Rental season is just around the corner! If you’re a homeowner who takes advantage of the lucrative rental market on Fire Island, we’ve put together a list of some tips to get your home rental ready for a successful summer.

1. Cleaning: Give the whole space a deep clean before the rental season begins!

2. Routine Maintenance of AC & Appliances: To avoid having to make maintenance calls while renters are at your home, it’s worth checking to make sure the AC’s work and if any air filters need to be replaced before your first rental checks in. This is also a good time to clean the grill and replace any grill brushes from last season.

3. Check Kitchen Items: Since most people are renting for at least a week at a time, we can assume that they’ll be cooking a lot of their meals at the house as opposed to going out to eat every night. We recommend taking inventory every year of everything and making sure you have a full set of dishes, pots and pans, and utensils. These items will experience a lot of wear and tear since they will most likely be used the most in the house!

4. Bike & Beach Items: Take inventory of bikes, beach chairs, and beach umbrellas and see if any need to be replaced and/or fixed and if you just feel you need more!

5. Wagons: Note where the wagon can be picked up and where it should be left off when your renters’ stay is over. It may be a good idea to have renters take pictures of the bikes once they arrive and once they leave.

6. Permits: Make sure rental permits and the BBQ permit are filed 

7. Touch ups & repairs:  A fresh coat of paint goes a long way to brighten up your space!  Make sure all door handles are working, windows and doors are opening and closing properly, etc.

8. Linen Inventory & Replacement: Good quality sheets and towels are important to renters. Since these items tend to get worn out the quickest, it’s a good idea to inspect them and see what needs to be replaced.

9. Pool Maintenance: If your home has a pool, have it cleaned and make sure the filtration is working properly and the shock treatments are done.

10. Welcome Packet: Putting a packet together for your renters with information like the bike lock codes, wifi, how to access the TV channels/streaming, etc. can go a long way. A list of the local shops, restaurants, and bars are always appreciated by the renters too as they love recommendations of the locals’ favorites. 

These are just some punch list items to get you started before summer officially begins. We wish everyone a successful summer rental season!

The flowers are blooming, the chill is finally leaving the air and the sun is setting after 6 PM.  The first signs of Spring are officially here!  With warmer temperatures around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning the opening of your Fire Island home for the season.

One of the first steps to take in opening your home is scheduling with your plumber for your water to be turned back on.  Once we have moved past freezing temperatures, it’s safe to turn the water back on in your home. Keep an eye on the forecast when planning your water turn-on.
Note: In Seaview, the water will be turned on by the Seaview Association no later than April 15th.

With the warmer weather on the way, landscaping may also come to mind.  Spring is the perfect time to schedule a yard clean up.  If you are planning to incorporate some new landscaping or hardscaping this year, now is the time to start planning those improvements before Summer gets in full swing and it becomes too hot to plant.

Whether you are renting out your home or using it for your own enjoyment, it's important to make any necessary repairs before the summer season comes around!  Beyond any needed repairs, sprucing up your house with a fresh coat of paint on your walls and power washing the exterior can make a big difference in its appearance. If you have stored your bedding, linens and towels for the winter, now is a good time to take inventory to ensure you are well equipped for the season ahead.

Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to check on the condition of your bikes, wagons and beach chairs now, so that you have ample time to repair or replace any of these beach life necessities well before the prime summer season!  Given Covid’s disruption of many supply chains, it can take longer for goods to be delivered so make sure to plan ahead for your needs. 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on our favorite island soon!

Below is a list of vendors who can assist in the opening of your home:

Plumbers:

LOVE the Plumber - (631) 583-5612
Fire Island Plumbing Co. - (631) 583-6500
Remy’s Lighthouse - (631) 583-5411

Landscapers:

Fire Island Landscaping - (631) 383-8395
Island Nursery & Landscaping - (917) 575-5251
Fazio Landscaping - (516) 510-0807

Propane:
Beach Propane - (631) 583-6500
LOVE the Plumber - (631) 583-5612
Ocean Beach Hardware - (631) 583-5826

Cleaners:
Sunshine Cleaning - (631) 767-4386
Martha Vega - (718) 908-1091

Fairy House Mother – Fire Island Home Concierge Service
Phone: 917-968-1007
Email: Sabrina@fairyhousemother.com 

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We are happy to be of service to you!