Studio and One Bedroom Kitsilano Garden Suites

Kitsilano Studio Suite – furnished and available for short-term vacation rental

Link here for more info on the studio suite.

Kitsilano One Bedroom Garden Suite – furnished and available for short-term vacation rental

Link here for more info on the one-bedroom suite.

Discover our other furnished short-term rental suites. Contact Margaret at Downtown Accommodations.

Great Spacious 2 Bedroom Furnished Suite in Coal Harbour

Today we are featuring this lovely 2 bedroom furnished suite for short term stay in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour. Link HERE for more info and to contact Margaret for availability.

 

Furnished Suite in Coal Harbour for Short-term Stay

Our feature today is the furnished suite on Jervis Street. Check it out! Link HERE for more info and to contact Margaret about availability.

 

Furnished vs. Unfurnished

2010 Olympics

With the 2010 Winter Olympics just around the corner, we’ve been asked many times just what is the policy at Downtown Suites.

And in our recent email to our owners, we gave them this brief outline:

• Please be advised we do not have a program for Olympic short term accommodations next February.
• We are involved in long term rentals and this short term two week window is not something that we wish to deal with.
• To acquire furnishings and equipment for a suite for such a short period is really not feasible. In addition, there will be strict rules prohibiting eviction of tenants for this purpose – and do you want your place turned into a hotel room?
• We will also advise tenants that sub letting is prohibited.
• One thing we are certain of is that there will be a glut of inventory on the unfurnished market when they are over.
• Margaret went to a meeting with VANOC last April which outlined some of the realities of this market, I would encourage you to read her notes from the meeting: Letter from Margaret re: Olympics.

Earlier in the year we addressed this situation, and you can see the video commentary here at Vancouver and Olympic Rentals (Aug.09), and also Upcoming Olympics (April 09)

Kitsilano Garden Suite Available this September

Fully furnished, available for short term or long term stay.

3500 West 1st Ave

Kitsilano Garden Suites are self-contained with their own private gated entrance and walkway that leads to a tranquil treed garden area.

The home is a wonderful 1912 heritage house located in the quiet north of fourth section of Kitsilano, one block to the water’s edge and 3 blocks to Jericho Beach. Located one block off of Point Grey Road on the SW corner of First Avenue and Collingwood Street, a quiet maple tree lined street, this Craftsman Style home has been lovingly restored.

Available through Downtown Accommodations, a division of Downtown Suites.

Urban Myth #1: Furnished suites generate more revenue

Many clients have asked me the pros and cons of furnished vs. unfurnished rental of their property, hopefully the following will assist in answering some of these questions.

At Downtown Suites, we have found the reverse to be the case and have recommended to our clients that they only rent on an unfurnished basis.

Downtown Suites Ltd is not adding any more furnished suites to its portfolio.
The factors that have led to this decision are as follows:

Furnished:

• Require a capital investment of approximately $15k on average to outfit a suite.  No, your old basement furniture will not do!
• Annual replacement of linens, regular carpet cleaning costs and painting touch up of the suite
• There is a lot of competition!
• Expect at least 30-40% vacancy.
• Other owners do not like their residence building being a “hotel”.
• Many buildings now require a move-in fee even if it is only a suitcase being moved!
• Many buildings have a minimum tenancy period, i.e. 3-6 months
• Full utility package including telephone, cable, internet, heat and light must be paid by owner whether tenant occupied or not.
• Extra cleaning costs. The suite has to be cleaned after every move out this is the owners responsibility (have you ever been to a hotel and asked to clean up after yourself?!)  Cleaners are expensive minimum $40 per hour now for a team of two.
• Many guests will require weekly cleans at owners cost on it.  Of course with credit card fraud being so abundant who knows if it really is their card!
• Further to the above, almost all of our problem tenants have been in furnished situations.
• Charge back of credit card discount fee of 3% per transaction.
• Commission charged by Downtown Suites Ltd is 20% of gross rent (Remember there is much more turn over, reservation inquiries, move in procedures and customer service than with a conventional rental).

Unfurnished:

• One year lease, 100% occupancy
• Full credit, employment and reference check
• Commission is 8% of gross rent
• Less wear and tear

Just do the math and you will see that it is much less trouble and less worry to rent unfurnished and the bottom line will probably be better too!