Getting Bookings - Advertising Your Vacation Home For Rent

<h1>Getting Bookings - Advertising Your Vacation Home For Rent</h1>Author: <a title="Scott Ames" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/scott-ames/3118.htm">Scott Ames</a> According to David Koenig Dallas Associated Press, more and more people are turning to online websites to advertise their vacation home because it works. Of course he was comparing it to using a local realtor which is never works well. 
The truth of the matter is that there are many websites where an owner can advertise, but only a few that really work. Testing each site can be expensive. The cost can be from nothing to over $300 a year. On some sites the more you pay, the better position you obtain; thus, hopefully, more bookings. 
In Florida there has been a glut of vacation homes spreading the available guests very thin. Some vacation home owners have turned to dropping the price as their sole means of capturing the few guests. This is a bad idea for rental owners, but a bargain for travelers. Some travelers have been bold enough to offer half the normal rate and if they don't get it, keep calling owners until they find one hungry enough to take it. 
Here are some thoughts about what owners should and should not do when trying to keep their rental full. 
Don't compete on price. You have to competitive, but competing only on price makes you a discounter and you'll attract less qualified guests. Don't ever rent below your operating costs per day. Guests use power, water, and gas, plus they are hard on everything from carpets to appliances. 
Compete on features and amenities. There must be something unique about your property that you can compete on. Location, amenities, services, or little extras that are unique to your property should be featured. 
Websites can get you business… Unfortunately if you are new, you'll simply have to test each site and see which one brings you business. After a year you can drop those that do nothing for you, but initially it's going to cost you. You can get a heads up on which sites perform the best by asking other owners. Yahoo Groups has a few vacation owner groups that are quite active and share such information.
Get a professional photographer to take shots of your home. That is money well spent. All guests have to judge your property, unless they've been there, are the photos.
Supplement your paid listings with free listings. Yes, there are sites that let you advertise your vacation home free.
 About the Author: Scott Ames is a writer that lives in Utah. Scott loves to travel and has stayed in vacation homes often. He is also a partner in VacationVillaList.com a free site for vacation home owners.

<a href="http://www.vacationvillalist.com"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.vacationvillalist.com">http://www.vacationvillalist.com</a></a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/getting-bookings-advertising-your-vacation-home-for-rent-79706.html" title="Getting Bookings - Advertising Your Vacation Home For Rent">Getting Bookings - Advertising Your Vacation Home For Rent</a>

According to David Koenig Dallas Associated Press, more and more people are turning to online websites to advertise their vacation home because it works. Of course he was comparing it to using a local realtor which is never works well.

The truth of the matter is that there are many websites where an owner can advertise, but only a few that really work. Testing each site can be expensive. The cost can be from nothing to over $300 a year. On some sites the more you pay, the better position you obtain; thus, hopefully, more bookings.

In Florida there has been a glut of vacation homes spreading the available guests very thin. Some vacation home owners have turned to dropping the price as their sole means of capturing the few guests. This is a bad idea for rental owners, but a bargain for travelers. Some travelers have been bold enough to offer half the normal rate and if they don't get it, keep calling owners until they find one hungry enough to take it.

Here are some thoughts about what owners should and should not do when trying to keep their rental full.

Don't compete on price. You have to competitive, but competing only on price makes you a discounter and you'll attract less qualified guests. Don't ever rent below your operating costs per day. Guests use power, water, and gas, plus they are hard on everything from carpets to appliances.

Compete on features and amenities. There must be something unique about your property that you can compete on. Location, amenities, services, or little extras that are unique to your property should be featured.

Websites can get you business… Unfortunately if you are new, you'll simply have to test each site and see which one brings you business. After a year you can drop those that do nothing for you, but initially it's going to cost you. You can get a heads up on which sites perform the best by asking other owners. Yahoo Groups has a few vacation owner groups that are quite active and share such information.

Get a professional photographer to take shots of your home. That is money well spent. All guests have to judge your property, unless they've been there, are the photos.

Supplement your paid listings with free listings. Yes, there are sites that let you advertise your vacation home free.

Scott Ames is a writer that lives in Utah. Scott loves to travel and has stayed in vacation homes often. He is also a partner in VacationVillaList.com a free site for vacation home owners. http://www.vacationvillalist.com

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/getting-bookings-advertising-your-vacation-home-for-rent-79706.html

Article Tags: Advertising, Vacation Rental, Vacation Home, Vacation Villa, Vacation Ownership

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Play

Italy's Amalfi Coast

Play

Home Design Vacation

Play

Buying a 2nd Home

Play

How to House Swap

Latest Marketing Articles
More from Scott Ames

SDH/PDH Transmission Analyzer

By: GAOInstruments | 25/12/2009
Its compact architecture and high reliability make this transmission analyzer an ideal tool for the installation and troubleshooting of E1, DS3, STM-1/OC-3, STM-4/OC-12 and STM-16/OC-48 lines.

Container Transport and Terrorism

By: Chip Nelson | 24/12/2009
Container transport specific security measures should be adapted to terrorist threats and their modus operandi. The likely way of such groups to attack or use a certain ship or a container is to hijack a legitimate consignment and then enter a specific country i.e. "Trojan Horse Scenario". But why focus...

Creating Income Online Quickly - Simply As A - B - C As Long As You're Using Article Marketing

By: Dale Dupree | 24/12/2009
This aspect of marketing should never be taken lightly. After all, people do business with people who they either know or trust, period!Ok if we counted correctly, this gives us a easy 3 step system in order to create income online.

The Top 20 SEO Internet Marketing Business Weapons For Extreme Results

By: Adam Skiba | 24/12/2009
The constantly changing and maturing playing field of search engine optimization (SEO) and internet marketing can be quite confusing to business owners. With all the overload and hype of information on the world wide web, it can be a daunting task to determine the best avenue to invest your time...

Check out Plastic Business Cards for Success

By: Michiel Van Kets | 24/12/2009
Your business card is an essential element of your visual identity and the first point of contact potential clients will have of you, the more impressive it is the better their opinion. Your card needs to be noticed and stand out from the crowd. Plastic business cards look very professional and sophisticated and show you are someone who takes time and care in every aspect of your business. The main benefit to them is that though they look expensive to produce they are very affordable.

A W Bell and Summit Matsu Chilling Systems Work Together to Conserve the Environment

By: Daniel Rollston | 23/12/2009
Summit Matsu Chilling Systems recently supplied premier complex metal parts supplier AW Bell Pty Ltd with a 34 kW air cooled Chiller which plays a key role in the water jet cleaning process for their foundry applications. AW Bell has been an established company since 1952, from this time it has...

Choosing the Right Banner Stand Display For Your Trade Show

By: Adrianna Noton | 23/12/2009
When you are doing a trade show, there has to be something to make your business stand out from the others. People both near and far need to have a reason to come over and see what services or product are being offered. That "something" is often a banner stand...

Consumption and Production of Cotton in China

By: Bharat Book Bureau | 23/12/2009
Bharatbook.com added a new report on "Report on Analysis and Forecast of China Cotton Market (2009-2010)" which gives a detailed analysis of cotton industry policies, cotton production and economic situations of textile industry.

Little Giant Ladders and You

By: Scott Ames | 12/12/2006 | Marketing
Does product quality matter in network marketing? It does to some people, just read the Little Giant ladder story.

Disney World Continues to Evolve

By: Scott Ames | 01/05/2006 | Travel
Disney World is an ever changing and exciting place to spend your vacation. Some of the changes are good, but other changes were just plain crazy.

Why Your List of Non-Buyers Is a Gold-Mine

By: Scott Ames | 07/03/2006 | Marketing
Your list of non buyers can be worth a lot of money to you. Unfortunately most people do not use them at all.

Teaching Small children about Countries of the World is as easy as a trip to EPCOT

By: Scott Ames | 27/02/2006 | Travel
Walt Disney World is truly a magical place and one that can be educational as well. There is no better place, except actually traveling to various countries, to teach your children a little about other cultures.

Beating Disney World Hotels, the Secret Savvy Travelers Know

By: Scott Ames | 08/02/2006 | Hotels
You can enjoy the luxury of a Disney World themed resort and still have the advantages of a private pool, over 1,500 sq ft. and your own bedroom and kitchen, without paying full Disney prices. This is how savvy travelers do it.

How a First Time House Flip Went Bad

By: Scott Ames | 08/02/2006 | Home & Family
A first time house flipper makes several mistakes and gets out by the skin of his teeth.