1. Create a stand-out headline. Because properties on VacationRentals.com are sorted by bedrooms, you'll want your headline to stand out among the other properties in your area that offer the same number as you. Be sure to feature your best amenities, highlight upcoming events, and include important location characteristics or area keywords. You might also want to feature available dates or special offers and discounts. Refreshing your headline is also a useful tool to help ensure that the search engines will continually index your listing

2. Use the VacationRentals.com calendar. Using the calendar to keep track of bookings will not only keep you sane and organized, but it could attract more renters. When you don't use the calendar on the site, your listing will not have the calendar icon. Some travelers will overlook listings that do not use the calendar because it makes it more difficult for them to determine your availability. Plus, some renters associate non-calendar-users with unresponsive or disorganized owners. Give your renters the right impression off the bat by maintaining an up-to-date calendar.

3. Upload all 8 pictures. Your VacationRentals.com listing automatically allows you to upload 8 pictures. Your pictures might just be the single most important feature of your ad because it helps you to visually sell your home to renters. Make the most of this space by including as many pictures as possible to show renters the best features of your home.

4. Choose your most eye-catching photos to display at the top. After your headline, your first two photos will be the first thing a renter sees when scrolling through your listing. To give the best first impression, make sure you're selecting your very best photos to be displayed first. Don't make renters click off of your listing by featuring a dark or blurry picture first. Also make sure that your photos don't include date stamps from a few years ago – that could give renters the impression that you're an inactive owner.

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5. Make the most of your description. Your VacationRentals.com description provides a lot of space for you to sell your home to potential renters. Use this space to describe the things that renters care about most. Be sure to describe all the bedrooms and the layout of your home, and really paint the renter experience. Because your photos won't have captions, use this space to describe all the features of your home.

6. List all amenities. Because you have an entire section devoted to your home's amenities, be sure to list everything that could be of importance to your renters. This could include anything from a blender to a flower garden or canoes. You have the space, so make the most of it. At first glance, owners that only have a small paragraph describing their amenities might not appear to have as much to offer as other owners that have included a long list. 7. Describe your location. The Activities and Attractions section should be used to describe everything that visitors might be interested in doing while on vacation - but don't forget logistics too. Let your renters know if they'll need a car or if you are close to mass transportation. You can also provide specific distances to local attractions, nearby cities, or major airports.

8. Include specific rate information. Rates are yet another important factor for renters selecting a vacation home. Because you have free text to describe your rates, be specific. Include nightly, weekly, and monthly rates, plus your minimum stays. Specify whether your rates change during different seasons, and provide clear dates. Let renters know what they can expect for cleaning fees and taxes. Be sure to spell out the deposit amount as well. You can also use this section to offer specials and provide restrictions or guidelines for maximum occupancy, holidays, etc.

9. Consider accepting pets. Travelers that are looking to bring their pets on vacation might only peruse through the listing pages looking for the “pets accepted” icon. Besides another icon to set you apart, you could also increase your bottom line by increasing your target market. Charging a pet fee is perfectly acceptable since the pet owners would have to pay to board the pet if they weren't able to bring it on vacation. Plus, traveling with pets is especially popular during the off-season when it might be harder to fill your calendar. (Please note that most owners that allow pets also increase their damage deposit and will include specific guidelines in their rental rules.)

10. Update your formatting for ease of reading.  Here's a VacationRentals.com insider tip – if you create your text in Notepad or Word Pad, you can fill more of the screen. Since our eyes are more accustomed to reading across the page, this formatting might be easier for vacationers to read. We also encourage bulleted lists (using asterisks) and capital letters to make important features stand out. In general, headers within your description and your rental rates will make your listing simpler for renters.

How to Write a Great Headline for Your Vacation Rental Listing It's critical that yours is not just good, but GREAT   How to Write about Your Vacation Rental Property's Location The description of your vacation rental property's location is a vital component of your ad and should not be overlooked   Christine on Keeping Up Vacation Rental Calendars Keeping calendars up-to-date has been a bit of a sore subject with vacation rental owners   11 Steps to Staging Great Photos for Your Vacation Rental Listing Tips to stage a room in your vacation rental so that your photos will look more professional

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10 Ways to Improve Your VacationRentals.com Listing    Learn tips for enhancing all aspects of your listing.