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Rentors.org News #20 August 3, 2004
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Expert Tips and Tricks for Vacation Rental Homeowners from
the founders of Rentors.org:

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

This newsletter is emailed every 8 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: 31,997
-- # Calendars: 40,693
-- # Guestbooks: 14,471

In this issue:

1 - Please Update Your Calendar and Guest Book Today
2 - What's Your Guest's "Sleep Number"?
3 - Thread Count: Breaching the 1000 Thread Barrier
4 - Welcome Supplies for Your Renters
5 - Preparing for the Inevitable: Cancellations & Refunds
6 - Little Touches Can Mean a Lot
7 - Collecting and Paying Sales Tax
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
====================================================

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 can't recall 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
email). 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 - What's Your Guest's "Sleep Number"?
=======================================

"This bed will put us on the map in terms of brand
differentiation." That's what the New York Times quoted an
executive at Radisson Hotels as saying in June 2004 about
the "Sleep Number" bed. Those are words any owner of
vacation rental property should ponder. Particularly if the
property is in a highly competitive market.

The preference among most renters for properties with king-
size beds (or at least queen-size) has long been known. But
in the lodging industry at least, Westin Hotels and Resorts
upped the ante in 1999 when it began installing the
"Heavenly Bed" in all its rooms. Selling for over $2,500,
the Heavenly Bed became so popular among travelers that
Westin now sells it on its website, complete with sheets,
pillows, and covers. According to a Westin spokesperson, the
company routinely sells over 2,000 of these beds online
every year.

Feeling the need to compete, Radisson Hotels contracted with
the Select Comfort Corporation of Minneapolis to buy "Sleep
Number" beds for all of its rooms. And that's a lot of beds:
90,000 between now and 2006 at a cost of about $2,200 per
bed (without any pillows, sheets, comforters, or duvets). In
case you haven't heard the infomercials and sponsorship
banners on the Minneapolis-based radio program, "A Prairie
Home Companion," the company's unique selling proposition is
that you and your partner can each adjust the firmness level
on your side of the bed to your preferred "Sleep Number."
The mattress uses air-chamber technology to let you adjust
the firmness of your side of the mattress on a scale of 1
through 100.

Does it make sense to spend so much on upscale beds for your
vacation rental property? A lot depends on how competitive
your area is and on the going rate for a property like
yours. But there are at least three things to remember:

o First, a top-quality bed will last 10 or 15 years or more.

o Second, there is a huge benefit to being able to piggyback
-- no charge -- on the ad campaigns done by major hotel
chains. When you can include in your property description
"King-size Westin-style Heavenly Bed in Master Bedroom" or
"King-size Select Comfort Bed (What's your Sleep Number?),"
people will know what you mean. All other things being
equal, adding this amenity could tip the balance in your
favor when a prospective renter is comparing properties.

o Finally, the New York Times article says this: "Female
business travelers are generally credited with pushing along
the revolution in hotel bedding. In the industry, it has
become axiomatic that women who travel not only notice
nuances such as thread counts in sheets, they also compare
notes on hotel evaluations with colleagues when they return
home."

We have no evidence to support the notion, but we suspect
that women probably make most of the vacation rental
decisions for most families. So offering a brand-name "super
premium" bed in your property certainly couldn't hurt.

For more information, check these two websites:
http://www.rentors.org/redirect/starwood.cfm and
http://www.rentors.org/redirect/selectcomfort.cfm

-- Jan and Pat VanVoorhis, Great Rentals

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3 - Thread Count: Breaching the 1000-Thread Barrier
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In the preceding article, our colleagues at Rentors.org
discuss the pros and cons (mostly pros) of equipping a
vacation rental property with at least one "super-premium"
bed with a widely advertised name. That's a good idea,
particularly in a very competitive market.

But what about the sheets and pillowcases that go on that
bed? No, they can't be a polyester blend. They've got to be
100 percent cotton, preferably Egyptian cotton. For a
premium bed, you need premium linens. Otherwise you lose the
marketing punch.

But "how good should you go" when it comes to bedding? In
our opinion, "300 thread count" is the luxury standard. As
an example, here's how Walt Disney World describes the
bedding in its Swan Suites: "The centerpiece of these new
rooms is Westin's Heavenly Bed -- featuring a pillow-top
mattress, a white goose-down comforter, 250 thread-count
sheets, and five overstuffed pillows. You don't just sleep
in it... you lose yourself in it."

"Thread count" refers to the number of threads per square
inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the tighter the
weave, and, presumably, the smoother the feel. It's a
concept that has found its way into the public consciousness
only in the past few years. And, naturally, companies and
retailers have started competing on thread count. According
to a June 18, 2004, article in the Wall Street Journal, you
can now get sheets and pillow cases with thread counts of
400, 500, 600, and 1,000. Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus even
offers products with a thread count of 1,020.

The problem is the price. You can easily spend between $250
and $500 or more per set (fitted sheet, top sheet, and two
pillow cases). A 300-thread-count set, in contrast, will
cost closer to $100. And advertising the fact that you offer
300 thread- count bedding will have just as much impact on
your prospective renters as saying you supply 600 thread-
count bedding.

In short, offering 300 thread-count bedding is a definite
and very affordable plus. But going higher than that, at
least at this point, is a costly distinction without a
difference.

-- Dave and Lynn Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner

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4 - Welcome Supplies for Your Renters
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When we vacationed in waterside "housekeeping cottages" as
children of the 1960's, our families expected a great view
or location, but a very basic level of accommodations.
Amenities like air conditioning didn't exist in most
vacation rentals, and a kitchen was considered pretty well
equipped if it had a toaster.

You were expected to bring all of your own supplies,
starting with toilet paper and soap. You supplied your own
towels and bed linens too. Housecleaning was often a
responsibility of the departing guests; arriving guests
simply cleaned again if they were dissatisfied.

During the past 10 years, the Internet has introduced
millions of new vacationers to the idea of staying in other
peoples' private vacation homes. As the market grows,
expectations for quality and service are rising.

A carefully selected set of "welcome supplies" can help to
meet your guests' rising expectations, and to show them that
you truly appreciate their choice of your property. The
"basics" vary by destination, but here's a list of welcome
supplies to consider.

__ Paper supplies in every bathroom
__ A new bar or bottle of soap at every sink
__ Dishwashing liquid and dishwasher detergent
__ Laundry detergent and fabric softener,
     for rentals with a washer and dryer
__ Rolls of plastic wrap and aluminum foil
__ Napkins and paper towels
__ Trash bags and wastebasket liners
__ Emergency spot lifters to help with accidents
__ Common kitchen spices, including salt and pepper
__ Disposable plates and utensils
__ Towels and bed linens, if local rules permit them

For items like trash bags, you probably want to provide
enough for the entire stay. For items like disposable
plates, a small starting supply is appropriate. Leave a
checklist of these welcome supplies (and where to find them)
on the kitchen table, to make a good first impression.

-- Brian and Lisa Raub, A1 Vacation Rentals

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5 - Preparing for the Inevitable: Cancellations & Refunds
=========================================================

The only thing worse than not being booked is having someone
cancel on you at the last minute. You want to be
sympathetic. After all, people don't typically call off
their vacation plans unless there's a death in the family or
some emergency. But a last-minute cancellation hits you with
a double whammy. It's too late to book someone else, and
your erstwhile renters will be asking you to return the
money they've paid. In which case you'd be left with no
income at all for that rental period.

That's why it's crucial to have a very specific, very clear
cancellation and refund policy. And it is why it's a good
idea to remind your prospective renters of your policy
whenever you communicate with them.

Start by finding out what's customary in your rental area:
What percentage do other property owners collect as a
deposit? How many days in advance of the reservation is the
final payment typically due? Under what circumstances will
all or part of the rental fee be returned? Then spell things
out clearly with wording similar to this example:

"We require a 50% deposit to confirm your reservation, with
the balance due 30 days before your scheduled arrival date.
Once we reach that 30-day point, the rental fee is
nonrefundable, unless we are able to rebook the property for
the dates you had reserved. If we rebook the property, we
will refund a prorated share of the rental fee for each day
we are able to fill, less a $25 cancellation fee."

Several other points to bear in mind as you set up and
manage your cancellation and refund policies:

o If you've collected a damage deposit as part of the rental
fee, you'll probably want to refund it in full regardless of
when the reservation is cancelled. And since you will have
to pay any applicable sales tax on the portion of the rental
fee that you keep, bear that in mind when issuing the
refund.

o Some property owners charge a nominal fee ($25 or so) for
all cancellations, before or after the "no refund" period.
Doing so helps to defray the cost of processing the
cancellation. More importantly, it should make renters think
twice about booking your property along with several others,
with the idea of canceling all but one.

o Acts of God, like tornados, hurricanes, or floods may
require exemptions. But not necessarily refunds. Consider
instead letting your renters use their deposits for a stay
at a later date. Your renters will know you're not to blame,
and they'll think well of you for making this offer.

o Finally, you might want to alert your renters to the
option of buying trip cancellation insurance. A policy that
pays $1,200, for example, can be had for as little as $39. A
Web site called insuremytrip.com offers quote comparisons on
nearly 60 policies available from 14 companies.

Cancellations aren't good for anybody. But establishing a
clear policy and making sure your renters are aware of that
policy will make things go much more smoothly when they
happen.

-- Hunter Melville and Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals

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6 - Little Touches Can Mean a Lot
=================================

Having written and sold lots of books over the past 30
years, we often get phone calls and letters from our readers
and fans. But we'd never had the chance to "experience" one
of our books in real life until a recent trip to the Outer
Banks in North Carolina. Because of an overflow of family at
Emily's parents' beach house in Nags Head, we ended up
staying several days in a cute little place called Clemons'
Cottage in the nearby town of Manteo.

The owner, Elizabeth Anderson, was one of the first people
to read our book about advertising and renting vacation
properties, so we were eager to see how she had implemented
our suggestions and incorporated them with her own ideas. By
mutual agreement, she was to treat us just like any other
paying guests. And while we didn't exactly behave like
Triple A "Three Diamond" inspectors, we did survey the place
with more than a casual eye.

Elizabeth, who also operates a delightfully eclectic gift
shop on the property, is an energetic woman with a creative
streak as wide as nearby Currituck Sound. For example,
instead of just laying out a stack of brochures and
pamphlets detailing things to do in the area, in best Martha
Stewart fashion, she tied the literature into a bundle with
blue and beige raffia and left it for us on the kitchen
table, along with a copy of the local newspaper.

In addition to supplying freshly ground coffee for our first
morning, she also provided cold sodas and a basket of snacks
-- single-serving bags of Doritos, potato chips, and
CrackerJack. Just the thing for late arrivals like us. The
basket also contained a disposable camera. We thought this
was a particularly nice touch. And inexpensive, too. We did
a bit of Web research and found that you can get brand-new
disposable cameras for as little as $3.25 each if you're
willing to order in quantities of 50 or more.

The two bedrooms in the cottage were furnished with high-
quality, firm mattresses (one king-size and one queen-size),
attractive bedspreads, 300 thread-count sheets, an abundance
of pillows, and good reading lamps. For an extra charge of
$75 regardless of length of stay, guests are allowed to
bring the family dog, in which case an entirely different
set of bedspreads and linens are used (to avoid allergy
problems).

For entertainment, there was a nice-sized and nicely varied
selection of videos as well as and a radio/tape/CD player.
There were fresh flowers picked from the garden. And the
walls throughout the cottage were filled with an intriguing
collection of prints, paintings, and bric-a-brac, all of
which made things "special."

And speaking of making things special, when we returned from
dinner on our last night, our host surprised us with a
departure gift bag on the doorknob. It contained a seashell
refrigerator magnet, a "Clemons' Cottage"
notepaper/keyholder unit (also "refrigerator magnetic"), and
a sheet of USPS stamps featuring the Wright Brothers and the
North Carolina "First in Flight" theme. (The Wright Brothers
park is just a few miles away in Kill Devil Hills.)

The gift bag also contained a warm and friendly note
thanking us for our visit and encouraging us to come again
next year. Our guess is that in order to do so, we'll have
to book early. With such comfortable accommodations and so
many thoughtful and creative touches, Clemons' Cottage is
sure to get lots of return visitors.

Special Note: If you have a tip or technique you'd like to
share with other vacation rental owners, email us at
tips@fullybookedrentals.com. Who knows, your fully credited
idea may just appear in the next edition of the Rentors.org
newsletter.

-- Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner, FullyBookedRentals.com
http://www.rentors.org/redirect/glossbrenner.cfm

The Glossbrenners are vacation rental experts and
bestselling 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.*

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7 - Collecting and Paying Sales Tax
===================================

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 reduce your annual fee by 50% for the first
year. Call HotSpot at 877-589-0207 or see:

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

=========================================
8 - Increase Rentals with Visa/MasterCard
=========================================

Rentors.org offers a new program that allows vacation
property owners to take credit card payments easily and
economically. Accepting rental payments has never been
easier. You'll enjoy these advantages:

Quick and easy access to your funds: Payments are deposited
to your bank account within 2-3 business days. There's no
more waiting for checks to clear or worrying about returned
checks.

More Rentals: Consumers are used to paying for their
accommodations using their Visa or MasterCard. A typical
property owner processes 4 card transactions per month
totaling approximately $2000.

Save Time: Process payments, issue credits and receipts with
the click of a mouse.

"I have just switched from PayPal to a merchant account
through Rentors.org, because I had several guests complain
about the hassles of using PayPal. The merchant account is
much easier for the guests to use - and that's the goal."
-- Richard Pretl, Lancaster House

Three flexible pricing plans are available. For more
information call 866-663-6415 or visit:

http://www.rentors.org/cc.cfm

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9 - Classified Ads
==================

Your classified ad can appear in the next issue of
Rentors.org News. Rates are $30/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

==============================
10 - 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
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
advertising 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.

Great Rentals
Home: http://www.greatrentals.com/
Join:
http://www.greatrentals.com/adminpublic/members_area.cfm

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

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

This "Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners" newsletter was
emailed 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/

==================
13 - How to Cancel
==================

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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