What You Need to Know When Renting Out Your Modular Cabin
Thinking about renting out your cabin? Trailside Structure’s Amish-built modular cabins are great homes-away-from-homes for when you need an escape and provide a great source of a second income when you rent them out to travelers. Our cabins make great investments through our customizable designs, unmatched durability, and timeless craftsmanship that will impress any traveler. There are many aspects to consider when renting out your cabin, including local regulations, preparing the property, rental agreements, and safety features. Here is a guide on how to rent your cabin to travelers depending on the state you live in.
What to Know When Renting Your Cabin
Preparing Your Property
First and foremost, prepare the property to house short-term guests. Decide what amenities you plan on being available for guests: kitchen appliances, TV, WiFi, fireplace, grill, etc. Once you have decided on the amenities, make sure they are all in good working condition for the guests to use. You can supply guests with items to help them feel more at home, like cookware, towels, and linens. While it is not unusual for guests to be required to bring their own towels and linens to a vacation home, it will level up their experience by providing them. If you plan to use the space yourself when renters are not there, make sure you have secured and locked owner’s storage to ensure your stuff is not stolen or broken. When preparing your cabin, you must ensure that all safety features are working properly. Make sure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and locks are in place and operational.
Local Regulations and Renter’s Agreements
Once your cabin is ready to house guests, check the local area’s rules and regulations for short-term rentals. Every state has its own regulations to follow. Once all regulations are settled, you can prepare your renter’s agreements for the guests. To keep good relations with your guests, have a detailed agreement written up that you can go back to if a dispute occurs. Important items to include in your renter’s agreements are:
- Include liability agreements in case the guest causes damage to your property.
- If the cabin has a pool or hot tub, have regulations put in place for people using it and have it clearly said in the listing if it is available for use or not.
- Have check-in/out times, maximum occupancy, cost, fees, cancellation policy, and security deposit clearly listed to ensure there is no confusion for the guests.
- Make sure it is explained that if any rules listed in the agreement are broken the property owner can charge additional fees.
Prepare Your Team
Finally, there are a few people you will need to hire to keep your rental cabin running smoothly. If your cabin is far away from your everyday home, hire a property management company to keep an eye on it. Your property manager will help with finding and managing tenants, legal issues, inspections, and handling maintenance. You will need to hire professional cleaners to clean the property between each guest, and the property manager may hire a professional maintenance team if needed. The last thing to cross off your list when preparing your modular cabin for a rental is to have insurance. Discuss with an insurance agent the protection that you will need to ensure you are protected from any financial loss that comes with renting.
Renting in Different States
Trailside Structures provides modular cabins to multiple states across the U.S. Our built-to-last cabins provide simplicity and comfort to owners and travelers, creating a stunning getaway for those who want to connect with nature. Each state has different environments that attract visitors to the area and has laws and regulations required to rent out your cabin. Here we will explain the differences between each state.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania provides the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Its mountain ranges have forests, lakes, and rivers flowing through that provide hiking trails, fishing, and outdoor activities for travelers. Pennsylvania is a popular destination for nature retreats for people in New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, allowing them to experience the outdoors after being in the city. The Poconos Mountains are a central popular rental location between all three cities. To rent out your cabin in Pennsylvania, you need to have a rental license that is renewed annually and obtain liability agreements from your guests. There is a hotel occupancy tax of 6% of your rental income that is required for short-term rentals. You will also have to follow any zoning or HOA regulations in your area.
New York
New York is one of the most popular states for tourism, especially for international travelers. The state’s tourism doesn’t stop at New York City, even upstate New York has many travelers from the city. Renting out a cabin provides a natural getaway for people who need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Upstate New York, like the Finger Lakes, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls allows for hiking and lake activities giving a rustic nature experience. There are many regulations property owners need to follow to rent out a cabin. First, you must register for a short-term permit at a local level. You can obtain these permits from your Town Code Enforcement Officer for $145. The property owner must have a NYC.ID account and must abide by zoning and safety regulations. You must register with the NY State Tax Department to pay a state sales tax on 4% of your revenue. You are also required to pay local sales tax, property tax, and rental income tax.
Wyoming
Wyoming is home to stunning national parks and forests, providing a historic nature retreat for travelers. Yellowstone National Park offers hot springs and geysers for visitors to enjoy on their trip. Tourists can stay close to Yellowstone or they can stay near one of Wyoming’s historic national forests, including Bighorn National Forest to get a secluded wilderness experience. Trailside Structure’s Yellowstone Log Cabins are great rentals for Wyoming, as its spacious living area and loft provide great spaces to match any traveler’s unique lifestyle. To rent your cabin in Wyoming, hosts must pay a 4% sales tax and a 5% lodging tax on any short-term rentals. The need for permits varies for each city, some cities require a short-term rental permit and others require a Basic Use Permit. Check the local regulations for the city you want to rent your cabin in to determine the permit you need.
Idaho
Idaho offers beautiful natural scenery that is perfect for cabin rentals. This state has scenic highways, historical sites, and diverse communities offering lots of activities for travelers. Its lakes and mountains provide hiking, fishing, and hot springs for people who need a secluded nature retreat. Regulations-wise, property owners must charge a sales tax of 6% for any accommodation. There is also a 2% Travel and Convention tax for all hotels and vacation rentals. Finally, to rent out your cabin, you need to obtain three permits: A permit for the Travel and Convention tax, a seller’s permit, and an Auditorium District tax permit if the cabin is located in a district.
Montana
Montana is great for cabin rentals because it is a great destination for nature lovers. Tourists love to stay in their scenic national parks and lakes, providing fun for families like hiking in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Montana has a picturesque landscape that will catch any tourist’s eye, making it a popular destination in recent years. To own a short-term rental in Montana, it is required that you obtain a Public Accommodations License from Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services, which is renewed every year. You are also required to pay two lodging taxes to the state and local taxes, and you must keep a guest registry for at least a year.
Design Ideas
When building your cabin, you will figure out a theme for the design. There are multiple ways you can design your cabin that will elevate rustic living.
Trailside’s Collections
Trailside Structures builds beautiful wooden furniture to elevate your cabin. Our furniture will help transform your modular cabin into a wilderness retreat with our Hickory Collection (right) and embrace the natural grandeur of the Colorado forests with the Aspen Collection (left). We value personalization when creating your interior, so we are flexible with how you choose individual pieces to reflect your style. Both of our collections offer pieces for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms, and the Hickory Collection offers pieces for offices, nurseries, and wall decor.
Minimalist Style
If you are a minimalist, embrace the natural beauty of the wood used to build the cabin. Give a natural vibe to the cabin by letting the different shades of wood and wooden beamwork be the highlight of the decor. For mountain cabins, use large windows to showcase the natural beauty of the forest. Our Tiny House Log Cabins embrace the “less is more” mentality, allowing you to create a minimalist environment that combines functionality and comfort.
Ski Lodge Style
If you want your cabin to be more cozy, opt for a ski lodge decor style. Using themes like plaid, wool, and forest animals will give rustic charm to your space. If your cabin is in Idaho or Utah, moose-themed decor is popular as they are native to that area. You can use bear-themed decor as well since black bears and grizzly bears are native to forests in North America.
Using your cabin as a short-term rental requires lots of planning and investing to create a rustic nature getaway for guests. Showcase the skilled artistry and timeless beauty of Trailside Structures’ modular cabins and indoor furniture. Our craftsmen provide a beautiful and sturdy structure that will maintain its high quality and value for years to come. Envision all the possibilities that Trailside can create for your modular cabin by visiting our Cabin Gallery. Request our price sheets and catalogs to learn more about our selections.