When setting sail into the vacation rental sea, here are a few universal keys to success:

1) List on 3-5 listing websites to ensure maximum exposure for your property. 2) Be the first to respond to a renter's inquiry. 3) Be polite and friendly. 4) Keep your ads up-to-date, especially your calendar.

5) If you're not getting as many bookings as you'd like, consider broadening your spectrum of renters.

6) Optimize your listings for the search engines by being as specific as possible when writing your headline, photo captions, and descriptions. 7) Solicit reviews from past renters to help further sell your vacation home to potential travelers.

8) To avoid miscommunications, have a set list of cleaning tasks for your housekeeper or cleaning service to do between each guest. 9) Have an extra set of linens and towels to make back-to-back rentals easier on your housekeeper. 10) Establish a clear refund policy to protect yourself from lost revenue. 11) Establish strict policies regarding check-in and checkout and be clear about your expectations. What do you want your guests to do before they leave, etc.? 12) If you'd like to boost off-season bookings, consider accepting pets. 13) Keep detailed records of all communications and bookings on a spreadsheet and maintain a good filing system on your computer to avoid scheduling errors and double-bookings.