor plan, four plus bedrooms, plenty of dining, a large deck, a game or family room, good sized kitchen, extra parking, three plus bathrooms and no real close neighbors.

If you’re in the market and looking for a great rental property at the Lake of the Ozarks or think you might have a great potential rental property, don’t hesitate to give me a call.  I would love to speak with you!  Happy renting and have a great day!

Russell Burdette is the owner of Your Lake Vacation, a professional vacation rental management company at the Lake of the Ozarks since 1986.  If you would like more info on renting your home or condo as a vacation rental, please call 573-365-3367 or e-mail russell@yourlakevacation.com.

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!

YourLakeVacation.com
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  


Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

Monday, January 20, 2014

Bring Your Golf Buddies to the Lake of the Ozarks

Book Your 2014 Spring Golf Packages Now!


Spring is just around the corner and that means Golf Season!  The beautiful Lake of the Ozarks is home to many golf courses that all golfers are sure to love!  Check out some of our featured courses below and call us to set up your 2014 Golf Getaway at Lake of the Ozarks!

The Ridge 


Now considered one of the finest courses in the Ozarks, The Ridge Course at the Lodge of Four Seasons opened in 1991.  The course features beautiful scenery with panoramic views of the Lake.  Its hills and valleys boast more than 180 feet of elevation change, natural rock walls and a spring-fed lake.  The design incorporates multiple tee complexes allowing players of all skill levels to enjoy the game.

The Oaks at Tan-Tar-A


World renowned architects Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge designed this beautiful course at the Lake of the Ozarks.  The championship layout, carved out of the natural Ozark hills, places a premium on accurate shots and strategic course management.  The beautiful Bermuda and Zoysia fairways with multiple tee boxes create a unique atmosphere perfect of the advanced as well as the beginner.  Its undulating Bentgrass greens, breathtaking elevation changes and scenic views of the Lake make this course a must play on your next Golf Trip at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Hidden Lakes at Tan-Tar-A


This championship course has been ranked by USA Today as one of the best nine-hole courses in the U.S.  It's features include lush zoysia fairways and large bentgrass greens perfect of the expert golfer or the average family.

Osage National 


An additional nine holes have been added to the course since Arnold Palmer's 1992 design, creating three 18-hole combinations atop Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens.  The course is laid out on beautifully forested, rolling terrain, surrounded by lakes, creeks and the imposing bluffs of the Osage River.  The tranquil setting provides the backdrop for a challenging, enjoyable golf experience.

Old Kinderhook 


Tom Weiskopf designed this meandering masterpiece course of the Ozark hills, turning the rolling topography, rock waterfalls and flowering trees into one of the Midwest's finest courses.  Each hole captures a special aspect of the terrain, offering an experience to delight golfers of all skill levels.

For more information about Golf Courses at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit www.golfingmissouri.com or give us a call at 573-365-3367 and ask for golf expert Jeremy!

Come and enjoy yourself because we have your golf and lodging at Lake of the Ozarks covered! Reservations are booking up fast for Spring Golf at the Lake of the Ozarks.  So give us a call at 573-365-3367 to get your golf package quote today!

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!

YourLakeVacation.com
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  


Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

How to Choose a Vacation Rental Manager

Things to Think About Before Handing Your Home Over to A Property Manager


You have a second home or condo at the Lake of the Ozarks and you realize that you are not using it as much as you thought you would, or you have decided that you want to off-set some of your expenses for that property.  Now what do you do?

Finding the right company to manage your vacation rental property at the Lake of the Ozarks can make a big difference in your overall experience.  Are you just looking for some additional income or do you want to make as much money as possible?  Whatever your situation, you need to make your expectations clear when you are interviewing potential managers.

Experience. 


Obviously experience counts.  Find out how long they have been managing property and how successful they have been in renting properties similar to yours? Beware of any company that promises a certain number of rental night’s or income; however, a good company will be able to give you potential income/number of rental nights based on their past history with similar properties.

Services. 


What types of support services do they offer?  Do they offer housekeeping, maintenance, interior design, AC & appliance repair or landscaping and yard work and are they available 24/7?  Since this is your second home, maybe you don't visit it enough to catch those small maintenance issues that pop up.  Often times not fixing those issues right away could lead to bigger problems down the road. And do you dread cleaning up after yourself while you are on vacation?  Having a housekeeper through your management company, allows you to relax and enjoy your second home.  Having someone to monitor your second home year round will ease your mind while you are away.


Marketing. 


Next you will want to ask how they market their properties.  Do they provide plenty of pictures, virtual tours, videos and information about their properties?  Do they utilize social media, digital marketing and e-blasts.  Is their website easy to navigate and is the presentation professional?  In addition to their website, how else do they advertise their properties?

Damage Control. 


Since damage is always a possibility, how do they screen their potential guests?  How do they handle damages?  Do they offer damage protection?  Have them give you examples of past damages and how they handled the situations.

Other Properties. 


Some companies rent their properties on a rotating basis.  If you have a nice property or a great location, companies using this procedure should be avoided.  Your hard work, décor, amenities and location should be allowed to work in your favor.  A company that presents all of their properties in the same manner and allows your features to sell your property to potential renters is your best bet. Wouldn’t you want to be able to choose if you were a guest and not have to take the next unit in line?

Reputation. 


Your potential manager should also have good ethics and be truthful about the potential for your property.  Do they have a good reputation?  Do they belong to other professional organizations? You should be able to get references from current owners as well as from other professionals within the Lake Area community.  And finally, you should feel at ease and be comfortable with the potential manager.

Russell Burdette is the owner of Your Lake Vacation, a professional vacation rental management company at the Lake of the Ozarks since 1986.  If you would like more info on renting your home or condo as a vacation rental, please call 573-365-3367 or e-mail russell@yourlakevacation.com.


For more information please call us at  1-877-284-0267!!

YourLakeVacation.com
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  


Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Google+

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Vacation at the Lake with our 2014 Early Bird Special

Save on Your Summer Vacation When You Book Now! 


Book your Summer 2014 Lake of the Ozark Vacation Reservations with us by February 14th and save 10% on the rental fee!  In addition, if you make your 50% deposit by February 14th you will also receive your choice of $50.00 to $100.00 in Boat Rental Credit or Dining/Grocery Gift Cards.  Minimum night requirements apply, please call 877-284-0267 for details!

Each year our guests start booking earlier and earlier and we want to make sure that you get the Lake of the Ozarks vacation property you want, for the dates you want!  Below you will find the two new homes we have acquired for this upcoming year!

Blackhawk Inn


Check out the newest addition to our family: Blackhawk Inn! This 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath waterfront home in Lake of the Ozarks features 3 levels, complete with huge deck space, an incredible view and BBQ pit and hot tub overlooking the Lake!  During the summer, you get access to an additional 2 bedroom, 1 bath guest house adjacent to the home at no additional cost! As well as access to the community pool, community boat launch and 2 - 12 x 32 boat slips for your use!

For more information, visit our website: www.yourlakevacation.com or contact one of our sales associates at 573-365-3367 or by email at rentals@yourlakevacation.com!

Three Oaks Estates


Fun for the whole family!  New to our program this year is this 6 bedroom, 6 bath duplex that sleeps up to 16 people! Located on the west side in Gorilla Cove at the 24 mile marker, Paradise Restaurant right around the corner!  For more information, visit our website: www.yourlakevacation.com or contact one of our sales associates at 573-365-3367 or by email at rentals@yourlakevacation.com!


We have a wide variety of Lake of the Ozarks vacation rentals available - we would love to help you find the one!  Check out our homes and condos online at www.YourLakeVacation.com.

For more information please call us at  1-877-284-0267!!

YourLakeVacation.com
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  


Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Google+