<p>Being a Floridian, I always thought it kinda funny when my northern relatives “going to the shore” considered Cape May, N.J. “way down south.”</p>
<p>We keep our Beach House very well stocked for ourselves and for our guests, thankyou very much. Our knives are not Cutco’s, but they are serviceable. If anyone wants to sharpen our knives they can do so with our oldfashion 20",sandstone grinding wheel, a carbide stone, two harden steel sharpening rods, and a marble finishing stone. </p>
<p>We even keep TP in the house. </p>
<p>We encourage our guests to only bring themselves. Anything that they may need for food and toiletries are at the local grocer. Extra beach clothes and whatnots are at the library’s thrift store.</p>
<p>Pacific Beaches are much too cold for anything except wetsuits. You can wear anything you want underneath. :)</p>
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If only vacationers were all as gracious and responsible as your guests must be! Nobody can ruin a Teflon pan or a steak knife faster than somebody on holiday. Cups, utensils, and strainers become sand castle molds and digging/shelling implements. Dryers get the sandy beach towel treatment. Bed sheets get taken out on a picnic or used to line the trunk. And people steal the darnedest things – I mean really, the darnedest things!</p>
<p>A close friend of mine had a beach condo in the rental pool. Every year, she would spend the first and last weeks of her time there cleaning, fixing, and taking inventory – and replacing kitchen utensils, linens, upholstery, you name it. Tons and tons of work and expense.</p>
<p>Just saying if that knife is dull, it may not be the beach house owner’s fault. Could be that the last folks used it to shell a coconut or dig a hole halfway to China, and the folks before them made off with the sharpening stones!</p>
<p>Unless you know what kind of coffee maker is there, don’t try to guess which filters to buy. Wait to get them there. I think every house we have ever rented actually had coffee filters though.</p>
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Not true in Southern California (definitely true in Northern Cal) from about the latter part of July through October. It’s not as warm as Florida but the temps get above 70 degrees which is fine for playing in all day boogie boarding, bodysurfing, surfing without a wetsuit.</p>
<p>Geek_Mom, #43: Your friend is correct. That is why we really don’t “rent” to unknowns, Only to people that we know.</p>
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<p>How do you work your rentals? We only got our place last year, so we’ve never rented it. Recently the executive director of a local nonprofit asked if we would donate our guest house for the group’s fundraising auction. I"m OK with it, but my H feels dealing with someone who wasn’t actually renting from us, especially if the folks damaged something, might be a hassle. What’s your experience renting to friends–has it always been positive?</p>
<p>Oregon coastal home rental is odd. You can rent a beach frontage house very inexpensively. If they don’t like our rules and price, they can rent somewhere else. We do not need to rent the house. See Craigslist, Portland OR, vacation rentals, seaside.</p>
<p>We/I tell those who wants the house that please keep the house as you have found it or in better condition. The cost of maintenance is more than any rent we may collect from them. Be upfront on the your conditions and expectations, ask for a refundable damage deposit, and a nonrefundable cleaning deposit; If the renters can do their own laundry and cleaning, we can provide the house for other friends and guests. I have no qualms in making the clients feel guilty for causing the closure of our house.</p>
<p>Very jealous here also as we haven’t been able to go back to the Outer Banks for a few years. When we do go we try to take as much food as possible. It takes time but do plan out a few meals, take the recipe cards with you if complicated, and either measure out the needed spices or take the bottles with you. If the local store is a large one, i.e. Food Lion in the OUuter Banks, sign up for their store card on your first trip so you can take advantage of all the sales. We try to plan/pack for an easy breakfast for the first morning. The stores are always packed on the first day of rental week which might be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Flashlights, batteries, and a few candles and hope that you won’t need them! Ziploc bags are a must for every possible use.</p>
<p>bluejay, we were just at Kitty Hawk 3 weeks ago. Had a good lunch at Nags Head Fishing Pier. We ate out on the porch. The view was worth the price of the meal.
We go fairly often. DH’s parents retired to KH years ago.</p>
<p>Thanks, bluejay, for bringing this discussion back on track. I appreciate the advice.</p>