Create a One-of-a-Kind Experience

Your guests have plenty of vacation accommodations to choose from, so it's up to you to make their experience so special that they want to return again in the future. Besides all the typical items you equip your home with, consider the extras that might make your guests' stay a bit more memorable. You want to reinforce that they chose the right place for their vacation, and it never hurts to remind them of your property name, listing ID or website address so they can find you again in the future.

Small tokens. Give a small gift like a bottle of wine, mints on the pillows, a delivery of fresh flowers or fresh fruit (which your housekeeper might be able to help with), a handwritten welcome note, a magnet with your home's name or logo, or a picture frame so they can display the memories from their trip. 

Local Attraction Book. While your guests are at your home, you should also have a thorough local attraction book on hand. Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than boredom, so make sure they have plenty of options for activities and dining. See our article 22 things to Put into a Local Attraction Book for Your Renters.

Contact Previous Renters

Encouraging bookings from past guests should be pretty straightforward as long as you make sure their stay goes smoothly and you keep-in-touch. It may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many vacation rental owners deposit the rental check and never think of a renter again. Keep organized records and files so you can remain in contact with previous renters.

• Holiday Cards. One easy way to remind a past renter about your second home is to send them a holiday card or postcard with a picture of your home on the front.

• Special Offers. If you ask guests for their birthdates or anniversaries at the time of booking or check-in, keep these dates in your calendar. Then you can set up reminders to send cards when these dates are approaching, offering a 10% discount for birthday or anniversary trips.

• Quarterly Newsletters. Keep your past renters abreast of the changes to your property, new amenities, reduced prices, special offers or just the goings-on in your town. You can create an email newsletter or go old-fashioned and mail a physical one. Either way, it will keep your property on their radar. See our article How to Create an Email Newsletter for Past Guests.

Prevent Problems

One of the simplest ways to encourage repeat renters is to prevent problems. Of course there might be things that are simply out of your control, so be sure to address any issues that do come up as fast as possible. And as you gain experience with your vacation rental, these out-of-the-blue problems may become preventable in the future.

• Ensure cleanliness. One of the most common guest complaints relates to overall cleanliness. Nobody wants to see hair on the floor or dust on the ceiling fans. So be sure to set strict check-in and checkout times, have good communication with your housekeeper, and provide your housekeeper with a detailed cleaning checklist to set clear expectations for each cleaning.

• Employ preventative maintenance. Make sure to go through your annual maintenance checklist and take care of any preventative tasks you've been putting off. This can help thwart potential problems before they occur.

• Address problems immediately. If something is not to your guests' satisfaction, try to address it right away. You should also do your best to fulfill reasonable requests. If, for example, your guests thought your home included a hair dryer, you might tell them to just pick one up and you'll reimburse them later.

• Set clear expectations. Remember to always be truthful when describing your home. It can be easy for enthusiastic owners to get carried away describing a home they love; just be sure to set appropriate expectations so you're not dealing with disappointed guests.

• Disclose all costs. And of course remember to outline all costs up front. Nothing will set off a renter's wrath quicker than hidden fees and charges after the booking.

What do you do to make the experience of your renters one-of-a-kind?

"I have the table set with lovely mountain stoneware, local made placemats, a bottle of wine, wine glasses, a loaf of fresh baked whole grain bread, a box of specialty 70% dark chocolate cookies, and fresh flowers. I bake the bread myself along with the baking for my own family; the flowers are from my own garden or seasonal wild flowers; I get a highly rated inexpensive wine by the case from Trader Joes. It's quick, easy, and inexpensive on my part, and my guests love the surprise of coming in and seeing a lovely old oak table loaded with goodies!" - Bobby, Harpers Ferry, WV (HomeAway #330312, VRBO #196903)

"I always have a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table." Sarah M., Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

"I always have a bottle of Champagne with a bow and a thank you note waiting for them." Diane, Rancho Mirage.  (VRBO #154863)

"We have bought them a birthday dinner out, given a free night, included free hot tub, flowers on the table, champagne for newlyweds, and our special business card for our returners with free wine or ice cream at our favorite ocean view restaurant printed on the back!" -Cathy and Mike, Brookings, OR.  (HomeAway #149361, VRBO #27769)

"I have an inexpensive age-appropriate gift for any children, and I have a local cookbook or other local item as a gift for the renters. I also leave a welcome note for the renters, and have a notebook full of local maps, brochures and places of interest." -Anne, Neebish Island. (VRBO #172317)

"I have a package of take home plastic cups that change colors when you put in cold liquid (to get them in the vacation mood). It has my motto and rental info so they can think about me all year. I also give flat can holders with my info on it so they can use during and take home as well." -Stephanie, Gulf Shores, AL (VRBO #114552)

"I provide them with a bottle of wine, provide business cards for taking, provide a listing of restaurants, provide coffee, creamer, sugar, and mail them a thank-you note with our information in a personally made card after they leave." -Terry, Helen, GA (HomeAway #183314, VRBO #138457)

"I always leave a welcome paper on the tagble and a note to let me know if i can help make their stay more comfortable.I call them while they are here to let them know i am always available to help them in any way." -Ernie and Helen, Myrtle Beach, SC (VRBO #71768, VacationRentals.com #45556)

"Always send a yummy cake." - Kelli, Davenport, FL (HomeAway #200763)

"I want guests to feel comfortable and at home. I have glass-domed dessert stand that I always fill with something I bake: chocolate chip cookies, brownies or lemon poppy seed bread. I leave a note with important information and tips about the area. I make up all of the beds beautifully. I send the security deposit return with a hand written thank you note on a custom card with artwork of my cottage." -Julie, Bartlett, NH (HomeAway #128184) 

"I planted a few tomatoes (in pots) so my guests could have ripe tomatoes during their stay. They were a big hit. I also have a welcome basket for arriving guests." -Mildred, Marco Island, FL (VRBO #126644)

"I leave a freshly baked loaf of award winnning Apple Zucchini bread in the kitchen, orange juice in the fridge, and individually wrapped candies on the table. In addition, for those new to the area, I offer about an hour's ride around the area to show them the scenic highlights, recommended restaurants, and whatever else they want to see. This is great since it's a good chance for us to develop a personal relationship.This is convenient since my home is next door to the vacation rental. I also ask them to let me know at any time of anything I can do to make their stay more pleasant." -Shirley, Crescent City, CA (HomeAway #218007, VRBO #42681)

“Just before our guests arrive, we always send them our latest restaurant reviews and new places that have opened on the island that may not be listed in the book we keep in our condo. We also send a Top 10 list of places to eat.” - Mark, Cozumel, Mexico

	How to Keep Your Vacation Home Booked in an Uncertain Economy Tips for marketing your vacation home during these tough financial times.
	Seal More Bookings with Your Inquiry Responses Learn when to say yes, when to say no, and when to just pick up the phone!
	How to Make Your Listing as Good as Your Vacation Home Don't let your special touches go unnoticed – be sure to advertise everything you offer.
	3 Steps for Resolving the Problems of Your Vacation Rental Guests How to turn a disgruntled holiday rental guest into a repeat one.

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