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Increase Your Vacation Rental Income: 5 Easy Ways To Start Today!

Written by Robin Coenen in How to

If you own a vacation rental property, you’ve probably wondered how to increase the amount of money you make from it. There are many ways to do this, but it is highly dependent on the property you own.

Ways to increase your vacation rental income. You can increase the income you receive from a vacation rental home by creating a desirable environment guests want to stay in for prolonged periods of time. Through changing management, marketing, and renovating your vacation rental home you can maximize the amount of income you can make.

How happy customers are with their vacation at your rental directly effects how much you can charge for a stay at your vacation rental. The other way to maximize profit is to cut down the overhead you pay on your home. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best ways to receive more money for the vacation rental you already own.

How Can I Increase My Vacation Rental Income?

There are a few ways you can increase the income of your vacation rental. The key elements to consider when setting out to bring in more money from your vacation rental property are:

  • Management 
  • The Stay
  • Guests
  • Renovations
  • Marketing

If you consider these carefully, you should be able to maximize the amount of money you collect from your rental home. 

Management

  1. Manage the Property Yourself
  2. Financial Goals and Distribution of Funds
  3. Pricing/Rates
  4. Comparable Pricing
  5. Data

1.Manage the Property Yourself

Managing a vacation rental yourself will take more research, labor, and effort, but you stand to gain anywhere between ten and thirty percent more revenue.

2.Financial Goals and Distribution of Funds

Set financial goals for your property and remember to reinvest some of your earnings back into your vacation rental.

3.Pricing/Rates

As you may have noticed, prices for hotels and vacation rentals fluctuate. There are many different aspects to consider when pricing your vacation rental, but the price should never be stagnant. Seasons and events, depending on where your vacation rental is placed, are two of the main things to consider when pricing your home for renters. In the off season, the price of your vacation rental should go down, but if there is a convention or festival of sorts your prices should go up.

4.Comparable Pricing

Many people choose a vacation rental for different reason, but one way to consider is what other places offer for the same price. If your rental makes a customer feel like they are getting more than their money is worth, your property will be in higher demand.

5.Data

Take in data from your vacation rental including:

  • How many people stayed in your home
  • How much did each person pay
  • How long were their stays
  • Etc.

Keep records and take the time to analyze the data you can collect from your vacation rental. Examine how your property is doing over longer periods of time. This might help you learn what can make your rental home more desirable for new customers, or it could inform you which weeks need increased or lowered pricing. In any case, you cannot know how the data will help you unless you take the time to examine it.

Perfect villa with pool: Ready for Guests!

The Stay

The experience your guests have is the product you are selling time is your vacation rental. You want your guests to feel like they have received a more valuable and pleasurable experience than Remember that creating a memorable stay for your guests is the best way to increase the desirability and demand of your rental.

  • Customer Service– Be attentive to the needs of your guests. When a guest contacts you with an issue, you should reply immediately. The sooner you can resolve any issues that arise in your vacation rental, the more relaxing the stay will be for your guests. 
  • Payment– Accept major credit cards and online payments. Whether this means you use an online booking site, set up a payment section on your own website, or taking a credit card over the phone. Make it convenient for the customer to give you money. 
  • Guidebook– Guests don’t know the house and area as well as you do; help them navigate and maximize their stay at your vacation rental. Having a guidebook that guests can refer to will help by giving guests options and instructions regarding their surroundings. In addition to this, many people would prefer not having to call you when they want to use an appliance. A well written guidebook can make a stay at your vacation rental much smother, more relaxing, and enjoyable.
  • The Guests’ Time– How your guests spend their time is up to them, but you want to be sure to provide as many options for them as possible. You can’t know what every guest will enjoy doing. So, providing an array of options of activities, from video games to books or bikes to boats, will allow guests to choose how they would best enjoy their time.

Guests

Guests are the customers of your business. Knowing who your customers are, in any business, is essential to providing them a service that best suits their needs. 

Who your target customers are will depend highly on where your vacation rental is located, and on what you can provide. If you have a vacation rental on an island that is only reachable by boat the guests who will stay in your vacation rental will likely be different than if your vacation rental is in the snowy mountains. 

Finding out who are the people most likely to rent your vacation home will make it easier to know their needs and preferences. Once you know who will be renting your vacation home, you can adjust different aspects of your vacation rental to fit their needs, Such as:

  • Pricing, 
  • Renovations
  • Marketing

Repeat customers are the best way to generate income because they require no marketing. A steady number of repeat customers could mean that you would no longer have to spend money on advertising. Annual family vacations to the same place are a common occurrence. If you provide a vacation rental that meets all the family’s needs for a price they appreciate, they will likely stay with you again the next time they are in the area. 

Renovations

Renovations should cater to your target customer. When renovating, remember to keep in mind the information extracted from the data you’ve collected on your vacation rental and target audience. Making the stay at your vacation rental a memorable experience for these guests is the best way to receive better reviews and more repeat customers.

  • Style The style of your vacation rental will vary depending on your target audience and location. A vacation rental on the beach probably wouldn’t have a ski lodge theme. Your guests will want a style that compliments the vacation they are on. Giving your guests a space with a cohesive aesthetic style that complements the surroundings is a great idea. It will go a long way toward cultivating a relaxing feeling of escape from their daily lives.
  • Quality Guests renting vacation homes likely want to stay somewhere nicer than their own home. Providing an air of comfort and luxury can help guests relax and enjoy a change of pace from their daily lives.
  • Amenities and Features When renovating, it is a great idea to add features to your house that will make it more desirable. Making your vacation rental meet ADA requirements, or building a dock so guests can go canoeing are only a couple of examples of features you can add while renovating that would open up a whole new customer base.
Marketing: Only the best pictures will do to increase your vacation rental income!

Marketing Will Increase VR Income!

Marketing is a great way to reach people who would potentially like to stay in your vacation rental but have never heard of it. There are many ways to market. Marketing, if done correctly, can create a huge boom in the revenue from your vacation rental.

  • Plan Making a marketing plan based on your target customer is essential for your marketing to be effective. Finding out what kind of advertising and what places your target customer is likely to see your advertising will be very important to increasing the income you gather from your vacation rental. Don´t forget Social Media Marketing in your plan!
  • Advertising A law firm can spend a lot of money on an advertisement, but if it only runs during Saturday morning cartoons the add isn’t likely to pull in any new customers. Alternatively, if the ad runs at a good time for the target audience but doesn’t appeal to the target audience the add isn’t likely to bring more customers. You want your advertising to appeal to your target audience, and you want the ad to be placed where your target audience will see it.
  • Website If you are managing your property yourself be sure to have a website dedicated solely to your vacation rental. Guests should be able to view all parts of the home, book a vacation, and have a thorough idea of the area where they are staying.
  • Use a Phone Number Many people prefer to hear someone’s voice before handing over a large amount of money. Having a phone number potential guests can call on your website is highly recommended.
  • Listing Sites Listing sites are probably the best way to gain exposure for your rental home. With sites like Airbnb and HomeAway, renting your home can actually be quite easy. But to effectively fill your vacation rental with a constant flow of guests, your vacation rental should be listed on multiple sites, preferably the ones your target audience frequents most.
  • Reviews Having a good review on listing sites is paramount to continue receiving guests from that site. The better the overall experience is at your vacation rental the more likely it is that people viewing your home for the first time will choose to rent it.
  • Photos Have professional pictures taken of your vacation rental. Many rooms can look small and uninviting if photographed from the wrong angle. Professional photos will also be sure to catch images that show the entirety of your vacation rental while making it look inviting.

Conclusion

There are many ways to increase the income of your vacation rental. Some ways will require some investment up front. But, if you spend your dollars effectively and consider your target audience, then your vacation rental should bring in more income.

Top 5 Best Vacation Rental Websites To List Your Property in 2020? Do Not Do This.

Written by Robin Coenen in Informational

With local and international traveling becoming more common these days, the demand for short term accommodation has been on a surge. Vacation rentals are HOT! People are looking for cheap places to just crash for a few days and then leave on to their next destination or to spend a full vacation with their loved ones.

Thus, we bring you the Top 5 Vacation Rental Websites that you could use on your next trip or advertise your villa on. These websites have been rated according to customer reviews, services available, and several other factors for your ease. Hop on to our ship as we give the best vacation rental websites review for your upcoming vacations or to list your property.

At the end of the article I would like to challenge you to think differently about advertising only on these platforms and be done with it. I will share with you what you, as an owner or agency, can expect from these websites and why you will want to consider having alternatives.

Great villa: where to list it and where to book it?

Airbnb

This website is without a doubt the most popular of the vacation rental websites at this time, especially in the urban space. Wherever you go in the world, you are bound to find Airbnb services at your disposal. Due to its user-friendly interface, Airbnb has gathered a huge following from around the globe. With millions of downloads of their app, this website offers a huge array of options to choose from. Your property should surely be on here.

By turning on the map feature, you can browse all the available options nearby. The main listing page provides you with ample information- price, reviews, number of bedrooms, and washrooms- to help you decide.

The fastest-growing vacation rental website, Airbnb tops our list of the best vacation rental website. The ease and service it provides its customer is on another level. Consumers can easily sort out the different options available on different criteria like Super hosts (great for your rankings if you are one) and Airbnb Plus listings. These self-made Airbnb criteria provide users with another touchstone to compare the options. This makes their experience amazing and contributes to Airbnb’s growth.

Listing your property has been made easier over the years and can be done in under an hour. The main thing you need is stunning pictures and a great description. Click on the links if you need help with that.

Further down in the article I will share some concerns about Airbnb, but your property should be on here.

Booking.com

This website (a huge competitor for Airbnb) offers a wide variety of options, not just B&Bs, but hotels and lodges, etc. Booking.com also boasts to be the top-visited rental website. This means a lot of traffic is attracted from every corner of the world. Hosts offer different types of accommodations, giving this website a unique feature. Travelers can choose accommodation according to their needs and use.  

The description can provide plenty of criteria to judge a website such as user reviews, amenities, and house rules. Users need to check if there is a penalty for canceling on a website, a non-refundable charge, or do they have the option of canceling before a certain date. Many properties on this website also have hidden charges. Tourists need to be aware of this and study if the accommodation has other charges. These charges vary from location to location and aren’t charged by booking.com themselves. Also, unlike Airbnb, booking.com doesn’t charge any service fee.

One frequent annoyance that might repeatedly arise is the display of sold-out properties on the website. Though this feature might be intentional on the website’s behalf, it might create frustration among the users. Repeated display of such properties can trigger users to switch platforms.

Could be on the Top 5 Vacation Rental Websites!

HomeAway

HomeAway is without a doubt an industry giant. Owned by the Expedia company, HomeAway is comprised of 75 rental websites like VRBO, next on our rating list. Offering its services around the globe, HomeAway offers a very user-friendly website for users. It has a lot of different factors through which users can filter out properties and decide upon one of their choices. Options like area, wi-fi availability, location, etc makes it easy to select a place for families. This is also the reason why this platform is popular with families.

HomeAway, however, charges an annual subscription of $499 and a 3% annual booking charge. Though this amount may look a lot, it can be worth it. It includes features that many free platforms don’t offer. If you are a host, you should look into this. There are also option of ´commission only´. The total commission charged is usually around 15%, like with the other OTAs.

VRBO

Though it’s a part of the brand HomeAway, VRBO (link: how to set up your listing) has proved itself instrumental to the traveling world. Its platform is almost like HomeAway but still, VRBO attracts a lot of tourists. Its easy interface attracts new tourists to collect information about the accommodation conditions of a country they are visiting. If you are planning on making a trip, this website should be on your list.

Also, VRBO is different than Airbnb in terms of the services it provides. Airbnb can allow anyone to offer their property, from shared rooms to big apartments, VRBO works differently. VRBO only offers vacation rentals to its customers. So, what it means is that almost all of the listings on VRBO will be for families-with kid’s offerings- and other amenities. Thus, VRBO is the most viable option for families traveling. With, users need to read reviews of the property and check other flags to decide. Research has to be performed so that an informed decision is made and chances of being scammed are reduced.

TripAdvisor

Trip Advisor is the largest online traveling community with over 455 million monthly users. This makes it one of the most desirable platforms to market your rental. This website also is associated with other successful platforms such as Flipkey.com and Niumba. The huge network TripAdvisor (how to list your property) offers to its users makes it one of the most loved platforms when it comes to rentals.

The interface of this website is user-friendly with listings from around the globe. Users can see unlimited pictures of a listing with a proper description including locations, size, bedrooms, etc. This feature of the unlimited pictures also makes it easy to see what one can expect from the place. Another feature of verified reviews can help guests in making an informed decision. This also means people control which property goes higher up the ranking: since the algorithm is designed to help rentals with the most positive reviews.

From the host’s point of view, this platform delivers on the expectation. From free listing to the option of posting unlimited pictures, this platform does everything to support developing businesses. Hosts have every opportunity to express themselves and what they offer. It also charges a very nominal fee of 3% of every paid booking, but will also charge the guest, increasing the actual price.

Other tools are also made available to hosts to help them in managing their business. With the application, hosts can collect money on the go. The automated calendar can help you synchronise your account with other rental platforms. These tools make the job easy for the host and help with the business.

BUT: How About Your Own Website?

Ok, so I have just listed the biggest baddest 5 websites. All heavily (billions) investor-backed, jaw-dropping-behemoths in the Travel Industry. No way you can compete with them, right? No website of your own needed, right?

Well……vacation home owners have done very well with listing their property on 1 or several (see my list of 10) of the OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) in previous years. But they have also sold their independence to them. If (when) and OTA(s) decides to raise their commission to 16%….17%….18%……..What are your alternatives?

That is what Booking.com did with the hotels in Europe. First they took over the market with a 8% commission model. Now that almost every hotel is dependent on Booking.com for over 90% of their reservations…..the commission is now (2020) 15% and there is not telling where the plateau is.

In the recent COVID19 crisis all OTAs (Airbnb was the worst crisis manger of all) have shown that they care more about the guests, than the owners and agencies. The OTAs have financially destroyed many with their mindless refunding of guests.

Airbnb on Trustpilot
Owners (and guests) not too happy with Airbnb on Trustpilot during the 2020 COVID19 crisis. The lesson here: Have alternatives.

So….What can you do?

Is There An Alternative?

YES, fortunately there is. With our own company (Club Villamar, with which we rent out over 3500 villas with private pool in Spain), we have shown that we can generate 90% of our own, direct bookings. And have done so for over 15 years. Our own website, our own marketing. Only 10% dependency on other platforms.

I never realised that this was so uncommon, until we spoke with industry leaders and visionaries like Simon Lehmann of AJL Consulting. Apparently, the ´normal´ is to be about 90% reliant on other companies and people for your bookings. That, to me, is unacceptable. The stories of owners and companies that went under by the hand of Airbnb during the COVID 19 Crisis were just soul crushing.

Is it the easy way? Be sure it is not. It is not easy to compete against the market dominant Billions-of-Dolars-backed Giants. You will have to get skilled at marketing and sales. But it is possible. If we can do it, so can you. And at difficult moments you can still make decisions and explore better options.

But in order to be ready for hardship, you need to prepare in advance.

As a host it is important to keep your dependence (watch this video here) on these Online Travel Agencies limited. There are many other ways to advertise your property yourself like Facebook and Instagram using hashtags.

If you have any questions about this, please let me know! I am here to help, that is the reason I started this website.

Conclusion

Even though it is a great idea to list and promote your vacation rental on the biggest Top 5 OTAs (do even more! check out these others) , it is a wise move to also list your property on your own site (and promote it) and with a local company that has a strong brand name. The OTAs can be friendly, but they are not your friend.

What Makes A Good Vacation Rental Property? 11 Tips!

Written by Robin Coenen in Informational

When picking a vacation rental property, there are many things that potential clients look out for. With the help of the listing agency, many vacation rental properties can give their vacation rentals a polished look. Beyond the obvious, though, various things catch the attention of a veteran vacation rental guest.

Also read: Are vacation rentals profitable?

To capture the heart of guests and make them into loyal clients, certain things must be done. These are the things that make a good to excellent vacation rental property and distinguish yours from the rest. The following are some pointers as to what makes an excellent vacation rental property. 

What You See Is What You Get

It may not seem like much, but getting exactly what was advertised in the vacation rental listings is very important in the making of the right vacation rental home. Many people are skeptical about ordering or making reservations online and with good reason too. To make your vacation rental stand out, get repeat customers as well as positive reviews, it must be precisely what is advertised is what is available.

If the vacation home is listed as a three-bedroom apartment, the three bedrooms must be in the right conditions to accommodate guests. Advertising a four bedrooms home when only three are availability and/or access is a great disservice and would very likely hurt your business. Let the pictures posted on the website be a true reflection of what your vacation rental property looms like.

Be Truthful

What makes an excellent vacation rental is the truthfulness and honesty of the manager or owner. Not all houses are perfect. In whatever shape your vacation rental is, it is somebody’s dream vacation home.

Not everyone wants a house with a yard, and some may consider the distance between the parking space three blocks away from the vacation rental the opportunity they need to put in their steps and complete their exercise quotient for the day. Whatever quirks and inadequacies your vacation rental may have, there is always someone willing to work with it. It is, therefore, of great importance that you do not overstate while listing your vacation rental.

No Other Presence

To make an excellent vacation rental, you should clear out any personal items. The presence of personal things like family photos, laundry, toiletries makes many guests uncomfortable. The purpose of a vacation is to relax and lower inhibitions, and that can be a little difficult with the continued evidence of some stranger through pictures and mementos.

To make an excellent vacation rental, store all personal items and those who cannot be put away, organise in a tidy manner. Do not leave your guests with the feeling that the host is looking over their shoulder. Allow them to nest as well and relax.

Relaxation is Key

The purpose of a vacation is to relax and have some downtime. Having some games, reading materials, fast Wi-Fi, movies, cable TV  for guests to peruse through and pick whatever suits their mood is the makings of the right vacation rental.

Relaxation is Key in a Good Vacation Rental Property!

Family Time!

 Vacation rentals are open to all and everyone, including families. Providing items for guests with small children is the hallmark of the right vacation rental. Little things like games for kids, toys, movies, kid’s plates and utensils, even books for children would warm up the guests to the vacation rental and prompt not just another visit but also recommendations to family and friends.

Prepare Your Vacation Home

A vacation rental can't have everything guests want, nor are they necessary. It is therefore advisable to mention all the things available in the vacation rental like kitchen supplies, bathroom amenities so that guests can know what to bring; it is incredibly frustrating to discover that certain items are unavailable and would have to be bought, especially when they are available at home.

Do Not Hide

It is incredibly frustrating to search the entire house for the extra sheets or turn the kitchen upside down when looking for the wine opener. Everyone arranged their homes differently, so what may seem like the rule to you is not for someone else. Why not save your guests the headache of searching every time they need something by sticking post-it notes, helping them acclimate to their new surroundings.

Nice Place to Sleep

The bedroom must be clean, the mattress soft and does not squeak. Make sure there are extra blankets, the linens and pillow are fresh and clean. Tired guests are grumpy guests!

A Clean Vacation House

Not just the bedroom, the entire house must be squeaky clean, free of dust and dirt. It is very off-putting to arrive at a vacation rental and have your shoes sticking to the floor. A right vacation rental must sparkle, be well arranged, and airy, putting a smile on the guest's face as they see your vacation rental.

We have experienced that the cleaning of a vacation villa is the domino that triggers either good or bad additional feedback. Cleaning bad? Good chance the guests will not like the property.

Cleaning: The Domino Effect!

Be Reasonable

 From rent charges to check in and check out times, an excellent vacation rental must be willing to be flexible, not charge somewhat obscene amounts. A quick census can help vacation rental owners determine reasonable to check in and check out times while also putting flight changes and the weather conditions in mind.

This will help draw guests to your vacation rental. Also, be very clear about any extra expenses the guest are expected to cover, like cleaning fees.

It´s In The Little Things!

 People staying in vacation homes will appreciate the little personal touches which say to them they are more than figures and numbers. A complimentary basket, a bottle of wine on the counter upon their arrival, favorite scents and soaps for repeat guests, a list of recommendations for restaurants, cafes, tourist sites makes guests feel special.

These little things might not seem like much, but they go a long way in reassuring your clients that they made the right choice. For more ideas, check out this article and this one.

Related articles: Where to Advertise your Vacation Villa?

How To Post Your Vacation Rental On Airbnb – 6 Steps

Written by Robin Coenen in How to

It’s important to adapt to the current vacation rental marketplace whether you are just starting or you’ve been renting homes for years. As online booking is rapidly becoming the norm across the industry, you need to learn how to post your vacation rental property on Airbnb. 

Posting your vacation rental on Airbnb is straightforward and simple. At the very least, list your property to grab the attention of your customers and get more bookings. Ensure to add high-quality photos that can make your listing stand out. Most importantly, optimize your property headlines with a compelling description that lists the properties’ unique features. 

Step-by-step guide on how to post vacation rentals on Airbnb

Airbnb has a clear lead in the market and is known for its unique listings. They connect travellers with hosts and ensure the owner’s properties are maintained. They are also particular about referrals from other renters who have stayed at any of the properties.

If you have a free space to rent in your property, the Airbnb platform makes it hassle-free and secured to host travellers. To be successful, you need a full proof plan

List your space

The first thing is to head to Airbnb.com and create a profile or register as a host. At the right corner on the homepage, select ‘list your space’ icon, and you’ll be directed to a form. At this point, you may need to list and provide necessary information about your property. That is, the city where the property is located, home type, number of rooms, facilities, etc.

Note that it is free to create a listing, and while doing this, ensure it is not bad. If you want to get many views on your listing, you have to be flexible. The number of search shows you have on your listing will determine the rate at which your vacation home will appear in the search result. So it is important to have a good listing!

Great picture for Airbnb! Let´s post it!

Verify your Airbnb account

If you are serious about hosting, Airbnb has every incentive to keep its host. Just ensure to verify your account when joining Airbnb. The verification process is easy and similar to that of the guests. It is important to upload a photo of a government issued-ID from a mobile device or a computer. Then, you may need to confirm your mobile number and e-mail address. 

Select a Competitive and More Specific Description

Upon choosing your listing type, you’ll need to provide more specific details about your listing. Clearly describe your space, including the amenities you offer and any rules your guests should know. At this stage, ensure to include all appropriate features to maximise your Airbnb experience. Avoid mistakes and inaccurate listing.

However, you can go back to edit the previous description if necessary. Update your dashboard with new listing details from time-to-time. Also, outline what your guests stand to gain or enjoy.

The listing description consists of headlines, and it’s the first thing travelers will see when searching for a vacation rental. We recommend naming your home something people will remember with a caption that captures a potential guest’s attention. It could be a name that describes its unique amenities, style, and location. 

Feature tasteful and up-close shots

Pictures are the fuel that feeds your entire marketing engine. Good photographs aren’t all you need, but they’re almost everything you need for a win-win. So, feed your customers’ eyes with catchy furnishings. As you already know, your guests are coming there to sleep, so let them know what’s up. Use a creative camera angle to provide clear shots of the available bedrooms. Include what your guest will find most appealing such as well laid beds, neatly folded towels, the beauty of your potted-plant bloom, and so on.

Likewise, a white clean shower or bathtub excites almost everyone. So, take pride in what you’ve got and flaunt it. Hire a professional photographer that can show your property in the best-relaxed ambiance. If you can’t afford a photographer, use a nice phone camera. But please, don’t exaggerate your dimensions. When you come to your content and images, keep them fresh and seasonal. 

Set the Price and Payment Details

After filling out the complete necessary forms, set the price for the accommodation and choose your schedule. Then interested guests will reach out. To help you decide on the price, compare listings in your city and consider a few other factors to get an idea of the market price. There is also an option to set a discount for the first 3 guests and long-term booking. It’s also necessary to provide information about your preferred payment method. 

Publish your listing on Airbnb

Upon listing, push the ‘red’ publish listing button to activate your listing. At this point, all your potential customers will see and book your property. When you join the platform, your listing may be upgraded and published as Airbnb plus listing. The implication is that you must accept reservations on the property only on Airbnb and update your calendar availability on Airbnb. 

If you don’t want your listing to be upgraded yet on the scheduled date, select ‘manage your space’ and click on ‘pause publishing.’ With this, your original listing will remain active until you are ready to publish on Airbnb plus.

Stunning presentation is key on Airbnb!

A steady stream of bookings

Once you have your property listed, you can focus on beefing up your marketing. Luckily, Airbnb gives opportunities to property owners to promote their listing on Google and Facebook. When you have people regularly viewing your listing, you stand a chance of getting a steady stream of booking. As an Airbnb host, you must learn how to give an appropriate response to Airbnb inquiries.

Remember, they haven’t booked your place yet, so keep your response short but more informative. It’s normal to be eager at this point, but your response to your guest matters when you get a booking request from a guest. Responsiveness and follow-up are essential until you get a confirmed reservation.

Request and Respond to Reviews

Another trust and safety features would be the review system. Reviews give proof to the information you provided and are vital to your success on Airbnb. Most guests look for reviews before the listing itself. Although not all guests would drop some words about their stay on Airbnb, there is no harm in soliciting for reviews.

You need a plan to keep your guests happy, get positive online reviews which are imperative and then, get more referrals. Your success will be based on quality, value, location, and most importantly, reviews from guests.  

Final Thought on Airbnb

Vacation rentals are attractive, often providing more space and amenities for less than you would spend on a hotel. If you plan to list your place, focus on delivering high-quality photos, thorough descriptions, and as much information about the area and layout of the bedrooms as possible. 

If you want to delete your Airbnb listing or block a guests from booking, please click on the links.

You do need to realise that Airbnb is not your channel. It is owned by other people, so make sure you are not too dependent on them. Make sure you list on other websites and Airbnb competitors as well and explore other ways to increase your vacation rental turnover and profit!

Related questions:

How to delete my Airbnb listing

Can I prevent a Airbnb guest to book

What to do when a guest thrashes your Airbnb

How to ask an Airbnb guest for a review

What To Stock In A Vacation Rental Kitchen? 11 Must Haves

Written by Robin Coenen in Informational


Registering on a vacation rental website is just one side of the story. The other side is living up to the expectations and providing quality service to your customers. An important component of this service is your kitchen; since a lot of people use vacation rentals to be able to cook for themselves. For this reason, your kitchen needs to live up to the hype. So: What should you stock in your vacation rental kitchen?

Your kitchen needs to have all the necessities that a guest might need for cooking. This article presents in detail the things you need to have at your vacation rental kitchen for the better guest experience.

A Set of Clean Functional Appliances


This is one of the most important components when it comes to stocking a rental kitchen. As a host, you need to make sure that everything is clean and working before a guest walks in. This fact gets even more important when it gets to kitchen since that is where you eat. Make sure that there are no leftovers from previous guests or some rotting dishes welcoming the new guests. A clean healthy kitchen can leave a lasting impression on your guests and get you more positive reviews.

Stove, Refrigerator, and Oven

These are the three basic and important appliances that every kitchen needs to have. If your kitchen is small and doesn’t have the space to accommodate a stove, you can replace it with a microwave. This allows some form of cooking and heating, and in some ways can act as an alternative for a stove.

Ovens can provide a variety of options to the guests. This is a necessity that many guests need to bake delicious cuisines while they are on a vacation or work trip. Adding it to your kitchen adds a lot to your customer service and credibility.

Diner time!

Refrigerators are another important appliance without which a rental kitchen is incomplete. They are the storage house where guests can save their meals, ice-creams, and what-not. Without a refrigerator a lot of food is going to go to waste and a lot of mess is going to be created.
 
Coffee Makers and Electric Kettles in your kitchen

Whether you are a tea lover or a coffee addict, these two appliances are going to come in handy. Many people want to treat themselves with coffee and thus a good coffee maker with an auto timer is a must to have. If you are renting out a property in Europe, make sure you have an Nespresso machine (and the first 10 cups). Your guests will love you for it!

Electric Kettles have a lot of other different uses than just making tea. They can be used for boiling water for let’s say noodles or boiling an egg. The wide variety of uses of this product makes it invaluable to guests.
 
Electric Mixer, Chopper, and Toaster:
These are some other appliances which can assist your guests greatly in their cooking. For a very nominal price, you will be adding a lot of value to your vacation rental kitchen. These things can really ease the lives of guests and show that you put effort into thinking about their needs.
 
Kitchen Ware:
Now let’s get into what your guests need to cook, serve, and eat their food. Planning the number of plates or glasses you need also depends on your property size. Thus, it needs to be thought before buying.
 
Cookware:
For a delicious meal, you need to have the right cooking gear. Just make sure you buy durable and quality products. This investment is going to reward you in the long-term. Some of the most basic cooking gear is highlighted below, although a lot of additions can be made.
 
Boiler pans
Different sizes of stainless-steel saucepans with lids
Loaf and Muffin Pans
Serving plates of different sizes
Different sizes of skillets
Utensils

This is the final set of kitchenware which can help you complete the kitchen rental experience. The list can go on and depends on how much thought you put in. Following are some basic utensils which can facilitate your guests:
 
Dinner plates
Bowls of different sizes- cereal bowls etc.
Basic cutlery- spoons, forks, knives, etc.
Sharp knives and other tools for meat
Can openers
Tongs
Vegetable peelers

Kids and family-friendly kitchen:
An important aspect of your kitchen needs to be inclusivity. You should include enough cutlery to accommodate kids as well as friends of your guests. One can have an accurate estimate keeping in mind the size of his property i.e. the number of bedrooms. You should have plastic kitchenware and other crockery for children. This cheap addition will add a lot to your customer value.

Also, if you have a property where you think guests will be inviting their friends over, be sure to have proper wine glasses and other serving dishes. Small additions like these can really win over your guests’ hearts and help you with a positive review, your ultimate goal!

Cleaning Supplies:
To facilitate your guests to clean after themselves and receive a clean home at the end of the stay, cleaning supplies are pivotal. Most guests want to save you the hassle and clean the kitchen once they leave. So, to assist them in this holy task and prepare your property for the next guests, cleaning supplies are important. How can your guests help you with the cleaning when there are no cleaning supplies?


 
Mops and brooms
Cleaning detergents and sponges
Paper towels
Wipes
Kitchen cloths
Trash bags and dustbins

Great kitchen for preparing a meal together!

Storage space in your kitchen:
This is one of the most overlooked aspects of a vacation rental. Hosts usually do a good job when it comes to providing kitchenware, but don’t install places where guests can store items. Small kitchens of vacation rental can’t accommodate; thus, it becomes a problem.

The most basic and inexpensive solution to deal with this problem is the installation of wall shelves. This will not only add storage space, but a little investment in it can improve the internal décor of your place. So, it is important to give this factor some thought when building or upgrading your kitchen.

Pantry items:
The final touch to your kitchen is to have some very basic spices and sauces which are ubiquitous for any cuisine. It is a huge plus point to add these items as it just seals the deal for a positive review. Following are some items which you should include
 
Salt
Black Pepper Powder
Toothpicks
Basel
Garlic Powder
Vinegar
Cooking oil

Conclusion: Stocking your Vacation Rental Kitchen

With this, your kitchen for a rental is complete, stocked and ready for your guests. The items discussed in the above paragraph are necessary for you as a host to offer. This creates a very positive impression on the guests’ minds which will help you to get 5-star reviews and generate more business for you.

What Is An OTA In Vacation Rentals?

Written by Robin Coenen in Informational

With technology, booking vacation homes through online travel agencies (OTA) has grown over the past few years. With your listing, OTA provides travelers with varieties of end to end rental property via travel technology platforms. So, what is an OTA?

Planning for vacations, especially finding a place to stay can be a very lengthy process. However, a lot of services have come into existence to provide an easy and convenient booking process for travellers. OTA Provide a reliable reservation system that will help you manage online booking, handle orders, and allow customers to make an online transaction.

What Does OTA Mean?

Online travel agency (OTA) is essentially a travel portal through which travellers access an inventory of rental homes. In most cases, OTA is an expert in the travel industry and a handful of specific destinations. They allow hassle-free booking experience and make life simpler and more accessible for renters. And if something goes wrong with your rental home, they work towards a resolution if your guest reports the situation.

A well-organized online system enables them to anticipate possible problems and take steps to make their occurrence less likely. Most of the online travel agency portals are highly instructional and comprehensible. When you check the search engine for OTA results, most travel agents that always appear are Airbnb, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com.  That means if your rental property is not listed on these sites, you might be limiting your reach.

How Does An OTA Work?

The online travel agency offers different products but generally is a website that allows users to search, select, and book rental homes. They allow you to create a rental business under their umbrella (which lowers your independence), and they remain anonymous. They provide everything you need to market your business.

Some agencies allow you to join their community for free while you pay upfront to some other agencies. Agencies like Airbnb allow you primarily to sign up for free but will charge you at least 3% for each reservation. Together with the commission charged to the guests directly, most OTA will charge about 15% on rent. It is a distribution channel that costs nothing to join until a deal is made. 

After you sign up, you are put through a few training on how to get started with your business. Eventually, you start selling your vacation rentals based on what you have to offer. Once you are able to rent out your home, the travel agency will then pay you with respect to the commission split agreement you made with the travel agency.

How To List Your Rental On An OTA

When you are ready to list your space, create an account. Use a quality amount of time to write an accurate and detailed description of your space. You must tell your future guest what you have to offer and what makes your home better. Don’t leave anything out. Ensure to add quality and inspiring images to attract your potential guests. 

Take a picture of the rooms and other amenities from strategic angles. This is a way to catch the attention of anyone that views your space because most visitors concentrate more on images. Overall, present your space beautifully and honestly, and then publish it. In the end, it will worth your investment.

Great villa……..where to list it?

Is It Worth It To Have Your Home Listed On An OTA?

Yes! There are definitely more positives than negative ones. Listing your rental home on OTA opens the door for many opportunities and experiences. It can keep your calendar more booked. This happens especially when you use platforms that have massive traffic and have developed a well-known platform worldwide. 

That’s not all. It also increases your earnings. Connecting with other hosts and sharing tips make vacation rental business easier. It can help you with communication with guests, pricing updates, and cleaning management. You will have fun and get to meet different people from all works of life. 

However: Just use the OTAs, they are not your friend.Make sure you do not rely on them too much as they have shown that the owners are not their priority.

What Are The Benefits Of Using An Online Travel Agency (OTA)? 

In this new era, it is undeniable that technology helps a lot of things. While some people book a vacation home, some travelers still prefer to use online travel agencies. Travel agencies are well trained to provide travelers with an easy access to available rental apartments. And it’s your duty as a host to inform your potential customer what is and whatnots before renting out your home. All you need to do is list your rental home and provide precise info about your property, and you are good to go. 

Most of the time, travel agencies can access the most flexible rates. They guarantee the best available prices. This is because the prices you give in public are usually different from that of the ones you give to travel agency platforms. Renters have the opportunity of getting discounts from home owners especially during special seasons. These are different packages that people outside OTA may not get. 

OTA can prove beneficial in the following ways:

  • Online travel agencies help you to list your properties and reduce the cost of marketing and promotion.
  • Manage your user interface and business logic conveniently through web-based administration tools.
  • Makes vacation planning stresses for travellers and save time as they don’t have to visit travel agents.
  • Provides online and offline payment options with numerous integrated payment services provider option 
  • Provide travellers with varieties of rental home options and the best deals
  • It gives renters room to plan according to their budgets
Perfect view!

What Is The Future Of OTAs?

It has become a norm for travelers to book their rental homes directly, whether on business or pleasure trips. On the other hand, travel agencies represent customers who utilize the opportunity of what has been left to the experts. This category of travelers recognizes you and OTA. To them, organizing any trip can be a real headache that demands an investment of time.

Online travel agencies know that their professional services are still necessary; hence new travel software is launched each day. So what is the added value for the sale of a travel agency? The travel agency has always leveraged on personal service as an added value of their sales. They collaborate with renters in the preparation of their trips to suit their needs and wishes.  

Booking a rental home through an online platform means travelers can deal with you directly. Then you act as a host during their stay. This shows a set of limitations and potential problems. This is because, your guest still deal with you as the property owner without any interference. In the end, personal service remains.

Today travel agencies know that to compete with the digitization of rental homes, they need to evolve the technology they use. An optimized travel platform allows them to eliminate the doubts generated by online auto reservation tools. But the only certainty is the travel agency industry will continue to reign. Hence, they must be equipped with the most powerful travel management technology.

Conclusion

If you are looking for how to list your house or wondering where to find a renter, It is a great idea to list your rental home on OTA. It is a rewarding experience, plus you get to generate extra income. Therefore, you must research thoroughly to figure out the best plan and the OTA that suit you most. With this, you can create effective home rules that instil the proper use of your rental home. 

However it is recommended that you advertise your vacation rental on several of the OTAs, to have the maximum income generated for the lowers risk. There are other ways to advertise your vacation rental(s) as well!