This newsletter is emailed 6 times annually to 10,700 owners
of vacation rental homes who have registered for a free
universal availability calendar/guestbook at:
http://www.rentors.org

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: See Article #10, at bottom of newsletter.

1 - Please Update Your Availability Calendar Today
2 - Games, Books and Bad Weather
3 - Turn Your Customers into Happy Customers
4 - Towels for your Vacation Rental
5 - January is "Hot"
6a - Deposits and Cleaning
6b - A Picture Can Lead to Many Bookings
7 - More Vacation Rental Tips
8 - Rentors.org Sponsors Information
9 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
10 - How to Unsubscribe

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1 - Please Update Your Availability Calendar Today
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vacation rental calendar today.

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2 - Games, Books and Bad Weather
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Let's face it. The chances are pretty high that sooner or
later you're going to have guests sitting around in the
rain. They don't expect it to happen and it's rare to have a
homeowner advertise the fact; but bad weather, and rain in
particular, can be the root cause of many of the problems of
rental homeowners.

For one thing your guests are house-bound, whether it's a
beach or a ski house, rain will keep people inside. Grousing
about the weather can often lead to complaining about the
rental property, after all, they certainly didn't pay top
vacation dollars to sit around looking at the four walls.
It's human nature, once depressed with the weather, with
nothing else to do, it's natural to look for something else
to complain about.

Since there's little you can do about the elements, the best
thing to do is make getting through it as endurable as
possible. One of the savviest things to do is furnish your
rental with plenty of games: Scrabble, Monopoly, backgammon,
even an inexpensive chess set. A deck of cards or two should
be viewed as a necessity. A closet full of kid's board
games, perhaps picked up cheap at a yard sale, can really
save the day, by keeping occupied those most dangerous to
have bouncing off the walls. Don't forget to have some books
on hand, as well. A small varied library of old paperbacks
will be appreciated by your guests, especially books (and
magazines) of local interest such as histories, guide books
and dining directories.

A hundred dollar expenditure on games and books can be the
best investment you can make on your vacation rental: it can
keep people happy, and coming back, it can help avoid those
dreaded 'complaint' phone calls, and it can save you many
times over in saved refunds.

--Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals

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3- Turn Your Customers into Happy Customers
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OK, so now you are getting pretty good at this vacation
rental stuff - your property is being rented! Now it is time
to increase your bookings via return customers and word-of-
mouth referrals. This is very important to the success of
any business, and requires happy customers.

Why?

- Happy customers will come back, meaning less work and
worry for you. There is little or no selling required on
your part, you already know and trust these customers, and
you know how they will treat your place. - Happy customers
do not complain or present other problems for you. - Happy
customers will sell your property to other potential
customers, thereby increasing your word-of-mouth/referral
business.

How can you turn a customer into a Happy Customer? Easy! Do
your best to ensure that your property meets or exceeds
their expectations. If customers are disappointed or if
surprise aspects of the property create problems for them,
they will not come back. Check your property to be sure that
it doesn't have any of the no-nos on the following list:

1. Is your rental very clean, with no mold, dirt, stains,
lots of dust, etc.
2. Is any of your furniture uncomfortable, very old looking,
maybe even broken?
3. Does anything not work as advertised? This means TVs,
VCRs, disposers, stove lights and fans, washer-dryer, air
conditioning, bath fans, etc.
4. Are dishes, glasses, silverware, etc. clean? Are the
stick-free pots and pans heavily scratched, gouged, or
crusty?
5. Are the beds uncomfortable, or too small?
6. Are the linens free of holes, rips, and stains?
7. Is the paint dingy and/or peeling?
8. If smoking is allowed inside, do you disclose this?
9. Are your personal belongings put away?
10. Do you have any bug or 'critter' problems?
11. Does anyone else 'share' the condo/house or any part of
it (i.e. are there common areas)?
12. Can anyone enter the unit without first letting the
tenant know?
13. Bad smells?
14. In your advertising, do you exaggerate things (i.e. the
view, size etc.) at all? Renters will not come back if they
feel they have been fooled!

Well, you get the idea, and you can add more to this list
from your own experiences. If your property does not meet or
exceed these basic expectations, strongly consider making
the necessary improvements. You can be sure that the
benefits of happy customers and return business will be well
worth the effort!

Pat Van Voorhis Great Rentals

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4 - Towels for your Vacation Rental
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When properly cared for, good quality linens will last a
long, long time. You want those towels to look nice as well
as being functional... Poorly cleaned, frayed, or stained
towels will leave a bad impression, so choose wisely.

High quality towels will last longer and be able to
withstand lots of use and abuse by the washer, dryer, and
the guests. You don't need to buy the most expensive
towels, but don't skimp on quality either. Choose a towel
that feels nice to the touch.

Choose solid or print colored towels, preferably in darker
shades, as opposed to light or white towels. Stains can not
be avoided, and they will occur, but stains will be much
more noticeable on light colored or white towels. Mascara,
for example is really hard to remove from those light
colored wash cloths.

If one towel comes up missing, or gets damaged, you may not
be able to locate the same brand or color of towel, so
purchase a few extra replacement sets to have on hand, "just
in case". Since wash cloths are often the first part of a
towel set to get damaged or fade, buy two washcloths for
every bath towel.

Lastly, be sure to wash brand new towels before the first
use.

Happy Rentals!!!

-- David Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner

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5 - January is "Hot"
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On our website, two months of the year are typically the
busiest for vacation rental "hunting" by USA-based vacation
travelers.

January is busiest, perhaps because people are planning both
winter and summer trips -- in the mountains, on the water,
in the snow, on the sand, in centers of culture, and on the
tees! July is usually a close second, with procrastinators
scrambling to book their family vacations before summer
ends.

Homeowners who advertise online should fine-tune their
webpages immediately, to be sure they get the best possible
results during January.

1. Compare your rates and amenities with your competitors'.
Adjust your rates if they're out of line.

2. Review your list of amenities. Add something inexpensive
that rental prospects will value (like a VCR or DVD player).

3. Be sure that your property description explains why a
renter should choose your property, instead of a
competitor's.

4. Be sure that your very best photos are online.

5. If you've thought about adding another online advertising
service, do it now to achieve maximum results during 2003.

-- Brian Raub, A1Vacations

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6a and 6b are Submissions by Homeowners and edited by
Rentors.org. Homeowners are encouraged to send their tips
to be published in future issues to admin@rentors.org
=========================================================

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6a - Deposits and Cleaning
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Homeowner Roxanne Derni shares her experience in renting her
condo in Cannes, France.

She collects a $500 reservation deposit that turns into a
damage/security deposit once the full amount of the rent is
received 30 days prior to arrival. If the condo is re-rented
due to a cancellation, a full refund is sent. Keys,
directions and a property description sheet are Fed
Expressed to the renting party as she is not able to greet
the renting party. By keeping to a Saturday to Saturday
check-in, check-out strategy, rentals are maximized.

With arrival and departures scheduled for the same day, co-
ordinating the cleaning of the condo is paramount. A check-
in time of 4 pm and a check-out time of 10 am in most cases
allows the cleaning staff time for the turnover. And
flexibility with your cleaners and renting parties is key;
especially in the case of foreign rentals where train
schedules, for example, may not be in synch with check-out
times. A spotless rental home and letting all parties know
up front minimizes any hassle that may arise.

- Roxanne Derni owns a 2BR 1 BA Luxury Condo in Cannes,
France http://www.vrbo.com/3426 - she has a personal site
describing the condo at http://my.execpc.com/~ryderni/

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6b - A Picture Can Lead to many Bookings
========================================

How often do we scan a newspaper or magazine for photos and
graphics first and then read the copy?! That is why photos
are a top priority and is often the sole reason for holding
the attention of a vacationer who's scanning the vacation
possibilities. This homeowner offers tips for taking great
photos that we could all learn from.

Timing is everything. Different times of day will produce
different results depending on whether the subject is an
interior or exterior shot. Does the living room shoot
better with the morning sun or afternoon; will the exterior look
better at high noon when the shadows are minimized? Fashion
photographers shoot models just after sunrise or before
sunset for that direct, golden glow of the low sun. Take
photos throughout the day to get the desired affect(digital
cameras make this a snap).

Seasons of Change. Use the seasons to your advantage. If
you have incredible fall foliage setting; use it. If your
home is hidden by trees, an early spring or late fall photo
may help. A lakeside cottage is perfect for summer shots and
a ski chalet is best conveyed with winter photos.

What's your angle? Whenever you shoot a room, remember to
start wide and then move in for closer shots. Try shooting
from the opposite side as well. Photos can be improved by
taking the shots from a chair or ladder too. In some cases,
a vertical shot will make the statement. "Sell" your rental
with some staging. Two wine filled glasses by the hot tub or
a vase of flowers on the kitchen table add subtle touches
without overdoing it.

A few final tips. A digital camera allows for numerous
photos( and some editing) and is well worth the investment
to get the perfect shot(s). Avoid too much light by
adjusting the blinds. Make sure your image or the flash of
the camera is not caught by a mirror. Don't use people as
props.Kitchen counters should be uncluttered. Try some room
photos with the lights on; others with a flash. Use your
home's architecture to "frame" your composition(doorways,
posts).Above all, take your time and don't rush; great
photos lead to numerous bookings!

- Amy Ashcroft Greener owns the 2BR + Loft 2 BA "Swaying
Pines" Secluded Chalet in Gatlinburg, TN
http://www.vrbo.com/18856 - her personal website is located
at: http://www.swayingpines.com

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7 - More Vacation Rental Tips
=============================

If you would like to read more vacation rental tips, you
can refer to articles that were featured in previous issues
of the newsletters.

http://www.rentors.org/archive/index.html

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8 - Rentors.org Sponsor Information
====================================

Rentors.org is sponsored by these experienced vacation
rental advertising services. All will be pleased to help you
advertise your vacation rentals on the Internet.

Why not join all four sites to promote your vacation rental?
The Rentors.org availability calendar works on all of them,
and you'll have just ONE calendar to maintain!

CyberRentals
Home: http://www.cyberrentals.com
Join: http://www.cyberrentals.com/signup.html

Great Rentals
Home: http://www.greatrentals.com
Join: http://www.greatrentals.com/Admin/Posting/Post.html

VRBO - Vacation Rentals by Owner
Home: http://www.vrbo.com
Join: http://www.vrbo.com/global/owner.htm

A1Vacations
Home: http://www.a1vacations.com/
Join: http://www.a1vacations.com/advertise/


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9 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
=========================================

This "Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners" newsletter was
emailed to 10,700 members of Rentors.org -- which offers
FREE online availability calendars and guestbooks for
vacation rental property homeowners and property managers.
Please refer a friend to:

http://www.rentors.org

=======================
10 - How to Unsubscribe
=======================

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Copyright (C) 2003 Rentors LLC and the individual contributors.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form requires written permission.
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