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I hope your summer rentals are running smoothly. It's hard to believe that now is the time to start thinking about your marketing tactics for the fall and winter seasons. I know for most people these two seasons can be slower times for rentals, so how can you boost your rentals during the less-popular time of the year?
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Well have no fear, your Owner Community newsletter is here to give you lots of ideas. This month's top ten list, "10 Groups that Might Rent Your Home in the Fall," might spark some good ideas for you. Or visit our Off-Season Marketing page for a variety of tips to help boost your rentals. For those of you that consider your fall and winter to be your peak season, then you'd surely want to look at these articles as well to be sure your marketing is ready for your busy season.
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Happy Renting,
Christine
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Question of the Month
Summer will be over before we know it, and many owners will be facing their slow season. We're curious how you're filling your calendars. Besides reducing prices, what are you doing to attract off-season renters? Let us know in our Off-Season Marketing survey.
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| Last month we asked our owners how often they update their property listings. View the results to see how your listing updates compare. |
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Have a question for Christine? Leave a message at (512) 493-4340 and get an answer on the air.
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Upcoming Seminars
Registration is now open for seminars through September 30. Click on the cities below for more information.
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Upcoming Webinars
We've been hard at work developing new webinar topics and recently added Pre-Recorded Webinars that you can view at your convenience. Visit the Vacation Rental Webinars Page for more information.
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Upcoming Live Webinars:
Buying the Right Vacation Home
Quick Tips for Responding to Inquiries
Vacation Renting 101: Tips for Getting Started
Selecting Photos: Room by Room
10 Ways to Quickly Improve Your HomeAway Listing |
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Pre-Recorded Webinars:
Amenities: Must-Haves and Extras
Buying the Right Vacation Home
How to Market Your Vacation Home to Families with Children
How to Write a Compelling Headline & Description for HomeAway
How to Write a Compelling Headline & Description for VRBO |
| July Vacation Rental News |
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Visit the Owner Community for more July Vacation Rental News and 100s of articles in the Vacation Rental News archive.
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5 IRS Rules for Renting Out Your Vacation Home "Whether you use your vacation getaway every weekend or just a few times a year, you may want to rent it out occasionally to offset some of your expenses. That's fine, as long as you don't set off any alarms with the Internal Revenue Service." Kiplinger.com 7/15/2008
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| What to Consider When Buying a Second Home "If you're fortunate enough to be in the market for a second home, avoid some common mistakes that could turn your dream vacation retreat or investment property into a nightmare." Star-Telegram.com 7/13/2008 |
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A boom, this one in short selling "Short sales, in which the lender agrees to accept less for the property than what is owed, are soaring." HeraldTribune.com 7/13/2008
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10 Groups That Might Rent Vacation Homes in the Fall
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1. Bargain Hunters. Although the bargain hunters might be frustrating during the peak season, you might be willing to entertain their offers once the slower seasons roll around. Take advantage of those deal-seeker inquiries by promoting your available weeks in the fall. Chances are the bargain hunters might just take what they can get.
2. Semi-Locals. Since “high gas prices” seems to be playing on repeat in the news, travelers might start avoiding those soaring airfares and taking trips closer to home. Reach out to those travelers that are within driving distance and looking for a long weekend out of town. And don';t forget that many schools are closed for Fall Breaks or Columbus Day, providing families with some extra vacation time.
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3. Empty Nesters. When the kids are all grown, many parents will take advantage of their new-found freedom (and extra spending money) by hitting the road. Without kids, these couples are probably less restricted by school calendars and vacation days and may be more inclined to travel in the off-season to avoid the crowds. Be sure to emphasize the benefits of traveling to your town once the tourists have started to fizzle out.
4. Honeymooners. Let';s face it – a June wedding isn';t for everyone, at least not if it';s 102 degrees where you live. Reach out to couples planning fall weddings, and promote your home as a perfect honeymoon destination. Try to up the romance-ante in your ads by featuring candles, rose petals, and champagne in your photos.
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5. Special Event Travelers. Even though your city may not be hosting the Olympics or the Superbowl, there could be plenty of other festivals and concerts that might attract travelers to your area. Be sure to promote local events within your vacation rental listing - even if it means hayrides at the neighborhood pumpkin patch or your local Renaissance Festival – because you never know which renters it might grab. |
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6. Sports Enthusiasts. Many college alumni will travel to their alma mater to attend football games and other sporting events, and don';t forget the loyal fans of your city';s professional teams. Whether the teams are champions or chumps, if you have access to these tickets, you might consider including them in a package to attract the die-hard fans.
7. Pet Lovers. Reach out to those travelers that won';t leave Fluffy or Mrs. Whiskerson at home during family vacations. You might avoid accepting pets during your peak weeks simply because you';ll fill those dates regardless, but during the slow season, try to expand your target market.
8. Employee Retreats. Many companies will try to boost morale amongst employees and get the creative juices flowing by heading outside the cubicle walls. A healthy mix of brainstorming sessions and rounds of golf can do wonders for business goals. Or sometimes professionals just need some time away from the hustle bustle of the office (and the water cooler chatter) to catch up on work and get inspired. Emphasize the quietness of your home and the convenience of your work space for these working vacationers.
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9. Early Skiers. Even though many slopes don';t really start to get busy until December or January, the first snow of the season could be as early as October or November. As long as it sticks, early skiers might be seeking out quieter slopes and discounted rates to get a jump on their ski season.
10. Guys/Girls Getaways. We';re not saying you should try to host a rowdy bachelor party at your vacation home, but sometimes guys and girls of all ages just need to get away from home and from each other! Be sure to feature the local attractions that would appeal to these groups (golf courses, fishing, spas, shopping, etc.) And you don';t necessarily have to have a large home – remember mother/daughter and father/son getaways as well.
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| What Can a HomeAway Special Offer do for Me? |
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Need a way to boost last-minute bookings or attract bargain hunters in the off-season? Consider promoting your listing with a HomeAway Special Offer.
The benefits:
- Your listing will be highlighted with an orange box to make it stand out to prospective renters.
- Your vacation home will be included in the Special Offers section of the site and the drill-down options of search results, which many travelers refer to for their accommodations.
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How does it work?
- Select an offer that works best for you – discounted rates, special promotions, or even creative extras like babysitting services, tickets to local attractions or a free meal at a local restaurant.
- Sign up for your Special Offer for just $20 for two weeks. If it';s successful, continue to display your offer for $10 per week.
To sign up, simply sign in to your HomeAway Owner home page, and click “Edit Listing.” Then just follow the instructions on the Special Offers tab. |
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