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Rentors.org News #14   December/02/2003
Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners
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This newsletter is emailed 6 times annually to 20,597 owners
of vacation rental homes who have registered for a free
universal availability calendar/guestbook at:

  http://www.rentors.org

This is a special holiday issue .

 1 - Please Update Your Calendar and Guestbook Today
 2 - Make More Money from Your Vacation Rental
 3 - Make it Easy for Your Guests to Pay You
 4 - Holiday Rates & Dates, 2003-2004
 5 - More Vacation Rental Tips
 6- Rentors.org Sponsors Information
 7 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
 8 - How to Cancel

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1 - Please Update Your Calendar and Guestbook Today
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Your self-service universal availability calendar at
Rentors.org has no value if it is incorrect. Please follow
the link below to login to Rentors.org and update your
vacation rental calendar today.

  RENTORS login: http://www.rentors.org/login.cfm
 
  YOUR EMAIL IS: admin@rentors.org

If you've forgotten your Rentors.org PASSWORD, check the
bottom-left text in the yellow box at the login screen.

While you're there, be sure to set up a vacation rental
guestbook if you haven't already. Guestbooks add credibility
to your vacation rental, and help you to stand above your
competitors.

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2 - Make More Money from your Vacation Rental
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"There are literally hundreds of sites on the Web offering
vacation rental listings. But there are only four that
really count: A1Vacations, CyberRentals, Great Rentals, and
VRBO. If you create an effective listing on each of these
'Big Four' sites, you will have all the bookings you want.
And you can probably also eliminate -- or at least reduce --
your current expenses for print ads and rental agent fees."

That's a quote from Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner, who have
just published their 60th book, "How to Make Your Vacation
Property Work for You!: The Quick & Easy Guide to
Advertising, Renting, Managing, and Making Money from your
Second Home."

Designed as a complete "Vacation Property Owner's Toolkit,"
the book includes detailed chapters on each of the "Big
Four" sites, as well as a chapter devoted to Rentors.org and
the services it provides to vacation property owners.

But there's a lot more besides. Including a CD with all the
software and printable forms and rental agreements you need
to handle every aspect of renting your property yourself
(and saving the commissions you are now paying). Or, if you
decide to continue working with a rental agent, the book
will show you how to negotiate lower commissions on the
bookings you bring in.

You'll also find chapters on creative (and inexpensive)
marketing techniques, managing your rentals, setting rates,
furnishing your property, booking and deposit policies,
writing Big Four listings and taking photographs that sell,
and getting "Merchant Status" so you can accept credit
cards.

For more information about this book/CD package, including
the Table of Contents, information on the authors, a sample
chapter, and more, go to:

  http://www.firecrystal.com.

--Alfred and Emily Grossbrenner, Firecrystal Communications

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3 - Make it Easy for Your Guests to Pay You
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For homeowners considering whether to accept credit cards,
the most frequently asked question is; "Won't it cost me
more than checks, money orders, or wire transfers?" The
surprising answer is "No." Research studies have attested to
two indisputable facts. First, people spend more when paying
by credit card. Second, people will pay extra for the
convenience of credit cards when planning to travel.

The cost of accepting credit cards is almost always
incorporated into the price charged to the consumer. It is a
necessary business expense. When hotels set their room rates
they assume that 98% will be paid by credit cards -- and
they add the small extra cost to their rates.

The next most commonly asked question is about chargebacks.
A fear among property owners is that a dissatisfied or
unscrupulous guest can call their issuing bank and refuse to
pay the charge. This is really never an issue for a well
organized and legitimate owner. If a chargeback claim is
filed, you simply need to supply a rental agreement signed
by the guest which clearly stipulates your deposit,
cancellation, damage collection, and other policies. Simply
submit this document along with your electronic record of
the transaction and it is highly unlikely the guest's claim
will be honored. Although it is true that the chargeback
process usually favors or protects the card holder, it is
not a license to defraud or take unfair advantage of a
seller or service provider. The bank card process is founded
upon guaranteeing merchants payment for services once an
authorization is issued.

By accepting credit cards you can accept a booking
immediately and be assured of receiving the money in your
bank account within approximately 48 hours. You can issue a
refund with the click of your mouse. You can do an
authorization to set aside funds on a card holder's account
to cover a damage deposit or the anticipated cost of a
weekly stay in a matter of seconds. You can send an
electronic receipt and confirmation automatically when you
accept a deposit. You save valuable time and money and serve
your guests better and more efficiently.

Credit cards also are a secure and instant form of
international payment. Once you are able to accept credit
cards, you can accept payment from a potential guest
anywhere in the world. The funds automatically end up in
your checking account, in $US, at no extra cost to you.

Credit card acceptance is one of the few ways you can
immediately improve your rental property business while
making it easier for your guest to stay and pay.

Rentors.org offers a credit card acceptance program that's
designed especially for vacation homeowners and property
managers. Details are available at:

  http://www.rentors.org/cc.cfm

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4 - Holiday Rates & Dates, 2003-2004
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It's time to update your vacation rental webpages with your
rates for 2004 holidays. Here are some possible "rate-
premium" USA holidays to consider when you set your vacation
rental rates and dates for the rest of 2003, and for all of
2004. Some dates command premium rates in just a few
locations -- like Columbus Day weekend in New England, for
"leaf-peeping" during the fall foliage season.

SELECTED USA HOLIDAYS, BALANCE OF 2003

  Dec 25 2003, Thursday:  USA Christmas Day

SELECTED USA HOLIDAYS, 2004

  Jan 01 2004, Thursday:  USA New Years Day [2004]
  Jan 19 2004, Monday:    USA Martin Luther King's Birthday
  Feb 14 2004, Saturday:  USA Valentines Day
  Feb 16 2004, Monday:    USA Presidents' Day
  Apr  9 2004, Friday:    USA Good Friday
  Apr 11 2004, Sunday:    USA Easter Sunday
  May 31 2004, Monday:    USA Memorial Day
  Jul 04 2004, Sunday:    USA Independence Day
  Sep 06 2004, Monday:    USA Labor Day
  Oct 11 2004, Monday:    USA Columbus Day
  Nov 11 2004, Thursday:  USA Veterans' Day
  Nov 25 2004, Thursday:  USA Thanksgiving Day
  Dec 25 2004, Saturday:  USA Christmas Day
  Jan 01 2005, Saturday:  USA New Years Day [2005]

-- Brian Raub, A1 Vacation Rentals
  
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5 - More Vacation Rental Tips
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If you would like to read more vacation rental tips, you can
refer to articles that were featured in previous issues of
this newsletter at:

  http://www.rentors.org/archive/

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6 - Rentors.org Sponsor Information
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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!

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

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

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7 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
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This "Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners" newsletter was
emailed to 20,597 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

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8 - How to Cancel
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To cancel your newsletter subscription, please log in to
your Rentors.org account, then select "Delete this Account".
Your free calendar(s) and guestbook(s) will be deleted, and
you will no longer receive this newsletter.

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Copyright (C) 2003 Rentors LLC, Moneta, VA USA
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