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Why holiday homes are different to your residential home back in the UK
Architectural styles differ greatly between the USA and UK.
The first difference you may notice is the construction.
The land that constitutes much of Florida is very soft and swampy. Generally speaking, houses are constructed of a combination of concrete blocks and timber - in some cases more timber than concrete. Roofs are usually constructed in timber and covered with "shingle", which is similar to "roofing felt" in the UK. This makes for a very light construction which sits on a huge concrete slab. Anything heavier, like good old Acrington bricks would, in many areas, simply sink into the ground. Don't panic! Property here is very strong and built to withstand not only the Florida sun, but also the Florida rain. The builders know what they are doing.
What about the internal layout and room sizes?
Most properties in central Florida tend to be single floored ( bungalows ) and are very much open-plan. There are a number of excellent two-storied homes available, too. Both styles have their own merit, but it is down to the buyer to decide which their own preference is.
Staying in a rental home, even for several months, is not the same as living in it permanently. Therefore you need to focus your thoughts on the needs of holiday makers, not residents.
For example, don’t be put off by room sizes - you may think that a bedroom is too small at 10’ x 10’. If you have teenage children, who are used to having a TV, video, DVD player and PC/Playstation in their bedroom, this is understandable. This is not the case for a rental property, though. A 10’ x 10’ room with twin beds and a 6’ x 4’ walk-in closet is more than adequate for the needs of the average holiday maker who brings all his or her possessions in a single suitcase.
Master bedrooms, on the other hand, are usually over-sized and often include a king size bed, en-suite bathroom, his and hers walk-in closets and maybe even a dressing room.
Four bedroomed homes with two master suites are ideal for two families of four sharing. For example a home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms ( described as a 4/3 ) would be ideal. Both sets of parents get a private bathroom and the children share the third one. An additional "half-bathroom" usually contains an extra toilet and wash-basin.
What about cooking?
Many kitchens are compact when compared to homes back in the UK and typically open out into the “family room”, as opposed to being totally separate from the dining room, but are an excellent arrangement for a family holiday. Most holiday makers do not want to cook. Eating out is very cheap, so the most that will ever go into the oven is the odd pizza!
What else is different?
Some things are very obvious, but not always!
Electricity, for example, will cost you more in summer than in winter, as you have to keep the house cool. Temperatures hover around 95 degrees in the summer months and therefore air conditioning is a must.
Floor tiles are often a better bet than carpet, which can easily become soiled if a home is regularly being rented out. You will want the property to be in pristine condition when your guests arrive. Clean sparkling floor tiles will give your home that "WOW" factor.
If you are buying a resale home and the carpets are looking shabby, consider replacing them with tile.
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