Rental Sweet Rental

Keith Johnson’s family vacation ended up as a wonderful memory, but it began as a business transaction — and he didn’t close the deal until he’d done his due diligence.

Johnson, who is from Weston, Conn., was planning a family reunion near Cedar Point Amusement Park last summer. After considering several options, looking at photos and asking questions, he rented a large house with its own Lake Erie beach. The newly remodeled home was jampacked with extra touches, such as luxurious linens, televisions in every room, a gourmet kitchen and plenty of lawn games for entertainment. The water-loving family also had a canoe and kayak at its disposal.

“We had a great experience,” says Johnson. “It was a beautiful setting, and the kids had a lot to do.”

Tina Erwin’s vacation, on the other hand, wasn’t as successful. She and her extended family rented a cottage on South Bass Island in Ohio and found it less than clean. “I finished giving my daughter a bath, and she was running all over the house,” says Erwin, who is from Avon, Ohio. “Her feet were black. The carpet was completely filthy. It was absolutely disgusting.”

Erwin says she’s open to the idea of renting a vacation home again, but she’d do a lot more research.

And that is exactly the point. Finding a great vacation rental isn’t a matter of luck. It’s the result of doing your homework and knowing what to ask (see “The Questions to Ask,” page 36). It’s also a question of expectations. What are you willing to pay for? And what should you get for the money you spend?

When Kathleen Osborne was planning her vacation, she knew she wanted a quick getaway for her family of five, but she didn’t want to pay a fortune. What she did want was a beach — very close by. She ended up in a two-bedroom cabin a short walk from Gem Beach on Catawba near Port Clinton, Ohio, that cost $450 for the week. Her three children (then ages 5, 7 and 9) spent all day on the beach, then learned Texas hold’em from their dad at night in the cabin’s screened-in porch. “It was nothing fancy,” Osborne says. “But a nice place to go.”

The cabin didn’t have a washer and dryer, necessitating a few trips to the laundromat down the road to wash beach towels but, because she knew that before she arrived, Osborne was prepared for it. It ended up being an inexpensive but memorable vacation.

Johnson, because he was hosting a family reunion, was looking for much more than that. He found the home through the popular Web site VRBO.com, which is owned by HomeAway.com. Each listing usually includes a description of the property, several photos, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the owner’s rental policies and other unique selling points.

“I look for a really accurate description of the property,” says Johnson. “And I like to see pictures and a map; I want to know how far my family will have to walk to get somewhere and what the views will be.”

Once he narrows down his options to two or three, Johnson speaks directly with the owner, something that isn’t always possible when working with a rental agency. “You can tell if they have a passion for it,” he says.

In Johnson’s case, the owner inundated him with extra photos and other materials. “She told me all the good things and the things they were still working on,” he says. “We were pretty well-prepared going in.”

“It all goes back to the basic principles that your mom told you: Don’t assume anything,” says Christine Karpinski, the director of owner community for HomeAway.com. “If there’s something that is important to you, ask before you solidify that reservation. If a picture shows a rocking chair, double-check that the rocking chair is there.”

As for Erwin, she might be back on the lake this summer, but there’s one thing she knows for sure: “I don’t think I’d rent a place with carpet ever again.”

What to Expect for Your Money

More than $3,500 —
At this price, your home should be absolutely amazing, sleep more than 15 people and be impeccable. It should also be on the water.

$2,500 to $3,500 —
You can expect to be on the water in a very clean house with a gourmet kitchen, multiple baths and plenty to do, whether it’s on-property kayaks or a swimming pool. It should sleep anywhere from eight to 15 people.

$1,000 to $2,500 —
A house at this price point should sleep a large family, up to eight people. It might not be right on the water, but should be close to area attractions. It could be outdated, but should be generally clean.

Less than $1,000 —
This would be a house for around five or six people. It would probably not be on the water and would, most likely, be very basic. Though likely to be outdated, the property should be decently clean. Several renters warned of houses at this price range in known party locations, such as Put-in-Bay. It’s also possible that renters would be expected to bring their own bedding and towels.

The Questions to Ask

• May I see photos of the property? “Pictures, pictures, pictures,” insists Linda Letson, who owned a cottage in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, until last fall. “Pay attention to the details in the pictures. Does the furniture look attractive and well kept? Are the shots of the views taken from the property? A lot of places that aren’t very nice might not give you a lot of pictures.”

• What are the sleeping arrangements? Of course, you’ll ask how many people a house sleeps, but it’s equally important to check exactly where — and on what — everyone will be sleeping. If a house sleeps 10 but includes two 20-year-old sleeper sofas that are expected to hold two people apiece, that might not work for you.

• Do you have references? Find someone who can vouch for the property’s condition. “Try contacting the local chamber of commerce to see if they even know something about the place,” says Lauren Krueger, the owner of the Lake House at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

• Can I stop by to see the house first? If you live nearby and are planning a family reunion or other big event, it’s probably worth your time.

• Is smoking allowed? If it is, nonsmokers should realize that the odor might still be there.

• Are pets allowed? If you’ve never experienced the odor of cat urine, you might not realize the risks you run by renting a place where pets are permitted. Of course, such a house can be spotless, but it should at least raise a red flag to ask more questions.

10 Great Houses Still Available

The best places are booked years in advance, right? Not always. We scoured the lake on your behalf and found 10 amazing properties that, at press time, were still available. Even better, several of the homeowners offered to reserve a week or two for the first Lake Erie Living reader interested in renting their property at its regular price. The homes will be held until April 15.

The Questions to Ask

• How is the house cleaned between visits? “I’ve got a professional cleaner, and we make sure the place is spotless before a new renter gets there,” says Jim Kremidas of Saline, Mich., who owns a newer vacation home in Colchester, Ontario. “If the place is clean to begin with, the renters are more likely to clean up, too.” Also, be aware that at some rentals guests are expected to clean before they leave, and that is the extent of the housekeeping.

• Does the house have central air conditioning?

• When were the kitchens and baths last updated? For many, an out-of-date house is not a deal breaker, but the answer can shed light on the general condition of the property.

• When were the mattresses last replaced? Again, not necessarily a deal breaker, but if a mattress is older than you, it’s less likely to offer a good night’s sleep. “I do think you need to have nicer kitchens, better bathrooms and good mattresses on your bed,” says Krueger.

• What else is included? Are bed linens and towels on hand? Is there dish soap and laundry detergent (if there is a washer and dryer) available? Is there a grill? Are guests able to access the Internet from the house?

• What are your rental policies? Discuss the cancellation policy, fee assessments and when the deposit will be returned.

• Is this your best price? Don’t haggle, but it never hurts to ask — politely. Also, ask about specials.

How to Find Your Vacation Home

Canada’s Coast

Canadians enjoy vacationing on Lake Erie so much that their shoreline is known as “cottage country.” In the summer, Ontario’s fishing villages and port towns — particularly Port Stanley and Port Dover — are the heart of the action. “Cottagers” sunbathe on wide, sandy beaches, go fishing and listen to live music at lakeside bars. For those who enjoy peace and quiet, Point Pelee National Park and Rondeau and Long Point provincial parks are the best places to commune with nature. The dunes and marshes teem with songbirds, as well as spawning fish, turtles and frogs.

Western New York

This region is known as the Grape Belt — the oldest and largest Concord grape growing region in the world, where more than 30,000 acres of lush green vines give way to quaint lakeside villages. Attractions include wineries, farmers markets, the rocky cliffs of Lake Erie State Park and the city of Dunkirk, where you can tour its lighthouse or take a sunset cruise. To the south, the Chautauqua Institution is a favorite summer resort. Other attractions in that area include Midway Park and the city of Jamestown, known for being the birthplace of comedienne Lucille Ball.

Pennsylvania

Presque Isle State Park is the highlight of a visit to Pennsylvania’s sliver of Lake Erie shoreline. Crisscrossed with hiking and biking trails and ringed with more than seven miles of sandy beaches, the 3,200-acre wooded peninsula draws around 4 million people annually. Fishing, boating, water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, picnicking, and bird and wildlife watching are all possible. Across the bay, Erie offers museums, a variety of dining options and the 3-year-old Presque Isle Downs and Casino.

Once you have narrowed down your vacation destination, you need
to find your rental. A good first step is to contact the local chamber
of commerce or county visitors bureau for a list of rental properties — although be aware that some have more information than others.
There are three popular Web sites that allow owners to post their properties — VRBO.com, HomeAway.com and CottagesinCanada.com. Lastly, there are many agencies that deal in rental properties along the lake. They are listed below by region.

Sandusky and the
Marblehead Peninsula

The biggest draw here, of course, is Cedar Point Amusement Park, but packaging those thrills into a larger trip makes for an even better vacation. The gated village of Lakeside publishes a list of classes, lectures and activities each week, which includes everything from pottery to tennis to seminars on religion, history and politics. There’s a small beach, children’s pool and huge park with shuffleboard courts and a supervised playground. There are also shops, restaurants and plenty of places to get an ice cream cone. Staying in
Port Clinton, which has a number of
nice bed-and-breakfasts, gives visitors
a convenient base for island jumping (the Jet Express has a dock here), as
well as exploring local wineries, beaches and parks.

The Lake Erie
Islands

They’re only one short ferry ride away from the mainland, but the Lake Erie Islands feel worlds away. Put-in-Bay is well known for attracting partiers to its bar-lined streets, but is equally fun for families. The list of attractions includes Perry’s Cave, where kids can mine for gems, play miniature golf, tour the butterfly house and, of course, explore the cave. Kelleys Island is known as the quieter option, but there’s still plenty to do, including exploring the glacial grooves, hitting the beach, renting a kayak and more. Pelee Island (see the “Canada” portion of chart) is the least developed of the three most popular islands. It boasts the nicest beaches and, like Kelleys, offers a more subdued kind of fun. The Pelee Island Winery and Pelee Island Kite Museum are two of the attractions.