Rental agent now offering activities package

Jeremy Swerling has conducted the Illinois-based Danville Symphony Orchestra for the past 24 seasons. He said he approaches his rental business, iTrip Vacations Delaware Shores, in the same way.

Conducting an orchestra is about making sure all the musicians are on the same page, said Swerling during a recent interview at a Rehoboth property where he was doing a walkthrough prior to the arrival of renters. Being a broker for a rental company is the same thing; it’s all about making sure the property owners, guests, cleaning staff and maintenance crews are on the same page, he said.

Based in Baltimore, Swerling has 22 rental listings from Lewes to Fenwick Island, with properties also in Dewey, Rehoboth and Bethany. He said iTrip, a national company, offers more exposure than local rental agents can offer because a property is distributed through all the online distribution channels – VRBO, Airbnb, Trip Advisor, Bookings.com and more. He said in most cases, a local agent can’t afford the technology or just doesn’t have it.

“There’s no question that property owners using iTrip are getting significant exposure to potential renters,” said Swerling, adding he keeps his portfolio low because it allows for his personal attention.

Swerling said he has recently added Xplorie to his list of services. He said the new program gives vacation rental guests access to free activities and renews daily, saving guests hundreds of dollars during their stay. He said from May 15 to Sept. 15, there’s a daily value of $234, and from Sept. 16 to May 14, there’s a daily value of $107.

He said Xplorie offers guests who book with iTrip Vacations Delaware Shores one daily adult admission to a golf club, wine tasting, yoga, escape room and amusement park. In addition, they also receive one daily bike rental and stand-up paddleboard or kayak rental.

Swerling said another technology he uses for his clients is Matterport, a 3D camera and virtual tour platform. He said the process on his end is tedious, but when it’s complete, renters get a real sense of what a property offers.

Addressing his Baltimore home, Swerling picks up his cellphone and says, “It’s all about the phone.” He said he’s got a network of local cleaners and maintenance crews whom he can call in the case of an emergency. “If a guest were to call because there’s an HVAC problem, I would call a local HVAC professional immediately,” he said. “If I was in an office in Rehoboth, I’d do the same thing.”

For more information on iTrip Vacations Delaware Shores, contact Swerling at jeremy@itrip.net. He can also be reached on his work phone at 410-653-5900 or his cellphone at 443-386-1351.