Vacation Rental By Owner Needs Advice

[Harley]

Hello everyone. I hope that all you experienced with rentals or anyone else with an opinion can offer some advice to my dilema. I have a cute beach house, located in Old Seagrove, one block from 395 and one block from the beach. This year I decided to rent it out VRBO and have gotten a decent amount of interest/bookings. My problem concerns very recent construction occuring on my neighboring lot. In a matter of 3 weeks they posted permit boxes, cleared the lot, put in the stem wall and are now starting the framing. I think it is great for the neighborhood to be developing however I am concerned on how to handle the renters with the loud construction crew beginning work at 7am.

People come here to relax, not hear nail guns, chain saws and workers shouting back and forth. I would consider giving a price break to all my future bookings, however I put the rate, very low to attract interest for the first year (i.e. $1200.00 per week for a new 3 BR/2BA) and going down even more would really hurt.

So what are your opinions regarding this? Is it a fact of life and people should just deal with it, as they would in WaterColor (where they also pay a whole lot more per week) or should I bend over backwards, allow cancellations, etc...

Thanks.

 

[spinDrAtl]

I can't speak for any individual renters but we have been renting our place in High Pointe the entire time that Rosemary Beach, Seacrest Beach and everything along that piece of 30A has been built and although the construction noise has been present, I've never had anyone complain.

 

[dunelover]

Last year we stayed at dunes of seagrove and they were building a house right next door. I got to look out our patio and see construction workers most mornings. I just took it in stride as the price of being in a growing area. If you make reservations in advance you really never know if there will be construction around or not. I have seen listings that have given construction discounts and personnaly would only consider those if I was real price conscious. Just a renters opinion.

Most mornings we were usually trying to get to the beach early anyway, so it really didn't bother us. Additionally, our home away from the beach was a in a new area w/ constant construction as well. Maybe we were immune.

 

[tistheseason]

I would tell people who inquire about the house that there is construction nearby and that they can start as early as 7:00am. Once the framing is done, the sound won't be as bad. The houses on either side of ours were recently built and it didn't bother us a bit since my son gets up around 5:30 when we are at the beach!

 

[jackie]

Let me start by saying we rent for the winter. The first year we rented, the building we were staying in had a new roof put on. It was noisy, kept us from using our deck a lot, plus there were nails everywhere and we had to be careful walking and driving. This year, the building next to us was being sandblasted and painted. Lots of noise all the time from morning to nite, except on wonderfully quiet weekends. Also, our complex was having some new boardwalk repair done and also some new electrical work being done. Was it annoying? Yes, but the beauty of the gulf and area far outweigh all of the work that was being done. However, it would have been really nice if we had been informed of these work projects. We would have prob chosen to still stay where we did, but knowing about it would really have made us feel like we had a choice. Tell your renters, if they choose to stay in your home, they'll admire your honesty!

 

[Kurt]

Let your conscience be your guide and follow the Golden Rule.

 

[scooterbug44]

Personally, I would be quite disappointed and upset to have my vacation rental next to an active construction site. I have found from experience that nail guns and sleeping in are mutually exclusive.

I wouldn't reduce my rates, but I would both inform guests of the situation (as it IS quite normal here in Sowal) and ask the construction site to be sympathetic to vacationers.

Guests who are early risers or spending most of the day at the beach may not mind, but it is one thing to know in advance and another to get a "surprise" upon arrival when you have no alternative lodging.

 

[seagrovelover]

As a renter I would like to be advised of construction right next door, it most likely would not bother our group but I belive it would be nice of you to let them know