Case Study
Success in Action: A Real Owner’s Story
Real Numbers, Real Property, Real Results : How on owner made $127,000 and you could too

Property Overview
Serene Modern Lakehouse in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia
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Location: Glen Arbour, a prestigious golf community just outside Halifax
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Home Specs: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, direct waterfront access
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Owner Profile: Toronto-based family seeking occasional personal use—worried about tenant reliability in a long-term lease
Airbnb Link: airbnb.ca/h/thezengolfhouse

The Initial Situation
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Originally Vacant: Local market rent for a long-term lease was around CA$5,000/month.
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Major Concerns
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Reliability of Tenants: Owners needed to preserve the home’s condition and schedule personal getaways.
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Out-of-Province Maintenance: Difficult to oversee repairs and upkeep from Toronto.
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Underwhelming Previous Manager: A prior vacation rental service netted only CA$47,000 after fees, leaving the owners disappointed.
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Challenge: They needed a trustworthy, hands-free solution that wouldn’t tie up the property year-round but still offered a significant monthly income—without the stress of managing from another province.
Our Short-Term Rental Solution
Casa Scotia implemented an end-to-end short-term rental management approach, focusing on data-driven pricing, professional listings, and hands-free hospitality:
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Market Positioning
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Highlighting the lake views, golf course access, and modern amenities to attract premium guests.
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Invested in additional amenities such as pool table, pergola, foosball to boost attractiveness
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Dynamic Pricing & Seasonal Adjustments
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Using real-time local demand data for Halifax and Hammonds Plains, setting nightly rates around CA$600–1100 at peak times.
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Offering slight discounts in off-season or pivoting to mid-term rentals (e.g., traveling nurses) if needed.
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Our Short-Term Rental Solution
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Comprehensive Guest Screening & 24/7 Support
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ID verification and deposit requirements to ensure only respectful guests.
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Immediate response to any maintenance or guest issues—owners never had to deal with late-night calls.
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Owner Portal & Monthly Statements
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Transparent reporting of occupancy, nightly rates, cleaning costs, and net payouts.
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The family could block off personal weekends in summer, enjoying the property on their schedule.
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Real Results
After one year of Casa Scotia’s short-term rental management:
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Annual Rental Revenue: CA$165,930.87
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Nights Booked: 196 (53.41% occupancy)
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Average Daily Rate (ADR): CA$744.23
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Average Revenue per Stay: CA$2,998.70
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Less Our Fee (20%): $33,000
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Less Consumables (~$4,600/year)
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Net: $127,400
Owner Involvement: Minimal—Casa Scotia handled bookings, cleaning, dynamic pricing, and communication.


Comparing to a Long-Term Lease
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A typical CA$5,000/month lease would yield ~CA$60,000/year.
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Net short-term revenue after fees significantly surpassed that figure—more than doubling their previous lease income.
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Owners still enjoyed 3 weeks of personal use annually, far surpassing the flexibility a year-long tenant would allow.
Owner’s Perspective
“We were skeptical about short-term rentals, but the numbers speak for themselves—earning more than twice a long-term lease was beyond our expectations. The best part? We still get to enjoy the house whenever we want—without the hassle of full-time tenants.”


Key Takeaways
Huge ROI Jump
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Short-term bookings generated over CA$127k in one year—substantially beating the CA$60k typical annual lease.
Personal Freedom
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Owners retained full control, using the Lakehouse for family vacations without competing with a year-long tenant arrangement.
Effortless Management
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Casa Scotia’s local presence tackled maintenance, cleaning, and guest relations, ideal for out-of-province owners.
Flexible Off-Season Strategy
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Occupancy remained strong, with the option to lower rates or offer mid-term rentals if needed.
Think Your Property Could Deliver Similar Results?
If you have a home or scenic cottage you’re currently renting long-term (or leaving vacant), let us show you how short-term rentals can unlock a similar jump in revenue.
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Get a Free Estimate: We’ll send you a no-obligation revenue projection tailored to your property’s unique features and location.
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Explore Our Services: Learn about our fees, contract options, and how we handle day-to-day operations.
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Schedule a Call: Speak directly with our team to see how Casa Scotia can transform your property into a top-earning short-term rental.
