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You’re thinking about turning your house into a vacation rental. Have you thought about your neighbors? How will they react? Will they be positive about this change?

Here are some ideas to ensure a positive reaction to your new venture:

1) Give them advance notice, several months to half a year.

2) Ask for their feedback.

3) Educate them. Explain that by turning your house into a vacation rental, you are improving your property and screening tenants. In other words, you will have high caliber people staying in your home, which in the end is a more stable way of renting a home versus the typical lease situation. Actually, a typical lease situation is fraught with problems such as breaking leases, noisy activity, and even illegal activity! Your property will improve which will mean your neighbor’s property’s value will increase, too! 

Also, you will be contributing to your town’s well-being by embracing the tourist industry. Your guests will be eating at local restaurants, buying groceries at local stores, and enjoying themselves at local sites. This benefits the whole town, including your neighbors!

4) Assure your neighbors that you will extend the same kind of courtesies to them as if you were living there. You will be asking your guests to keep quiet hours, to park only in front your house or in your garage. If they bring pets, you will ask your pets to bring them indoors after 9 pm.

5) Have an open house and invite your neighbors in. Share the excitement and enthusiasm of what you’re doing.

6) Give them your contact info in case they have any concerns or particular issues with guests. Encourage them to share any questions, concerns, or issues with you as they arise. 

Project an attitude of a willingness to work any challenges out and your neighbors will most likely have a positive attitude.