Benefits of vacation rental home from an owner operator.

The vacation rental market has greatly changed due to the increasing popularity of staying in a vacation home vs a hotel. Today there are more vacation rentals than ever to choose from, and more ways to book your vacation rental. Generally speaking, vacation homes can be rented through an on-line booking service, directly from an owner-operator, through a local property manager, or directly from an Owner-Operator backed up by a Professional Property Manager which is the way Cottages of Paradise Point operates. No matter which way you choose to book your vacation rental I recommend you always check their reviews on Trip Advisor.

The advantages of renting through an on-line booking service are convenience and usually a multitude of homes to choose from. The disadvantages are that on-line booking services charge you, the renter, additional commissions and/or fees in addition to what they charge the owner, and they do everything possible to prevent direct communication between the owner and the renter. In addition, they are more vulnerable to fraud than other means of booking. They only find out if a property has been misrepresented after the fact, when the guest arrives at the property to find it is not as represented on-line, the pictures do not reflect reality, and sometimes the property does not even exist! Yes – they make good on the dollars spent, but that doesn’t do you much good when you’ve traveled half-way across the country with 3 kids expecting a fun-filled week and you’ve arrived on the beach to find the property you’ve rented isn’t what you thought you were renting. I always strongly recommend checking the reviews on TripAdvisor for any property you are considering renting before committing.

The advantages of renting through a local professional property manager are just that. You are dealing with a local professional. They know their properties and the good ones can help steer you to the right one for you. The good ones offer a high level of local knowledge, good customer service and communications, and 24/7 availability for maintenance and housekeeping issues. Note that I said the “good ones”. As in any business there are good ones, not-so-good ones, and downright bad ones. They are the owner’s local presence. One big disadvantage is that they do not always have the authority from the owner to immediately deal with unanticipated problems or issues. Also, although generally well-intentioned and hardworking, property managers are often over-stretched – particularly in high season. Again, I always strongly recommend checking the reviews on TripAdvisor for any property you are considering renting before committing.

The advantage of dealing an owner-operator is that the property you are renting is their personal asset. Oftentimes it is their beloved second home. Again, there are good ones, not-so-good ones, and downright bad ones, but nobody cares for their guests, their property, and their business like a good owner-operator. This encompasses everything related to your stay. Communications, customer service, etc. The disadvantage is that you are often dealing a one-man or woman show. As much as they care, they cannot be on-site and available to you 100% of the time. Once again, I always strongly recommend checking the reviews on TripAdvisor for any property you are considering renting before committing.

So where does Cottages of Paradise Point fit into all this?

Cottages of Paradise Point is Owner-Operated with back-up from a Professional Property Manager. We give you the best of all worlds. From your first inquiry all the way through to your departure you will be impressed with the high level of communication and attention to Customer Service. Cottages of Paradise Point is owned and operated by Dennis & Lisa Greenspon. Our business number is set to always forward to my personal cell phone. We have our own house-keeping staff and maintenance staff, and all of us are devoted to making sure your stay at Cottages of Paradise Point is as enjoyable and fun-filled as possible. Because I am not on-site 100% of the time my cell-phone is always on (except when I’m sleeping). Our Property Manager is ALWAYS available to you 100% of the time, 24/7 and has the authority to do whatever it takes to resolve problems. Have you ever tried asking an on-line booking agency for a local restaurant recommendation, or who has the best pizza, or to raise the temperature of the pool heater? How about asking for an extra blanket, pillow, frying pan?

Again, I always strongly recommend checking the reviews on TripAdvisor for any property you are considering renting. You can find ours at Read reviews.