5 Things to Think About Before Renting Out Your Vacation Home

NEW YORK, December 16, 2022 (Newswire.com) - iQuanti: If your vacation home has been sitting empty for a while, the thought of renting it out may have crossed your mind. You may even know a friend or family member that's had success with a similar endeavor. While renting out your vacation home may be a great way to earn some income and make the best use of a vacant property, the process may be a lot more demanding than most people anticipate. If you're serious about renting out your property, here are some things to think about.

1. The costs

Travel is very accessible these days and the industry has been booming since pandemic restrictions were lifted. That said, expectations have risen, too. Tourists have come to expect rentals that rival hotels, with high-quality furniture, hotel-quality beds and linens, high-speed wireless internet and a TV with cable to name just a few. To build a successful business, you may have to seriously consider investing in some home upgrades to bring your property on par with others, such as a pool or bathroom renovation. If you don't have the funds for these upgrades, you may want to consider a home equity loan or borrowing against a permanent life insurance policy if you have one, such as a universal life insurance or whole life insurance policy. 

2. The management

You will either need to manage the property yourself or hire a property manager to greet guests, clean the house, and ensure everything is order. Taking on the responsibility of doing this yourself means you will dedicate a significant chunk of time to the effort. Hiring an individual or a company to take care of the property management means that you will have to share your earnings. 

3. The demand

It can be nerve-wracking to realize that you're going to incur costs on setting up, cleaning, and maintaining your vacation home. So, before you list, it may be a good idea to do some research into the kind of demand that exists for properties like yours. Try speaking to other property owners in the area if you can. A local travel agent may also be able to help you see where you stand. 

4. The legal aspects

Depending on where you live, there may be restrictions on whether you can rent out your property. Even if you're eligible to rent, the state may require you to obtain a business license or restrict how much of the year you're able to rent out the property. You may also need to pay taxes on your rental income. Speaking to a lawyer or tax professional may help you understand some of the new obligations that your rental business will bring.

5. The overall commitment 

Sometimes renting out a vacation home is suggested as an easy way to earn some passive income. The truth is that it's very much an active project. You may have to manage and track your listing as well as be available to attend to calls and emails to screen potential renters. Even if you hire someone to manage the property for you, the home is ultimately your responsibility and you may need to check on it once in a while.

The primary purpose of permanent life insurance is to provide a death benefit. Using permanent life insurance accumulated value to supplement retirement income will reduce the death benefit and may affect other aspects of the policy.

Source: iQuanti