| If you are going to spend money advertising your | | | | experience will follow suit. |
| vacation rental property on vacation rental websites, | | | | 4. YOUR LISTING SHOULD BE ACCURATE AND |
| you want to make sure it is a success. Here are 6 | | | | COMPLETE - Be sure that your listing details are kept |
| things you can practice which will help ensure you | | | | up to date and are complete. Review your online |
| receive the most "bang for the buck". | | | | listing frequently to be sure that your contact |
| 1. SET RENTAL RATES APPROPRIATELY - If you | | | | information are up-to-date. Also, be sure that it is |
| want your vacation property to rent, you must be | | | | accurate on the description of your property and its |
| realistic, optomistic, but not greedy! Set realistic rental | | | | amenities. This will help you with repeat customers, |
| rates for your property and ensure that the rates | | | | but will also keep you out of trouble with rental |
| are correct on the site(s) your listing and regularly | | | | contracts or laws in regards to such things. |
| reviewed as the market changes. Search for | | | | 5. GREAT PHOTOS - It is true what they say, "a |
| comparable properties ("comps") in the same location | | | | picture speaks a thousand words". Remember, |
| as yours. Only charge a premium if your property has | | | | renters are considering staying at your rental based |
| some distinct features. And, be willing to discount | | | | (most of the time) solely on your pictures and your |
| your property on occassion as needed. In this | | | | word. The more pictures to help them be |
| business, if you lose money for a week long rental, | | | | comfortable with the decision, the better. Here is |
| you can't make that up! | | | | how I look at it. If you were going to buy a used |
| 2. CHECK E-MAIL REGULARLY - When using an | | | | car, would you do so over the Internet without a |
| internet vacation rental property website such as or | | | | good look at the outside/inside of the vehicle, the |
| remember your users. They are typically Internet | | | | engine, etc. Not exactly the same, but you get the |
| "savvy" and probably check their e-mails | | | | picture. The more pictures and the prettier, the |
| frequently...especially if they have requested some | | | | better. Be sure to have pictures of your rental |
| info. Also, be sure your phone number is listed on | | | | amenities such as a pool, the beach, a mountain view, |
| sites that allow you to as sometimes people choose | | | | the lake or a golf course - these are top vacation |
| to just call you directly, so be sure to check phone | | | | rental sellers! |
| messages. | | | | 6. BOOST YOUR EXPOSURE - There are many "hot |
| 3. RESPOND IMMEDIATELY - Vacation goers usually | | | | spots" for vacationers throughout the world. Before |
| see a few properties that are of interest to them | | | | we owned property, my family used to head to |
| and then contact those owners. The faster you | | | | Destin every year, usually twice. There are thousands |
| respond, the better chance (most of the time) you | | | | of vacation rental properties in the Destin, Panama |
| have of winning them over. There have been times I | | | | City Beach area. In areas like this, boost your |
| have rented properties in the past and because it | | | | exposure by getting to the top of your sites search |
| took an owner 24 hours to respond, I had already | | | | engine. If it costs you $20, $50, even $100 to do so |
| chosen another property. A timely and efficient | | | | but that gets you one extra rental a year, that |
| response gives the renter confidence that the rental | | | | makes it more than worth it. |