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Rentors.org News #17 March 30, 2004
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Expert Tips and Tricks for Vacation Rental Homeowners from
the founders of Rentors.org:

http://www.vrbo.com/
http://www.a1vacations.com/
http://www.cyberrentals.com/
http://www.greatrentals.com/

This newsletter is e-mailed every 5 weeks to owners of
vacation rental homes who have registered for a free
Universal Availability Calendar and/or Guest Book at:

http://www.rentors.org/

-- # Members: 25,816
-- # Calendars: 33,197
-- # Guestbooks: 11,454

In this issue:

1 - Please Update Your Calendar and Guest Book Today
2 - Investor Heaven: Ten Hot Vacation Rental Locations
3 - Remotely Monitor Your Vacation Rental
4 - Common Sense Talk About "Linens"
5 - Why You Should Install a "Hotel Safe"
6 - Leveraging Your Listings with Color Postcards
7 - Paying Your Taxes -- On Time
8 - Get More Rentals with Visa/MasterCard
9 - CLASSIFIED ADS
10 - More Vacation Rental Tips
11 - Rentors.org Sponsors Information
12 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
13 - How to Cancel This Newsletter

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1 - Please Update Your Calendar and Guest Book Today
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Your self-service Universal Availability Calendar at
Rentors.org has no value if it isn't kept up-to-date. 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

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
Guest Book. Renter comments in guest books add credibility
to your vacation rental and help you to stand out from your
competitors.

And remember: As the owner, you can type in the comments
made by guests in your paper guest book (or sent to you via
e-mail). You don't have to rely on former guests to key in
their own comments, although they can do so online if they
want to.

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2 - Investor Heaven: Top Ten Vacation Rental Locations
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According to an article published by the editors of CNN and
Money magazine on January 22, 2004, "the hottest segment of
an already hot real estate market is bubbling up in coastal
towns, mountain towns, and other vacation spots" as people
in their 40s and 50s take money they would normally have
invested in the stock market and use it to buy vacation
homes.

The National Association of Realtors reports that only about
16 percent of second-home owners regularly offer their
properties for rent. (That's about 1.1 million properties.)
We find this puzzling, since it means that there are
millions of property owners that are not earning additional
revenue on their investments. You can't be in two places at
once, after all. So why not rent your vacation property when
you're not there? Today, the Internet makes it so easy to do
so.

Rental income is only a part of the financial return
equation. Potential second home owners would also be wise to
carefully consider potential appreciation when choosing a
second home location. So which locations are considered to
be "hot"?

EscapeHomes, a company that specializes in matching buyers
and sellers of vacation properties, publishes an updated
list every six months, based on site traffic and inquiries
from prospective buyers. Here's the most recent (Oct/2003)
alphabetical list of The Top 10 Places to Buy a Second Home:

-- Ashland, Oregon
-- Cape May County, New Jersey
-- Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
-- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
-- Naples, Florida
-- Outer Banks, North Carolina
-- Palm Springs, California
-- Park City, Utah
-- Sedona, Arizona
-- Vail, Colorado

>From an investment perspective, one advantage of buying in
a
"hot" area is that properties appreciate more rapidly. Some
property owners have found that they can use the equity in
their second home to help finance the purchase of a third
property. Our evidence is anecdotal, but we know any number
of property owners who have done just that.

-- Dave and Lynn Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner


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3 - Remotely Monitor Your Vacation Rental
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Floods, burglaries, and fires are the biggest fears of
people with vacation properties far away. Technology is now
available to monitor and control your vacation rental
property from a distance.

You or your security company can monitor doors, windows, and
basements for break-ins, deliveries, and floods with still-
photo systems or closed-circuit video. One such vacation
property owner in Massachusetts monitors his second home in
Florida with cameras linked to his computer in
Massachusetts. When someone rings his doorbell, for example,
a photo is taken and immediately sent to him by email.
That's how he discovered an over-zealous newspaper
deliveryman who was piling newspapers on his doorstep.

Cameras, sensors, and 2-way audio devices can be hooked into
traditional alarm systems. They can operate over phone
lines, broadband cable, or via satellite. Imagine being able
to monitor the temperature of your wine cellar, or switch on
your hot tub, miles away from your vacation home. Sensors
can also monitor the temperature in your vacation home. If
the temperature falls below or rises above a preset level,
the local air conditioning and heating company will be
directly notified of the problem. You will not know there
was a problem until it has been solved.

For additional information, contact the Security Industry
Association (Alexandria, VA), a non-profit international
trade association.

-- Brian and Lisa Raub, A1 Vacation Rentals

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4 - Common Sense Talk About "Linens"
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Let's talk about "linens"--actually, sheets and towels, all
of which are made from cotton, not from beaten flax fibers.

In some vacation rental locations, it is still common
practice to have renters bring their own sheets and towels.
But that seems a bit "retro" to us -- like something out of
the 1950s and 1960s.

Besides, in a highly competitive vacation rental market,
freeing guests of the requirement of supplying their own
linens is an easy way to make your rental property stand
out. All things being equal, who wouldn't opt for the place
that comes with sheets and towels? Or, maybe your property
is a few extra steps from the beach or from the slopes --
but you offer linens!

Again, it all depends on what's customary in your market,
but let's assume that you are now or plan to be supplying
linens. How do you cope?

You start by buying quality items. If you can offer 300-
thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, do so. It will set you
apart. But if you don't want to spend the money, you can
always get high-quality 100% cotton sheets and towels at a
discount if you look for "seconds" and "factory overruns."
It goes without saying that the one banned material
component is polyester.

As for quantities, you'll want to have at least two complete
sets of sheets and towels. That way, your cleaning service
will always have a fresh set to use as they "turn your
property around" for the next guests.

But what do you do with used sheets and towels? One
possibility is to pay your cleaning person to take them to
his or her home and wash and dry them there. Another option
is to install a high-capacity washer and dryer at your
place. (The Whirlpool Duet combination boasts of being able
to handle up to 22 bath towels in a single load. Other
leading manufacturers have similar high-capacity models.)

If your time window between when one set of guests checks
out and the next set checks in is large enough, this could
be the ideal solution. The first thing your cleaners do is
put in a load of laundry. And by the time they finish their
other chores, the laundry is done. And your place is ready
for the next set of guests.

Another advantage of installing a high-capacity washer and
dryer at your rental property is that it gives you one more
amenity you can tout to set yourself apart from the
competition.

For very large vacation homes (more than 3 or 4 bedrooms),
you might want to consider using a "linen service." In many
vacation areas there are companies that will pick up used
sheets and towels at the end of the rental period and
replace them with fresh ones. Though you will probably still
have to have your cleaning person make the beds and hang the
towels in the bathrooms.

-- Hunter Melville and Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals

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5 - Why You Should Install a "Hotel Safe"
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Here's the nightmare scenario: You and your family have just
spent a wonderful day on the beach. The water and waves were
great. The sun shone down. And you finally finished that
trashy novel you started to read last summer.

You amble back to your vacation rental home and start to
make dinner. Then one of the kids calls, "Mom, the laptop
computer's gone!" Your stomach sinks. You rush to the master
suite and discover that your watch and jewelry are missing
as well. Plus the cell phone. There's nothing like being
burgled to put a dent in a wonderful vacation.

It happens everywhere, of course. But beach homes are
particularly vulnerable because they're often left open most
of the time. And most of the time, the occupants are on the
beach. And everybody in the "neighborhood" is a stranger. So
who's to say that this or that person in a bathing suit has
no business entering a given property? As for the police,
even if they could be everywhere, how can they tell if there
is someone who doesn't belong?

It isn't likely that property owners can be held responsible
by guests for any burglaries committed or goods stolen. But
there's an easy way to solve the problem -- and offer an
amenity that will set you apart from your competition. It's
simple: Install a hotel-style floor or wall safe.

The Global Safe Corporation and AMSEC are two leading
manufacturers of hotel safes. To find them and other
companies, do a Google search on "electronic hotel safe."

What distinguishes a "hotel safe" from the office safes you
can buy at Staples or Office Max is that guests can set
their own combinations or security codes (typically 4-
digits). But there is also a master code which you can use
to open the safe at any time.

Prices start at around $200, plus installation. (Look under
"safes" or "locksmiths" in the relevant Yellow Pages
directory.)

Two final thoughts. First, if your property accommodates a
lot of guests, you might want to consider installing a hotel
safe in each bedroom/bathroom suite. Second, make sure that
each safe is large enough to accommodate a laptop computer.
That means interior dimensions of about 9 inches high by 18
inches wide by 16 inches deep.

-- Jan and Pat VanVoorhis, Great Rentals


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6 - Leveraging Your Listings with Color Postcards
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In marketing our own rental property, we've found that a
picture postcard can be extraordinarily effective. We
recommend them to all of our readers. Here's why.

First, a postcard with a beautiful picture on the front
isn't going to be tossed in the trash. It's just human
nature for someone to turn it over to see what's on the
back.

Second, who usually sends postcards? Friends and family, of
course. So your recipients will be predisposed to look at
them.

Third, standard 4.25- by 6-inch, four-color postcards are
incredibly inexpensive. For less than $140, for example, you
can have 500 color postcards printed, front and back, and
delivered to your door. That's a cost of about 28 cents
each. (The unit cost drops with the quantity ordered, of
course.)

Best of all, a postcard makes it easy to leverage your
online property listings. Just have the printing company
include not only your land address and telephone number, but
also one or more addresses for your online listings.

Once you've got your postcards, you'll want to mail them to
all of your former guests as a warm gesture and gentle
reminder. (Scribble a quick note on the back to the effect
that you hope to hear from them about renting your place
again this season.)

Keep a supply of postcards in your car so you can pass them
out to interested parties. (Think of your postcard as your
property's business card.) Also, be sure to stock your
vacation property with a supply of postcards for guests to
use and send to their friends.

-- Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner
Authors of *How to Make Your Vacation Property Work for
You!: The Quick & Easy Guide to Advertising, Renting,
Managing, and Making Money from your Second Home*
(FireCrystal Communications, 320 pages, includes CD with
convenient forms and software)

For more information, visit:

http://fullybookedrentals.com/

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7 - Paying Your Taxes On Time
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If you own a short-term rental, you are almost certainly
subject to sales, occupancy, and other taxes levied by your
state, county, township, city, or other governing body.
While renters pay these taxes as an add-on to the rental
cost, it's your responsibility to collect and remit them,
usually on a quarterly or monthly basis.

The trouble is, each taxing authority has different forms,
different requirements, and different due dates. Making a
mistake can cost you dearly in penalties and interest. (And
don't think that revenue- strapped governments aren't using
the Internet to identify owners of vacation rental property
who may owe back taxes.)

That's why Rentors.org has partnered with HotSpot
Management, a tax management service for vacation rental
homeowners and property managers. HotSpot takes care of
everything, charging $5 to $10 for each return it files on
your behalf, plus an annual $19.95 service fee. That means
that for about $80 to $120 a year, you will not only be in
full compliance, you will also make sure that you are
receiving all applicable rebates for timely filing.

If you mention Rentors.org and this article, HotSpot
Management will either obtain your sales tax licenses for
free or, if you already have your licenses, waive the $19.95
annual service fee for the first year. Call HotSpot at
877-589-0207 or see:

HotSpot Tax Info:
http://www.rentors.org/redirect/hotspot.cfm

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8 - Get More Rentals with Visa/Mastercard
=========================================

You'll rent more often by accepting major credit cards for
your vacation rentals, through a program created by
Rentors.org -- designed especially for vacation rental
homeowners and their agents. See:

http://www.rentors.org/redirect/paradata.cfm

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9 - CLASSIFIED ADS
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Your classified ad can appear in the next issue of Rentor's
News. Rates are $25/word (10-word minimum). URLs count as 2
words. ALL CAPS are forbidden. Sorry, we do NOT accept ads
from vacation rental advertising services, and we reserve
the right to reject ads for any reason. Ads appear in first-
paid, first-listed order. Our next issue's payment deadline
is exactly 2 weeks from today. Contact:

admin@rentors.org

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10 - 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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11 - Rentors.org Sponsor Information
====================================

Rentors.org is sponsored by these experienced vacation
rental advertising services. As at least one authority has
said, "There are literally hundreds of vacation rental
property Web sites, but only four that really matter." Those
four are the founders of Rentors.org, and each will be
pleased to help you maximize the rental income your property
generates each year by advertising it on the Internet. All
charge a flat annual fee. There are no commissions or other
nonsense.

The Rentors.org Availability Calendar and Guest Book work on
all four sites, so you will have just ONE calendar and/or
Guest Book to maintain!

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

A1Vacations - A1 Vacation Rentals
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

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12 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
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This "Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners" newsletter was e-
mailed to members of Rentors.org -- which offers FREE online
availability calendars and guest books for vacation rental
property homeowners and property managers.

Please refer a friend to:

http://www.rentors.org/

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

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Copyright (C) 2004 Rentors LLC, 95 Westlake Rd. Suite 205,
Hardy, VA 24101 USA Advertise: 540-375-3633
==========================================================

 

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