This newsletter is emailed 6 times annually to 6,134 owners
of vacation rental homes who have registered for a free
universal availability calendar at: http://www.rentors.org

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: See Article #12, at bottom of newsletter.

1 -  Please Update Your Availability Calendar Today
2 -  Keep The Communication Channels Open!
3 -  The Lost Days of Summer
4 -  Copy & Paste
5 -  Mind Your Guest book
6 -  Surround Yourself With People
7 -  Kid Stuff
8 -  Automatically Promote Your Property with Every Email
9 -  Clean Me!
10 - Rentors.org Sponsor Information
11 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
12 - How to Unsubscribe

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1 - Please Update Your Availability Calendar Today
==================================================

Your self-service universal availability calendar at
Rentors.org has no value if it is incorrect. Please follow
the link below to login to Rentors.org and update your
vacation rental calendar today.

  RENTORS login: http://www.rentors.org/login.cfm
 
If you've forgotten your Rentors.org PASSWORD, check the
bottom-left text in the yellow box at the login screen.

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2 - Keep The Communication Channels Open!
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With summer approaching many homeowners are at the height of
activity in the management of their rental program. Running
at full blast, so to speak. Now more than ever, it is
important to pay strict attention to your 'chain of
communication', that is to the sequence of emails, phone
calls and written missives that it takes to organize
successful and effortless rentals.

For most, the initial document is the rental lease or a
letter of confirmation outlining the particulars of the
booking. Reservation dates, payment terms, cancellation
policies, security deposits and check-in procedures, are a
few of the items the document should cite in detail. Most
importantly though, keep the communication flowing! As
payments are received, reiterate the terms of the
agreement...this might be accomplished with a postcard
showing payments that have been received, payments (with
dates) that are due, cancellation policy, items to bring
(linens?) and again, check-in and key pick-up procedure.
When all payments have been received, again, reassure your
guests with a quick note of the check-in procedure and who
to contact in an emergency. Cyberbooking is nerve wracking
enough for the vacationer; the homeowner who is organized
and keeps the communication channels opened will enjoy
repeat business and a finely tuned rental program.

--Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals
 
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3 - The Lost Days of Summer
===========================

It's getting to be that time of year again - Summer, Summer,
Summer!

Just when you thought you had a packed calendar and a summer
full of bookings, the inevitable last minute cancellation
comes along. Don't lose those dates. Try a few things to get
those dates rented again.

Get the dates posted on your web pages as soon as possible -
perhaps in a "Special" section. Along with just stating the
newly open dates, try mentioning a few things to attract a
renter. Discount the stay and consider offering a free
dinner at a local restaurant, or movie tickets. Or how about
a free pass to a local attraction? Maybe even an
exceptionally nice welcome-basket full of fresh fruit,
gourmet coffee, or wine and crackers.

Also, consider getting in touch with the people who
contacted you earlier in the season about renting. Even if
the dates don't match their original request, they may be
able to shift their schedule to accommodate the open dates -
especially with the incentive of something free included. If
you are still left with those open dates, you might just get
one of these prospective guests in the future. The few extra
minutes you took trying to accommodate them won't soon be
forgotten and they just might book with you next time.

If all else fails, consider taking the dates yourself. Why
not tackle a few of the improvements to your property you
have been putting off. Or maybe its time you just kicked up
your heels and got in a little vacation of your own.

--Jan Van Voorhis, Great Rentals
 
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4 - Copy and Paste
==================

Learning how to "copy and paste" is the most important basic
skill to learn about your computer. It is very easy to do
and once you learn how to copy and paste, it will save you
hours time re-typing - Just think, you will never have to
type something more than once.

If you already know how to "copy and paste" then you can
skip this article... if you don't know how to "copy and
paste" and if you use a Windows based computer, please see
http://www.rentors.org/html/copypaste.htm for simple step by
step instructions about "copy and paste". You'll be glad
you did!!!

-- David Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner
  
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5 - Mind Your Guestbook
=======================

Your guest book can become a great resource. You'll find
some valuable suggestions for improvement. And you can
publish the best testimonials in your Internet advertising:

  "Great lake view, exceptionally clean and very well
  equipped." -- Mary B., March 2002.

If your guests' comments are not complimentary, then you
should take the hint, make some real improvements to your
property, and start with a fresh guest book. You'll enjoy
more "returning" guests after you make the improvements.

To encourage your guests to write a few lines before they
leave, leave your guest book in a prominent location, like
the kitchen table. Open it to the last guests' entry, and
leave a pen on top. Most will write at least a sentence or
two about "your place." A few will post a detailed log of
their stay, complete with recommendations of nearby
restaurants and nearby must-see sights.

-- Brian Raub, A1Vacations
  
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6 - Surround Yourself With People
=================================

Most second home owners don't live near their vacation home
and therefore must rely on the help of others. For many, a
local property manager is there to maintain the grounds,
remove trash or provide snowplowing. The list should be
expanded to include a plumber, electrician, housekeeper,
carpenter and pool maintenance service if applicable. Where
possible, these service people should be versed in the
workings of your home in the event of an emergency. For the
trusted, giving an extra house key may save the day or
provide for that last minute booking. With a roster of
service people to contact from afar, the second homeowner
can quickly and efficiently provide for any vacationer need.

Be sure to post their phone numbers prominently, by the
phone or on the refrigerator is the norm. Above all, your
guests will appreciate the attention to detail. Remember, it
takes more than four walls to create a happy rental, people,
both inside and out, are the key

--Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals
 
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7 - Kid Stuff
=============

Hello Kiddies!

Is your vacation rental one that promotes family visitors
with children? If so, here are some things to keep in mind
while preparing your rental for these visitors.

Child safety! Your guests will truly appreciate some
inexpensive additions you could make to your property that
would provide a safe environment for their kids, making it
easier for them to relax and enjoy a great vacation.

Simple reorganization of cleaning supply products indoors,
and car maintenance chemicals in the garage can provide a
lot of piece of mind to your guests and would not take much
of your time to do!

A few inexpensive safety products can be purchased at your
local hardware or grocery store. Plug covers can be placed
quickly and easily in electrical outlets at child level. If
you have a balcony, consider screening the bottom portion.
If you choose to keep cleaning supplies and other poisonous
chemicals under the bathroom or kitchen sink, you might want
to install child safety latches on these cabinet doors.

Include a poison control number along with other local
emergency phone numbers you leave your guests. Provide a
small first-aid kit along with your other basic supplies and
remember to check it once in a while to make sure it is
properly stocked. At the ocean, leave instructions for
jellyfish stings and hurricane awareness and evacuation.

Everyone hates the thought of potential dangers on their
property, especially to children. And since you can't be
there to make sure all children are properly supervised,
make your rental safer and more child-friendly. Your guests
will have an easier time relaxing and you'll like the piece
of mind it provides you, too.

--Pat Van Voorhis, Great Rentals
 
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8 - Automatically Promote Your Property with Every Email
========================================================

A feature of most e-mail programs today is the signature or
"sig" file. By turning this option on, you will be able to
create a signature that gets appended to each e-mail you
send automatically. Typical information to include in your
signature is:  Your name, title, occupation, e-mail address,
etc. We highly recommend that you include the web address of
your Vacation Rental web page.

For Example:

Mike and Jessica Liew            e-mail: mike@rentors.org
Rent our Condo in Sunny Singapore
http://www.rentors.org/html/faq.html

Be sure to leave at least one space before and after the web
address. If you do this, most e-mail programs will
automatically turn the web address into a hyperlink that
will allow the viewer to directly access your page by
clicking on it (the above is only an example).

-- David Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner
  
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9 - Clean Me!
=============

If you stock your getaway with a closet full of cleaning
supplies, garbage bags, mops, brooms, and a vacuum cleaner,
most guests will get the message and leave a smaller job for
the cleaning crew.

Include supplies that deal with unusual situations, like
spot remover for your carpets, and a can of oven cleaner.

Don't forget the basics, like window cleaner, general
purpose cleaners, kitchen and laundry soaps, sponges and
paper towels, and toilet cleaners and brushes.

And be sure to leave explicit instructions for trash
disposal at the end of your guests' stay, plus a schedule
for trash pickup.

-- Lisa Raub, A1Vacations
  
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10 - Rentors.org Sponsor Information
====================================

Rentors.org is sponsored by these experienced vacation
rental advertising services. All will be pleased to help you
advertise your vacation rentals on the Internet.

Why not join all four sites to promote your vacation rental?
The Rentors.org availability calendar works on all of them,
and you'll have just ONE calendar to maintain!

CyberRentals
 Home: http://www.cyberrentals.com
 Join: http://www.cyberrentals.com/signup.html

Great Rentals
 Home: http://www.greatrentals.com
 Join: http://www.greatrentals.com/Admin/Posting/Post.html

VRBO - Vacation Rentals by Owner
 Home: http://www.vrbo.com
 Join: http://www.vrbo.com/global/owner.htm

A1Vacations
 Home: http://www.a1vacations.com/
 Join: http://www.a1vacations.com/advertise/

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11 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
=========================================

This "Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners" newsletter was
emailed to 6,134 members of Rentors.org -- which offers FREE
online availability calendars for vacation rental property
homeowners and property managers. Please refer a friend to:

 http://www.rentors.org
 

=======================
12 - How to Unsubscribe
=======================

To be removed from this mailing list, please log in to your
Rentors.org account, then select "Delete this Account". Your
free calendar(s) will be deleted, and your email address
will be removed from this mailing list.
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Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 Rentors LLC and the individual contributors.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form requires written permission.
==========================================================================

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