You’ve just purchased your beach vacation home or condo. Congratulations! What now?

It’s an exciting time – your dream has come true. Now, it’s time to set up your rental property and start generating income. Where to begin? It’s a fun process to turn your home into a vacation rental property that welcomes visitors, and even better when those visitors turn in to repeat guests.

Here’s my top ten list of the things I’ve learned from many years of renting my own vacation properties and managing others as well.

1 - Make it personal.

Don’t hesitate to leave family pictures out for guests to enjoy. This reminds them that a family owns the home that they are “borrowing” (renting) and helps ensure they take good care of your property.

2 - Have a

While having a beautiful 30A beach home is something so many of us dream about, not everyone wants to have a full-time, part-time or vacation home directly on Scenic 30A’s pristine beaches. One of the neat things about living or owning property in South Walton is the diversity of locations the area has to offer. While over 40% of the land that makes up southern Walton County is either in State Forest areas, Florida State Parks or preservation areas, there are beautiful locations with wonderful waterfront or wooded surroundings to make almost everyone’s dream place.  And the best thing is, from just about anywhere in South Walton you can still be at the beach in no-time! 

So, if beachside living isn’t “your thing” but you want to be on the water, how