All Forum Posts by: Alice Horn

Happy to provide connections and insights for the Disney market - Polk and Osceola Counties!

Thanks @Tyler Gibson! @Titus Hill, happy to help you run some reports (revenue,occupancy) to help you figure out which communities and home types you would like to target. Let me know how we can help!

Hey @Ronnie Ho, we are vacation rental managers based in the heart of the Disney/Orlando market. While it is a busy time of the year, there are often gaps between stays which should allow you to get in and see the properties. We have also worked with realtors who will do personal video tours to give you a better sense if you are unable to personally visit. What Disney area communities are you looking at?

@Andrew C. absolutely! Typically, pool homes or town homes with 4 bedrooms up will perform much better. Feel free to send us any listings you’re considering and we’ll run the analytics!

Thanks for the kind words, @Ted Caputo! Hope all is going well with your relocation.

@Andrew C., Windsor Hills ticks all the boxes for many families! But it is an older resort, so if someone is looking for newer build homes, it’s not for them. Personally, I like that it’s a bit more spread out and the views from the pool areas are very nice. The resort has a welcoming feel…but very few homes for sale at the moment!

Amenities matter, but distance from Disney is definitely a factor too. Communities like Windsor Hills or Storey Lake in Kissimmee are very popular because they have the best of both worlds - location AND amenities. Championsgate, Windsor at Westside and Solara are a bit further but they also have fantastic amenities. 

We realized this was a serious concern for many investors, especially around the pandemic when they couldn't travel. We took the plunge and built out our team so we can handle decor and light renovations internally. This has worked out great since we can also apply our knowledge of the vacation rental industry and what works best once we are booking the home (themed bedrooms, game room, best bedding configuration and much more). Like every one else, we have been impacted by labor and supply shortages, but we are getting these renovations done and the homes are booking well.

Thanks @Tyler Gibson!  @Henry Latino, we can definitely help with this. We have software that can calculate occupancy and revenue by individual listing, and we can also provide feedback on the top performing Disney/Orlando STR communities and home types. Just let us know how we can help!

@Keith Courtney, I couldn't agree more. For all homes (and especially our remote investors purchasing resales), we conduct a detailed "ready to rent" checklist, and make recommendations for decor, maintenance and inventory. This gives them peace of mind that their home will perform well and get good reviews. In general:

• 1. Furniture must be up to date and on trend (those GIANT 4 poster dark brown beds gotta go!)
• 2. Walls should be neutral (light grey or white) with pops of color to make the listing stand out
  3. Themed bedrooms are a must, especially in larger homes. Invest in nice wallpaper and decorating touches, not just a few decals!
  4. If there is room for a game room, that will help book your home. Remember, broken or worn equipment will lead to bad reviews.
  5. Pay attention to your pool area. Is the furniture worn? New furniture, bright cushions etc. will add appeal in the listing
  6. Carefully check your inventory. If your kitchen is missing critical items, that will lead to bad reviews.
• 7. Invest in hotel-quality white linens for the beds. There is no greater turnoff than old and stained comforters.
  
  As far as timing, it is tricky but we are seeing many investors taking advantage of the low interest and immediately booking up their home for several months at great rates. Sure, it takes persistence and yes, many are making multiple offers. Home prices are up, but booking rates are also way up. As always, run detailed projections to make sure the deal works! 

Hey @Matt Nico, Storey Lake is extremely popular with guests since it's closer to Disney and has fantastic amenities. Our properties there do very well. Having said that, the homes tend to be on the pricier side, so each home would have to be evaluated on a case by case basis.