Hello everyone! Wow can you believe that December is almost here? Where did the year go?

In this month’s newsletter we have added articles about decorating your vacation home as well as some amenities that you can add to your home which could help your property stand out from the rest. Be sure to read them and consider adding some new things to your vacation rental home before we get into the January busy booking season. As you prepare for the holidays, don’t forget the folks who make your vacation rentals run smoothly—your housekeepers, groundskeepers, and maintenance folks. We’ve written an article with some ideas for gifts you can send which will show how much you appreciate them.

And for fun, in this month’s newsletter the top 10 list is my holiday wish list. Have a great December! Christine

Christine’s Holiday Vacation Rental Wish List

1) Every person in the whole wide world will think “vacation rental” when they’re planning their next vacation. 2) All my rentals will be fully booked with the best guest anyone could ask for. 3) Every inquiry will result in a booking (hey it’s a wish list) 4) My housekeepers will show up on time and do an amazing job—everything will sparkle like new! 5) No one will ever lose a key or lock themselves out. 6) No big ticket item will break on January 2nd (remember, it’s a bad omen I have).

7) Oprah will call me and want to do a show about vacation rentals! --Hey can you write her and tell her it would be an awesome show! 8) Terry Gross, host of Fresh Air, will want to interview me on her radio show—she is my idol and my favorite radio interviewer. 9) I will not get a call from Dr. Phil asking me to be on his show! That would be bad news :) 10) The Second Edition of my book will hit #1 on The New York Times Bestseller’s list—ok maybe I’ll settle for Amazon’s best seller’s list (that’s not unrealistic, #1 on Amazon has happened before!)

Recently Added Articles to the Owner Community

Decorating Your Vacation Home for the Holidays Easy ways to spread holiday cheer from afar.

Ten Fun Amenities That Will Seal the Deal The big ticket amenities like hot tubs and pool tables may get their own checkbox in the amenity table, but for renters, these special touches can be the deciding factor between your home and the next. Don't Lower Your Rates, Raise Your Standards Increased competition in your area? Don't panic and slash your rates. Instead add value.

Ten Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Housekeepers and Maintenance Staff Don't forget your housekeepers and maintenance persons during the holiday season!

How to Turn a Good Photo into a Great One Bring a room to life with a few easy changes.

The Extras: Which Amenities Will Set Your Home Apart? From HDTVs to Air Conditioning, which amenities will help set your vacation rental apart from the competition? Ask Christine: Why Do I Get a Lot of Inquiries, But No Bookings? Christine answers a question from an owner who gets a lot of inquiries, but very few bookings.

Vacation Rental Market Q&A: Orlando/Disney Area Insight into the Orlando area vacation rental market from Central Florida realtor, Steve Schaffer.

3 Options for Marketing Your Vacation Rental on the Internet Three ways to get exposure (and renters) for your vacation home. The 4 Criteria That All Renters Are Looking For Make sure that your vacation rental listing talks to your intended audience.

Setting Goals and Objectives It's important to determine clear goals for your vacation rental.

Articles by Guest Writer, Joanne Palmisano

Ten Closing Tips for Your Cottage, Camp or Cabin Hints for closing up your vacation home for the winter.

Five Things to Do Before Heading to Your Vacation Home A few tips for preparing for your trip to your property. Two Great Cabin Crafts Ideas Steps for creating two easy cottage-style picture frames.

Interested in contributing content to the Owner Community?  Send us an email with your name, contact info, and proposed topic.

Question of the Month Last month we asked" What questions would you like to ask your peers?" and will be rolling out your proposed questions over the next few months. Share your advice: Florette (Kissimmee) asks,  "In a very competitive market, what can I do to make my home stand out?"

Local Rental Alerts November 23, 2007: Public Hearing in Oahu on Vacation Rentals Hearing regarding short-term rentals in Honolulu on Nov. 28th.

November 8, 2007: Las Vegas Votes to Pass Bill Banning Short-Term Rentals City council votes 4-2 on vacation rental ordinance.

Christine's Blog Posts

November 27, 2007: A Last-Minute Lock Change Christine deals with renters who forget to return the keys to her property-- and the backup set.

November 19, 2007: Getting Your Ads Ready for 2008 Christine prepares for the Thanksgiving holiday--- and for the new year.

November 12, 2007: Dealing with a Drought Christine offers insight into how to divert complaints when dealing with less than ideal situations.

November 6, 2007: Revisiting Your Insurance Policy A little CNN Headline News inspires Christine to look over the insurance policies and declaration pages for her vacation rental homes.

Recently Added Podcasts

The Scoop on HomeAway's Rent With Confidence Guarantee Christine talks with Trey Herschap, HomeAway's Director of Trust & Safety, about the Rent With Confidence Guarantee and what it means for vacation rental owners.

Have a question for Christine? Leave a message at (512) 493-4340 and get an answer on the air.

Seminar Schedule

The last seminar of 2007 is coming up this weekend in Destin: December 1st and 2nd: Destin, FL Look for 2008 dates in: Toronto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, and Seattle.

November Vacation Rental News

Visit the Owner Community for more November Vacation Rental News and 100s of articles in the Vacation Rental News archive.

11/27/07: Elk Rapids OKs short-term rentals Record-Eagle.com 11/18/07: Come November, Florida visitors often look to buy vacation homes News-JournalOnline.com 11/13/07: Buying a beach house? Bring Cash. CNNMoney.com

We're Trying a Few New Things... In the new year, the Owner Community plans to launch a few new initiatives for our owners.   Thanks to everyone who took the Vacation Rental Owners Conference survey.  We're currently analyzing and considering your feedback. We're in the process of trying out a few different technology solutions and need your participation and input. 1) Join Christine on Weds. Dec 5th at 11:00am EST for a test run of the "Ask Christine" hour (this one will only be 30 minutes).  Prepare questions for Christine, chat with fellow owners, or simply listen in. To participate: 1) Dial: (724) 444-7444 2) Enter: 80979 # (Talkcast ID) 3) Enter: 1 # 2) Attend a free online seminar (webinar) on Tues. Dec. 11th at 7:00pm EST.  Pre-registration is required.  Only 15 seats available.  Register online to secure a seat.  All participants will be asked to fill out a quick survey after the event. Learn more about the HomeAway Network or List your property today.

Have a question or comment? Email us.