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"We download free podcasts and burn them to CDs for our guests to play on our portable CD player. Stories for the kids, old time radio shows, and comedies make great choices."
Congratulations to Diane, winner of a HomeAway prize pack!
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Starting July 2, choose your favorite "Save Our Summer Vacation" contest entry. The top 3 will win trips to the HomeAway property of their choice (who knows...they might choose your vacation rental!). PS. Sign the petition to declare Aug 7 a National Vacation Day.
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For many of us, summer is the busiest rental season of the year. Whether you're scurrying to fill last-minute openings or you're sitting pretty with a full calendar, this time of year can be both exhilarating and exhausting with rentals.
More renters may bring more profit, but also a greater potential for problems. Although creating your policies may not be as fun as suggesting your favorite restaurants, creating clear rules and procedures upfront can save you time and headaches down the road. With that in mind, we produced this month's newsletter to help pave the way for a profitable and problem-free summer season.
The idea for our featured article this month came directly from many of the 1,000 owners I've met at seminars this year. Unfortunately, the word on the street is "cancellations," so hopefully you'll find some useful information on how to combat this new dilemma you may face.
Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July,
Christine Karpinski
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How to Avoid (and Handle) Cancellations
Cancellations can result in one of our most dreaded situations - especially the last-minute kind. Let's face it: it's not like we can just fill our vacancies with walk-ups. However, it's important to recognize that these things will happen, and you need to be prepared to deal with them.
If you don't plan ahead, guest cancellations can be overwhelming, frustrating, and downright awkward, but they don't have to be that way. With sound policies and preventative measures in place, you can handle potential cancellations with ease or perhaps avoid them altogether. Read more
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"When I close the dishwasher, nothing happens."
How to fix it: First, stifle any urges to start screening your guests according to their IQ scores. Then, you may have to ask questions like: Did you press the start button? Is the latch flipped? Is the door securely shut? Do you have the light switch that powers the dishwasher turned on? Next, have the renter check the power supply. If this doesn't work, call an appliance repairman or your local hardware store for a replacement dishwasher.
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"The scratching in the walls is keeping me from sleeping."
How to fix it: Your first reaction might be that your guest is hearing voices in his head and is therefore completely nutty. But whether your home is located within a national forest or within the city centre, at some point or another you may have to deal with pests. First, get all of the details you can from your guest to better assess the situation. Then, call a pest control company. Read the top 8
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Learn the ins and outs of vacation rental ownership from industry expert Christine Karpinski, author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner and Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream.