Choosing your Florida vacation home management company

For Only $265.00 per Month we will perform the following services to your Florida vacation / rental home:

* Clean your Pool
* Cut your Lawn
* Produce Monthly Accounts & Pay Bills
* Check guests in and indemnify the owner against damage
* Feature your home in the best European & UK Brochures
* Provide a Quality Furnishing Package, if required.
* We do not require Set-Up Costs or Utility Deposits

Your Florida management company is basically responsible for looking after all aspects of your Florida vacation home, from helping to obtain rentals, through keeping the property clean and maintained, to paying your bills and keeping sales tax records. To do this they must hold at least a real estate license and the better companies will also employ their own maintenance staff.

Universal Vacations is a full service management company, we actively market our homes to travel operators and agents through trade travel exhibitions, maintain our own web sites and receive bookings from Europe and North America. We employ our own electrician, pool service staff, cleaners and lawn cutters. Additionally we pay your utility bills, calculate sales and tourist taxes and remit them on the owners behalf to the State of Florida each month. These transactions are then accounted for on a monthly statement. Locally we track Homeowner Association regulations on behalf of owners and liaise with Tourist Boards to help promote Florida as the premier vacation resort.

Rental Rates. Florida seasonal variations in demand and levels of occupancy do occur however we have a policy of maintaining a year round rate with seasonal discounts only in November and the early part of December. We have found that reducing rates does not always bring higher occupancy levels, merely cheaper holidays. "Snowbird" rental periods of one month or longer are negotiated individually as continuous usage without the need for weekly cleans and "empty days" does increase the owners income.

Security Deposits / Indemnification against rental damage. Because we deal with such a large number of travel companies in different countries it is very difficult to collect security deposits on all rentals, therefore in order to safeguard a homeowners investment in furnishings we indemnify the owner directly against damage. Details of this are contained in our management agreement.

Set Up Costs. Deposits and installation costs are payable on utilities, electricity, telephones, cable television etc. however we will cover these amounts during the initial set-up period on the owners behalf.

Accounting Practices. We collect rental income from travel operators on behalf of our owners and pay utility bills, homeowner association dues, management charges, etc. Statements are mailed out monthly and checks issued for surplus income, this can be paid directly into the homeowners bank account in Florida, or sent out with the statement.

Gaining Entry to your vacation home. In order to dispense with giving out keys to guests (who promptly lose them) we have found the most efficient method of entry is a combination lock fitted to the front door. The cost is $139.00 which includes unlimited code changes.

Annual Tax Returns are handled by our accountants on the homeowners behalf. Owners should save all expenses associated with their rental home, including airfares to "inspect" their property. If the correct procedures are followed there will be little or no tax due on income in Florida.

© Universal Vacations Realty,Inc.Florida