The following is a commentary written by Christine Karpinski, while they are the views of Christine Karpinski, they may not necessarily be the views of HomeAway Inc. or its subsidiaries.

The first year that I accepted credit cards (2004) I only took the deposit via credit card, minimizing the cost, but I felt it was worth the "insurance" that the booking was "good". Surprisingly, I found the renters also looked at me differently, more as a business, trusting that I was more legitimate. In 2005 I decided to run all my transactions through the credit card merchant account. Now when a person asks,`Can I send a check for the balance?', I shy away from that option. I tell them if they have a credit card that's attached to their checking account that would be better, and I can take out the money when they desire.

HomeAway Listing Critique: Calla Lily Villa (Crescent Lakes, FL)    This Orlando area listing uses its photos and descriptions to its advantage.

Listings 101 Checklist for Building a HomeAway Listing    Critique your own listing using our Listings 101 criteria.

HomeAway Listing Critique: TurtleCon (Kiawah Island, SC)    This listing faces the challenge of advertising a multi-unit home.

HomeAway Listing Critique: Park Ave Condo (Park City, UT)    With brighter photos and a stronger headline, this listing should be able to stand out in the crowded Park City marketplace.

VRBO Listing Critique: Sea Sun Rentals (Fairfield Sunrise, AZ)    With some help from this owner's personal website, this VRBO listing could be especially great.

HomeAway Listing Critique: The Riverhouse (Orland, ME)    The listing for this Maine charmer needs a little help, but with a little color and care, it will be bringing in bookings in no time.

Example Assessment Using Listings 101 Critique Criteria    Example of how to improve your vacation rental listing using the criteria spelled out in the Listings 101 Guidelines.

Listings 101 Checklist for Building VRBO.com Listings    Criteria used in assessing VRBO.com vacation rental listings for Listings 101.

One-on-One with New Hampshire Rental Owner, Robin Clapp (Transcript)    Christine talks with vacation rental owner Robin Clapp.

Ask Christine #18: Preventing Chargebacks (Transcript)    This week, Christine answers the question of avoiding chargebacks.

One-on-One with Destin Vacation Rental Owner, Gayla Berry (Transcript)    Christine talks with Destin owner, Gayla Berry.

Go International-- The Merits of Advertising Your Vacation Rental Worldwide (Transcript)    Christine speaks with the HomeAway UK about renting vacation properties worldwide.

Managing Vacation Rental Properties as a Co-op (Transcript)    Christine interviews Bev Babich of Colorado, who is part of a Vacation Rental Property Co-op

Ask Christine #8: Can You Ask for a Credit Card in Case of Excess Damage? (Transcript)    Christine answers a question from a Dillon Beach owner .

One-on-One with Baltimore Vacation Rental Owner, Richard Pretl (Transcript)    Christine interviews experienced owner, Richard Pretl, about his vacation rental in Baltimore, Maryland.

One-on-One with Canmore, AB Vacation Rental Owner Richard Colwell Part 2 (Transcript)    Christine continues her discussion on the challenges of renting and maintaining a vacation property from abroad.

Running a Vacation Rental Business FAQs    Commonly asked questions about renting by owner including screening, insurance, and more. New FAQs added 7/29/08.

How to Market Your Vacation Home to Business Travelers    Learn how to attract business travelers as renters for your vacation property.

Marketing Your Vacation Rental to International Travelers: FAQs    Answers to commonly asked questions about advertising and renting to travelers form outside the U.S.

10 More Vacation Rental Tips for the New Year    Ways to make 2008 your best rental year yet.

How to Book Last-Minute Rentals at Your Vacation Property    Tactics you can use to increase last-minute bookings of your vacation rental property.

Get Organized: 12 Ways to Simplify Your Vacation Rental Life    Tips for more confidently handling any problems that arise.

Merchant Credit Card Account Categories for Vacation Rental Owners    Be aware of the protection (or lack thereof) provided by your merchant account and/or business category.

How to Accept Payments from Your Vacation Rental Guests    Establishing a clear payment policy turns the challenges of financial transactions into major rewards.

How To Avoid Cancellations While "The Check Is In The Mail"    Steps which should help avoid turning away valuable bookings from vacation rental guests while you're waiting for a “check in the mail."

How to Protect Your Good Name: Vacation Rental Transactions    Safeguard your renters and your reputation by avoiding unsafe payment methods.

Accepting Nightly Stays at Your Vacation Rental     Think outside the “weekly box” and consider accepting weekend bookings at your vacation home.

The Scoop on Accepting Credit Cards from Your Vacation Rental Guests    Ten good reasons to reconsider accepting them from your guests.

The Top Ten Things You Should Have In Your Vacation Rental Rules    A good rental policy can go a long way toward protecting you and your renters from common vacation rental “disasters."

The Pros and Cons of Accepting PayPal from Vacation Rental Guests    The pros and cons of accepting PayPal.

Top Ten Things Vacation Rental Owners Should Know About the Average Traveler    What the typical traveler is looking for when they search for a vacation rental.

The Pros and Cons of Accepting American Express from Vacation Rental Guests    Should you accept Amex? The pros and cons.

The Different Types of Vacation Rental Travelers    A light-hearted look at the easy-to-book travelers, the tough-sells, and the ones to avoid altogether.

Traveler's Thoughts...Revealed    A “behind the looking glass” perspective into travelers' likes, fears, and annoyances about renting vacation homes.

When to Allow a Renter to Pay by Wire Transfer    An option for international guests or last minute bookings.

How to Collect Last-Minute Funds from Vacation Renters    What is the safest and quickest way to receive funds from last-minute 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.

10 Ways to Ease in Travelers New to Renting Vacation Homes    For some, renting a vacation home sight-unseen can be a leap of faith. Here are some ways to ease their minds.

Six Reasons To Accept Credit Cards from Travelers    More than a just convenience for your renters-- it makes your life much easier!

Chargebacks and PayPal for Vacation Rental Transactions    What are chargebacks, why are they different on PayPal, and how can you avoid them?

When to Allow a Renter to Pay by Wire Transfer    An option for international guests or last minute bookings.

Should You Accept Credit Cards from Your Vacation Rental Guests?    For many renters, the deciding factor of which property to rent might just come down to the one that accepts credit cards.

Ask Christine: Can I Ask For a Credit Card Number in Case of Damages?    Christine answers a question from an owner who does not take credit cards, but who wonders if she can keep a credit card number on file in case of excessive damage.

Christine's Blog: Misconceptions About Recent Inquiry (5/27/2008)    Christine discusses an inquiry from what she thought was a scammer but was actually a qualified renter.

Christine's Blog: Sending Two Contracts for the Same Week (4/7/08)    Christine gets on a soapbox about why you shouldn't send two contracts out to potential renters for the same week.

Christine's Blog: Credit Card Scam or Not? (4/30/07)    Christine talks about her experience dealing with an unsavory credit card situation.

Christine's Blog: Preparing for Vacation (8/5/08)    Christine talks about the building excitement and the not-so-fun prep work for her upcoming vacation.

May 1, 2007: Credit Card Scammers Target Vacation Rental Owners    Two credit cards scams affecting rental owners.

Frequent Vacation Rental Scam Inquiries    We've added this section to our site to help owners spot vacation rental scams. Have you received a suspicious inquiry? Send it to us and we'll post it in this section.

August 30, 2007: A New Twist on an Old Scam    A savvy owner recounts her conversation with an over-the-phone scammer.

July 9, 2007: Did HomeAway Add My Property to This Website?    As scraping becomes more and more common, it's important to be aware and to take action.