Vacation House Rules - General Discussion

[CrazyInAlabama]

New episode "Surfside Sensation" Season 4 Episode 13, on a huge lake. Scott calls it "Beachside Abode".

On Lake Erie.    Sarah and Rob, bought a contents included investment property. It's a cute little place.  They were looking for an investment/vacation rental property, Sarah bought it on her lunch break.   Location near the beach and sand dunes.  She's a real estate agent.   It's across from a park. The house is old, not maintained, and pretty run down.  Front porch is awful.  They took down a lot of the beach themed junk, and flip flop stuff.  Scott says it's less of a vacation rental than a garage sale.  Kitchen is small, and really awful. Footprint is good, floor plan it terrible. Scott wants to switch the kitchen and huge dining room.  

Bath is moldy and awful. Scott is wearing some puffy flip flop pillows like flip flops. back yard is small, needs a patio. There is an outside door to the other bathroom, no access from the inside to the second bathroom, so Scott will put a door from the enclosed porch to the bathroom.   No one wanted to rent the cottage. 

Scott's going to do a retro theme, based around the red display shelf, and use orange siding, and that's the color theme.  he's adding a fireplace, 2 bedrooms, and a kid's bunkroom, improve the current bathroom, put a door to the other bathroom. A game room, and fix the sunroom porch.  

Debra will do retro small appliances and decor. Her orange bike fits the theme.  Orange siding, inside will be turquoise and yellow, extend the front deck. There is termite and water damage in the sunroom room walls. Three's also a new front and a back deck for entertaining.  They're adding a mud room, and laundry room. 

The siding color is very orange, I wish it was lighter.  They actually have an adorable wagon to take your stuff, and picnic items to the beach. The cottage looks fantastic, and is such an improvement from the rundown mess it used to be. 

[NancyI]

Renovation turned out great, but that back deck is a lawsuit waiting to happen!  Where are the railings ????

[CrazyInAlabama]

Season 4 Episode 14 "Peaceful Paradis) Brothers Mark and Michael want to turn the family cabin into a vacation rental. Scott calls it the "Organic Oasis". This is the biggest house remodel that Scott has ever attempted.  The house is near Niagara Falls, and is huge.  The rooms are all big, kitchen needs a lot of work. There's a mirror on the dining room ceiling. fireplace is big too. There's a greenhouse. Primary bedroom is huge, but you have to walk through the primary bedroom to get around the green house. Ensuite is big, but odd, there is a in ground spa too, and it's falling apart. Plus a tub standing in the middle of the room with the spa. Bedrooms are big, with walk outs to the back yard. Family room is really big. The Florida room is big, overlooking the huge pool, with a hot tub.    Scott wants to remove the wall mirror, update the greenhouse, redo everything in the kitchen, take down the wall between the kitchen and dining, fix the ensuite for the main bedroom, put an ensuite in the secondary suite.   The spa tub in the ensuite is very deep.  

Scott says they can get $1,000 a night, especial for hosting weddings and other big events combined with vacationers staying at the house. 

Green, gray and lots of wood tones, lots of tile for the theme. family room will be a luxurious lounge.   They want fun, but durable design materials.   

There is old water damages in the lounge/family room, but the roof was repaired years ago, so the water damage won't continue.   Ensuite is gigantic. 

Finished house is spectacular, it's over 4,000 sq ft of luxury.  The greenhouse space looks lovely, the pool is so huge. the ensuite shower is really big.  Scott's right, the house will be perfect for a wedding, with the wedding party staying at the house. The primary bedroom is so big, and well decorated, and the ensuite is spectacular.   Second suite is big and gorgeous too.  The lounge family room is so nice with the bar and the built-ins.  I think they went with fake turf in the greenhouse for easy maintenance.  

(I know weddings should usually take up a day or two, but a big trend for rich people's weddings is an entire week for the wedding party, all kinds of parties, showers, rehearsal dinners, etc.   )

Edited September 3, 2023 by CrazyInAlabama

[Irlandesa]

I didn't like the fake grass in the greenhouse.  I think I might have turned it into a bit of a courtyard with stones more than astroturf. 

The rest of the house was nice, though. 

I admit I didn't love the ending where they were all cackling over how they used to charge $2500/month but now could charge $1000/night...basically enjoying the fact that they converted a house/home someone could rent to another vacation spot which makes me wonder how far away people working at Niagra Falls have to live. 

Also, a house that's meant for weddings probably will get booked for a lot of weekends but many of the weekdays will be open. 

[buttersister]

There are only so many weddings. But there are lots of wealthy people these days. Marketing to them for extended family stays, reunions of family or friends, etc. should attract them. The house is beautiful. 
 

Otoh, from my pov, I appreciate Bargain Block and the people they work for. It’s not an either or. But interesting that Scott went from helping couples grow their retirement funds to this — although I suppose these parents have a similar idea. But I cringe to think what the budget was. Scott Bros., Napiers and Hilary all be jealous.

[Orcinus orca]

2 minutes ago, buttersister said:

But I cringe to think what the budget was.

That's all I could think of. They are going to have to do a LOT of rentals to pay that off.  And I do wonder if the parents are already rolling in dough and that place will never be rented. It only had three bedrooms so the old "heads in beds" went by the wayside in this remake.  I think it was just a remodel with a chance to be on TV.

It was a pretty amazing place, for sure.  But for heart, give me Evan and Keith any day.

[CalicoKitty]

I kept thinking about how much insurance must be costing.  They keep saying how much the owners can earn for so many weeks at such and such a price.  But that cannot be all profit.  They never mention the costs involved:  insurance, cleaning and laundry service before each new rental date, plumbers and repair services, and having to redo rooms when some big party trashes the house.  And someone to fill all those "self-watering" flower pots.  I think there would be more liability with a huge "luxury" party house like this than an average family cabin.

[chessiegal]

8 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

having to redo rooms when some big party trashes the house. 

That's what security deposits are for. Make it high enough so people either don't trash it or you can pay for a mess.

[Pine]

I cannot seem to locate a thread for Renovation Resort Showdown.  Isn't there a forum for it?

[Soapy Goddess]

8 hours ago, Pine said:

I cannot seem to locate a thread for Renovation Resort Showdown.  Isn't there a forum for it?

I was looking for it too, but apparently no one requested it. Guess that means you & I are the only two who watched it 😁

I enjoyed Scott & Brian as co-hosts. I think the right couple won, but did not agree with the runners up.

[Pine]

On 9/5/2023 at 12:14 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

I was looking for it too, but apparently no one requested it. Guess that means you & I are the only two who watched it 😁

I enjoyed Scott & Brian as co-hosts. I think the right couple won, but did not agree with the runners up.

I liked the runners up,  but any of the others could have been without me minding.   

I was certain that we were going to see what the "Guys" did on their end unit, with the enclosed back porch.

[Soapy Goddess]

9 hours ago, Pine said:

I was certain that we were going to see what the "Guys" did on their end unit, with the enclosed back porch.

Maybe they're saving that for a "behind the scenes" episode? Or did they air something like that already and we missed it??

[wenhiku]

On 9/5/2023 at 12:14 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

I was looking for it too, but apparently no one requested it. Guess that means you & I are the only two who watched it 😁

I enjoyed Scott & Brian as co-hosts. I think the right couple won, but did not agree with the runners up.

Make it three!  Enjoyed the show and hope they do it again.  The winners were my favorites from the beginning, with the luxury lodge couple also winning me over as the series progressed.  I appreciated the effort put into the playful lodge theme, but it seemed impractical for a rental, safety-wise.

The romantic lodge theme missed the mark for me. As well as it not being my design style, if you are on a romantic vacation, it should not include a kitchen designed to seat so many people - and a bunk room!

[CruiseDiva]

I watched it as well and really enjoyed it. Hope they do another season.

[RoxiP]

On 6/20/2023 at 6:55 PM, absolutelyido said:

I liked Cottage on a Cliff, but I don't understand the need to have a master suite in a cabin. If only one person per bed were staying in the other bedrooms (not including the sofa bed), that would be 7 people sharing the other bathroom. I think it would be much more practical to have two bathrooms that everyone shares.

Perhaps the master suite concept is because these are also private homes used for private use on occasion.  No expertise here, just a guess.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I'm not sure that these are really vacation rental homes.   There have only been a few that anyone found online for rent, and they didn't have the features that were put in to make the rental attractive.   The Quilt house, the Sunflower house, and the carriage house with the equestrian theme were actually rentals, but without the themes still at the property.     I bet a lot are simply family homes.      

[CrazyInAlabama]

Tonight's new episode Season 5 episode 7, Influenced by the Lake, theme is The Little Pink Cottage, a podcaster and yoga enthusiast who is obsessed with pink has her vacation home redone.   This includes a hammock built into the dock.   

Scott and Debra want content for podcasts and social media postings, so they do a ball pit with pink balls of various shades, and with balloons.  Scott says air mattresses on the bottom of the ball pit protect the uses from hitting the ground.   They also have a big blow up flamingo, and a shell blow up too.   The cottage exterior is blush pink.  

Edited June 2 by CrazyInAlabama

[absolutelyido]

I think the problem with targeting a vacation rental to influencers, is that they will all ask for free or a discounted price in exchange for featuring the cabin in their social media.

[Soapy Goddess]

Barbie, you have some funky taste in color/design. Ugh.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I really like tonight's new episode, 6/15/2024 "Coastal Vibes"    (called "Coastal Cottage" on the showI really like the homeowners, they really made some beautiful wooden chests for the dock/boat.    The finished cottage is so adorable.  

I love the four bedrooms, added half bath, the sunroom is spectacular.   I love the dock that's also a boat. 

Edited June 16 by CrazyInAlabama

[CrazyInAlabama]

"Scandinavian Serenity"

New, 6/22/2024, 

Scott and Debra helps owners, Rushad and Lizzie, who want to add to their rental property by converting an old garage into a calming vacation spot by the pond by adding a Scandinavian spin on their waterside retreat.  (Cottage name is really "Country Cabin"). 

The garage is huge, way more than 2 car, and could be changed to an ADU with 1 or 2 bedrooms, 12 x 12 or 11 x 12, with a kitchen, bath, dining.   The owners main house is 5 bedrooms, and the ADU would be for smaller groups. 

 The current vacation rental house overlooks a lovely pond with a dock and is spring fed.   Scott suggests a bubbler for the pond.   He suggests a country cabin theme for the garage. Make an entrance, 2 bedrooms, one a bunk room, kitchen, bath, living will have bifold doors to the huge wrap-around deck.   

Theme for the garage will be "Scandinavian country cabin design" with multifunctional features.   The owners currently rent the main house, that house is five bedroom, and holds larger groups.  Scott worked with the couple fifteen years ago on the main house vacation rental. 

Scott put in foam insulation, bifold doors, and it looks very nice.   They're waterproofing around the foundation with foundation wrap, because they're on the escarpment, and it has a lot of rain and snow melt runoff.    They're building a pergola by the pond.    Debra is looking for great storage solutions for the cabin kitchen, because it's not a huge space. The coffee table turns into a dining room table, for the kitchen it has an island workspace with a pull out table for work space.   The pond needs maintenance, and gets three can-air diffusers, a fountain with color changing lights, and makes the pond safe for swimming. 

The ADU conversion is spectacular.  The bifold doors are actually 3 doors, all open fully, and there's a screen to pull across.  I love the cabin, but not the dark green kitchen cabinets. I like the bathroom shower tile in dark blue.  The bedrooms have big closets, but they're painting them bright yellow.  There's a wood burning stove too.  The pergola furniture is very heavy to stand up to winds.  

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

"Riverfront Relaxation" new, 6/29/2024

A homeowner wants to turn her riverside property into a profitable vacation rental; Scott McGillivray and Debra Salmoni step in and look to give the quaint waterfront home a nautical-themed facelift.

Becky wants to covert her cottage to a vacation destination.   It will have a fishing theme.  Becky and sons love to fish. 

Actual name of the property is "Riverside Retreat" (for some reason the episode title isn't the cottage name  they use on the show).  Son Rowan has "Fish Flops" , flip flops that look like fish.   The front room is called the warm room and not used, the back porch conversion is the cold room (mostly from bad windows).   There is a water leak in two rooms.  Son Rowan's room is huge and could be at least two bedrooms.  The shower/tub combo is bizarre, shower head is on the long side of the tub.  Back yard had 50' of frontage on the lake dock.  

Scott wants to freshen up the curb appeal, enter to a den, and add a bedroom with a Murphy bed, and mudroom combination, put the dining room on the back cold room.  Upstairs an improved bedroom suite, fix the other bathroom too.   Add outdoor dining, and fire pit. 

Rowan's room had a lot of water damages from the bathroom shower, and the ceiling is falling down, with lots of water in the insulation.  The ceiling doesn't have the right structure, and is full of mice and mice nests. I agree with Debra when she sees the mouse issues, ick!   

Scott will turn Rowan's room into two bedrooms, and that will help the structure too. Debra wants to use fishing decor, including the fishing net glass floatation balls. They're removing the slate wall in the kitchen.  They raise the ceiling in Rowans's room, now two bedrooms. 

The firepit is a new model with a hanging dish, with a fish grill attachment.  They're building a river side cabana, The Tackle Box, with a side hatch that raises for shelter from rain, and sun, and cabana can be secured.  Part of the plan of improving the back yard is to attract the attention of the many passing boaters as future guests.  Downstairs bedroom has a Murphy bed, and a drop zone bench for  guests.   Kitchen has a lot of shiplap.  I don't like the accent wall in the living room.  bathroom tiles are very trendy to me, and I like more traditional choices. 

They're putting glass panels on the back deck.    The remodeled dock is lovely. 

 

 

Rule #1 Do Your Research.  Rule #2 Plan Your Design. Rule #3 Get Noticed. Rule #4 Roll Up Your Sleeves.  Rule #5 Be Your Guest

 

[chessiegal]

Unless I missed it, Scott took out the tv in the Riverside Retreat. If I'm paying $3,500 a week, I'd better have cable tv.

[izabella]

There was a tv, but it was in the small front room with the two non-cushy chairs, so not at all conducive for a family watching tv.

[chessiegal]

I saw a tv in the before shots, but Scott took it out. I didn't see a tv in the final reveal.

[chessiegal]

I found Riverside Retreat on vrbo. There is a large flat screen tv over the fireplace in the main living area. 😉 

[CrazyInAlabama]

New, 7/6/2024 "Wedding Wonderland" (aka Wedding Venue)

Carolyn and Monique (sisters) want to fix up a long neglected family property to a profitable wedding venue.   Two sisters are confronted with the overwhelming reality of 40 years of neglect when they take over their family's farm and enlist the help of Scott and Debra resurrecting and transforming it into a profitable wedding venue.

They change the kitchen to a venue kitchen, with the  barn for reception space.  They have beverage station outside the barn for the signature drink for the wedding, a picture frame for a photo station.  The main house is a lovely brick Victorian.    The house addition is updated as well as the main house, making it open concept required steel beams, and updating the outdoor spaces for guests with a hot tub, and improved decks.    The addition is updated for group rentals. The addition kitchen is big enough to serve as a catering kitchen too.  Kitchen has two dishwashers, with the french door two-drawer freezer with a flex drawer for events.    There are two suites for bridal parties.   Scott says they can charge $500 a night for the house, and if they finish the barn venue, could rent for $1500 for wedding or other events. 

Edited July 7 by CrazyInAlabama

[CrazyInAlabama]

"Sandy Serenity"

New, 7/13/2024, 

"David and Regina enlist Scott and Debra's help upgrading their lakefront family getaway from a cramped cottage to a wide-open waterfront wonderland fit for the whole family."

The house is totally devoid of charm, curb appeal, and really needs help.  There's a bunkie too.  Scott will turn it into a 2 bedroom, and use the former third bedroom space to expand the kitchen, and fix the main bedroom.  In the lower level add two more bedrooms, and new bath.   So, turn it into a 4 bedroom, 2 bath.  Redo the bunkie.   Fix the curb appeal issues. 

Debra's design theme is pine trees, with yellow green and blue.  Pine tree metal decals on the outside of the house. 

Real house name on the show is "Sandy Pines". 

Soctt also removes the carpet on the deck, that caused a lot of wood rot. Deck is poorly built and will have to be replaced. 

I love the finished cottage, the bunkie is cute too.  The fridge has a touch screen, so the owners can write welcome messages to the guests.  The remodeled Kitchen, dining and living room is gorgeous.  The new deck and screened porch is spectacular.    

 

(With the wedding venue I bet there were permits and septic install needed for the wedding venue for the bathrooms, and probably for a catering kitchen.  So, I bet they didn't show that because it was outside the time line for the show). 

Edited July 14 by CrazyInAlabama

[izabella]

On Wedding Wonderland, I thought it was odd that they didn't make one the bathroom in the bridal suite bigger, with a large mirror and space for a stylist to do hair and makeup.  There wasn't even a full-length mirror in the room where they had the wedding dress hung up. 

I also wondered where wedding guests would go to use the toilet.  With a 100 people in the barn, I don't think using just the house would be enough.  Port-o-potties?

[CrazyInAlabama]

New, 7/20/2024, "Waterfront Wonderland"

Season 5, Episode 8.  (Scott actually calls house "Lakeside Landing")

From show site: Homeowners left with a half-completed cottage after their contractor unexpectedly passed away enlist the help of Scott McGillivray and Debra Salmoni to finish the renovation and bring their vision for a lakeside getaway to life.

Jillian and Emerson razed the previous home because it was in deplorable condition, and they're rebuilding from the ground up.  Scott calls it his biggest project yet.   They're in cottage country.  The couple bought the house for the lot, razed the old wreck of a cottage, and were building with Gary (A contractor, and Jillian's stepdad).  Sadly Gary has died.  So, the couple need a contractor and designer.  

They want a covered screened in porch, open kitchen/dining/living on the road level, with a main bedroom and ensuite, another bedroom with and bath.  Primary will have a lake view, and a slider to the deck. 

Lower level is a walkout on lake side, great high ceilings, with another bedroom 2 bunk beds, and bath, family room, game area, covered shower and mud room.   The existing dock is spectacular.   

I agree with Debra, I hate ladders. 

For the basement concrete, they're using a vapor barrier, moisture barrier underlayment.  Putting up a massive deck the length of the house.  Scott puts up reversible solar blinds, they block UV rays and heat in summer, reverse to collecting heat in winter.  Scott's putting a wood stove in the end of the glassed in deck upstairs to make the sunroom usable most of the year. 

I love the finished cottage. 

Scott's Rules: 

Rule 1- Do Your Research.

Rule 2- Plan Your Design.

Rule 3-Get Noticed. (For rule #3 they're doing logos on ball caps, coasters, wine tumbler, cloth tote bags, Koozies, for branding. )

Rule 4-Roll Up Your Sleeves.

Rule 5-Be Your Guest.

 

Edited July 21 by CrazyInAlabama

[RoxiP]

On 6/22/2024 at 8:01 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

"Scandinavian Serenity"

New, 6/22/2024, 

Scott and Debra helps owners, Rushad and Lizzie, who want to add to their rental property by converting an old garage into a calming vacation spot by the pond by adding a Scandinavian spin on their waterside retreat.  (Cottage name is really "Country Cabin"). 

The garage is huge, way more than 2 car, and could be changed to an ADU with 1 or 2 bedrooms, 12 x 12 or 11 x 12, with a kitchen, bath, dining.   The owners main house is 5 bedrooms, and the ADU would be for smaller groups. 

 The current vacation rental house overlooks a lovely pond with a dock and is spring fed.   Scott suggests a bubbler for the pond.   He suggests a country cabin theme for the garage. Make an entrance, 2 bedrooms, one a bunk room, kitchen, bath, living will have bifold doors to the huge wrap-around deck.   

Theme for the garage will be "Scandinavian country cabin design" with multifunctional features.   The owners currently rent the main house, that house is five bedroom, and holds larger groups.  Scott worked with the couple fifteen years ago on the main house vacation rental. 

Scott put in foam insulation, bifold doors, and it looks very nice.   They're waterproofing around the foundation with foundation wrap, because they're on the escarpment, and it has a lot of rain and snow melt runoff.    They're building a pergola by the pond.    Debra is looking for great storage solutions for the cabin kitchen, because it's not a huge space. The coffee table turns into a dining room table, for the kitchen it has an island workspace with a pull out table for work space.   The pond needs maintenance, and gets three can-air diffusers, a fountain with color changing lights, and makes the pond safe for swimming. 

The ADU conversion is spectacular.  The bifold doors are actually 3 doors, all open fully, and there's a screen to pull across.  I love the cabin, but not the dark green kitchen cabinets. I like the bathroom shower tile in dark blue.  The bedrooms have big closets, but they're painting them bright yellow.  There's a wood burning stove too.  The pergola furniture is very heavy to stand up to winds.  

 

I thought the bedding in the main bedroom was butt ugly (hopefully I am getting the right cottage because I tend to binge).  It was some kind of vertical stripes in unattractive (at least to me) colors).  I did like the bathroom shower tile.  Not sure why she painted the doors yellow (again, not my choice of color).  It was a cute little cottage but I thought some of the design choices were too much.

[RoxiP]

Greystone Ranch - not sure if it was discussed above but I loved some of the design choices made...it was a no brainer to reinstall those beautiful arched doors and to keep the molding.  I like that they kept the back staircase.  Interesting to see Scott mentoring two young men (whose parents apparently have deep pockets but also look like their parents are teaching them to work hard since they obviously have worked in their family business probably since they were old enough to drive a back hoe!) .

My only thought was that feeding the bison might not be the smartest idea.  Bison are not friendly and fences at times are only suggestions to them.  If a family came to stay at the house then I hope they are warned in many ways to keep away from the fences and not try to pet the cute cows.

[RoxiP]

On 7/20/2024 at 1:16 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

New, 7/20/2024, "Waterfront Wonderland"

Season 5, Episode 8.  (Scott actually calls house "Lakeside Landing")

From show site: Homeowners left with a half-completed cottage after their contractor unexpectedly passed away enlist the help of Scott McGillivray and Debra Salmoni to finish the renovation and bring their vision for a lakeside getaway to life.

Jillian and Emerson razed the previous home because it was in deplorable condition, and they're rebuilding from the ground up.  Scott calls it his biggest project yet.   They're in cottage country.  The couple bought the house for the lot, razed the old wreck of a cottage, and were building with Gary (A contractor, and Jillian's stepdad).  Sadly Gary has died.  So, the couple need a contractor and designer.  

They want a covered screened in porch, open kitchen/dining/living on the road level, with a main bedroom and ensuite, another bedroom with and bath.  Primary will have a lake view, and a slider to the deck. 

Lower level is a walkout on lake side, great high ceilings, with another bedroom 2 bunk beds, and bath, family room, game area, covered shower and mud room.   The existing dock is spectacular.   

I agree with Debra, I hate ladders. 

For the basement concrete, they're using a vapor barrier, moisture barrier underlayment.  Putting up a massive deck the length of the house.  Scott puts up reversible solar blinds, they block UV rays and heat in summer, reverse to collecting heat in winter.  Scott's putting a wood stove in the end of the glassed in deck upstairs to make the sunroom usable most of the year. 

I love the finished cottage. 

Scott's Rules: 

Rule 1- Do Your Research.

Rule 2- Plan Your Design.

Rule 3-Get Noticed. (For rule #3 they're doing logos on ball caps, coasters, wine tumbler, cloth tote bags, Koozies, for branding. )

Rule 4-Roll Up Your Sleeves.

Rule 5-Be Your Guest.

 

My only issues with this completed cottage were that I thought the primary bathroom looked cramped, and I thought that it wouldn't have hurt to put in another bedroom.  In addition, why make the outdoor shower and dressing room separate - so you have to shower, go outside and then go in the other door to get dressed?  Somebody please make it make sense to me...LOL!

I do agree though - it was a lovely place and I would love to cuddle up on that screened in porch with the fire going and a warm blanket and a really good Susan Elizabeth Phillips romance novel.