At Wilgus Associates, INC, it is our sincere intention to be good neighbors to the communities we serve in the coastal Bethany Beach area. Our owners are from not only the Beach properties but also inland into Frankford, Ocean View, Millville, Selbyville and Fenwick.  Wilgus Associates, INC, being a family run business since 1945 strives on our customer service to all our owners. We would love to speak with you about our low commission rates and services we provide to you and your guests.

Tourism is a large part of life along our lower Delaware shores and a major part of our economy. Vacationers arrive for the myriad of activities and attractions in Lower Delaware. Whether it be to enjoy a day at the beach, strolling, sunbathing, or building sandcastles or a bike ride or walk on many bike, nature and walking trails throughout our area your guests will find quiet and relaxation.  Anyone who is blessed enough to live here understands the lure of our sun-kissed beaches and the surf of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

Why Do Owners Rent Their Vacation Homes?

Almost too many reasons to count. The most common are:

1. As a vacation home. Here to use when they have a chance to visit and rented out to cover expenses when it would otherwise be vacant.
2. Help with the mortgage and maintenance costs. The cost of homeownership in coastal Delaware is always high and many owners rent during summer. Allowing them usage in the second season once the crowds have left and the weather is still amazing.
3. So that the home does not sit empty for months on end. An occupied property is a deterrent to crime and keeps deferred maintenance in check. There may be a possibility of renting in off season to someone building a home or job hunting.
4. Part of an investment/retirement strategy. Many homeowners purchase a home or plan to keep a home with retirement as the end goal and use as a vacation rental to offset expenses until then.
5. To keep the home in the family. Many of our homes are owned by the families and children that grew up there to use and enjoy when they come back to Delaware. The ability to short-term allows them to keep the home in the family when not in use.
6. A job transfer, out of town work, or absence to take care of a loved one. Vacation or short-term renting allows homeowners the opportunity to hold on to their home and keep ties in Delaware and use when they visit until they return permanently. 

How Do Owners Rent Their Vacation Homes?

Many destination area homeowners across the country and world choose to short-term rent their home at one point or another. Many takes advantage of services such as Airbnb.com or VRBO.com where you can list your home for rent while not using it. We can service your Airbnb or VRBO listing for you as well. Ask about those details.  For those not interested in DIY vacation rental management, there are professional organizations such as Wilgus Associates, INC.

There are many advantages to employing a local professional. First, and most importantly, this means hands-on care for your property and taking the responsibility of ensuring the home and neighborhood are respected by guests. For out-of-town owners, nothing can beat that peace of mind. That said, there is a wide range of options with just as wide a range of levels of care and accountability, so it becomes very important for guests and homeowners to research before deciding on an agency. We do have in house cleaning and maintenance available for you. Your guests will love our great exposure on Coastal Highway and easy check in and out with our drive through window service. This is especially nice with children or pets in the car waiting and possibly a long ride getting here. Once out of car it is hard to get them back in to finish their voyage.

Issues Surrounding Vacation Home Guests

At Wilgus Associates, INC, our goal is to eliminate any issue before it happens. All guests must sign a Confirmation Agreement that includes a Guest Code of Conduct prior to each arrival, and house and neighborhood rules are clearly explained prior to each rental. We are open 7 days a week in the main summer timeframe and have staff on call after hours available to address any issues if ever necessary. You will always get a live person during business hours and many owners have at least one agent’s cell phone number to make us always available. Below is a discussion about the most common issues with vacation renters.

Parking

The parking accommodations are clearly stated in each of our vacation home descriptions and all listings. When reservations are taken over the phone, each guest is reminded of their parking allotment. Most guests travel together so parking is rarely an issue.

Trash

All homes have trash pickup and days are posted in each property. Trash is either put in receptacles or community designated area.

Overcrowding

This is a responsibility that we are absolutely passionate about. When guests exceed a home’s occupancy, the overcrowding has the potential to result in excessive wear and tear and damage, and the potential for noise disturbances. Our vacation rentals come with reasonable, yet strict limits for occupancy, and guests must abide by those limits or face eviction.

Minimum Rental Periods

To correct a misconception, we do not accept anything less than 3-night rentals and 7 nights during busier seasons.  The vast majority of our guests are families and friends and with an average length of stay of over 6 nights.

Interventions

Our vacation rentals are monitored regularly to determine that guests are adhering to policies and procedures. If a neighbor ever witnesses a non-compliance problem with any of our properties, they may contact us 7 days a week and 24-hours a day. we urge you to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

As practicality allows, we address any issues that arise with our guests as soon as we are aware of them.

We firmly believe that a well-run vacation rental can coexist in neighborhoods and homeowners have the right to rent their property long-term or short-term as they see fit as long as they don’t create a nuisance to the neighborhood and it adheres to your communities restrictions. We always are quick to react to any questions or concerns and we will continue to do whatever we can to ensure the peaceful co-existence of short-term rentals with long-term rentals and homeowners in our neighborhoods. We invite you to call or email us of you have any questions or to learn more!