Tuesday, May 29, 2018

5 FAQs About Vacation Rental Management

In today's blog, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the most common questions that we get asked by owners looking for a vacation rental manager at the Lake of the Ozarks. Below is a list of the most popular questions from over the last 14 years of speaking with over 400 potential owners.

1. How Much Do You Charge? 


This is usually the first question that I get asked. The amount a vacation rental manager charges will vary from company to company, and should depend of the level of services they offer, experience and the type of results they can deliver. For our area, the fee is typically between 25-40% of the gross rental fee.

2. What Services Do You Offer? 


Most companies offer the same basic services; it is the other services that separate the men from the boys. You should be asking if they inspect their properties prior to guest arrival, if they inspect the cleaning, if they offer landscaping, maintenance, decorating assistance, pest control, etc. Find out what you are getting for what you are paying.

3. How Do You Advertise? 


My guess is that most vacation rental companies at the Lake of the Ozarks, like us, do the bulk of their advertising on the internet. Some companies who charge a lower percentage make you pay for your ads on the top vacation rental websites in addition to their management fee. As a large rental company, we spent a lot of money on advertising and we don't charge extra to place your property on the top vacation rental websites. We also have an extensive past guest list or more than 8,000 names that we e-mail on a monthly basis.

4. Why Do I Have to Have Keyless Entry? 


This is one of the few costs to be on our program, but one of our most essential requirements. Our own internal research has shown that 100% of our guests would rather have keyless entry than to have to pick up keys, keep track of keys and then return keys when their rental is over. I recently had a potential owner say that the reason he didn't choose us was because the other company wasn't going to make him change his keyed lock. They would just use the lock he had. We were unwilling to compromise on providing great customer service to our guests.

5. What About Damages? 


Many owners are concerned about their property getting damaged. I completely understand their concerns. Stranger are in your home or condo at the Lake of the Ozarks, and maybe they won't take the best care of it. Most vacation rental companies charge a deposit, get a credit card on file or have a damage protection plan. We get a card, offer the damage protection plan and it has worked great for the last 14 years, as we have had minimal damages with over 10,000 rentals and counting.

Do you have other questions about renting your property as a vacation rental with us? Give us a call at 573-365-3367. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our rental program. Your Lake Vacation is here to help our owners and our guests have a wonderful experience with vacation rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Nightly Vacation Rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks: 

We make it simple. Paperless. Keyless. Stress-less. 
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  
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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Memorial Day Fireworks at the Lake of the Ozarks

Whether you're ready for summer or not, Memorial Day Weekend is here to kick off the season! This is a special time of year to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives serving our country. This bittersweet holiday weekend offers both a time for solemn remembrance for the fallen and a celebration of what America stands for. All across the country, communities will host parades, concerts and of course, amazing firework displays. Keep reading to learn where you can view this year's Memorial Day fireworks at the Lake of the Ozarks!



Memorial Day Firework Displays 


A holiday weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks just wouldn't be the same without some fireworks! During your Memorial Day Weekend stay with us, be sure to check out one or more of these great firework displays:

Bear Bottom Resort

Saturday, May 26th at 9:45 PM
View by land at Bear Bottom Resort, 123 Bear Bottom Drive in Sunrise Beach, or by water at the 38 MM. Parking is limited, so be sure to arrive early. Call 573-374-6905 for more details.
Photo Credit: FunLake.com

The Inn at Grand Glaize 

Sunday, May 27th at Dusk 
View by land at the Inn at Grand Glaize,5142 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, or by water at the 1 MM of the Grand Glaize Arm. Call 573-348-4731 for more details.

Tan-Tar-A Resort 

Sunday, May 27th from 8:30-9:30 PM (Dusk) 
Viewing by land is reserved for resort guests only, but you can view them by water at the 26 MM. Call 573-348-3131 for more details.

Tropic Island Cruise 

Sunday, May 27th at 7:30 PM 
Boarding begins at 7:30 PM, and you will then cruise out to the 26 MM to view Tan-Tar-A's firework display. Call 573-348-8550 for reservations or more details.

The Lodge of Four Seasons 

Sunday, May 27th at Dusk 
View the Lodge's firework display by water at the 13 MM. Call 573-365-3000 for more details.

We currently still have availability for the holiday weekend. If you've been thinking about a last minute trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, we've got your accommodations covered! Give us a call at 573-365-3367 today and come join us for Memorial Day Weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks. If you've already booked your reservations, we can't wait to see you and we hope you have a fun and safe holiday weekend at the Lake!

Nightly Vacation Rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks: 

We make it simple. Paperless. Keyless. Stress-less. 
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  
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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA

Monday, May 14, 2018

Long Term vs Nightly Rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks

At Your Lake Vacation, we frequently get asked whether it's better to rent a particular property as a Lake of the Ozarks vacation rental or as a long term rental. The answer to that question is usually, "it depends." Or "what do you mean by better?" Keep reading to learn more about the differences between nightly rentals and long term rentals.

Vacation Property at the Lake of the Ozarks 


The first question that I ask someone is, "Do  you want to use the property?" If you want to use the property at all for your own vacation, then you've already answered your question, unless you can find a long term renter who will let you hang out with them for a week or so every year!

If you are not going to use the property at all, then the next question becomes, "Do you want to manage it yourself or have someone else manage the property? It is easier to manage a long term rental yourself than to manage a vacation rental. After you have answered that question, then it becomes the simple question of economics. In other words, how can you get the best return on your investment?

Long Term vs Nightly Rentals 


Let's look at a three bedroom condo in Osage Beach for an example. A quick look at the long term rental market for a three bedroom condo in Osage Beach is showing an average rental price of around $1,000 per month. That would be a gross income of $12,000 per year. Last year, our best renting three bedroom condos in Osage Beach averaged $18,500 in rental income. Therefore, if you were going to manage the property yourself,  you could potentially receive more income from vacation rentals even after paying the electric bill (which long term tenants usually pay, but vacationing guests do not). Otherwise, you would have approximately the same expenses for the property regardless of how you  rented it.

Hiring a Property Manager 


If you hire a property manager at the Lake of the Ozarks, you would pay around 15% for long term management and based on the above numbers, that would leave you a net income of $10,200. For vacation rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks, you would pay around 35%, which would leave you a net income of $9,625 after paying the manager and the electric (based on $200 per month for electric). So essentially, it would be break even at that point, except with the vacation rental, you could still use the property for personal vacations vs not being able to use it if it was rented as a long term rental. You then just need to decide if it's worth less than $600 per year to not be able to use your property?

Most of our owners want to use their home or condo as their own vacation rental property and then rent it to help off-set their costs. The majority of vacation rental properties do not make a profit but their income does allow them to have a second home or condo and take care of the majority of their expenses.

For more information on turning your second home at the Lake into a vacation rental, give us a call at 573-365-3367. Your Lake Vacation has been serving guests and helping owners with professional vacation rental management services at the Lake of the Ozarks since 1986, and we would love to help you too!

Nightly Vacation Rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks: 

We make it simple. Paperless. Keyless. Stress-less. 
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  
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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA

Friday, May 11, 2018

13 Mother's Day Fun Facts

It's Mother's Day Weekend, a time to celebrate mothers and grandmothers for all that they do for us. In honor of Mother's Day, Your Lake Vacation thought it would be fun to look up some fun facts about this holiday to share with you. Below are some fun facts about Mother's Day that you may not have known.


Mother's Day Fun Facts 


Mother's Day is a celebration of mothers and grandmothers all around the world. From cards and flowers to taking mom out to dinner, there are plenty of ways to show mom your appreciation of everything she does throughout the year. Take a look at these Mother's Day facts. Are any of them surprising to you? 
  1. More people purchase fresh flowers and plants for Mother's Day than for any other holiday except Christmas/Hanukkah. 
  2. The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that US consumers will spend $23.1 billion celebrating Mother's Day. Shoppers will spend an average of $180 on mom this Mother's Day. 
  3. According to the NRF, 77% of consumers will give cards to their mothers for Mother's Day this year. 
  4. According to the NRF, more money will be spent on jewelry than any other category this Mother's Day, at $4.6 billion. 
  5. According to Insure.com, the various tasks mothers perform at home would be worth $67,619 a year in the professional world. 
  6. More calls are made on Mother's Day than any other day of the year, approximately 122 million calls. 
  7. According to the NRF, 69% of consumers will purchase flowers for their mother on Mother's Day. 
  8. Carnations have special meaning on Mother's Day, with red for those living mothers and white for those who had passed. 
  9. The oldest mother on record is a 70 year old woman in India who gave birth to a son on April 19, 2016. 
  10. There are 48 words in the English language that contain the word "mother," including motherhood and motherly. 
  11. Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for the restaurant industry with 62% of Americans dining out. 
  12. Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May in 94 different countries. 
  13. Mother's Day is the third most popular holiday in the world, behind only Christmas and Easter.

Celebrating mother's doesn't have to be just this weekend! Why not take her on a Lake of the Ozarks getaway this summer? Whether you plan a girls trip for her or make it a family vacation, the Lake of the Ozarks is the place to be this summer! Your Lake Vacation is here to help with all your vacation planning needs. We'll hook you up with the perfect Lake of the Ozarks accommodations, from private waterfront homes to condos with all the best amenities. Give us a call at 573-365-3367 today!

Nightly Vacation Rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks: 

We make it simple. Paperless. Keyless. Stress-less. 
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  
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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA

Thursday, May 3, 2018

5 Bedroom Waterfront Home at the Lake of the Ozarks

Away From It All 


Get away from it all in this amazing waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks! Located off Horseshoe Bend, the newest addition to our Lake of the Ozarks vacation rental program features 5 bedrooms total and sleeps up to 19 people! The property features the main four bedroom home, a large bunkhouse that sleeps nine guests, a boat house overlooking the water and two docks with three boat slips. Plus there's plenty of parking and over 300 feet of shoreline!


The four bedroom home features two bedrooms each with a king bed on the mail level, along with a full kitchen, dining area and plenty of windows to view the lake. The lower level features the third bedroom with a queen bed and another bedroom with two twins and a queen sleeper.


The main level walks out to a large wrap around deck and the lower level walks out to the boat docks. The adjacent boat house features a kitchenette with a stove, microwave and refrigerator, seating for 10 guests and plenty of windows to view the water and swim area.



The large bunkhouse is located approximately 40 feet from the home at the top of the driveway. The bunkhouse features three twin over full bunk beds, a living area with a large flat screen TV and also a half bath, refrigerator and Keurig.



Three boat slips, parking for six vehicles as well as trailer parking makes this the perfect property for large groups and family reunions! Located at the 8 mile marker by water and just a short drive to the grocery store, restaurants, shopping and the Bagnell Dam Strip.



Book your reservations in this or one of our other Lake of the Ozarks vacation homes by giving us a call at 573-365-3367. Whether you're booking a family getaway or couples retreat, we're here to help you find the perfect accommodations for your vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Nightly Vacation Rentals at the Lake of the Ozarks: 

We make it simple. Paperless. Keyless. Stress-less. 
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  
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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA
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