I’m sorry you went through all of that. It’s very helpful that you shared that.
I wonder if a course would have gotten into that level of detail. Maybe the service aspect of the team. I wonder if a good real estate agent would have prevented that mistake, or a very good house inspection (at least on the issue of the condition of the septic system or raising a question on its condition). Even a detailed discussion with the septic guy might have surfaced those possibilities. So you do need to reflect on how you’ll deal with contractors going forward.
Whether this course and its services (it’s not just a course) would have prevented that. I don’t know. I would ask them. Maybe Vodyssey would have raised it if you had hired them before you purchased the home.
Now, though, spending $4,800 or $9,800 just seems like a lot (too much) because you already own the home. I don’t get the impression that you’re open to selling it and buying another property. Are you?
I do think you should take a very close reading of the house inspection for any other issues they could see. I assume that the house inspector was certified by the state or county, right?
If you’re ‘wedded’ to this property for now, the questions I would have if I were you would be:
- How should I change the listing, including pricing, to increase property’s bottom line? I would certainly say more in the listing of how close/far certain attractions are to your place.
- Should I stay with MissKitty? What are they charging and to do what? What are your alternatives?
- Is the property safe? Is Your Property Safe? Take the Challenge -- A 75-Point Safety Checklist
- What is my target market? How can my property ‘stand out’ and to whom? There are a LOT of nearby similar properties. I looked for a few minutes and it looked to me there were nicer properties for the same or less money; some much nicer for just a little more; nicer decorations, some closer to where the restaurants are. A lot of supply in your area. I don’t know why someone would rent your place. Is there something about the area that’s really attractive? What? I think this is the toughest thing you need to figure out. Is your target market the people who will charter a fishing boat? That could be a thing. If so, link to a few of the charters. Will your guests really grill the fish downstairs under the porch on that little grill? Why?
- What cosmetic or quasi-cosmetic changes/additions should I consider? Like paint colors, Like the washer/dryer in the bedroom closet. Like the furniture in the living room. Like outdoor lighting. Like Queen beds instead of full beds if they fit. That shower curtain. How can you get the property to feel more ‘put together.’ Have you lived there for a weekend? For a week? Have your friends? It’s not rented now, so this could be a time to give a weekend to friends in return for candid feedback.
- Should I make improvements? What likely would be my ROI for the improvements? To me, what comes to mind are the windows and the landscaping, but @muddy made a point about not having one of those bedrooms being a bedroom. This is last because you can spend money to make the place nicer but will that investment likely pay off to your target market?
Anyway, those are a few impressions. There are a lot of seasoned Hosts here who can help you out. The more you tell us about your objectives and situation the better they can tailor their guidance.