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Owning a Whistler property: it's about realizing a dream. But it's also about sustaining yourself long enough to enjoy the dream. While some relish the idea of relinquishing control of their real estate investment and letting someone else do the dirty work, others prefer to take matters in to their own hands.

In our last article, we assessed the pros and cons of using a rental manager to handle the ins and outs of renting out your Whistler vacation home. We discussed marketing, emergencies, reservations and commissioned nightly rentals. Of course, using a rental manager is not the only option.

Today, we'll hit the other end of the spectrum and discuss the parameters of direct-rentals.

Whistler Direct-Rentals: What Are Those, Anyway?

Owner-direct rentals are exactly what they sound like: owners renting their properties directly to Whistler guests. Instead of using a rental manager to entice guests, owners undertake the task themselves. They advertise their property, screen guests, update their reservation calendars and collect payments. Owners have complete control over how often a guest rents their property ' which can be a good or bad thing. Because owners are responsible for advertising their own property, as well as creating their own merchant account, collecting damage deposits or waiting for cheques in the mail, they might never get around to renting out their home much at all.

While freedom is a plus, there is no guarantee the owner will rent out their property, or even receive those very important cheques in the mail.

Where Do Homeowners Advertise Their Whistler Rentals?

Doing direct-rentals does not necessarily mean relying on word of mouth to communicate the availability of your property. Many owners use online directories to help with the marketing of their properties. The options provided by these online directories vary. Some owners post in online classifieds, or sign up for detailed rental management software. No matter what tools are offered through any of these marketing channels, the purpose of direct-rentals is to allow property owners to take charge of their real estate investment and avoid losing their money to external property management companies and services.

Stay tuned for the third and final article in this series: owner-assisted rentals.