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Vacation Rental Management

Information and Advice on Managing Short-Term Rentals

  • Looking to jumpstart your vacation rental booking season? Reach for the low hanging fruit.

    By Joan Talmadge | 1/11/2012 (updated 1/3/2025)

    Contacting Prior Vacation Rental Guests

    Looking to jumpstart your vacation rental booking season? Reach for the low hanging fruit.

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  • How to find tenants who enjoy your vacation rental home, are respectful of it, leave it in good condition, and will want to return.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 1/28/2012 (updated 1/2/2025)

    Wanted – The Ideal Vacation Rental Tenant

    How to find tenants who enjoy your vacation rental home, are respectful of it, leave it in good condition, and will want to return.

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  • A few more ways you can do a little online research on anyone who inquires about your vacation home.

    By Elizabeth Weedon | 12/2/2014 (updated 12/31/2024)

    Screening Tenants III

    A few more ways you can do a little online research on anyone who inquires about your vacation home.

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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 12/31/2024)

    Screening Vacation Rental Tenants II

    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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  • 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 12/30/2024)

    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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  • The vacation rental guest experience is paramount, as the host there are several best practices when considering linens.

    By Sarah DaSilva | 12/17/2024

    How to Manage Linens in a Vacation Rental

    The vacation rental guest experience is paramount, as the host there are several best practices when considering linens.

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  • 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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  • Here are five simple “green” getaway home tips you can start putting to work today.

    By | 6/13/2016 (updated 12/18/2024)

    5 Tips for a Greener Getaway Home

    Here are five simple “green” getaway home tips you can start putting to work today.

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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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  • 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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  • 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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