When renting a beach house for your family or two families, what do you expect?

[Anonymous]

What makes the difference difference to you in terms of a "great" vs "ok" rental property when you are staying at the Delaware beaches? No pool or hot tub due to safety concerns with young kids. But aside from paying more to be on the beach, what do you expect for your money? Right now there are huge, brand new places going for $1k - $2k a night and up, I'm thinking of more mid-range, $350 to $550 or $600 per night places. Full disclosure: I'm asking because I am making some improvements to our rental property and I'd like to focus on the right things. Or is it "the little things" that matter? What makes you want to return to the same house each year? Thanks for playing!

[Anonymous]

Having it be really clean means a lot to me. I don't want to see dust, sand, garbage, crumbs, hairs, etc. I want everything there to work, and without complaint. No stuck windows, no broken appliances.

[Anonymous]

What you can't control - walking distance to beach + ideally other things to do.

Aside from that, I think it is the little things that matter to me.

What you can control:
- super clean and well-kept
- nice-looking (not grungy or "stale") bed/bath items like mattresses, pillows, comforters, bath rugs, etc.
- well-stocked kitchen, especially plenty of cutting boards and good knives (don't have to be expensive!), a nice coffee maker and a grinder
- comes with beach chairs + an umbrella, sand toys
- enough outside furniture, included where you can find shade/umbrella
- a working gas grill
- laundry (this is a total MUST for my family)
- not too much fru-fru decor - keep it clean and simple

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having it be really clean means a lot to me. I don't want to see dust, sand, garbage, crumbs, hairs, etc. I want everything there to work, and without complaint. No stuck windows, no broken appliances.

Thank you! Yes, we had maintenance issues a few times and it was a nightmare. I tried to make it up to people with a restaurant dinner on me or a discount, but I know that is cold comfort when you have wasted time on your vacation!

[Anonymous]

Overall cleanliness and something not very cluttered. Space to sprawl out and enough seating for everyone (a big dining room table, or two couches in the living room, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you can't control - walking distance to beach + ideally other things to do.

Aside from that, I think it is the little things that matter to me.

What you can control:
- super clean and well-kept
- nice-looking (not grungy or "stale") bed/bath items like mattresses, pillows, comforters, bath rugs, etc.
- well-stocked kitchen, especially plenty of cutting boards and good knives (don't have to be expensive!), a nice coffee maker and a grinder
- comes with beach chairs + an umbrella, sand toys
- enough outside furniture, included where you can find shade/umbrella
- a working gas grill
- laundry (this is a total MUST for my family)
- not too much fru-fru decor - keep it clean and simple

Thank you! Rental company telling me I need to make it "beachier," that it is too minimalistic, but I don't want tacky dust collectors all around either!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you can't control - walking distance to beach + ideally other things to do.

Aside from that, I think it is the little things that matter to me.

What you can control:
- super clean and well-kept
- nice-looking (not grungy or "stale") bed/bath items like mattresses, pillows, comforters, bath rugs, etc.
- well-stocked kitchen, especially plenty of cutting boards and good knives (don't have to be expensive!), a nice coffee maker and a grinder
- comes with beach chairs + an umbrella, sand toys
- enough outside furniture, included where you can find shade/umbrella
- a working gas grill
- laundry (this is a total MUST for my family)
- not too much fru-fru decor - keep it clean and simple

Thank you! Rental company telling me I need to make it "beachier," that it is too minimalistic, but I don't want tacky dust collectors all around either!

With young kids, I just stash them all in a drawer the minute we arrive and then dump them on a bed on the way out for the cleaning company to put back. Otherwise, they'll get broken by curious kids.

[Anonymous]

well stocked kitchen-- enough utensils, plates etc. decent cooking utensils and pots/pans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you can't control - walking distance to beach + ideally other things to do.

Aside from that, I think it is the little things that matter to me.

What you can control:
- super clean and well-kept
- nice-looking (not grungy or "stale") bed/bath items like mattresses, pillows, comforters, bath rugs, etc.
- well-stocked kitchen, especially plenty of cutting boards and good knives (don't have to be expensive!), a nice coffee maker and a grinder
- comes with beach chairs + an umbrella, sand toys
- enough outside furniture, included where you can find shade/umbrella
- a working gas grill
- laundry (this is a total MUST for my family)
- not too much fru-fru decor - keep it clean and simple

Thank you! Rental company telling me I need to make it "beachier," that it is too minimalistic, but I don't want tacky dust collectors all around either!

With young kids, I just stash them all in a drawer the minute we arrive and then dump them on a bed on the way out for the cleaning company to put back. Otherwise, they'll get broken by curious kids.

I got a good laugh thinking that you stash your kids in a drawer! That would cut down on the whining, wouldn't it? Q

[Anonymous]

I would love to have a power strip in some central area where everyone can charge their devices.

I choose my houses based on the family/main room sofa: "Would I want to lie down on that and take a nap?" Old, sweaty, tired-looking furniture gets an immediate pass.

For the sweet love of baby Jaysus, get some decent knives and more than one cutting board.

[Anonymous]

Clean, nice view, nice outdoor furniture, nice living room furniture, clean carpet, cable TV and internet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you can't control - walking distance to beach + ideally other things to do.

Aside from that, I think it is the little things that matter to me.

What you can control:
- super clean and well-kept
- nice-looking (not grungy or "stale") bed/bath items like mattresses, pillows, comforters, bath rugs, etc.
- well-stocked kitchen, especially plenty of cutting boards and good knives (don't have to be expensive!), a nice coffee maker and a grinder
- comes with beach chairs + an umbrella, sand toys
- enough outside furniture, included where you can find shade/umbrella
- a working gas grill
- laundry (this is a total MUST for my family)
- not too much fru-fru decor - keep it clean and simple

Thank you! Rental company telling me I need to make it "beachier," that it is too minimalistic, but I don't want tacky dust collectors all around either!

Original PP here, so obviously I am biased - BUT: "beachy" places are a dime a dozen. Clean, nicely but minimally decorated places are really hard to find!

[Anonymous]

two coffee makers. Nice beachy bed comforters.

[Anonymous]

big things to me are:

nice decor. I can't understand why anyone would rent the places at sea colony that were furnished in 1975. I like beachy neutrals.

comfortable beds with mattress that isn't squeaky

clean, clean, clean

beach chairs

Absolute must.. washer and dryer that are a decent size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you can't control - walking distance to beach + ideally other things to do.

Aside from that, I think it is the little things that matter to me.

What you can control:
- super clean and well-kept
- nice-looking (not grungy or "stale") bed/bath items like mattresses, pillows, comforters, bath rugs, etc.
- well-stocked kitchen, especially plenty of cutting boards and good knives (don't have to be expensive!), a nice coffee maker and a grinder
- comes with beach chairs + an umbrella, sand toys
- enough outside furniture, included where you can find shade/umbrella
- a working gas grill
- laundry (this is a total MUST for my family)
- not too much fru-fru decor - keep it clean and simple

Thank you! Rental company telling me I need to make it "beachier," that it is too minimalistic, but I don't want tacky dust collectors all around either!

With young kids, I just stash them all in a drawer the minute we arrive and then dump them on a bed on the way out for the cleaning company to put back. Otherwise, they'll get broken by curious kids.

I got a good laugh thinking that you stash your kids in a drawer! That would cut down on the whining, wouldn't it? Q

Are we allowed to store other people's kids in the drawers? Or just our own?