MERRILL L. THOMAS INC. VACATION RENTALS
Merrill L. Thomas has been in the vacation rental business since the 1980 Winter Olympics. We are a privately owned and operated full-service vacation rental company and now oversee a portfolio of offerings ranging from luxurious mountain homes to boutique condominiums.
We pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of satisfaction to both owners and guests. Our professional rental team offers years of experience as well as an acute awareness of the Lake Placid Market lodging demands and a database of over 6,000 repeat guests.
Today we produce top results via comprehensive marketing campaigns, state of the art management software, weekly e-blasts, and pre-arrival safety, and housekeeping inspections.
Every year thousands of visitors make the journey to the Olympic Village of Lake Placid. It is one of the finest year-round vacation destinations in North America. For owners and guests alike, we make sure every property meets individual or family expectations.
Diane Brenner
Diane grew up in Lake Placid and graduated from Siena College with a B.A in French and International Studies. After working 15 years in the tourism and hospitality industries in New York City and New Jersey, she returned to the Adirondacks in 2002. Diane enjoys traveling, hiking, cross country skiing, and volunteering in community organizations. She resides in Lake Placid with her husband, Ron, and their son, Evan.
Jillian Locke
Jillian is a proud native of Lake Placid and is well versed in the uniqueness of the Adirondack region. She started with Merrill L. Thomas in 2015 and manages over 120+ properties in the vacation rental department. Jillian handles day-to-day operations, owner relations, and pairs rental clients with their perfect Adirondack escape!
Rebecca Huffman
Rebecca’s love of learning has led her to a colorful career. She’s worked as a custom woodworker, been a heavy equipment operator of some of the largest mining equipment in the world and spent time working for a Forbes five star resort. Her time working in hospitality has shown her what exceptional service looks like and embedded a deep love for creating memorable experiences for others.
Nichole Dunford
Nichole is a Lake Placid native with over a decade of hospitality management experience. Previously a manager at the Mirror Lake Inn, Nichole was responsible for overseeing their Four Diamond Fine dining restaurant. Nichole is persistent, detail oriented and an open communicator who is eager and excited to work with you to find the perfect vacation rental!
OUR TEAM
“After taking 3 years to build our dream house on Mirror Lake, we were anxious to find the right partner to help us qualify and manage the rental process. A bit of homework landed us with Merrill Thomas and we have been delighted ever since! From our first point of contact all the way up to ownership and at every level in-between, we have found Team Merrill to be a top notch, quality and service oriented operation. We recommend them with the highest regard.”
- Owners of Camp SonShine
“We have been proud partners with the Merrill Thomas rental team since 2012, trusting them to rent our vacation condo to renters who match our requirements. They are always professional and responsive to us and to our renters. We highly recommend Merrill Thomas to owners who want the security, contacts, and caring of local agents. We know our condo is in good hands when we are not in town.”
- Owners of Comet Cove
OUR SUPPORT SERVICES
• RESPONDING QUICKLY TO INQUIRIES
• VETTING GUEST PROFILES
• MANAGING OCCUPANCY & AVAILABILITY CALENDARS
• CONFIRMING RESERVATIONS & PREPARING LEASES
• COORDINATING HOUSEKEEPING
• INSPECTING PROPERTIES PRIOR TO RENTALS
• MAINTAINING A 24 HOUR EMERGENCY HOT-LINE
• MANAGING DAMAGE DISPUTES
• OVERSEEING ACCOUNTING & PAYMENTS
• ADVISING OWNERS ON RENTAL PERMITTING
• HOLDING GUEST SECURITY DEPOSIT IN ESCROW
• COLLECTING OF COUNTY RENTAL TAXES
STREAMLINE VACATION RENTAL SOFTWARE
We have invested in the industry’s leading software. Streamline offers guests convenience to research property availability, request bookings and submit payments directly online. While also permitting owners unparalleled access to their rental information through the Owner-X app.
DYNAMIC PRICING MODELS
The Adirondack rental market is a revolving door of unique clientele and events. Use our connections and understanding of local rental trends to create a strategic pricing schedule specific to your property.
PRE-RENTAL SAFETY AND HOUSEKEEPING INSPECTIONS
Unlike many of our competitors, we ensure each of our rentals is free from issues that may prevent your guests from having a 5-star experience, with a detailed property inspection done by one of our agents.
24/7 EMERGENCY ON CALL AGENT
In the event that your guest has an emergency, they will be dealing directly with one of our team members until the problem is resolved, no matter what time it is.
RENTAL PERMIT AND AREA REGULATION GUIDANCE
With varying rules and regulations, rest assured your property is adhering to all of the local municipality laws.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Presentation is the key to marketing success. From aerial drone photography to 3D Virtual tours, our professional photographers will make your property stand out and communicate a sense of quality to your guests.
DIGITAL & PRINT MARKETING ADS
We allocate a significant amount of marketing funds toward advertising your property in both print and digital media. When guests are coming to the Adirondacks, we ensure they know who to turn to!
MATTERPORT 3D TOURS
Guests can virtually walk through your home. Prospective tenants know exactly what they’re getting when booking your home. A happy guest is a repeat guest.
SUPERIOR BOOKING WEBSITE
Our top quality, adaptive website offers online bookings requests from both mobile and desktop. Combing the ease of use of Big Tech platforms, with the personalization of a private brokerage firm.
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Search engines are the #1 tool vacationers use to book their vacation. We use a combination of paid search and professional website optimization to make sure that those search words direct them to us.
EMAIL MARKETING
We utilize our vast list of past guests to e-blast special offerings, exceptional properties and promotional opportunities as reminders to consider our region and your property for their next Adirondack get away
GETTING STARTED
Merrill L. Thomas Inc. offers personalized consultations to discuss your rental goals. Reach out today to explore how we can meet your specific needs.
