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Vacation Rental Management

Information and Advice on Managing Short-Term Rentals

  • It’s time to reach out to guests who have stayed with you previously. Let them know you’re already starting to book up and mention any updates you may have made. You might even offer them a slight discount if you wish.

    By Joan Talmadge | 5/26/2020 (updated 12/18/2024)

    It's Time to Reach Out to Your Guests

    It’s time to reach out to guests who have stayed with you previously. Let them know you’re already starting to book up and mention any updates you may have made. You might even offer them a slight discount if you wish.

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  • Vacationer inquiries are like gold, don't squander them! Here is how you can convert them into bookings.

    By Joan Talmadge | 2/8/2019 (updated 12/18/2024)

    Successfully Converting Inquiries to Bookings

    Vacationer inquiries are like gold, don't squander them! Here is how you can convert them into bookings.

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  • Tips about how to handle the trend towards earlier inquiries and bookings of short-term vacation rentals on the Cape and Islands.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 9/6/2022 (updated 8/30/2024)

    Handling Early Bookings

    Tips about how to handle the trend towards earlier inquiries and bookings of short-term vacation rentals on the Cape and Islands.

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  • 5 suggestions for taking bright and inviting pictures to better market your home

    By Becky Fischer | 4/25/2012 (updated 8/8/2024)

    5 Tips to Capture The Big Picture - When Advertising Your Rental Property

    We are constantly encouraging homeowners to improve their pictures. Pictures are not only the first impression of a property listing, but according to vacationers, the most important impression. As testimonials and data suggest, better pictures lead to more bookings. Here are 5 suggestions for taking bright and inviting pictures to better market your home

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  • These simple guidelines to managing your vacation rental will result in your receiving the glowing reviews that bring future successful bookings.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 8/16/2013 (updated 8/1/2024)

    Top 10 Tips to Acquire Positive Guest Reviews and Prevent Negative Ones

    These simple guidelines to managing your vacation rental will result in your receiving the glowing reviews that bring future successful bookings.

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  • Boost your Cape & Islands shoulder season bookings by modifying your listing slightly to promote the unique advantages of your home in the spring & fall.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 7/24/2013 (updated 7/29/2024)

    Tips for attracting fall bookings

    Boost your Cape & Islands shoulder season bookings by modifying your listing slightly to promote the unique advantages of your home in the spring & fall.

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  • Here's how you can convert tire kickers into bookings and, if not, at least get some indication why?

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 7/14/2015 (updated 5/29/2024)

    Tips to convert last-minute inquiries to bookings

    Here's how you can convert tire kickers into bookings and, if not, at least get some indication why?

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  • Firepits and outdoor fireplaces are very popular with vacation home renters. But they present many safety risks, too. Learn about the pros and cons.

    By Carrie Hillman | 5/25/2021 (updated 5/16/2024)

    Firepits: A Heated Debate

    Firepits and outdoor fireplaces are very popular with vacation home renters. But they present many safety risks, too. Learn about the pros and cons.

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  • It's veryimportant to email your guests just prior to their arrival with directions to your home, reminders of what to bring, your contact info, etc.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 6/18/2019 (updated 5/2/2024)

    Pre-Arrival Communication with Your Guests

    It's veryimportant to email your guests just prior to their arrival with directions to your home, reminders of what to bring, your contact info, etc.

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 5/2/2018 (updated 5/1/2024)

    Tips for a Thorough Spring Cleaning

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 7/15/2014 (updated 4/16/2024)

    Providing Household Supplies for Your Guests

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  • Nothing sets the tone for a positive vacation experience like a warm note or letter waiting for your guests. Your note could welcome them into your home and express your wishes for a relaxing vacation.

    By Joan Talmadge | 4/27/2023 (updated 4/16/2024)

    Welcoming Your Guests

    Nothing sets the tone for a positive vacation experience like a warm note or letter waiting for your guests. Your note could welcome them into your home and express your wishes for a relaxing vacation.

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  • By Becky Fischer | 2/26/2013 (updated 3/27/2024)

    Tips for preparing your vacation rental for the season

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 11/30/2018 (updated 3/4/2024)

    Managing Your Bookings with Ease!

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  • A checklist of our 10 most important recommendations for preparing your vacation rental for the upcoming season including compliance with the new Lodging Tax.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 2/1/2019 (updated 3/1/2024)

    Vacation Rental Checklist for Homeowners

    A checklist of our 10 most important recommendations for preparing your vacation rental for the upcoming season including compliance with the new Lodging Tax.

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 1/3/2018 (updated 2/1/2024)

    The Benefits of Offering Your Guests Online Payment Options

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 1/28/2012 (updated 1/31/2024)

    Wanted – The Ideal Vacation Rental Tenant: How to screen for a better fit

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  • What are your legal rights regarding who stays in, or even visits, your home? How do you say no? What can you do as a homeowner to legally protect your home from irresponsible parties?

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 12/30/2013 (updated 1/31/2024)

    Screening Vacation Rental Tenants II: It's OK to say No!

    What are your legal rights regarding who stays in, or even visits, your home? How do you say no? What can you do as a homeowner to legally protect your home from irresponsible parties?

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  • Knowing today's Cape and Islands vacationer is vital to marketing to them and providing them the best possible experience in your short-term rental home.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 11/14/2022 (updated 12/4/2023)

    Who Is Today's Vacationer?

    Knowing today's Cape and Islands vacationer is vital to marketing to them and providing them the best possible experience in your short-term rental home.

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 10/30/2012 (updated 12/1/2023)

    Top 10 Marketing Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners

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  • Some suggestions to treat your tenants as valued guests so that you increase your odds of acquiring positive guest reviews and repeat guests.

    By Joan Talmadge | 6/6/2012 (updated 12/1/2023)

    Are vacationers your tenants or your guests?

    Some suggestions to treat your tenants as valued guests so that you increase your odds of acquiring positive guest reviews and repeat guests.

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  • Most Cape and Islands vacation rental homeowners would prefer 2-, 3-, or 4-week renters during the summer. But here are some issues to consider.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 1/6/2015 (updated 10/13/2023)

    Think twice about summer guests renting multiple weeks

    Most Cape and Islands vacation rental homeowners would prefer 2-, 3-, or 4-week renters during the summer. But here are some issues to consider.

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  • By Elizabeth Weedon | 7/10/2019 (updated 9/25/2023)

    Tips to Retain Repeat Guests and Attract New Ones

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  • As the popularity of security cameras and other smart technology in the home grows, so does the need to know what's acceptable and what's not for vacation rentals.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 1/4/2023 (updated 9/25/2023)

    Security Cameras: What you need to know

    As the popularity of security cameras and other smart technology in the home grows, so does the need to know what's acceptable and what's not for vacation rentals.

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  • Exploring why longer-term rentals are not always as beneficial to homeowners as expected and how they can avoid some of the risks.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 9/5/2020 (updated 8/23/2023)

    Unexpected Issues with Longer-term bookings

    Exploring why longer-term rentals are not always as beneficial to homeowners as expected and how they can avoid some of the risks.

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