A representative from one of the myriad vacation home rental properties keeps leaving attractive brochures by my front gate. They want to know if we’re interested in turning our home into a vacation rental, even occasionally. I have to admit the lure of additional income is tempting. Many moons ago I had a friend who worked as a location scout for films and high-end catalogs. Telling me how many thousands of dollars a day were paid to people to rent out their houses, she whet my appetite for finding ways to make money off my home without having to work too hard for it. The truth of the matter? If I were ever to put my house on the vacation rental market, I’d have to do a lot to make it work, especially my outdoor space.
That said, since this summer we will be doing the bulk of our vacationing right in our own backyard, I took a critical look at our property and saw it needed some work. I’m guessing what I saw is similar to what you might find if you gave your house and yard an honest appraisal. For your consideration, here are four ways to get your house ready for summer enjoyment.
1. Upgrade your outdoor space with new architectural details
We already have a charming shed that does double duty. Yes it’s a storage shed, but also my husband’s place to practice his saxophone. He is, for the time being, sharing that space with the lawnmower, all our garden tools, and a few pieces of seasonal furniture. Were the house ever to be a chic vacation rental, in a blink I’d be turning that shed into an outdoor bar/lounge. It’s in a very sunny and protected wind-shielded corner. It is an architectural detail that seems like it could use more oomph. A pergola might be nice there.
Feeling like a farmer? Even a load of grandly potted plants would be a vast improvement to the space. Think about modular raised garden beds. Or just grow some hydrangeas in pots. You don’t need too much of a green thumb to do that.
2. Clean it up
It’s amazing what you can become blind to if you just look at the same thing all the time. I admit the winter weather didn’t exactly invite a lot of scrutiny. But on the first really nice day of spring, I stood outside of my house and stared hard at the roof, the shingles, the foundation, and the windows, and concluded they all needed scrubbing. I’ve read a lot how power-washing is really important and a job best left to professionals. Specially if you’re washing things like shingles, which you might accidentally damage because you don’t know what you’re doing. Confidence will lead you on, but it can also lead you into trouble. So, by all means, get your outdoor spaces cleaned up. But if that involves more than sweeping with a broom or deploying a leaf-blower (and remember in many communities gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited), contact your HomeSquare professional. If you do nothing else, schedule a power wash! Your home and your walkways will thank you for it.
3. Let your garden grow but not too much
The first few years we lived in this house, we had no idea what was growing in the garden. Things that looked like invasives turned out to be specimen grasses, and things I thought were grasses turned out to be bamboo, which is an invasive species. The former homeowner had planted a lot of fruit-bearing things (she also planted potatoes and corn but that’s another story). For a couple of years we had blueberries and strawberries and way too many apples from two apple trees. Two years ago, except for the apple trees, the fruity things died. Last year we laboriously dug everything up, and filled in the holes, and threw around a lot of frighteningly expensive grass seed. This year we’re starting over with lilies.
We’ve planted Stargazers, Royal lilies, Asiatic lilies and giant Calla lilies which are said to be very fragrant. My husband is all about pollinators these days and has let the rosemary grow to gargantuan proportions. He’s also decided to let the dandelions go wild. They are a very pretty yellow and are said to be great for the bees. We’ve also planted a load of tropaeolum, also known as nasturtium, a herbaceous flowering plant you can eat. It’s pretty on the plate and pairs well with a soft cheese.
The one place where we’re adamant about getting rid of weeds is along our walkways. I could cut to the chase and whip out the Round-Up but there are just too many issues for me about the product which contains glyphosate and is in fact banned in some countries. Not in the USA where you can go to any garden store and you can buy it by the gallon. If you’re striving to not actively aggravate the environment, there are a number of products on the market that don’t contain glyphosate. You can even make your own weed killer at home using apple cider vinegar, salt, and liquid dish soap. Martha Stewart even has her own recipe.
Mostly we just spend a lot of time on our hands and knees pulling things out of crevices. Hey, it’s good exercise.
4. Add extra comfort
The reward for a day of outdoor chores is to hang outside and enjoy the moment. If you’re dreaming big, why not dream of an outdoor fireplace or even an outdoor kitchen? You’ll also want a nice table to sit at or at least a comfortable lounge chair and a place to put your drink. A covered space is nice if you’re looking to beat the heat, and a screened in area is even better especially if you live in a place that’s prone to attracting mosquitoes. Nights still a little chilly? Consider a standing outdoor patio heater. Some can be rather beautiful and architectural, and definitely a conversation starter should you be inclined towards entertaining.
A true but funny story that happened to me. We were at a friend’s house. It was night, it was dark, and I fell into her pool with all my clothes on because of her insufficient outdoor lighting. The good news is I didn’t drown even though I was wearing jeans and cowboy boots and sunk like a stone. The hostess was extremely apologetic and asked if there was anything she could do.
“Get some outdoor lighting!” I said. I hope she did but the truth is, I don’t know.
One of these days I might follow through and consider making a little extra money off my house by turning it into a vacation rental. But only after I follow my own advice and spruce things up, even just a little. Contact your Homesquare account manager to make a checklist of projects big or small to easily knock out around your home to get ready for summer.
Eve Marx
Eve Marx is a national journalist and book author. Follow her reflections on home design and interior style on Instagram at the hashtag #funkybeachhouseseasideror.