If you are going to spend money advertising your vacation rental property on vacation rental websites, you want to make sure it is a success. Here are 6 things you can practice which will help ensure you receive the most "bang for the buck".
1. SET RENTAL RATES APPROPRIATELY - If you want your vacation property to rent, you must be realistic, optomistic, but not greedy! Set realistic rental rates for your property and ensure that the rates are correct on the site(s) your listing and regularly reviewed as the market changes. Search for comparable properties ("comps") in the same location as yours. Only charge a premium if your property has some distinct features. And, be willing to discount your property on occassion as needed. In this business, if you lose money for a week long rental, you can't make that up!
2. CHECK E-MAIL REGULARLY - When using an internet vacation rental property website such as http://Rentals2Remember.com or http://eVaca.com, remember your users. They are typically Internet "savvy" and probably check their e-mails frequently...especially if they have requested some info. Also, be sure your phone number is listed on sites that allow you to as sometimes people choose to just call you directly, so be sure to check phone messages.
3. RESPOND IMMEDIATELY - Vacation goers usually see a few properties that are of interest to them and then contact those owners. The faster you respond, the better chance (most of the time) you have of winning them over. There have been times I have rented properties in the past and because it took an owner 24 hours to respond, I had already chosen another property. A timely and efficient response gives the renter confidence that the rental experience will follow suit.
4. YOUR LISTING SHOULD BE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE - Be sure that your listing details are kept up to date and are complete. Review your online listing frequently to be sure that your contact information are up-to-date. Also, be sure that it is accurate on the description of your property and its amenities. This will help you with repeat customers, but will also keep you out of trouble with rental contracts or laws in regards to such things.
5. GREAT PHOTOS - It is true what they say, "a picture speaks a thousand words". Remember, renters are considering staying at your rental based (most of the time) solely on your pictures and your word. The more pictures to help them be comfortable with the decision, the better. Here is how I look at it. If you were going to buy a used car, would you do so over the Internet without a good look at the outside/inside of the vehicle, the engine, etc. Not exactly the same, but you get the picture. The more pictures and the prettier, the better. Be sure to have pictures of your rental amenities such as a pool, the beach, a mountain view, the lake or a golf course - these are top vacation rental sellers!
6. BOOST YOUR EXPOSURE - There are many "hot spots" for vacationers throughout the world. Before we owned property, my family used to head to Destin every year, usually twice. There are thousands of vacation rental properties in the Destin, Panama City Beach area. In areas like this, boost your exposure by getting to the top of your sites search engine. If it costs you $20, $50, even $100 to do so but that gets you one extra rental a year, that makes it more than worth it.
5 Tips for Overseas Vacation Home Buying Success
The dream of owning a vacation home in some sun-drenched overseas location is one the majority of us share, and because real estate proves itself time and again as a solid long term investment commodity, many more people are committing to purchasing real estate abroad as an investment that they and their family can also enjoy and benefit from.
When buying a vacation home abroad there are a number of key considerations to bear in mind to avoid some of the traps and pitfalls sometimes associated with buying long distance and in an unfamiliar country. With these 5 tips for overseas vacation home buying success you can quickly cut a swathe through the research process and move towards securing the dream swiftly and securely.
Tip One – Learn the Rules and Regulations
Different countries have different rules relating to the right or otherwise of foreign citizens to own the freehold title to immovable property. Some widely publicised destinations don't allow foreigners to directly own the land on which their property sits (Bulgaria) or more than one property (Cyprus) for example, and some countries are less economically or politically stable than your own which can mean that real estate related rules and regulations may change in the future. Make sure you're comfortable with the workings of the country you're considering buying a vacation home in, and if in doubt seek professional advice about that country and the ambitions you hold for owning a holiday home in it.
Tip Two - Good Investment/Bad Investment
If you're buying a vacation home with a hope that it will go up in value and be not only a family retreat but a great asset, know that real estate, just like any investment commodity, can go down in value as well as up. Furthermore not all countries have a real estate economy the same as the one in your own country – a little research would be wise into the historic nature of the property market in your country of choice as well as predictions for its future. While such data is not a direct indication of how well your investment will perform it will arm you with more data to hopefully make your decisions easier.
Tip Three - Title Deeds and Legalities
Legal systems and the title deed registration process differ from country to country therefore know your legal rights and try and find out about the essential searches, surveys and title deed checks that need to be conducted before you should commit to buying your overseas vacation home. Never enter into any form of contractual agreement without the direct assistance of an independent lawyer and never accept someone's word that a vacation home has its permissions and title deeds valid and up to date. Insist on seeing and checking all important facts and data before signing on the dotted line.
Tip Four - Accessibility and Desirability
If you're thinking about making an income from your vacation home or even hoping to holiday in it yourself regularly, one of the most important factors to bear in mind is the accessibility or otherwise of your vacation home. If your real estate is difficult to reach, with many miles to traverse and complicated and expensive plane journeys to plan, then it will just become a less desirable commodity over time. While a vacation involves getting away from it all and escaping every day life, a vacation destination and home should be easy and affordable to reach.
Tip Five - Enlisting Assistance
Consider enlisting the help of a reputable real estate agent, an independent lawyer and if you want to make money from your vacation home, a property management service. Such professionals can save you time, effort and money and they can make the whole process of buying and owning a vacation home that much simpler. Make sure you take references, examine credentials and see qualifications before employing anyone to assist you however, and if at all possible seek recommendations because anyone who does a good job will always get good press!
When buying a vacation home abroad there are a number of key considerations to bear in mind to avoid some of the traps and pitfalls sometimes associated with buying long distance and in an unfamiliar country. With these 5 tips for overseas vacation home buying success you can quickly cut a swathe through the research process and move towards securing the dream swiftly and securely.
Tip One – Learn the Rules and Regulations
Different countries have different rules relating to the right or otherwise of foreign citizens to own the freehold title to immovable property. Some widely publicised destinations don't allow foreigners to directly own the land on which their property sits (Bulgaria) or more than one property (Cyprus) for example, and some countries are less economically or politically stable than your own which can mean that real estate related rules and regulations may change in the future. Make sure you're comfortable with the workings of the country you're considering buying a vacation home in, and if in doubt seek professional advice about that country and the ambitions you hold for owning a holiday home in it.
Tip Two - Good Investment/Bad Investment
If you're buying a vacation home with a hope that it will go up in value and be not only a family retreat but a great asset, know that real estate, just like any investment commodity, can go down in value as well as up. Furthermore not all countries have a real estate economy the same as the one in your own country – a little research would be wise into the historic nature of the property market in your country of choice as well as predictions for its future. While such data is not a direct indication of how well your investment will perform it will arm you with more data to hopefully make your decisions easier.
Tip Three - Title Deeds and Legalities
Legal systems and the title deed registration process differ from country to country therefore know your legal rights and try and find out about the essential searches, surveys and title deed checks that need to be conducted before you should commit to buying your overseas vacation home. Never enter into any form of contractual agreement without the direct assistance of an independent lawyer and never accept someone's word that a vacation home has its permissions and title deeds valid and up to date. Insist on seeing and checking all important facts and data before signing on the dotted line.
Tip Four - Accessibility and Desirability
If you're thinking about making an income from your vacation home or even hoping to holiday in it yourself regularly, one of the most important factors to bear in mind is the accessibility or otherwise of your vacation home. If your real estate is difficult to reach, with many miles to traverse and complicated and expensive plane journeys to plan, then it will just become a less desirable commodity over time. While a vacation involves getting away from it all and escaping every day life, a vacation destination and home should be easy and affordable to reach.
Tip Five - Enlisting Assistance
Consider enlisting the help of a reputable real estate agent, an independent lawyer and if you want to make money from your vacation home, a property management service. Such professionals can save you time, effort and money and they can make the whole process of buying and owning a vacation home that much simpler. Make sure you take references, examine credentials and see qualifications before employing anyone to assist you however, and if at all possible seek recommendations because anyone who does a good job will always get good press!
5 Fun Watersports You Can Enjoy On Your Next Lake Vacation
Lake vacations offer numerous activities for those who have a passion for water fun. From merely lounging around on the shores to enjoying serious water sports, lake vacations are not for the water shy.
Of course, the most obvious of water sporting enjoyments is swimming. Many lakes offer competitive swimming events for those who appreciate the benefits of swimming. Most lakes also offer boating and sailing packages. Look into daily sailboat and/or powerboat rentals and spend the afternoon on the water, or haul your own boat to the vacation location. Some lakes even offer paddle boating rentals for those who enjoy a slower pace. And, more and more locations are adding canoeing, kayaking, and even jet skis to their equipment rentals.
Large and small lakes appeal to the fisherman in many vacation seekers. Smaller lakes entice the early morning fisherman out onto the water to enjoy the peace and solitude of waiting for that fish to bite. Larger lakes offer fishing boat rentals for the enjoyment of a pair of fisherman who enjoy the competitiveness of the sport and some larger lakes offer guided fishing charters for both small and large groups.
Many lakes also offer water ski, wakeboard, wakeskates, and wake surfboard activities. Included in these activities is personal instruction for the novice skier and equipment rental for all ages and skill levels. And for the high-flying adventurer, the lake vacation also offers parasailing. From equipment rental to guided instruction, lakes are adding parasailing to their water activities to provide complete water fun packages for all ages. Lake vacations are great locations for all varieties of water fun and activities. Take advantage of a lazy day on a rowboat or a soaring parasailing adventure or even skimming the water with a fast-paced and energetic ski outing. There is something for everyone on a lake vacation.
Of course, the most obvious of water sporting enjoyments is swimming. Many lakes offer competitive swimming events for those who appreciate the benefits of swimming. Most lakes also offer boating and sailing packages. Look into daily sailboat and/or powerboat rentals and spend the afternoon on the water, or haul your own boat to the vacation location. Some lakes even offer paddle boating rentals for those who enjoy a slower pace. And, more and more locations are adding canoeing, kayaking, and even jet skis to their equipment rentals.
Large and small lakes appeal to the fisherman in many vacation seekers. Smaller lakes entice the early morning fisherman out onto the water to enjoy the peace and solitude of waiting for that fish to bite. Larger lakes offer fishing boat rentals for the enjoyment of a pair of fisherman who enjoy the competitiveness of the sport and some larger lakes offer guided fishing charters for both small and large groups.
Many lakes also offer water ski, wakeboard, wakeskates, and wake surfboard activities. Included in these activities is personal instruction for the novice skier and equipment rental for all ages and skill levels. And for the high-flying adventurer, the lake vacation also offers parasailing. From equipment rental to guided instruction, lakes are adding parasailing to their water activities to provide complete water fun packages for all ages. Lake vacations are great locations for all varieties of water fun and activities. Take advantage of a lazy day on a rowboat or a soaring parasailing adventure or even skimming the water with a fast-paced and energetic ski outing. There is something for everyone on a lake vacation.
Why you see the SAME AUTHORS all the time!
Isn't it funny how you've started to read an article about why me, and a certain select few authors write articles almost daily?
CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT!
#1 reason why people fail online is because they fail to deliver fresh content. Let's forget search engines for a second, instead let's concentrate on the end user who visits your web site.
Let's say "Jim" has been to your site once before and all of a sudden he sees your web site for something else and decides to visit. But what, oh no, it's the very same thing he saw 1 month ago. What happens to Jim? Just another statistic from your web site that will never get repeated.
On another note, let's say Jim happened to see your link in search engines again, except this time, you've revised your web site template. Jim is now intrigued and excited to see what is new, but oh oh, you have the same bloody content as the last time. Jim is yet again another statistic.
NOW - Let's say, not only have your revised your images, template, graphics, you've also been committed to adding 1 article on your site every single day. Jim is happier than the pope himself since you've played right into Jim's hand.
We all search online, for some of us, it's sheer boredom, for others, it's doing what your not supposed to be doing at work and so on. The whole point is, if nothing changes on your site, how do you expect to stimulate people to come back. Getting people to your site is the easy part, getting someone to come back is very tough.
So back to the title: "Why you see the SAME AUTHORS all the time!" It's not only a matter of adding an article everyday to bring people back but at the same time, search engines act almost like us. They see new content (they=search engines), they also get excited and browse around to see what you've added, not to mention that they also index all your pages for search engine listings.
Let's go a little further and bring attention to this newly found content. Many people out there are hiding their new content within folders and sub-directories and so on. What I suggest is having a small little box on your front page that just details some daily new content. Try keeping the content you add within this box up there on your site for about a week or so, just so that new visitors have a chance to view it and search engines have a chance to index it.
So in the end, a site that doesn't grow daily will have accomplished nothing online. A web site that caters to the needs of the many, will have more success than it can handle.
What you put into the world, will ultimately come back to you in the same amount.
Cheers!
CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT!
#1 reason why people fail online is because they fail to deliver fresh content. Let's forget search engines for a second, instead let's concentrate on the end user who visits your web site.
Let's say "Jim" has been to your site once before and all of a sudden he sees your web site for something else and decides to visit. But what, oh no, it's the very same thing he saw 1 month ago. What happens to Jim? Just another statistic from your web site that will never get repeated.
On another note, let's say Jim happened to see your link in search engines again, except this time, you've revised your web site template. Jim is now intrigued and excited to see what is new, but oh oh, you have the same bloody content as the last time. Jim is yet again another statistic.
NOW - Let's say, not only have your revised your images, template, graphics, you've also been committed to adding 1 article on your site every single day. Jim is happier than the pope himself since you've played right into Jim's hand.
We all search online, for some of us, it's sheer boredom, for others, it's doing what your not supposed to be doing at work and so on. The whole point is, if nothing changes on your site, how do you expect to stimulate people to come back. Getting people to your site is the easy part, getting someone to come back is very tough.
So back to the title: "Why you see the SAME AUTHORS all the time!" It's not only a matter of adding an article everyday to bring people back but at the same time, search engines act almost like us. They see new content (they=search engines), they also get excited and browse around to see what you've added, not to mention that they also index all your pages for search engine listings.
Let's go a little further and bring attention to this newly found content. Many people out there are hiding their new content within folders and sub-directories and so on. What I suggest is having a small little box on your front page that just details some daily new content. Try keeping the content you add within this box up there on your site for about a week or so, just so that new visitors have a chance to view it and search engines have a chance to index it.
So in the end, a site that doesn't grow daily will have accomplished nothing online. A web site that caters to the needs of the many, will have more success than it can handle.
What you put into the world, will ultimately come back to you in the same amount.
Cheers!
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