Big White Ski Resort Property Management

What have the last two years of rental bookings looked like at Big White ski resort?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions on the hospitality industry, rental
bookings at Big White have been down the last couple of years. However, construction on the
mountain has continued unabated, with demand for accommodation in the Okanagan, and at Big
White, higher than ever. Come rain, snow, or COVID, people are continuing to visit from all
over the world to enjoy the world-class amenities and champagne powder snow that only Big
White has to offer.

Locations Mountain Management Services has continued to serve more and more owners
looking to rent out their properties in the off-season as well as the ski season. We get inquiries
every day from owners about property management, rentals, and cleaning services. We are
fortunate to be doing relatively well in tough times and can only imagine how things will boom
when the good times return.

Summer and shoulder season rental bookings?

We like to place guests in our owners’ properties for the entirety of the off-season (summer and
shoulder season). This way the owners earn more than through daily or short-term rentals in the
off-season, which are always significantly less than the ski season. This is revenue that our
owners would not normally expect to get; it’s money in their pockets. The Okanagan is one of
the most desirable places in Canada to live, and accommodation is scarce and can be expensive.
Guests looking to relocate often move into a property at Big White while they find a longer-term
rental solution in Kelowna.

What do you foresee for future rentals at Big White?

When the restrictions end and people feel safe and secure to travel freely once more, the sky’s
the limit. The demand for property and accommodation in Kelowna is extremely high, and this
demand has spilled over into Big White, where inventory is low and prices are high. Even in
these challenges times, homes, townhomes, and condos in Big White are receiving multiple
offers and selling at or above asking price.

Big White is Canada’s No. 2 ski resort. There are other ski runs in the Okanagan, but none can
match Big White for the number of runs, level of accommodation, variety of amenities, and
infrastructure. And did we already mention the champagne powder?

What are the most sought after features for rentals?

1. Private hot tub
2. Beds for a reasonable price to accommodate large groups
3. Proximity to the Village and amenities
4. Pet friendly

What types of properties are getting the most rentals?

The most sought-after rentals are 2-4 bedrooms, spacious, with good access to ski runs, and a
mountain view. People are looking for an exciting, emotional, and memorable ski experience.
They want the whole package, and Big White has the runs, the snow, the accommodation, and
the amenities to provide just that. Here are some properties that are available now!

Why choose property management?

You can do all the work yourself: if you’ve got the time, if you’re media savvy, you can prepare
your property, find guests, book them in, communicate with them, be available to answer any
questions they may have, deal with any issues that may arise, book them out, hire cleaners, and
rinse repeat. Or you could hire a property management company like Locations Mountain
Management Services to save you all the work as well as the learning curve. We advertise
through all the major channels, have pricing strategies that will maximize your income, find you
the right guests, and handle all communication, day or night. The number of bookings we can get
for you, and the level of service we can provide to you, easily makes paying our management
commission a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to rent their property.

Locations Mountain Management Services is a local business with their finger on the pulse of
what owners require and guests desire. We provide with full-service property management for our
owners and booking services for their guests. We advertise on our website and all the major
booking channels, including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and Expedia. Our amazing properties
sleep anywhere from 4–18 people, are clean and tidy, warm and inviting, and ideally located.
Most properties are Ski In/Ski Out, have Private Hot Tubs, and are Pet Friendly. We offer
discounts on stays over 7 days and 30 days. Our customer service always responds promptly and
efficiently, and our reliable and quality-obsessed in-house cleaning team will ensure your stay is
spotless.

Renting Out Your Big White Ski Resort Property

Some people rent out their Big White Ski Resort property is a way to earn extra income when the property is not being used for their own personal use. Others buy at Big White strictly to use the property as a rental as rentals on the mountain are always in high demand, especially over the Christmas holidays and Spring Break. In addition to the holiday rushes, there are also seasonal workers and visitors alike that rent over the course of the season, year after year. This article will offer insight on renting out your Big White Ski Resort property.

Renting Out Your Big White Ski Resort Property

From self managing to outsourcing to a full service rental company, you have options depending on how involved you’d like to be. Some restrictions apply to each service you choose but luckily there are a few to chose from.

However, each building and complex have their own rental restrictions in place and rules that must be followed. So before making your rental plan. I reccommend speaking to a professional (I would be happy to answer any questions) about the possible rental restrictions for your property.

Let’s have a look at some of the options…

Self Managed

Airbnb

This is a great option for those who want to self manage. Be prepared to run the rental from top to bottom. You’d be in charge of listing the rental, upkeep, managing booking, cleaning and more. Do your research to see if Airbnb is right for you.

Full Service

Central Reservations

The one-stop shop for everything on the mountain. Handling rentals, and just about everything else, Central Reservations is a trusted, knowledgable team.

Luxury Mountain Vacation Rentals

With over 10 years of operation at Big White, this company has a long history of exceeding guest expectations. The team is comprised of other local small business such as: Pure White Cleaners, Snowy Nights Hot Tubs, Billy’s Waterworks, and many others.

If you decide to self-manage, I highly recommend the following local services to assist with the rental process:

Renting out your Big White Ski Resort property allows you to have that home away from home that generates income while not in use by you and your family. Contact me for all your Big White Real Estate needs! I would be happy to answer any questions or get started searching for your perfect investment property!

LIVE WHERE YOU PLAY

BUYING A RENTAL AT BIG WHITE– WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Are you thinking about buying a rental property at Big White? Do you have all the information to make an educated decision? Here are a few of the must knows when buying a rental:

 1. Some stratas have rental restrictions. These restrictions all differ in each complex and can limit how many units in the complex can be rented at one time, limit which age the renter must be, or how many days the unit can be rented per year. The rental restrictions can be found in the strata bylaws.

2. When it comes time to sell your rental property, you may be subject to pay GST. This is something you must discuss with your accountant.

 

3. Be aware that your lender may require different criteria. Some particular lenders will require you to put 25%-35% as a down payment.

4. There are multiple outlets to rent your home through. There is AirBnB, Rent Chalets, Central Reservations and more. Each of these outlets offer something different, from self managed to fully managed, so do your research as to which one will suit your requirements the best.

Do you have questions about purchasing a rental property at Big White? Contact me and we can chat more about all the benefits and things to watch out for! Joan Wolf at 778-231-0308!!