Advice needed on rental/lease option (Orlando, Leesburg: relocate, vacation, work)

[Nanci Quinn]

Our work has forced us to relocate to Orlando. We are up there during the week and come home to basically check on the house on the weekends. Because of the RE market now it is not possible for us to sell this house and break even. We would like to rent or lease option our house to snowbirds (?) to help defray the cost of living in Orlando. This is a nice 1600 sq ft home with heated salt water pool and attached hot tub. It is in a nice area with the best neighbors you could ask for. Our problem is that we do not know where to begin to contact potential renters. We can rent our home either furnished or unfurnished. Any suggestions?

[Sunnydee]

Originally Posted by Nanci Quinn

Our work has forced us to relocate to Orlando. We are up there during the week and come home to basically check on the house on the weekends. Because of the RE market now it is not possible for us to sell this house and break even. We would like to rent or lease option our house to snowbirds (?) to help defray the cost of living in Orlando. This is a nice 1600 sq ft home with heated salt water pool and attached hot tub. It is in a nice area with the best neighbors you could ask for. Our problem is that we do not know where to begin to contact potential renters. We can rent our home either furnished or unfurnished. Any suggestions?

When I've rented houses for our Orlando vacations I've used VRBO - vacation rentals by owners, and have found some really nice places. I think it's a terrific site, but check it out and see what you think. (You might also contact FaithfulFrank. He rents out his FL home and has had good luck with it. I'm sure he'd be happy to share his knowledge with you.) Best wishes.

[Nanci Quinn]

Thank you so much for your advice. I will definitely check it out and see if I can get hold of "Frank".

[faithfulFrank]

Well, here I am....it's nice to be wanted.

Yes, I currently rent out my home using VRBO. It is by far the best of all the "vacation rental" websites.
May I also suggest the book;
"How to rent Vacation Properties by Owner" by Christine Karpinski

It is very helpful. It helped free us from Property managers who did nothing good for us at all. You can do much better yourself.

Your success is dependent on many things...location, how nice the house is, etc. Check other VRBO listings in your area and see what is out there and what rents they get. It is harder to rent in the summer, but perhaps not where you are. You are almost guaranteed to have the snowbird months rented. If you rent to snowbirds, it will need to be furnished.

I'm no expert, but things have worked out very well for me. If you want an idea of how to list your property, etc, here is my website to compare;
Leesburg Travel - House

Good luck, and let me know if I can help further.

Frank D.

[Sunnydee]

Frank, I'm so glad you showed up to help Nanci. Thanks for giving her the information she needed on renting her place.

[faithfulFrank]

Always happy to help.

Renting our Florida home until we can live there full time has been a very positive experience. It has given us some great tax breaks, and has helped us afford to own two houses on one paycheck.

All improvements to the home are a tax deduction, as well as our trips down there to do the work. Our home is already rented for 6 months over the winter. We will be down there in October and then again in May. 1057 more days and we will be full time Floridians

Frank D.