Guestbooks are very nice to have in your vacation rental property. It gives the renters a chance to share their vacation experience with you and your subsequent guests.

I have had a guestbook in my vacation homes from day one. They are so much fun to look through and read. But there's also a lot of valuable information in there. My guestbooks contain everything from the best attractions, reviews of restaurants, to so many other fun things. People love to read them. Guestbooks can be used as a way for guests to give constructive criticism or suggestions that they may not necessarily feel comfortable telling you in person. For instance, once I read this entry in my guestbook: “It sounded like thunder rumbling constantly." The guest never mentioned this complaint to me. I did a little investigating. I found out that the condo directly above mine had broken rollers on their sliding glass door.  I got to the bottom of the problem and informed my upstairs neighbors. Then I wrote an entry in my own guestbook which read, “Thanks so much for letting me know. We got the problem resolved.” Once I had a repeat renter call me to say that she was disappointed that I had started a new guestbook. She said she wanted to read the reviews in the previous guestbook regarding the local attractions she missed on her last visit. Thankfully I had it in my owner's closet and gave her access to it.

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Guestbooks also offer a nice piece of “home history." It sends chills up my spine when I read the entries from a guest who occupied my property during the tragedy on 9/11, or the people from New Orleans who rented while they watched CNN as Hurricane Katrina ravaged thorough their hometown.

And don't forget to sign your own guestbook when you visit your second home. Be sure to write down any maintenance you did while you were there. I write stuff like, washed all the base boards, blew out the dryer vent, had the furnace cleaned, etc. By doing this it tells the renters that this is indeed your second home that you use yourself. In addition, it shows that you care about your home, and this may further entice the renters to care for it, too. Through your guestbook you show that you are actively involved in your property's maintenance.  Lastly, for IRS purposes, you can provide proof of maintenance vs. personal use of your property.

© Christine Karpinski  2006

*We are happy to send free guestbooks to US and APO addresses only.

Another Use for Your Guestbook-- Convert Entries into Listing Reviews    Convert your guestbook entries into listing reviews.