Hi everyone!

Hope you had a happy and safe Memorial Day. It was a quiet weekend for inquiries…until I had 20 people over for a Memorial Day BBQ! (Why is it that the phone can sit silent for days on end but as soon as you have guests over or place dinner on the table the phone starts ringing off the hook?)

Normally, I would let the phone just roll over to voicemail, but because I have a few properties that are still not booked for the summer, I gave my husband the wink that means “you entertain and I'll get the phone.” In the end, I'm really glad I took the calls because I ended up taking three bookings. Yippee!

On the flipside of things, I spent much of the weekend the same way many of our renters did — searching for vacation rentals for our family vacation this summer. We're going to Europe in August, and I have to say the European owners kick the average U.S. owner's butt as far as responsiveness goes. Every single owner I contacted got back to me within 12 hours, and most within an hour or so.

One thing that I noticed when I was looking for places is how much focus I put on the map. For me it was important to be in the city center, but I didn't trust their definition of “city center.” If they didn't have a map on their ads, the first question I asked in the inquiry was, “Can you please tell me the exact location of the closest intersection?”

I'm looking into my crystal ball and I think this will be a good week for bookings. What do you think?

Happy Renting!

Christine

Has your experience staying in vacation rentals as a traveler changed how you do business with your guests? “Yes! I just recently rented an old Victorian home and was on the receiving end. I took back a lot for myself and my rentals. First, I freaked out when my relatives lowered the AC more and more. I had just paid my condo power bill. The highest yet. They replied 'We're on vacation! And it's SO hot!' I realized I shouldn't take things so seriously and my tenants are saying the same thing on their vacation (except when I find my AC has been turned down to 40 degrees...I could have killed someone). I also realized that some of my tenants are WAY too picky and to take it with a grain of salt. I could have nit-picked every detail in the rental house. I found things my renters would have flipped over. But they were not a big deal to my family and we were there to enjoy our vacation. I had received a complaint that weekend about a sock under the bed and a few dust balls. It occurred to me while staying in the rental house, 'Who on earth even looks under a bed on vacation?' (Granted we do clean under our beds at the rentals, don't get me wrong. Must have been an oversight). But I realize how OCD some tenants can be. Secondly, I kindly told the owner of a few things that I think needed attention to and I now realize that when I receive emails of 'you need more hangers' etc... that maybe people are just trying to be helpful in a kind way and not trying to be picky and get money back. And thirdly, I realized my rentals are great and I do a great job and that felt really good!” - Shelley, Okaloosa Island, FL (HomeAway #218050, VRBO #57840, VacationRentals.com #19290)

Google Maps And Your Vacation Rental Listing Give travelers the location information they crave without sacrificing safety   Seal More Bookings With Your Inquiry Responses When to say yes, when to say no, and when to just pick up the phone   Sample Directions for Your Vacation Rental Guests Learn how to make sure your instructions are clear and complete   Checklist for Responding to Vacation Rental Inquiries Everything you need to include in a response before you hit "send"

© Copyright 2009 Christine Karpinski