Hi everyone!

Hope you're doing well. Last week was a pretty slow week for me inquiry-wise. And I even lost a booking!

I had a renter email me that she had to cancel her vacation due to an extenuating circumstance with work. (She did explain it, but I won't get into the details.)  And while I had a signed contract from her and had full “legal” right to keep every single penny of her rental, I did my usual buckle-at-the-knees and refunded her money (except for a $50 fee which covers my credit card merchant account processing fees).

While I may talk a big game, when it really comes down to it I'm pretty much a softie. In all my years of renting many properties, I have only ever kept money for one cancellation. While it might not be the best for my bottom line, it always seems to work itself out and I'm able to rebook it anyhow. Maybe its good karma or just plain dumb luck but nonetheless, I can sleep at night.

Also, last week VRBO.com released its new feature: thumbnail photos. When I went to the pages that showed all the properties in my area, I realized that my photos didn't stand out from the rest on the page so I had to go to all my listings and change the first photo. If you have a listing on VRBO you should check your pages too!

Have a great week!

Christine

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Have you ever been unsure about issuing a refund? "Absolutely not! We are very specific about the refundability rules of our security deposits and cleaning fees. Although we don't allow refunds if there's a cancellation, we do allow the funds to remain on file for one year from original date of occupancy. This allows our renters to reschedule for a later time and still keeps good faith between us and our customers. Homes are not like hotels, they're maintained by people with "day jobs" and most people who rent vacation homes are very aware of this principle. Happy renting!" - Frank, Pacific Beach, WA (VRBO #123182, VacationRentals.com #33079)

Insure Your Bookings in Case of Traveler Cancellations Why you might recommend travel insurance to your renters.   How to Avoid Cancellations from Vacation Rental Guests The best way to avoid a cancellation: Don't book a reservation without having money in hand.   Security Deposit Guidelines for Vacation Rentals Helpful guidelines to follow for handling deposits for your rental.   The Importance of Choosing a Unique Thumbnail Photo Make sure your thumbnail stands out amongst the other properties in your area.

© Copyright 2009 Christine Karpinski