Getting away to Tahoe for a couple of days or so is a great stress reducer. However, the process in finding a suitable place to stay – where you can cook, entertain or simply stretch out – can be a stress increaser, including playing email or phone tag with the property owner or manager.

RedAwning.com, a Berkeley-based vacation property management service founded two years ago by East Bay entrepreneur Tim Choate, has made great strides in reducing the hassles of locating your base for a Tahoe getaway.

"Booking a property through other property management groups can be a lengthy process, and getting someone to call you back can be a frustrating experience," says RedAwning's Kristina Simonsen. "With us, you simply book on-line. It takes about five minutes to find an available property and book it. ... It's like booking a hotel room."

Simonsen says that RedAwning has more than 450 rental units in the Tahoe area, ranging from condos to cabins to large luxury homes. "We can sleep anywhere from 4 to 20 people per property," she says. The company also has listings at Mammoth Mountain; Sun Valley, Idaho; Napa and Sonoma, and Hawaii.

Along with a cozy and relaxing place to stay, RedAwning also offers a couple of add-ons to its winter getaway customers: Up to 44 percent off on ski/snowboard rental equipment and up to 25 percent off on lift tickets at Squaw Valley, Northstar and Sugar Bowl.

And for those who wish to list their chalet at the Lake?

"We do a lot of work for property owners," Simonsen says. "We will list their properties, take reservations, etc. It's free to list a house site and it's no risk for them to participate."