Blue Ridge and generator - worth it?

Question

Hi there. We just acquired a cabin in Blue Ridge from owners who previously used it for short term rentals and now we've got our first guest. Unfortunately, today (Christmas), TMC Electric had an outage, and of course we're freaking out because this obviously sucks and will likely affect our rating. It appears that there's just a little bit of rain going on, but nothing crazy.

That being said, the questions that I have here are:

1. Does the Blue Ridge/Epworth area experience outages quite often?

2. Is a backup generator worth it for a STR in this area?

Thanks for any input.

That being said, the questions that I have here are:

1. Does the Blue Ridge/Epworth area experience outages quite often?

2. Is a backup generator worth it for a STR in this area?

Thanks for any input.

Mackenzie Grate · Answer

While I am not familiar with that area specifically, if it's in the woods you will lose power during storms generally. I have two STR's in Upstate NY that lose power frequently and they aren't even super remote. I highly recommend back up generators, not only for the guests convenience and ratings, but also to protect your property. If it gets super cold and you don't have electricity, pipes will burst. Turnovers for your cleaners without electricity are nearly impossible. Plus, it is an extra feature you can highlight that will increase bookings for you.

If you decide to forego the back up generator, make it super clear in your listing that power outages may occur and that stays won't be refunded if that is the case. The more explicit you are in your listings about the drawbacks of a property, the better.

But overall, in a wooded setting... they are totally worth it in my opinion.

Good luck and congrats on your first one! How exciting! You got this! :)

Lateefah Mathews · Answer

I completely agree with @Mackenzie Grate. Although outages are infrequent in Blue Ridge, they are (obviously) not unheard of. However, these outages could become an issue during rainy seasons and short days of cold weather.

Taking the route of making it clear in your listings about power outages and creating a backup plan is one option. The other option is investing in a backup generator, for which you should weigh the cost and determine its value for your STR.

Either way, congrats on your Blue Ridge Rental everyone loves that area!