Pool and Pool Heating

The presence or absence of a private pool is the most obvious optional feature. If you are buying a new home, you will have the option of including a pool. In the case of a 3-bedroom or larger single family (detached) home, a private pool is an absolute must if you are planning to go into the short-term rental market. Very few renters are interested in a home without a pool. If you are considering a condo or a townhouse, the community pool with replace the private pool, although there are some townhouses that have smaller splash pool or spa in a courtyard area.

Other Features

There are so many options and combinations that it is impossible to be specific about the merits of any. Some homes have a pool/spa combination, or a separate a hot tub or a jetted bathtub. Nearly all have at least basic cable TV, and most have one or more VCRs, and perhaps a hi-fi system. Internet access, even with an in-house PC, is starting to become a popular option, too. The size and position of the lot, the amount of landscaping and pool privacy can all be thought of as features in this context, as can on-site sports and leisure facilities and a lake, golf or conservation area setting.

All of these features, and occasionally others, are specifically requested by some renters, and of no importance at all to others. The overall level of furnishing and equipment is sometimes classified as either executive or standard, although there is no standard definition of these terms. Someone who rents an executive home would expect it to have an oversize floor area, to have a higher than average level of comfort, and certainly to have some special features, such as a spa and a VCR, for example. In return for these features, the renter would expect to pay a premium on the rental rate.

When you are furnishing or equipping your home, it makes good sense to consider what will be attractive to renters yet will cost relatively little to provide. For example, a basic VCR can cost as little as $40, yet is a very popular feature. Even better, buy a basic Wal-Mart stroller (buggy) for around $10 and put it away in a cupboard, and families with small children will think your home is magnificently equipped!

A spa, on the other hand, can be a substantial investment, both in terms of installation cost and in running costs. It will attract some bookings, but to many renters it will be something that they get very little, if any, use from. So if you buy a home that has a spa already installed, then fine. Or if it is a feature that you would use yourself during your vacation stays, then it can be worth installing. In the same way that you need to consider your own requirements when you are buying a home, you should also think of your own needs when you are furnishing and equipping it.