02-19-2009, 05:55 AM
We also did the vacation rental route, with our own time blocked off, for many years before being able to move over full-time. At first we used a rental agency but, as you've found, the rates can be steep - and we were ripped off by renters but not told about it nor reimbursed by the agents. We mutually agreed to drop each other (good riddance!) and happily managed it ourselves, long-distance, hiring local friends to do the cleaning and set-up between guests.
Now that we have moved to the island and have our own studio built, we can do it all ourselves. We do not have an ocean view; just in a quiet neighborhood, but on clear days we can see Mauna Kea.
Lately, it seems like many bookings are only a few weeks out, rather than months ahead as they used to be in better economic times, which is interesting. We list our rental on several websites as well as having our own pages, and are actually doing quite well with almost constant bookings January through March. It can be done!
aloha, Liz
"The best things in life aren't things."
Now that we have moved to the island and have our own studio built, we can do it all ourselves. We do not have an ocean view; just in a quiet neighborhood, but on clear days we can see Mauna Kea.
Lately, it seems like many bookings are only a few weeks out, rather than months ahead as they used to be in better economic times, which is interesting. We list our rental on several websites as well as having our own pages, and are actually doing quite well with almost constant bookings January through March. It can be done!
aloha, Liz
"The best things in life aren't things."