THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE RED ROCK NEWS

August 18, 2023

 

Being a good neighbor is the message that the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau [SCC&TB] and the city of Sedona provide to visitors who are staying at a vacation rental here in Sedona.

Recently, the SCC&TB designed a “Good Neighbor Brochure” specifically for vacation rentals which includes Sedona’s sustainability messaging.

Inside one will find the Leave No Trace principles, neighborhood etiquette and Verde Valley day trips which encompasses visits to the Village of Oak Creek, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Rimrock and Camp Verde promoting all the fun activities including shopping, dining, golf, wineries, kayak and train adventures and exploring the legacy of the ancient peoples.

Additionally, the brochure is intended to highlight ways in which our visitors can be good neighbors and to inform them of the city’s vacation rental regulations during their stay in Sedona. A little consideration goes a long way.

The Good Neighbor Brochure reminds visitors to:

• Acknowledge the city ordinance to honor quiet time between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Keep trash in bins.
• Honor our Dark Sky community by turning off bright outdoor lights.
• Park in a designated parking area. Do not block driveways.
• Keep pets on a leash.
• Don’t feed the wildlife.

According to Key Data, one of the country’s top short-term rental performance sources, occupancy for short-term rentals in FY23 (July 2022 – June 2023) averaged 50% year-to-date. Occupancies in June dropped to 41%, one of the lowest levels in this fiscal year.

Even with this downturn, vacation rentals are still sought by visitors to Sedona. And the ability to earn extra income for residents continues to be appealing. According to Zillow, homes in Sedona appreciated by 0.80% in the past year. The median home value in Sedona is $885,955, which is significantly higher than the national median home value of $426,000. With such high property values, many homeowners in Sedona have turned to short-term rentals to generate income.

Whether you are a vacation homeowner, a management company for short term rentals, a visitor to Sedona, or perhaps you enjoy staying at vacation rentals in other places, it’s always important to keep in mind that there are others who live right next door. The surrounding neighbors have been given a 24-hour number to call should they need to file a complaint and visitors could be cited, fined by the city or even evicted by the owner for creating a disturbance.

It’s always a good reminder — whether you are a resident or visitor — to be courteous and kind and help keep Sedona the beautiful and serene place that it is.

 

–Michelle Conway, President/CEO
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

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