The to maintaining a vacation home is prevention and preparedness.  Here are seven tips to consider:

1. Keep a copy of the local phone book for your vacation property in your permanent home so you can easily find appropriate maintenance contractors.
2. Write down the make, model, and serial numbers of all major appliances. If you need to schedule service, you can have this information on hand.
3. Consider purchasing extended warranties on major appliances, especially washers and dryers, since they are appliances that are used above and beyond normal use.
4. Consider installing a kitchen sink disposal, if your house doesn't have one.
5. For properties using wells, consider replacing water consumption appliances with water saving appliances (i.e., toilets, front-load washing machines, dishwashers, and shower heads).
6. Consider installing low maintenance ceramic, hardwood, or solid surface flooring.
7. Consider replacing things before they get worn out and dingy, especially coffee makers, toasters, blenders, wash cloths, towels, pillows, and all bedding.

© Christine Karpinski 2006

VRBO Listing Critique: Ariel Dunes (Destin, FL)    Very thorough listing with a good use of space.

How to Write a Standout Description for Your VRBO Listing    Learn pointers for creating a thorough and easy-to-read property description.

10 Tips for Creating a YouTube Video for Your VRBO Listing    Learn tips for filming your vacation rental to make the most of the new YouTube video feature on VRBO.

One-on-One with Washington State Vacation Rental Owner Bob Kelly (Transcript)    Christine talks with vacation rental owner, Bob Kelly, about why he chose renting by owner in Pacific Beach, WA.

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

One-on-One with Canmore, AB Vacation Rental Owner Richard Colwell Part 1 (Transcript)    Christine discusses the challenges of owning and renting a vacation home in Canada while living in the UK.

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.

Checklist for Turning Your Second Home into a Vacation Rental    A step-by-step guide for preparing your vacation home for rentals.

How to Market Your Vacation Home to Foodies    Food can play a major role in travel plans, so consider the role of your kitchen within your vacation rental listing.

Sample Directions for Your Vacation Rental Guests    Learn how to make your vacation rental directions clear and thorough.

Hot Tub Rules for Your Vacation Rental Property     Suggestions for rules to post to keep your guests safe, your neighbors happy, and your hot tub clean.

Year-End Tax Considerations for Vacation Rental Owners    As 2007 comes to a close, remember year-end responsibilities.

10 Less-Obvious Things to Include in Your Vacation Home Directions    Help renters be fully prepared for their stay at your home by going the extra “mile” for your vacation home directions.

Recovering from a Hurricane at Your Vacation Rental Home    Suggestions for managing hurricane damage at your vacation rental property.

Top 10 Most Common Cleaning Problems at Vacation Rentals    Avoid some of your renters' biggest complaints.

Sample Vacation Rental Cleaning Checklist    A quick rundown of the things your housekeeper should clean between each guest.

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

24 Ways to Cut Costs at Your Vacation Rental: Part 2    More tips for saving money at your vacation rental by trimming the fat and joining the green movement.

Annual Maintenance Checklist for Vacation Rental Homes    The winter season can be hard on a home. For that reason, either spring or fall is the best time to perform annual maintenance tasks.

20 Steps to a Greener Vacation Rental Home    Ways to create a better indoor environment for you family and guests, lower your energy bills, and help the environment.

How to Decrease Your Electricty Bill by Lowering Appliance Costs    Learn how to lower the cost to power your refrigerator, washer, dryer, and dishwasher.

Post-Peak Season Maintenance Plan for Vacation Rentals    After 12 weeks of continuous use, your property probably deserves a little TLC.

What is a Reasonable Vacation Rental Cleaning Fee?    How do you determine how much you should be paying for housekeeping between guests?

Dryer Safety: Preventing Fires in Your Vacation Home    Protect your second home from dangerous and costly dryer fires.

Fifteen "Must Haves" for Vacation Property Maintenance    Having these supplies on hand will help clean or repair any unexpected mishaps in your vacation rental home.

Decreasing the Heating and Cooling Costs at Your Second Home    Make sure that you're not losing unnecessary cold air, heat, and money at your condo or cabin.

7 Things To Clean Regularly at Your Vacation Rental    Cleaning prolongs the life of many appliances. Here's a list of things to consider cleaning.

Spring Cleaning Checklist: Clean, Restock or Replace at Your Vacation Rental    Cleaning and stocking tasks to be completed to prepare for the busy summer season.

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

The Pros and Cons of Renting To College Students    Here are some considerations to take into account when deciding whether to welcome young renters.

The Unique Challenges of Living Near Your Vacation Rental    Guide to balancing your life and your guests' demands by Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner

Christine's Blog: The Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (12/15/08)    Christine urges vacation rental owners to install CO detectors in their homes.

Christine's Blog: New Appliances (July 22, 2008)    Christine's special anniversary gifts resolve some vacation rental problems.

Amenities & Furnishings   From beds to barbeques, hot tubs to appliances, guestbooks to high-speed internet. A look at the many niceties you should consider for your vacation rental.

Three Safe Appliances To Buy For Your Vacation Property    Three “must-have” appliances for your vacation rental home.

How to Create a Gourmet Kitchen at Your Vacation Rental    Learn how to make your kitchen a destination in itself.

Amenities Checklist for Vacation Rentals    What amenities are expected and which will help seal the deal?

Tips for Furnishing Your Vacation Rental Home    Guide to choosing new furnishings for your vacation rental home.

How to Build an Outdoor Living Area at Your Vacation Rental    Learn some of the components of building a functional, comfortable, and memorable outdoor living space.

Kitchen Checklist for Vacation Rentals    Which items should you provide before you claim to have a fully-stocked kitchen?

12 Things That Every Vacation Rental Should Have    Don't forget to stock these necessities next time you visit your vacation home.

February 15, 2007: Palm Springs Short-Term Rental Application    Running a vacation rental business in the city of Palm Springs, CA requires a permit.

Frequent Vacation Rental Scam Inquiries    We've added this section to our site to help owners spot vacation rental scams. Have you received a suspicious inquiry? Send it to us and we'll post it in this section.