If you have a vacation property nestled in the mountains of snow covered hills, then you obviously want to market your home to skiers. In your listing, you should highlight the exact location of your property. How close is it to the nearest slope? How is the view? Are you located closer to town or high in the mountains? Answer these questions as you advertise your rental property to the snow lovers. Give approximate milage to local attractions, nearby ski areas, bus stops, and restaurants. Also, tell your potential guests the best way to get around your area.
Photos are the most effective ways of offering your views to people reading your listing. Include beautiful shots that show the property covered by a layer of pretty, white snow. This will help your reader feel the experience of staying at your home while sitting in front of their computer. Snap a photo showing ski runs in the background if you are close enough. This is a good way to snag any interested skiers. Also, offer photos of vacationers and locals participating in activities other than skiing. Many people love the snow, but may not have a clue how to ski. Feature people having fun sledding, snowboarding, and building a snowman.
To earn more income, increase your rates just a bit during holidays. You’ll only have the chance to do this during weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, so you should take advantage of the raise. Also, consider running specials for early bird travelers in October and/or November.
Depending on your location, the ground may not be completely covered with snow at this time, but travelers may take you up on the offer if they feel they are getting a deal. Advertise your vacation property to both short term and long term visitors. Create rates for one, two, and three months, and listing them along with your nightly and weekly prices.
To appeal to skiers, you must have the right accommodations and amenities. The most popular amenities for snowbirds are fireplaces, hot tubs, and ski closets. Some additional ones you should consider offering include an boot warmers, an indoor swimming pool, and an assortment of gloves, mittens, and toboggans. Also, promote the amenities that may very well be unique to your rental property, such as a big screen TV, multiple king size beds, a cappuccino machine, and video game consoles.
Express the maximum capacity in more than just a number. If you can sleep 10, include what the sleeping arrangements will be, whether it be beds, sleeper sofas, and air mattresses. Be cautious about booking college students or wild party goers coming to hang out on the slopes during school holidays. These people may be planning to fit twice as many people inside your rental as you allow, so it’s a good idea to screen them by talking with them on the phone prior to booking.
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November 20th, 2008
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The Checkout Policy
Before booking a reservation for a guest, make sure they know the appropriate check out procedures for when they leave your vacation rental home. This information should also be enclosed in the packet you will send your renters that includes the rental policies, driving directions, and receipts for their deposit and rental fees. The checkout policy should also be incorporated into the rental guidelines, and should be agreed upon by your guests from the beginning.
It’s acceptable to ask a few things from your guests before their departure at the end of their stay in your home. Hotels, apartments, and condos all have things that need to be done as well, such as a certain time to be out of the room, and often other small things that need to be taken care of. After all, if they are not willing to abide by your policies, you probably do not want them staying your in your rental property.
One of the more common things that is asked by a checkout policy is that a little cleaning be done on your guests’ part. Most owners request that the trash be emptied and placed in a nearby dumpster. They also ask their guests to load the dishwasher, and run it before leaving.
Other requests made by the checkout guidelines deal with the home itself. Having these followed can save the rental property owners some money in the long run. Thermostats are often requested to be set at a certain temperature, depending on the weather. A good setting for summer is 80º F, and for the winter, 55º F. You may feel that this doesn’t need to be done with a housekeeper coming in soon, but trust me, shaving a few cents off your power bill will add up. Especially if your cleaning crew isn’t coming for the next few days.
An issue that needs to be addressed in the checkout policy is what do to with the keys. If you have a lock box on your door, simply ask that the guests lock all the doors and windows, and finish up by placing the keys into the lock box, shut it, then spin the combination a bit. If they will be mailing the keys back, make of mention of this on the check out policy as well. Some guests may forget to do this when they get home, but hopefully that chance will be decreasing with a reminder.
Feel free to include other small favors on your checkout policy. You may want to ask your renters to leave at a certain time, especially if housekeeping will be coming in the same day, or if other guests are expected soon. You may also mention that they have a safe trip home, and to sign your guest book or take any guests you have left for them with them as they leave.
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November 3rd, 2008
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Marketing your Vacation Rentals to Couples
With your off-seasons approaching, you may want to think of different kinds of travelers to market to. Generally, your most common renters are families with multiple children who decide to rent a home than be cramping inside a hotel room for a week. However, with school starting and the warm weather fading, it’s time to start thinking about who else you can get to your rental property. The answer for some: couples, or even better, groups of couples!
One of the first things that couples traveling together will look for are sleeping arrangements. While they are going on vacation together to enjoy each other’s company, at bed time, they are all likely to want their privacy. Most will want their own bathroom as well. Transform your listings to promote your sleeping accommodations. If you have a smaller bedroom that has an attached bath, sell it as a master bedroom as well. Sure it may be a little smaller than the master, but it has the same accommodations!
When marketing vacation rentals to couples, think about why are would be traveling alone or with other couples. Generally, its too take a break off from work, and possibly from children. They are seeking a few days of relaxation, so that is what you should provide. You will need to highlight other amenities than you would when trying to book a family of four in your home. These adults are going to be looking to kick back, enjoy some adult beverages, watch non-animated movies, and jam to old music.
To help create the atmosphere for a couple’s weekend without the children, below is a list of things you may want to include in your home.
- Blender for mixed drinks
- Wine/margarita glasses
- A big screen TV
- Comfortable outdoor seating, such as lounge chairs, swings, and hammocks
- A hot tub
- A pool table
In your listings and even inside a folder in the home, include information to local attractions that may be interesting to couples, such as bars and clubs. It is a great selling point if any are in walking distance of your rental home. Also, include phone numbers and locations of fast food and delivery places, as your guests are there to vacation. This includes a vacation from slaving over the stove.
The best aspect about renting your rental home to couples is that, since they are traveling without children, they are not having to work around school schedules and summer activities. They can often take off work and lodge in your vacation rental during the slower seasons so they get a good deal. This is beneficial to you in that you are booking your rental home by simply marketing it toward a different crowd!
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October 24th, 2008
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