Sure, every owner loves to read a glowing review in his guestbook or jumps for joy at the notification of a new “5 Suitcase” review on HomeAway. But what can you do to get actual feedback and constructive criticism from your guests? If you're like many other owners, you're constantly looking for ways to improve your vacation rental business. And who better to ask than your past guests?

Some guests might be very inclined to share all their opinions with you whether solicited or not. Others will provide valuable feedback if you simply ask. Before you follow up with your renters, we suggest coming up with some specific questions about your home to really get to the bottom of what you could (realistically) be doing better.

If your guests lean toward the shy side, they might not be so comfortable sharing even somewhat negative aspects of their stay. In that case, you might consider registering with an inexpensive online survey site where your renters can complete surveys online and submit their answers and suggestions anonymously. While tempting, the key is to not include questions about the date of their stay so that it remains truly anonymous.

Here are some suggested questions for obtaining constructive feedback from renters:
• Did the house meet your expectations as communicated through our property listing and rental rules?
• How would you rate the cleanliness of the house?
• How would you rate the comfort of the beds?
• How would you rate the quality of the sheets and comforters?
• How would you rate the quality of the towels?
• Did you feel that there were enough towels and sheets provided?
• Did you feel that the kitchen was adequately stocked?
• Were you able to use all the electronics/appliances easily?
• What else could we provide to improve your stay?
• Is there anything that needs to be replaced or updated?
• Would you consider staying here again?
• Would you recommend our home to friends or family?
• What is one thing we could do to improve your stay in the future?

It's also important to include some free text fields so your guests can comment on their answers and ratings.

While some renters might make outlandish requests or suggest renovations that will send you into debt, it is still useful to seek out feedback from people that have actually experienced a stay in your home. You might just come away with some useful ideas for how to improve your home and increase bookings in the future.

Reviews: Why They Matter and How to Handle Criticism    Think back to the last time that you made a big purchase: Did you seek opinions from other customers before making a decision?