As we reroute our daily routines to cater to the current state of affairs and keeping our physical health in check, it’s time to get creative as we implement new routines to cater to our mind and body as well. Below you’ll find several ideas to keep your body and mind sound throughout these uncertain times.
Yoga At Your Convenience
As one of the oldest practices that’s been around for nearly 5,000 years, yoga has proven benefits for strength, balance, mental alertness, weight loss, toning, used to reduce anxiety, and so much more.
One of the beauties of yoga is that it can be for anyone. With the possibility to adjust the intensity level and duration, this is one form of exercise that you can fit into your schedule, day or night. You can also include the kids to keep them busy and help alleviate their endless amounts of energy. Below are a few different videos that will help you suite your mental and physical needs, at every level.
20 Minute Yoga For Weight Loss
Chair Yoga For Beginners & Seniors
Who Doesn’t Love to Dance?!
Dancing has always been a great way to get your body and endorphins moving and just maybe work up a sweat and increase your heart rate while you’re at it. Depending on your musical taste, there are dozens of corresponding online dance classes that you can use to sharpen your skills. These online, free lessons give you a chance to practice over and over, until you’ve mastered your new moves and improved your mood. There are so many different videos to choose from so if none of these suite your fancy, you’re only a few clicks away from finding the class that is right for you.
Zumba!
It’s like dancing, with a few extra kicks.
Zumba is a great alternative to your exercise routine, as it involves cardio, coordination, core strength, balance, and concentration, which combined will be enough to distract you from your thoughts… or crazy quarantined household. Zumba is known to be a mood booster and depression fighter, which I’m sure we can all use. It’s also known to be great for weight loss, stress relief, improved coordination, full body toning, as well as have aerobic, and anaerobic benefits. Check out the links below for your next free, online Zumba class and get yourself moving!
20 Minute Belly Burning Step By Step Zumba!
High Intensity Interval Training
If you’re use to your regular gym routine, maybe you’re craving a little bit more of an intensity and muscle burn in your at home workout. Cross fit or High Intensity Training, may be just what you need. HIT training, allows you to squeeze in shorter, more efficient work outs, full body fitness, and have faster results into your new “Quarantine Routine”. These types of workouts also allow you to mix things up with every workout to avoid the repetitive, monotonous routines. The workouts below do not require equipment, or give you the freedom to use household items to add a little extra intensity.
13 Minutes of Cross Fit – No Equipment Needed!
20 Minute Strength Training For Seniors
11 Minute Circuit Workout For Kids & Parents!
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation, to calm your inner voices & help you tolerate the outer voices. Meditation can be a slightly intimidating and daunting word that gets thrown around quite a bit, I get it. However, even when starting out small, the benefits can be astronomical. Meditation practice has been around for thousands of years and has been recommended by health care professionals for a number of reasons. The benefits include, improving focus, Immune system support, emotional wellness, improved problem solving skills, reduces blood pressure, improves breathing and heart rate, helps with arthritis and Fibromyalgia, lessons inflammatory disorders, and the list goes on. For more information on the many benefits of meditation, click here.
There are also many different types of meditation, so depending on your personal style, there is something for everyone. I personally enjoy Mantra Meditation, and find it a little easier to lean into. For more information on the different types of mediation, click here.
Below are a few videos on guided meditation to help you start to clear out the mental haze and increase your clarity and focus.
5 Minute Mantra Meditation for Beginners
Guided Meditation For Positive Energy
12 Minute Mindfulness Meditation for Kids
Hopefully this has helped ignite the spark to start your new routine to help keep your mind and body healthy during these unsettling times!
For a good percentage of vacation renters, their four legged fur baby is an important part of their family, and would prefer to go on vacation with their beloved pets. However, the number of pet friendly rentals are low, causing them to have to change the dates of their vacations because the few pet friendly units available have limited availability or have to put their furry friends in a kennel. Making your Cape Cod vacation rental pet friendly is a quick way of increasing your rentals. The number of pet friendly rentals is low on average because of the potential risk involved in allowing animals on and inside your property. For more tips on how to make your property stand out and attract more tenants, check out our blog, “How to Make Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental Stand Out Among Its Competition.” How do you take advantage of this demographic that is in need of accommodations but still protect your property from the wear and tear and responsibility of housing pets? Here are our tips to making your Cape cod vacation rental pet friendly.
Security Deposit or Pet Fee
Including a pet fee or security deposit can cover you in case there is damage done to the property by the pets that the tenants bring to your vacation rental. When you make your Cape Cod vacation rental pet friendly, you open your home up to a lot more damage and wear and tear that the typical tenant without a pet may not cause to your property. Charging this security deposit covers you in case the tenant does not clean up after their pet and you need to do an additional cleaning to the yard or the inside of the home (that goes above an beyond the standard pet cleaning), or if your property was damaged by the pet. This could mean a tear in your chair from a pet’s nail or bite marks on your table leg. Regardless, it is always a good idea to cover yourself by charging a security deposit when pets are coming to your rental. Working with a Cape Cod rental agency can help you with securing this extra security deposit. To find out more reasons why it is beneficial to work with a local agency instead of listing on your own, check out our blog, “4 Reasons You Should Rent Your Home with a Cape Cod Rental Agency.”
Cleaning Service
It is a good idea to have an extra thorough cleaning done in between guests when pets are involved. While you will attract a number of guests that are looking for a pet friendly rental, you still want to be considered a desirable rental property for tenants looking for a pet free experience. The last thing that a tenant wants to smell while staying in your rental is someone else’s wet dog or bathroom accident. Keep products such as carpet and upholstery cleaners handy and scrub brushes in case of pet accidents for the pet owners to use, or the cleaners when they come to prep your property once the pets have left. Most vacation property owners charge an additional cleaning fee on top of the typical cleaning fee for tenants that bring pets. The additional cleaning charge is usually about $75 for a 2 bed home.
Insurance
When opening your home to pets, you are welcoming in a new group of tenants but you are also welcoming in a new list of potential problems. It is important before you add to your rental listing that you have made your Cape Cod vacation rental pet friendly, you go over your insurance policy. Some policies do not cover pets in the rental, in which case you can find yourself in a lot of trouble if something happened. Call or meet with your insurance agent to see if pets are covered on your policy and if they are not, discuss with them what it would cost for you to add this to your policy. If you are part of a home owners association, it is important that you check to see if you are able to allow pets in your rental property. It is important to do your homework before making your Cape Cod rental pet friendly to avoid costly problems down the road.
Pet Policy
The best thing that you can do when making your Cape Cod rental pet-friendly is creating policies regarding the pets that you allow onto the property. Your insurance policy and/or homeowners association will dictate many of the terms of your policy such as the size of the dog. Here are some other terms to put into your pet policy:
- Weight: Familiar with the expression “Bull in a China shop?” It might be a good idea to put a weight or size limit on the animals that you will welcome to your vacation rental. Remember that these pets will be potentially resting on your furniture and roaming freely in your home while you are not there.
- Number of pets: Families come in many sizes, and that includes pets. To avoid a house full of animals in your rental property, it is important to put a cap on the number of pets that a tenant can bring to your property.
- Types of pets: Does your insurance policy or homeowners association dictate the breed or type of animals that are allowed in your property? It is a good thing to check out before listing your Cape Cod rental pet friendly. List what types of pets you will allow in your property (dog, cat, etc) in your pet policy.
- Bathroom habits: Do they need to be housebroken? It is essential that you tell potential tenants that the pet they bring to your property is housebroken or you could open yourself up to issues. Do not assume anything. You also need to tell guests what to do when the pet goes to the bathroom. It may seem like a given, but you need to tell guests to clean up after their pets and what to do with the waste. Be as clear as possible so there is no confusion and your next guest is not greeted with a lawn full of animal waste from the tenant that just left.
Making Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental Pet Friendly
Making your Cape Cod vacation rental pet friendly will open you up to a whole new demographic that is eager to find a vacation property because the inventory is low. This could help you boost your number of weeks rented easily, but it also opens you up to potential issues that you need to be prepared for. Take a look at our inventory of Cape Cod Pet Friendly Rentals. Before listing your property as a pet friendly vacation rental, speak to the professionals at Leighton Rentals. The professionals there will help you cover all your bases so you are ready to begin allowing tenants with pets on your property and protect your investment property.
To be pet-friendly or not to be, that is the question.
Shakespeare may not have been specifically referring to pet-friendly Cape Cod rentals, but it is a fair question to ask and one that has puzzled many landlords over the years. If you love pets and the answer is easy for you, this article won’t do much good for you. But for many, the choice of allowing pets is a difficult one.
We can help break it down for you by offering pointed pros and cons when you decide to list your Cape Cod rental.
Pros of Making Your Cape Cod Rental Pet-Friendly
There are some pretty clear pros with hosting pet-friendly Cape Cod vacation rentals. The first is that you can widen your pool of potential tenants. Many people have a pet- the latest estimate nationally is just over 50%. One of the first things possible tenants may do is review Cape Cod rentals that allow pets because it is a deal-breaker for them. This is especially so for long-term stays, which are often the most profitable for landlords.
Consider another angle. Owning a pet is expensive- and you need money to care for a pet. You also need money if you plan to travel with your pet. Both of these realities mean that people who both have a pet and want to travel with one often have the extra income to handle it. These possible tenants are ideal, especially if you want to provide a luxury rental experience. Your rate should attract visitors with surplus money, and pet owners often have exactly that.
Finally, you can charge a higher rate. This is a feature many tenants would love- and they would be fine paying more because they expect pet fees. Consider the hotel chain, La Quinta, one of the only hotel chains to universally allow pets. La Quinta rates are higher than comparable hotels in any given region that don’t allow pets.
Cons of Making Your Cape Cod Rental Pet-Friendly
The cons are a bit more obvious but worth covering. Obviously, the damage is very possible, if not likely if you have numerous tenants a year. This could include accidents on the floor, scratches, damage to furniture, and anything in between.
You also need to consider your neighbors and the community. Consider late-night barking, afternoon escapes out the door, and even fights with other neighborhood pups. In short, any animal can cause problems ranging from minor (a floor scratch) to major (biting a neighbor and a possible lawsuit).
While these cons are certainly something to consider, keep in mind that Cape Cod property management is designed to protect and care for all Cape Cod rentals. You can use property management to align protective measures, such as the use of a pet deposit (and the collection of it), monthly cleaning, and more. So while having a pet-friendly property has its drawbacks, you can utilize property management to account for many of them.
Be Aware of Laws and Restrictions
Now you can’t legally restrict all pets. For example, the Fair Housing Law enforces that service animals must be allowed. You are freely allowed and legally obligated, to offer some kind of lease agreement or house renting terms. This protects all parties. It can also involve other aspects, such as pet insurance.
Whether you want to allow for pets or not, remember that you have options. “Dangerous breed” clauses can remove certain breeds from the home or “weight class” lists can only allow for dogs less than 50 pounds. But if you let all pets come, no matter size, shape, or breed, you welcome pet lovers from all over the world!
Bake it, steam it, or keep it raw, there are plenty of ways to prepare seafood for a dinner get-together (not all seafood should be raw, of course). How the seafood is prepared is always part of the charm. For some, it is the main adventure of ordering something new and fresh.
Shrimp and seafood boils celebrate the fantastic world of fine coastal eating. What’s better than eating loads and loads of seafood and having a great time on Cape Cod? Not much.
Here is a look at how you can get your hands on some amazing local seafood from various outlets across the cape. Stop by a grocery store, order it ready to go, or grab some raw ingredients and make it happen. There’s no end to your seafood-themed possibilities.
How to Find Fully Prepared Seafood
If you want to ease into the challenges of preparing seafood (or skip them entirely) you can visit a few locales and order seafood fresh and ready to go. The best way to do this is to find an affordable and accommodating restaurant with takeout. The Hyannis restaurant, Spanky’s Clam Shack, is one such place. It provides cost-friendly seafood right on the harbor.
Another popular location is Cooke’s Seafood. Cooke’s actually has multiple locations throughout the region, including one in Orleans and another in Hyannis. It has quick-serve seafood, as well as beer and wine (the latter not available for takeout).
If you want fully prepared seafood, your best bet is a local restaurant. Most offer takeout options with a mild surcharge. You can also consider delivery options, though most only provide sweets, sodas, pizza, and fast-casual sandwiches. Lindsey’s Family Restaurant in East Wareham is a fantastic seafood café, with options for delivery.
How to Find (mostly) Prepared Seafood
Seafood stands are fantastic, affordable, and local-focused. Cape Cod is covered in markets and stands. Seafood has never been more accessible. Depending on your proximity to local restaurants and marinas, you can find numerous markets.
These include George’s Place in Harwich Port. You can dip on over to the Chatham Pier Fish Market to select from fresh finds, including lobster, clams, oysters, and virtually everything in between. The Chatham market is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, with extended hours to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Catch of the Day is a roadside eatery and fish market. Eat a little something while you stop by and take more home if you want to share the love. The Swan River Market in Dennis Port specializes in purely-local lobster and clambakes. The team will cook and crack the lobsters on the spot for no additional charge.
When you order from a shack or market, the fish can be often prepared for you. The markets include some Cape Cod staples, including Wild Salmon, local Bluefish, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Cod, Flounder, and many more.
You may want to call ahead at one of the local seafood shacks or markets to see what they have in stock. You could always just adventure your way down there and see what happens.
How to Find the Raw Ingredients
If you want to tackle the challenge of preparing seafood entirely on your own, consider a stop at a local grocery store. Firstly, this option is certainly the most affordable. You can acquire pounds of seafood and groceries for a fraction of the price you would pay at a stand, market, or restaurant. The trade-off, of course, is that you have to put it all together.
Fortunately, most grocery stores offer a nice array of options. If you want to completely wing it, you can buy fresh and unprepared fish. Some seafood-making kits can ease you into the preparations. You can request local recipes from the markets. They can then design your order around what you intend to make, giving the correct quantities and measurements.
You can get everything handled for you at a restaurant, delivered fresh to your seat. You can stop by a market or shack to find some quick seafood plates to take home. You can even stop by a grocery store and see what they have holed up in the bins, raw and fresh as can be.
You have all these options available to you. Cape Cod embraces all aspects of fine seafood eating, using the local waters to satiate the people of the region.
Cape Cod could possibly be the romantic capital of the northeast. With astounding sunrises, rustic shanties on the water, and quiet enclaves of hidden sands, Cape Cod offers breathtaking vistas and sight to see around every corner. We complete the package with vacation rentals near Cape Cod so you can get the most out of your experience.
So what really makes Cape Cod exude such romance? We take a look at how, and even why, Cape Cod has become a definitive destination for romantics young and old, and adventurers seeking to think outside-the-box when it comes to planning a vacation filled with love.
Point of Rocks Beach
Perhaps the most romantic locale in all of Cape Cod is the idyllic picture-perfect coast at the Point of Rocks. Get some inspired rest and relaxation at this iconic sight in Brewster. You won’t find much in the way of amenities and foot traffic, which is exactly the “point.” Birds rest in high numbers on the numerous large rocks stationary in the waves. There is no parking lot on site, discouraging big families from coming here and collecting on the shore for the day. The big rocks showcase all sorts of wonderful wildlife, especially during low tide.
This is a magical and isolated spot where rarely more than a few people are found any given time of the day. We almost regret writing about it and spoiling the secret!
Martha’s Vineyard
Unlike Point of Rocks, Martha’s Vineyard certainly gets its fair share of foot traffic. But it is a magical destination nonetheless, and an ideal romantic escape for anyone seeking a bit of adventure. Take the ferry over to the island for the day and admire the extravagance and luxury. Walk off down one of the garden paths, hands held tight, and look at the buzzing wildlife. The carousel at Oak Bluffs is charmingly romantic while the lighthouses make for the quintessential photo moment.
There’s a lot to love about Martha’s Vineyard, easily making it one of the most rewarding and romantic sights to see on or near the cape.
Wine Tasting
Visit Harwich for a glass of wine by the water. First Crush Winery is one of the best wineries in the town. You can even visit the huge distillery vats, and see the classic northeastern décor. To say that wine was important for Cape Cod locals would be an absurd understatement. To many, wine is a lifestyle, and few do it better than Cape Cod.
Spa Day
Bask in the romantic atmosphere of a spa day. The Whalewalk Inn and Spa places you cozily in an old-vintage cabin, where staff applies advanced aromatherapy techniques to really promote relaxation and calmness. It’s one of the best things to do for romance, and a great mood-setter for the evening.
Provincetown
Provincetown is undoubtedly one of the most immediately romantic towns on the cape. You become enamored with the boutique shops and rustic living up here in this sea shanty point. Provincetown rests on the northernmost tip of Cape Cod. You are isolated from all the action and as far out as you can go by vehicle.
You can feel that sense of excitement and adventure in the air. The Pilgrim Monument looms over the town while Race Point Beach may be one of the most elegant and little-trafficked public beaches on the entire cape.
Cape Cod has so many things to do to capture that spirit of romance that we only covered the top few. When you stay on Cape Cod, you’re opting in to a luxurious, romantic escape every day, with weeks’ worth of things to do and places to see.
When vacationing on Cape Cod, the first decision you need to make is where you would like to stay. You could rent a room in one of many inns and hotels around Cape Cod, or there is always the option of renting a Cape Cod vacation property. How do you know if renting a Cape Cod vacation property is right for you, and when you should go ahead and stay in a hotel? There are a number of factors to take into consideration when making this decision to make sure that you are making the right choice for you and your family. Here are the differences between renting a Cape Cod vacation property and renting a room in a hotel or inn to help you decide which is right for you.
Vacation Style
People have different preferences when staying on vacation. Some want to live like a local and truly experience what it is like to live in the area for the short time that they are on vacation. Renting a Cape Cod vacation property gives vacationers this experience. You would be living in a home in the town of your choice as if you were a local, giving you the opportunity to meet your neighbors and hang out at the local hot spots in the neighborhood. The vacation property would give you the ability to go shopping at the local farmers markets or fish markets, cook your own food in the kitchen, do your own laundry and clean up after yourself. You are living the Cape Cod lifestyle.
On the other side of the spectrum, some vacationers prefer to have a more luxurious experience when they are on vacation. They do not want to live a normal day to day experience, they want to be pampered and not have to lift a finger. Staying in a hotel or inn gives vacationers the luxury of having someone else clean up after you, do your laundry and even feed you in a hotel or room service. So when making the decision to either stay in a hotel or go ahead renting a Cape Cod vacation property, keep in mind what type of vacation experience you would prefer. Do you want to live like a local while you’re on Cape Cod, or do you want to have a cushy vacation experience?
Length of Stay
The length of your stay could determine which option is more appropriate for you, a hotel or renting a Cape Cod vacation property. If you are looking to stay on Cape Cod for a couple of days, a hotel or inn might be the right choice. Most private vacation homes require tenants to stay at least a week, and typically require that you stay Saturday to Saturday. However, if you need more flexibility a hotel could be the right choice for you. Typically hotels do not have limits on the number of days that you stay, but some do, so make sure you read the fine print. Sometimes certain times of year there is a minimum number of nights you need to stay in order to book a certain room because it is a prime week. However, most hotels will allow you to stay however many nights you would like without restriction.
When renting a Cape Cod vacation property, you will have to sign a lease agreement that is a legally binding contract. Typically you are able to purchase Travel Insurance, so if something comes up that is covered under the agreement, you can cancel your reservation and recoup some of your money. However, if you do not sign up for travel insurance or if something comes up that is not covered, you lose out on the money you spent on the rental. When renting a hotel room, it is usually much easier to cancel. You do not have to sign up for travel insurance, just ask when you have to cancel by in order to get your money back if you do need to cancel (such as 48 hours or a week before the reservation date).
Pros and Cons
When staying in a hotel, all of the linens and bath towels are provided to you. You may also stay in a resort or hotel that has amenities such as pools, spas and on site restaurants. These amenities are very appealing to many vacationers and that is the main reason why they stay at a hotel instead of renting a Cape Cod vacation property. However, while there are a number of perks to staying in a hotel, there are also some drawbacks. If you are traveling with a large group, it can be difficult to find the number of rooms at the same hotel that you need for everyone in your party. However, if you rent a vacation property, you could lease a private home that could accommodate your entire party. This would give you the opportunity to stay close to your family and friends and create some vacation memories together!
When renting a Cape Cod vacation property, you gain space which you would not get when staying in a hotel room. Sometimes the amenities available in a hotel are available when you rent a private vacation condo unit such as properties at the Ocean Edge in Brewster. The Ocean Edge Brewster has swimming pools, fitness centers, a golf course designed by Nicklaus and restaurants on premise. However, when renting a Cape Cod vacation property, you need to pay attention to what amenities are included in your rental. Do you need to bring linens with you? How many parking spots are there at the property? It is important to take stock of what the different pros and cons are to staying at hotels and private properties to decide which is more appealing to you and what fits your needs.
Renting a Cape Cod Vacation Property vs. Hotel Room
When planning your Cape Cod vacation, it is important that you look at the pros and cons to determine where you should stay for your vacation. There are benefits to staying in a hotel and renting a Cape Cod vacation property, it all depends on your needs and which fits your vacation style the best.
Summer on Cape Cod is an amazing experience. The beaches, activities, restaurants, shopping and natural beauty are like no other. It is important that you are able to fully appreciate your vacation time on this fun and charming sandbar, which includes choosing your accommodations wisely. If you have stayed at vacation properties before, you know that they are all very different. Here are the top 6 questions to ask when renting a Cape Cod vacation home to ensure your summer getaway goes off without a hitch!
What do the fees that I’m being charged cover?
One of the first questions to ask when renting a Cape Cod vacation property before you even book it is what the fees that you are being charged in addition to your weekly rate cover. When renting a vacation property through Leighton Rentals, there is an administration fee which is outlined in the rental policy and can be reviewed by any rental agent if there are any questions. Some owners charge a cleaning fee, pet deposit and/or administration fee. Some of these fees are reimbursed to you the tenant once the vacation is over and the vacation home’s condition is reviewed by the owner or property manager. Some fees are not refunded, and just part of the rental charge. It is important that you ask the person you are renting from what the fees cover and what fees you will get back once your vacation is over.
Who do I call if there is a problem?
If there is a problem, the most important questions to ask when renting a Cape Cod vacation home is who you are supposed to call. When renting from a Cape Cod rental agency such as Leighton Rentals, the first person you call when there is a problem (unless it is an emergency in which case you should call 911) is the rental agency. The rentals agency can assist you with issues such as Wifi problems, television problems or get in touch with a professional to deal with electrical or plumbing problems. Find out more about renting through a Cape Cod rental agency in our blog, “5 Reasons to Book your Cape Cod Vacation Rental with Leighton Rentals.”
If you are renting through a private owner, they may want you to get in touch with them directly or they may hire a property manager who lives locally and can take care of any issues you may have while in their vacation home. Knowing the right person when there is a problem will save you the headache of calling the wrong person and spending too much time trying to resolve an issue that is already disrupting your vacation.
How loud is it in the area?
If you are traveling with small children, it is a good idea to ask how loud the area is that you are looking to rent. While it is never guaranteed that your rental will be quiet, there are a number of factors that play into how noisy the area will be during your stay. If it is the peak time, the area will be busier and therefore louder than the off peak times of the summer. If you are staying in a condo, a single floor unit located on the ground level will be noisier than a single family home that is unattached. A cottage that is part of a group of cottages will be noisier than a home that stands alone in a quiet neighborhood with mostly year round inhabitants. Check out or blog, “5 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental” to make sure you book the right Cape Cod rental.
Where is the closest grocery store?
Typically when you first arrive at a vacation property, the first thing you want to do is set it up for your stay. You want to unpack your belongings, and fill your cabinets and refrigerator with the foods you need to make it feel like home. A lot of guests choose to go grocery shopping on their way to the property, so one of the most common questions to ask when renting a Cape Cod vacation home is where is the closest grocery store to the property? Once your refrigerator and cabinets are packed with the foods that will make you feel at home and your belongings are in their rightful place, your real vacation begins. When renting a property with Leighton Rentals, a rental agent will review the area information with you and have in your packet an address of where you can find the grocers, urgent care centers, and drug stores.
Are there any property instructions?
Every home is different, and a vacation home is no different. Many homes come with property instructions for tenants. The property instructions typically have Wifi instructions, trash removal schedules, landscaping schedules, and television instructions. If a property has instructions, it will cut down on the number of questions to ask when renting a Cape Cod vacation home because most of the things you need to know are already covered, making your life and the owner’s life easier. Property instructions are typically updated every year, but it is important that upon arrival at the property you review these instructions so that you have a feeling for the property from the start.
If the vacation home you are thinking about booking does not have property instructions, make a list of questions you have that would make you feel at ease in the home. For example, what type of television service does the home have? Is it basic cable, Netflix, Roku or extended cable? If you are not well versed in one of those television services and you have children that are used to watching Sesame Street first thing in the morning, you might want to bring a DVD of their favorite episodes. Another question would be whether they have a DVD player or if you need to rent one. For more on making sure that your summer getaway goes off without a hitch, check out our blog, “How to Make Sure Your Cape Cod Vacation Property is not a Dud.”
Will the owners of the property stop by during my stay?
On occasion, owners will stop by their rental property to check in with the tenants to make sure that things are going well and let them know they are available. Some tenants like this, and some do not. If you are one of the tenants that would not like a visit from the owner, it is good to know up front that this is what the owner expects to do. This gives you the opportunity to tell the owner that you would prefer they did not stop in during your vacation to nip that issue in the bud. Sometimes owners will plan on stopping by the rental home because there is a repair that needs to be done on the home. If you know that the owner is planning to stop by to make this repair, and the repair is not essential to your stay being enjoyable, you could ask that they hold off the repair until after you depart.
Questions to Ask When Renting a Cape Cod Vacation Home
Making the choice to rent a vacation property instead of a hotel room for your summer getaway is a big decision. If you are still on the fence regarding whether the right choice for you is renting a vacation property and staying in a hotel, check out our blog “Renting a Cape Cod Vacation Property vs. Hotel Room: Which is Right for You?” Our list of pros and cons will help you make that decision fast. Those are important things to know before renting a Cape Cod vacation home. If you know what to ask before you reserve your property, you are more likely to be happy with your accommodations when you arrive, allowing you to fully enjoy your vacation!
Posted 1/16/2019
The Massachusetts Short Term Rental Tax Bill has Become Law.
- How does this law impact Cape Cod property owners?
- How does this law impact Cape Cod vacationers?
At the very end of 2018, without much fanfare, Governor Baker signed into law a bill regulating and taxing short-term rentals. This new law provides for new taxes, a statewide registry, insurance requirements, and possibly safety inspections varying by town/city. It becomes effective on July 1, 2019.
If you are a vacation rental property owner on Cape Cod right now, you are probably feeling a bit overwhelmed and wondering how to prepare to meet all the requirements that the state is asking of you. Leighton Rentals can help you.
In the weeks and months to come, the Commonwealth and the Department of Revenue will be unveiling more details of this new law. We intend to stay on top of these announcements and keep our owners informed about all the details as they emerge, regarding property insurance requirements, property inspections, and all the other components of the new law.
If you are a vacationer hoping to visit Cape Cod this summer, you are probably concerned about how much this new tax is going to cost you. At Leighton Rentals, our website is updated to include the tax amounts, so you know exactly what your costs will be when you book with us, and don’t forget, if you book a spring or early summer vacation, with a stay prior to July 1, 2019 you completely avoid having to pay the tax!
At Leighton Rentals, we have been monitoring and preparing for the arrival of this tax for the past several years. We are ready to meet the challenges that this tax brings to our property owners and our vacationers.
Our computer reservation system is equipped to calculate and charge the appropriate taxes to tenants.
Our rental coordinators are knowledgeable about the tax and are able to fully explain to prospective tenants the details of the costs, as well as inform them that these monies which are collected get sent entirely to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and then to the individual appropriate towns here on Cape Cod. Leighton Rentals in no way benefits directly from this tax, nor do our property owners.
Our accounting team is prepared to remit the taxes on the owners behalf, at the appropriate intervals, to the state, taking the burden off the owners completely.
So whether you are a vacation property owner or a vacationer looking to spend your summer on beautiful Cape Cod, give Leighton Realty a call. We’re here to help!
Posted 10/11/2017
You may already be aware that vacation rental owners throughout Massachusetts may soon be subject to a rental tax based on their rental income. This is similar to hotels, motels and bed & breakfast accommodations. Massachusetts legislators have been trying to no avail for several years through Bill H3454 to have this take effect, thereby increasing both state and town revenues.
The Massachusetts legislators met once again this summer and rejected the short-term rentals, despite several attempts to tax them. Our Governor Charlie Baker expressed support on this tax in 2016 was convinced the long term negative effects this would have and proposed a compromise with a three (3) tier system with rates dependent on rental frequency. This was also rejected.
However, legislators have not given up with the hope of increasing revenue thru tourism accommodations and they will discuss and consider this again next year.
Leighton Rentals is a reliable, trustworthy Cape Cod property management company that has been helping people manage their properties since 2004. It is important to locate the best property management company to ensure that you are able to rent the best Cape Cod vacation rentals available. Whether you are seeking short or long-term vacation rentals, you’ll know that you are getting the most dependable service possible when you utilize Leighton Rentals. It is important to have a quality property management company on hand. The following are some qualities to look for when researching property management companies in Cape Cod.
Integrity
When it comes to selecting a property management company, you want someone that you can trust. Without trust, it is hard to really know which company to work with when managing a vacation rental. You want to make sure that you are doing your due diligence when seeking out a property management company. Here are a couple of questions to ask when narrowing down the prospects:
- How many years of experience does the company have?
- What is the reputation of the applicable company?
- Does the prospective property management company have a strong working relationship with the community it works within?
- Does the property management company have a positive working relationship with clients? Are reviews available to confirm this relationship?
- Are stats, prices, pictures and other important details about properties readily available for public viewing? This is important as it shows that the property company is willing to be transparent about costs, fees and other incidentals connected with renting a property.
Ability to do Maintenance
A Cape Cod property management company that is capable of doing their own maintenance is highly important. Whether the company has its own staff or contracts with another company, quality maintenance is highly important to an effective operation.
In any business where real estate is involved, there is always the concern of maintaining properties. Property management companies are faced with the very same issues: making sure that all properties offered are in the best condition, as well as providing prompt, effective maintenance services should they be needed.
In the best-case scenario, property management companies have their own in-house, full-time maintenance team. This is the best option because the property management company has full control of all aspects of the maintenance process, from the cost of materials to the quality of repairs, to the promptness of the response to maintenance requests. Handling these aspects in-house is preferable over hiring a subcontractor that has its own rules, guidelines, and practices.
Property managers that have their own maintenance teams have the ability to reduce costs while also completing projects at a high-quality, fast, and efficient manner. Overall, quality property management companies usually have various maintenance staff to include a full-time staff, in-house maintenance, as well as a turnover department.
Established and Regionally Well-Known
When it comes to selecting a Cape Cod property management company, reputation is important. When a company has established a name for itself, customers can gauge for themselves which company is the best fit for them. There are numerous ways in which property management companies establish themselves within their communities as well as afar. Property management companies such as Leighton Realty have made a name for themselves by offering high-quality real estate services from sales to leasing throughout several towns in the Cape Cod area.
They also offer a number of services such as home buying and selling guides as well as home valuations for their clients. In fact, if you are seeking quality Harwich rentals, Leighton Realty has continued to provide reputable vacation rental services since 2004 because of their dedication and commitment to offering exceptional real estate services. When a property management company has established itself both locally and regionally, this offers security and assurance that the company has proven a quality level of service that customers can depend on.
If you’re looking to rent out your Cape Cod property, contact us today for more information on our services.
A family reunion could be a perfect opportunity to celebrate your heritage and visit with second cousins you haven’t seen in years. It has the potential to be an incredibly rewarding time.
The key word here is “potential.” As numerous comedy films have proven over the years, a family reunion can quickly become a family disaster.
With a bit of planning (and a little luck), it doesn’t have to head south. If you’re thinking of Cape Cod for your next family reunion, you’re in for a treat. Here are a few tips to help you have a stress-free family reunion.
Keep it Simple
A place to relax and a meal to eat. You don’t need to make it any more complicated than that.
While Cape Cod is filled with fantastic attractions, top fishing locales, and so much more, you don’t have to jampack an adventure through Harwich, Brewster, and Orleans to have a rewarding family reunion. Don’t plan too much – your guests will find fun things to do on their Cape Cod beach vacations without your help.
That said, you might need a few back-up activities. Request a list of different family-friendly activities on Cape Cod so you have an idea of the available options.
Avoid Obvious Social Faux Pas’
You may be a little stressed and slip into some well-known and bad social habits.
One unfavorable habit is to spend too much time on the phone. Whether you’re Instagramming the week’s events or taking a break from another one of Aunt Carol’s childhood stories, you’re bound to want some connection to the outside world. But be sure to limit your screen time during the family events and activities.
Don’t be openly cheap when it comes to ordering food (McDonald’s take-out is a no-no), and consider drinking only if others are drinking, as well.
Enlist Help
This should not be a solo project. Utilize the family members you trust to help ease the burden of entertaining. Offer to prepare the main dish, but expect visitors to bring desserts, drinks, sides, and more. Consider setting up a social page to help with some of the planning. If someone forgets the date, they can follow the page instead of sending you a text or calling.
Set a Date and Stick to It
With busy schedules, heavy workloads, and family living across the country, finding a date that works for everyone can be tough. Pick the date that seems to work best, and stick to it. Just because Bill and Susan can’t make it – it just wouldn’t be the same, right? – doesn’t mean you should rearrange the whole thing.
By changing the date, you open up lots of problems. You end up pushing it up and losing much-needed prep time or pushing it back and inconveniencing someone else. Rescheduling is one of the most frustrating and common mistakes when it comes to planning a reunion.
Finding a date is usually a lot easier if you make a list of who will be invited first. This way you can request their general availability. Having a guest list is convenient for many reasons. It helps you plan ahead, determine responsibilities, book the location, and plan activities.
Think Long Term
If the planning is going extremely well, you can begin to think in the long-term. A family reunion could turn into a long-standing plan. We have seen many new Cape Cod locals leverage their rental with friends and family. The idea of a family reunion could even lead to a joint purchase of one of the vacation rentals near Cape Cod – anything is possible!