The Monterey Bay Rentals ExpertsMONTERY BAY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
This Monterey Bay rentals pioneer specializes
Way back in 1983, Jan Leasure spotted a classified ad placed by a cardiologist interested in finding Monterey Bay rentals available for the summer. Jan was a teacher with the summer off and a limited vacation budget. So she turned over the keys to her house and headed for Hawaii. When summer vacations were compared in the teacher’s lounge that fall, Jan was a rock star. She didn’t know it at the time, but she was also about to become a pioneer. “Several other teachers said, “Gosh, I’d love to do that! Could you rent my house?” Jan started renting her co-workers homes during the summer and school holidays. Word spread, and by 1989, her sideline "hobby" managing Monterey Bay rentals for friends and colleagues had morphed into full time business. As Managing Broker of Monterey Bay Property Management, Jan commands a broad portfolio of long- and short-term Monterey Bay rentals in Carmel California, Pebble Beach California, Pacific Grove California and Monterey California -- known throughout the world for sublime coastal scenery cheek by jowl with world-class golf. “When I started this business, it became clear to me very early on that there was a market for whatever size and shape and location I could come up with,” Jan says. “We have everything from a small studio apartment to a large luxury home -- and everything in between.” However, by local ordinance many homes rent by the month (only about 20% of the 125 short-term rentals are available by the week.) With a running start in this exclusive vacation rental market, Monterey Bay Property Management is a major player when it comes to housing a fair share of the 45,000 golf fans expected to descend on
Pebble Beach Golf Links
at professional golf’s prestigious
2010 U.S. Open.
Monterey Bay Property Management … in a nutshell How many homes? About 125 short-term vacation rentals (the company also handles long-term corporate rentals). About 20% rent by the week. How many on or near the beach? 16 properties in Pacific Grove, Monterey, and Pebble Beach, are on the ocean or beachfront; the majority of Monterey Bay rentals have stunning ocean views and/or are a short walk to the ocean. A handful of golf vacation rentals have views of both the ocean and Pebble Beach golf courses. Type and size Monterey Bay Property Management has an inventory that is diverse by design: everything from a small studio apartment a few steps from the tide pools at Asilomar Beach to a luxe four-bedroom home with stunning ocean views from nine acres on Point Lobos Ridge. Expect custom architecture -- floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings with skylights, brick or stone fireplaces, terraced patio, deck or garden courtyard -- along with rich dark wood floors, recessed lighting and stylish furnishings. Many homes have a hot tub or pool (14 have both). Amenities ranging from flat screen TVs to WiFi. Among the more distinctive homes offered by Monterey Bay Property Management: “Canary Cottage” (6 bedrooms plus 2 small guest houses). One of the original houses next to Pebble Beach Lodge and Pebble Beach golf course (Pebble Beach Golf Links). It was a gambling casino and brothel during Prohibition. Price range Per week: Weekly prices range from $1,500—for a snug and rather basic studio two blocks from Monterey’s Cannery Row (low season)—to $9,400 for a four-bedroom ocean view home in Pebble Beach California (high season). The average price per month is $2,500 to $4,000. Per month Staff Monterey Bay Property Management has a staff of 13. Each rental is assigned to a property manager who is available 24/7. Concierge services “You should have to bring nothing but your clothes and your groceries,” Jan insists. Homes are well furnished, kitchens fully equipped and even the small details -- like reading lamps and ironing boards -- are standard. “Our philosophy is that if the house is not equipped with everything you need, let us know and we’ll get it for you, or we’ll arrange for somebody to get it.” Web site links are great for pre-planning and every arriving guest receives a welcome package with lots of information and recommendations Services for families “We’re happy to help guests rent cribs and high chairs. We also can arrange bonded babysitting,” Jan says. Beachfront locations and homes with enclosed courtyards/yards are probably best bets for families with small children. Pet-friendly homes? About a dozen homes (marked with a paw print) welcome dogs. The area is dotted with dog friendly California State Beaches -- including Asilomar State Beach and Marina State Beach -- along 18 miles of paved Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.
Great customer testimonials follow many property descriptions on the Monterey Bay Property Management Web site. “We get great reviews for our customer service.” Jan says. “Our agents are available after-hours and on weekends. There is never a time when a guest can’t reach us.” Discounts? Prices are highest in the summer. Expect to pay top dollar in July and August. At other times of the year, you can save $500 to $1,000 or more. All pricing is by property, so ask. Better yet, sign up for e-mail alerts on weekly specials Three Standout Qualities 1. Quantity, Quantity and Flexibility. “When I started this business it became clear to me very early on that there was a market for Monterey Bay rentals in whatever size and shape and location I could come up with. So we have a real variety of things -- everything from a small studio apartment to a large luxury home,” says Jan. The range of homes Monterey Bay Property Management offers -- accommodating groups from two to 20 -- makes this exclusive destination accessible to young action-oriented 20- and 30-somethings, as well as extended families looking for luxury. Property managers are pros at matching guests to specific Monterey Bay rentals. And, if the match isn’t made in heaven? “We’ll give guests keys and they can go look at other places,” says Jan. “Our inventory is large and there is only about a week a year when we couldn’t make something else available. That takes away so many concerns people have.” 2. ‘Positively Outrageous’ Customer Care. “Out company operates on the idea that we should be providing positively outrageous service all the time,” Jan. For example: When a group renting an oceanfront property asked for outdoor furniture and the property owners resisted, Monterey Bay Property Management jumped right in and bought some. “Now the company owns outdoor furniture,” laughs Jan. “We just think the customer is always right. So we’ll always provide guests in our Monterey Bay rentals with what they need.” In addition, “our agents are available to people after hours and on weekends,” she says. “There is never a time when a guest can’t reach us.” 3. Weekly Discount Alerts by E-mail. Why not add a weekend at another California beach house?Click here to see what's available in Pismo Beach or Santa Cruz.Back to the top of Monterey Bay Rentals Experts
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