It started with renovating a house in Pine Hill that had been built in the 1800s. Jason and Phyllis Frome realized that, to successfully rent the apartments, all three had to be gutted and much work had to be done to make them appealing as vacation rentals. They spent that first summer lugging bathtubs, laying tile, installing wood floors, and sweating a lot to turn the apartments into charming country suites with modern amenities. Pine Hollow Lodging was born and their 40 combined years in the hospitality industry became the foundation for the vacation rental management business that was blossoming ahead of them.
Soon, friends in the area were asking to have their houses managed as vacation rentals. These second homeowners quickly realized that they could easily earn extra income, have some great tax deductions, and still retain the freedom to use their vacation homes whenever they wanted. They would have all the benefits with absolutely none of the work. Pine Hollow Lodging do all the legwork, handle all the renter interactions and all the paperwork, arrange for cleaning and even repairs, if needed. The word spread quickly and more owners were signing up.
Jason and Phyllis became licensed, as required by New York State, developed a website that appears on page one of Google searches, and began the work of satisfying customers. Owners and renters started talking and the word spread that Pine Hollow Lodging was the vacation rental management company to talk to.
Rave reviews
It is not unusual for owners like Trish to say, “Jason and Phyllis took a ton of their own time and expertise to help me make my home an attractive vacation destination. Their advice on how to stage the house is one of the most valuable aspects of the services they provide. And they make sure my renters’ needs are addressed, even if it’s 10 o’clock on Friday night. It’s ideal for me, because my home is still there for me whenever I want it.”
Managing vacation rentals is not just a two-person job. Many other businesses benefit from the process. Pine Hollow Lodging utilizes a number of area housekeepers and contractors; everyone from plumbers and landscapers to handymen and electricians. Since wages tend to be very good, these businesses win each time they are needed. The homeowner wins each time a qualified local professional completes a job.
Homeowners win again with a good source of income. Homeowners who are selling their property and waiting out a down real estate market can realize good income until the market shifts closer to their asking price.
Everyone benefits
Visitors win when they come to the area and fall in love with the beauty that we, who live here, may sometimes take for granted. We all win when these visitors come into our communities and shop in the local stores, eat in our restaurants, rent kayaks, ski, or have their weddings here. Their tax dollars go directly to our communities.
Time flies when you’re working hard to establish, maintain, and grow your business while pushing through the barriers of high gas prices, high unemployment, and a tortured economy. But Pine Hollow Lodging has weathered those storms and is running stronger than ever. Their first steps were taken in October of 2004 and their 10-year anniversary is being celebrated this year. But, they’re celebrating a bit early so that everyone can join in!
Enter to win
Come visit Jason and Phyllis at their booth at the Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Festival on Saturday Aug. 24 on Main Street, Margaretville, and the Cauliflower Festival in Margaretville Village Park behind Freshtown on Saturday Sept. 28. Drop your name, your number, and a dollar into the jar for a chance to win a beautiful gift basket of local products. Valued at $100, the basket includes everything from maple syrup and honey to soaps and wine, to theater tickets! Every penny will be donated to the MARK Project for local community programs as a way of celebrating 10 years of serving our communities and our neighbors.
Locally owned, operated and fully licensed, Pine Hollow Lodging manages vacation rental properties for homeowners who are not using their property as much as they used to and who choose to rent out their homes to earn extra income. For more information please call 845-586-1433 or visit www.pinehollowlodging.com.
Thumbnail picture is Eagle's Nest, one of Pine Hollow Lodging's primier properties.
