Vacation Rental Podcast

Brought to you by HomeAway.com

This Week's Podcast: The Art of the Off-Season: An Owner's Innovative Solution to Boosting Off-Season Revenue at Her Vacation Rental Home Vacation rental owner Kirsten Apple has developed an innovative way to boost off-season revenues at her vacation home in the South of France: all-inclusive art workshops. 7/27/09

Interviews with Vacation Home Owners

Dealing with Newbie Anxiety: Getting Started Renting your Vacation Home by Owner Christine speaks with Bend, Oregon owner Louise Owenby about the challenges and rewards of launching a vacation rental business. 6/29/09

One-on-One with Sandra Myklebust, a Vacation Rental Owner in Pasadena, CA Sandra shares her unique experience in renting her primary home to short-term renters. 6/15/2009

One-on-One with Emilie Spaulding, a Vacation Rental Owner on New Hampshire's Six Mile Island Christine and Emilie discuss the unique aspects of renting a vacation home on an island only accessible by boat. 6/1/2009

One-on-One with Gulf Coast, FL Vacation Rental Owner, Marti Swift Condo owner Marti Swift shares her experience dealing with a maintenance disaster on New Year's Day and how she now handles preventative maintenance 4/27/2009

One-on-One with Manhattan Beach, CA Vacation Rental Owner Michele McGarry Christine interviews Michele McGarry about the unique challenges of living in the same duplex where her vacation rental is located 04/13/2009

One-on-One with Fernandina Beach, FL Vacation Rental Owner Bob Moore Christine interviews Bob Moore about his experience as a long-distance vacation rental owner and learns his perspectives on selecting vacation rental websites and responding to inquiries 3/30/2009

One-on-One with Riviera Maya, Mexico Vacation Rental Owner Marino Tomacelli Christine interviews Marino Tomacelli about his unique vacation home, "Taninah," featured on HGTV's Most Extreme Homes, and his partnerships with local tour operators 2/2/2009

One-on-One with McCall, ID Vacation Rental Owner Jeannie Laird Jeannie Laird, Photo Department Manager for VRBO.com, shares her strategies for managing vacation rentals from afar and working with a property management company and her recent experience with break-ins 1/20/2009

One-on-One with Big Sky, MT Vacation Rental Owner Tim Hart Christine interviews Tim Hart about his experience as a vacation rental owner in multiple markets and a real estate agent in Big Sky, Montana 12/22/2008

One-on-One with Kona, HI Vacation Rental Owner David Michael Christine chats with Kona, HI vacation rental owner David Michael about his experience and successes as an owner of a large vacation home 12/5/2008

One-on-One with La Jolla, CA Vacation Rental Owner Mireya Schmidt Christine talks with Mireya Schmidt about her background as both a real estate agent and vacation rental owner of multiple properties 10/9/2008

One-on-One with Palm Springs, CA Vacation Rental Owner Gregg Rapp Christine talks with Gregg Rapp about the excitement and challenges of renting a high-end vacation home that has attracted celebrity guests 9/22/08

One-on-One with Rockport, TX Vacation Rental Owner (and HomeAway CFO) Lynn Atchison Christine talks with Lynn Atchison, CFO of HomeAway, about her hesitation in renting and why she eventually changed her mind 9/16/08

One-on-One with Canmore, AB Vacation Rental Owner Richard Colwell, Part 2 Christine continues her discussion on the challenges of renting and maintaining a vacation property from abroad.  6/16/08

One-on-One with Canmore, AB Vacation Rental Owner Richard Colwell, Part 1 Christine discusses the challenges of owning and renting a vacation home in Canada while living in the U.K. 6/9/2008

One-on-One with Richland Chambers Lake, TX Vacation Rental Owner Michelle Helterbran Christine interviews lakehouse owner Michelle Helterbran, who had the first vacation rental on Richland Chambers Lake, Texas

One-on-One with Washington State Vacation Rental Owner Bob Kelly Christine talks with vacation rental owner Bob Kelly about why he chose renting by owner in Pacific Beach, Washington 4/1/2008

Selling a Vacation Rental Home Christine talks with vacation rental owner Ed Reese about his experience trying to sell one of his vacation home 2/25/2008

One-on-One with Port Aransas Owner (and HomeAway CTO) Ross Buhrdorf Christine talks with new owner Ross Buhrdorf about preparing his property, starting the rental process and what he'd like to change about the HomeAway sites 2/19/2008

One-on-One with Santa Fe Vacation Rental Owner Deborah Haws Christine talks with Santa Fe, New Mexico owner Deborah Haws 1/23/2008

One-on-One with Colorado Vacation Rental Onwer Bev Babich Christine chats with Keystone-area owner Bev Babich, about her experience renting her home and the unique, co-op that Bev participates in with her rental neighbors 1/14/2008

One-on-One with Baltimore Vacation Rental Owner,Richard Pretl Christine interviews experienced owner Richard Pretl about his vacation rental in Baltimore, Maryland 12/18/2007

One-on-One with Princeville Vacation Rental Owner Hank Drayton Christine chats with Hawaii owner Hank Drayton about how and why he bought his property and how the vacation rental business has changed since he started 19 years ago 12/10/2007

One-on-One with Branson, Missouri Vacation Rental Owner Valerie Budd Christine talks with Branson vacation rental owner Valerie Budd about her decision to switch from a property management company to renting by owner 5/11/2007

One-on-One with Destin, Florida Vacation Rental Owner Gayla Berry Christine talks with Destin owner Gayla Berry about how she came to buy her first vacation rental property and why she rents by owner 4/6/2007

Fighting a Short-Term Rental Ban within an HOA Interview with Palm Desert owner Melinda Diperna about her experience battling a vacation rental ban in her complex 3/29/2007

One-on-One with New Hampshire Vacation Rental Owner Robin Clapp Christine talks with successful vacation rental owner and rent by owner "purist" Robin Clapp about why she bought her vacation home, what she enjoys about the process, and how's she's handled the unusually warm winter 2/28/2007

Interviews with Real Estate Agents

Buying a Condo vs. a Single Family Home as Vacation Property Christine interviews real estate agent Meredith McKenzie on the benefits of condos vs. single family homes for a vacation rental owner 4/20/2009

Buying an Investment Property in Minnesota Christine interviews real estate agent and vacation rental owner Brenda Schiemo-Smith about the real estate market in Minnesota and operating her lakeshore vacation rentals 12/8/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Taos, NM Christine talks about the real estate and vacation rental market in Taos, New Mexico with real estate agent Peter Lora 10/13/08

Buying an Investment Property in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands Christine learns about purchasing island property on St. Croix from real estate agent and broker Kim Lucas 8/25/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Kissimmee, FL
Christine discusses the Kissimmee and Orlando markets with vacation home real estate broker Raymond Butterfield 6/23/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Stowe, Vermont  Christine chats with Stowe real estate agent Ken Libby about the current market conditions 6/2/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Muskoka, Ontario Real estate agent John Jarvis discusses the vacation home market in Muskoka 5/12/2008

Foreclosures and Short Sales in the Destin, FL Vacation Rental Market Real estate agent Shannyn Stevenson is back to discuss the Destin, Florida market, along with foreclosures and short sales 4/29/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Naples, FL: Part 2 Second part of Christine's talk with Naples real estate agent, Lynn Wilber. 4/21/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Naples, FL: Part 1 Christine and real estate agent, Lynn Wilber, discuss the vacation home market in Naples, Florida  4/21/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Steamboat Springs, CO This week, Christine interviews Steamboat Springs realtor Randall Hannaway about the vacation home market in his area 2/11/2008

Buying an Investment Property in the Lake Tahoe Area Christine chats about the vacation real estate market in Tahoe with South Lake Tahoe realtor Deb Howard. 1/2/2008

Buying an Investment Property in Los Cabos, Mexico Ever thought about buying in Mexico? Christine talks with Los Cabos realtor Julie Kershner

Buying an Investment Property in Martha's Vineyard Christine talks with Edgartown realtor, Fred Roven about the Martha's Vineyard vacation home market

Buying an Investment Property in Park City, Utah Christine interviews Park City realtor, Dennis Hanlon about the Park City vacation home market. 8/14/2007

Buying an Investment Property in Provincetown, MA Christine talks with realtor Rick Tourgee about the vacation rental market in Provincetown 7/23/2007

Buying an Investment Property in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN Christine talks with realtor Pat Malone about the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge vacation rental market 7/2/2007

Buying an Investment Property on the California Gold Coast Christine talks with realtor, Meredith McKenzie about the California Gold Coast vacation home market 5/23/2007

Buying an Investment Property in Montana Christine talks with realtor Dorothea about the Montana vacation home market 4/30/2007

Buying an Investment Property in Destin, Florida: Part 2 Christine continues her chat with Destin real estate agent Shannyn Stevenson 3/23/2007

Buying an Investment Property in Destin, Florida: Part 1 In this episode Christine interviews Destin real estate agent Shannyn Stevenson about the vacation home market in her area 3/14/2007

Interviews with Vacation Rental Industry Experts

Decorating Tips for Vacation Rentals Christine speaks with decorator Kerry Ann Dame of Posh Living, LLC, a full-service design firm in Surfside Beach, South Carolina that specializes in custom slipcovers. 7/13/09

What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Housekeeper for Your Vacation Rental Christine speaks with Traci Stevens of Classic Home Care about the benefits of working with a housekeeper who understands the vacation rental business 5/4/2009

Baby Gear and Vacation Rentals Jill Lepow, owner of a baby gear rental service in Maine, shares the benefits of renting baby gear to accommodate children at your vacation home 4/6/2009

Filing Taxes for Vacation Rentals Stephen Fishman, author of Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide, shares tips on how to file your vacation rental income taxes and how to deduct for depreciation, and the hobby loss rule 3/16/2009

Personal Websites for Vacation Rental Marketing Christine interviews vacation rental owner and web designer Robin Clapp of Web-Design-By-Robin.com, about the use of personal websites for marketing vacation rental homes 3/9/2009

Legal Advice on Renting Your Vacation Home In their second interview, Janet Portman, author and attorney, answers Christine's questions about screening vacation rental guests under the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act 3/2/2009

The Impact of Turning Your Vacation Rental Business into an LLC Christine interviews Janet Portman, an attorney specializing in landlord/tenant law, on the subject of Limited Liability Corporations and why they may create a false sense of security for vacation rental owners 2/23/09

Mortgaging and Refinancing Vacation Homes, Part 2 In her second interview with David Motley, president of Colonial Savings, Christine discusses the current mortgage situation, tips for buying vacation homes, and options for refinancing 11/3/2008

Furnishing and Decorating Your Vacation Rental
Christine talks with Mary Byerly of Furniture Land South about decorating tips for your vacation home and the benefits of using a design consultant 9/8/08

Mortgaging and Refinancing Vacation Homes Christine talks with the President of Colonial National Mortgage and vacation home owner David Motley about mortgaging and refinancing options for vacation homes 8/5/2008

Building an Airport in Panama City, Part 2
Christine continues her discussion with Jerry Ray about the benefits of building an international airport in Panama City, Florida 7/21/2008

Building an International Airport in Panama City, FL Christine talks to Jerry Ray about the progress and benefits of an international airport for vacation rental owners in Panama City 7/14/2008

The Resort and Second-Home Market Christine interviews Real Estate Broker Jim Dague, to learn about his expertise in the resort and second home industry 6/30/2008

Going Green at Your Vacation Rental Learn tips from journalist and cottage owner, Leslie Garrett, about staying environmentally conscious even at your vacation home 5/19/2008 

Virtual Tours Christine talks with seasoned owner and virtual tours expert, Ed Reese 2/1/2008

The Scoop on HomeAway's Rental Guarantee Christine talks with Trey Herschap, HomeAway's Director of Trust & Safety, about the Rental Guarantee (formerly Rent with Confidence) and what it means for vacation rental owners 11/7/2007

New 3% Lodging Tax in Sevier County Tennessee Christine talks with Sevier County Trustee, Jettie Clabo about the new 3% occupancy/lodging tax effective July 1st 7/23/2007

How to Choose a Property Manager to Manage Your Vacation Rental Home Christine talks with Orlando property manager Steve Trover about how to find a good property manager 6/19/2007

Buying a Vacation Home with Friends or Family: Part 2 Second part of Christine's interview with co-ownership expert and attorney Andy Sirkin 4/23/2007

Buying a Vacation Home with Friends or Family: Part 1 Have you ever thought about buying a second home with friends? Christine talks with attorney and co-ownership expert Andy Sirkin 4/13/2007

Florida Sales Tax Regulations: Part 2 Second half of Christine's interview with Belinda Watson of the Florida Department of Revenue 2/5/2007

Florida Sales Tax Regulations: Part 1 Christine Karpinski speaks with Belinda Watson of the Florida Department of Revenue about collecting sales taxes for vacation rental properties 1/29/2007

Go International - The Merits of Advertising Worldwide Christine speaks with the HomeAway UK office about global advertising advantages, challenges and differences 10/16/2006

Insurance for Vacation Rental Homes - Simplified Christine speaks with insurance expert D. Workman about getting insurance for vacation homes 10/16/2006

Sales Tax 101 Christine speaks with CPA and co-owner of HotSpotTax.com K. Stephens about collecting and paying sales taxes for vacation homes 10/16/2006

General Topics in Renting By Owner

Different Types of Vacation Rentals Christine talks about the different kinds of vacation rental properties from RVs to teepees to cabooses, as well as, the number one mistake that vacation rental owners make and how to get financing. 1/22/2007

Vacation Rental  Hot Spots Christine discusses the current best buy areas for vacation homes, how to find a real estate agent, and what she would say to someone interested in the vacation rental business. 1/16/2007

How to Find a Reliable Housekeeper or Cleaning Service Christine chats about how to find the perfect housekeeper, the importance of liability insurance, and why vacation rental owners should contact a lawyer before setting up an LLC. 1/8/2007

Making the Decision to Rent Your Second Home Christine outlines the reasons for renting your vacation home and discusses common fears. 1/2/2007

The Business of Owning and Renting a Vacation Home Christine talks about the business side of the vacation rental owner experience including why to write a business plan, how the real estate bubble is affecting vacation properties, and how to effectively advertise. 12/27/2006

Introduction to Vacation Rentals: The Basics of Buying a Vacation Rental Home Christine talks about the basics of buying a vacation rental home. 12/15/2006

Ask Christine Podcast Series

Ask Christine #40: Accepting a Far-in-Advance Booking for a Special Event
An owner asks: “I own a property in Whistler and I received an inquiry for a booking for the 2010 Olympics. This is much earlier than I typically confirm bookings. How should I handle the payments?” Christine explains the best way to handle far-in-advance bookings for special events. 7/20/2009

Ask Christine #39: How to Set Rental Rates for Your Vacation Home An owner asks: "I have a fairly unique vacation property. How can I set appropriate rates when I don't have any other properties to compare it to?" Christine offers guidance about how to go about setting rental rates for your vacation home. 7/6/2009

Ask Christine #38: How and When to Follow Up on Inquiries Christine suggests some guidelines for responding to inquiries by phone and email and following up with prospective renters. 6/22/2009

Ask Christine #37: What is a Monthly Rental? Christine explains how to determine whether a monthly rental is 30 days, 31 days or 4 weeks. 6/8/2009

Ask Christine #36: What If I Quoted the Wrong Rate? Christine provides suggestions for how to handle the situation of misquoting your vacation rental rates to a guest 5/25/2009

Ask Christine #35: When to Mark Your Calendar as Booked Christine addresses that gray area of what to do with your calendar when you have confirmed a booking but haven't yet received payment. 5/18/2009

Ask Christine #34: What to Do if Damages Exceed Deposit Christine addresses the unfortunate case of what to do if the cost of renter damage is greater than the required security deposit 5/11/2009

Ask Christine #33: What Should I Do Before I Allow Pets? Christine suggests some guidelines before allowing your guests to bring pets to your vacation rental 3/23/2009

Ask Christine #32: Should I Accept Credit Cards? Christine explains why she feels that accepting credit cards could increase bookings for your vacation rental 2/16/09

Ask Christine #31: Minor vs. Major Damage Christine shares some guidelines for when you might charge guests for damage and when to consider it a cost of doing business or normal wear and tear 2/9/2009

Ask Christine #30: Filing Taxes for Housekeepers Christine provides information on filing a 1099 for your vacation rental housekeeper 1/26/2009

Ask Christine #29: How to Screen Renters Christine provides tips on screening renters, including some specific red flags to watch for 1/12/2009

Ask Christine #28: How Often Should I Update My Listing? Christine explains the benefits of updating your vacation rental listing 1/5/2009

Ask Christine #27: Should I Accept Pets? Christine shares her opinions on the benefits of accepting pets at your vacation rental and addresses the concern about guests with allergies 12/29/08

Ask Christine #26: Describing Your Vacation Rental's Location Christine explains the importance of detailed location information in your listing and what specifics you should highlight 12/15/08

Ask Christine #25: Is It Okay to Leave a Family Photo? Christine addresses the balance between personal items and guest comfort 11/25/2008

Ask Christine #24: Should You Hire Models for Property Photos? Christine answers the common question of whether you should feature people in photos of your vacation property 11/17/2008

Ask Christine #23: Examples of Listings Christine tells owners how they can learn what makes a good listing by visiting Listings 101 on the Owner Community 11/10/2008

Ask Christine #22: Beachfront or Not? Christine addresses the question of how to advertise your condo if your complex is beachfront but your unit doesn't face the beach 10/27/08

Ask Christine #21: How the Economy is Affecting the Vacation Rental Industry Christine addresses how an uncertain economy and gas prices could affect your vacation home rentals

Ask Christine #20: The Benefits of Short-Term Rentals Christine discusses the benefits of renting your second home for short-term versus traditional long-term rentals 8/18/2008

Ask Christine #19: Selecting Amenities Christine shares ideas for indoor and outdoor amenities to add to your vacation rental 8/11/2008

Ask Christine #18: Preventing Chargebacks Christine defines "chargebacks" and provides pointers for prevention 7/28/2008

Ask Christine #17: Signs of Scam Inquiries Christine gives some pointers about how to spot a scam inquiry 7/21/2008

Ask Christine #16: Renters Asking for Reduced Rates Christine shares some ideas for working with budget-conscious travelers 7/8/2008

Ask Christine #15: How to Convert Inquiries to Bookings Christine advises a homeowner on how to convert her many inquiries into actual bookings 5/5/2008

Ask Christine #14: The Pros and Cons of Renting by Owner Christine touts the pros and cons of renting your vacation home by owner 4/7/2008

Ask Christine #13: Common Pricing Mistakes Christine discusses common pitfalls when pricing your vacation rental property 3/21/2008

Ask Christine #12: Multiple Property Owners and Calendars Should owners of more than one property leave their calendars blank? 1/9/2008

Ask Christine #11: Is It Okay to Charge Renters for Utilities? Christine answers the question of charging your guests for electricty, gas, or water 10/26/2007

Ask Christine #10: Should Your Break the Rental Rate Up into Rate, Fees, Taxes, etc.? Christine answers a question from an owner who wants to know if it's better to charge one all-inclusive rate or to break the rental rate into parts (cleaning fee, sales tax, etc.) 10/19/2007

Ask Christine #9: Should You Provide Linens or Have Your Guests Bring Their Own? Christine answers a question from an owner about whether it is better to provide linens or to require your guests to bring their own 9/29/2007

Ask Christine #8: Can Your Ask for a Credit Card in Case of Excess Damage? Christine answers a question from a Dillon Beach owner, who wonders if she can ask for a credit card in case of excess damage. 9/12/2007

Ask Christine #7: How to Find Short-Term Rental Insurance Christine answers a question from an owner who can't find an insurance company to cover her property 8/24/2007

Ask Christine #6: How to Get Keys to Renters Christine answers a question about the different options that owners have for handling keys 8/6/2007

Ask Christine #5: Requests for Multiple (But Not Complete) Weeks Christine answers a question from a North Myrtle Beach owner about how to handle requests for weeks that don't fit into the typical Saturday to Saturday model 7/23/2007

Ask Christine #3: Refunds for Inclement Weather Christine answers a question from a Winter Park, Colorado owner whose property was inaccessible due to closed roads 5/31/2007

Ask Christine #2: Damage Insurance Christine answers a question from a Bodega Bay owner who wonders if there are any companies that provide damage insurance for vacation rental homes 5/18/2007

Ask Christine #1: Should You Buy a 3BR or 4BR House?  This week, Christine answers a question asked by a potential owner who wonders whether he should invest in a 3BR or a 4BR house on Lake Hartwell 5/7/2007