One of the most challenging aspects of renting a vacation home for us homeowners is the business side of managing your rental – what used to be referred to as the “paperwork.” Thankfully now, due to online tax preparation programs and online listing features like our
Booking Management system, the task can be accomplished much more easily and efficiently.
Keeping accurate records is critical!
Whether using an efficient, computerized program or doing things the old-fashioned way on paper, keeping thorough, accurate and up-to-date records is essential. Otherwise, you will risk the nightmare of double booking two parties, losing key tenant information, forgetting to send out documents, or losing track of what funds are due to you and when.
Key items to track
Among the most important items to retain and track for each booking throughout the booking and rental season are:
• The full name and contact information of each tenant, including any helpful anecdotal information. Be sure to obtain both an email address and cell phone number(s) if possible.
• The
rate agreed upon for the rental period.
• The arrival and departure dates and, if possible, times (really helps in scheduling turnover cleaning/tasks).
• When you sent the
lease out to your tenant.
• When the lease and initial deposit are due back from your tenant.
• When the final
rental deposit is due.
• When the
security deposit is due.
• When you need to send your tenant the keys, directions, instructions, etc.
• When you need to return the security deposit to your tenants after their departure.
• All of your expenses, including marketing/travel/repairs, for tax deduction purposes.
Online management is efficient and easily accessible
We urge you to use our free
Booking Management feature. It’s not only tied directly to your listing’s pricing and availability calendar, it also helps you keep track of all the documents and funds, clearly showing when an item is overdue either to or from you. With it, you can retain information about the make-up of a party, names and ages of the kids, pets, special needs or arrangements, how they left the house, etc.
And it can be accessed online from anywhere, unlike manila files of paperwork that never seem to be around when you need them. (The information you enter is private, though, and only visible to you or to anyone able to log in to your account with your username and password.)
Do you have any “special tricks” for keeping track of your vacation rental tenants and bookings? Any “Oops!” stories to share?