This newsletter is emailed 6 times annually to 8,400 owners
of vacation rental homes who have registered for a free
universal availability calendar/guestbook at:
http://www.rentors.org

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: See Article #13, at bottom of newsletter.

1 -  Please Update Your Availability Calendar Today
2 -  Back To Rental Part 2
3 -  Holiday Rates & Dates, 2002-2003
4 -  Pets Allowed or Not?
5 -  Entry Locks Without Keys? What a Combination!
6 -  Rental Property Phone Tips
7 -  Check-Out Checklist
8 -  Summer Recap
9 -  Redundancy - Redundancy
10 - More Vacation Rental Tips
11 - Rentors.org Sponsors Information
12 - Please Refer a Friend to Rentors.org
13 - How to Unsubscribe

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

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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
  YOUR EMAIL IS: mike@rentors.org

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bottom-left text in the yellow box at the login screen.

==================================
2 - Back to Back Rentals - Part 2
==================================

In the last newsletter, we started discussing "back to back"
rentals and how to use them to maximize the number of
rentals your property receives. If you missed that article,
or would like to review it, please see
http://www.rentors.org/archive/news07.htm article #7.

We'll continue with that discussion by posing and answering
the following questions:

Q: Who should always talk to BEFORE instituting a "back to
back" plan?

A: You should always discuss your plan with your cleaning
company prior to starting a back to back plan.  Back to back
rentals are more difficult for your cleaning company since
they have such a short time-frame to get the property ready
for the next renter.

Q: What day of the week is the best to choose for your
arrival/departure date?

A: It depends on traffic patterns for your location and what
your competition is doing.  I suspect that a weekend day
will usually work best for most properties, but there may be
sometimes when a midweek location might work as well.  For
example, if many of your competitors accept only weekend
days for their arrival/departure dates and you notice that
airlines are offering deeply discounted airfare to your
location for those that fly on Tues, Wed, or Thurs, then
perhaps choosing one of those days will work for you.  If
you do choose a mid-week day, make sure you have a good
reason to do so and make sure you advertise the reason in
your ads.... for example: Save on airfare by flying on
Thursday...

Q: When does a "back to back" strategy work best?

A: If your property location is such that there is a peak
season that is very busy and an off peak season that is
slow, you will probably want to implement a "back to back"
strategy only during the peak season.  If on the other hand
you location is popular year round, then a year round back
to back strategy can work for you.

Q: What part of the back to back plan is the hardest to
follow?

A: The hardest part of the back to back plan to follow is
having to say "NO" to someone who wants to rent when their
arrival and departure dates don't match your plan. You have
to be firm and say "I'm sorry, those dates are not
available" ... Make sure you have some other vacation rental
owners that you can refer those potential renters too.
Perhaps you can work with some other property owners and
each choose different days of the week for your
arrival/departure days.

Q: When is it OK to break your own back to back rules?

A: Once you have instituted a back to back strategy, it is
important not to break your own rules, however, the closer
you get to the arrival dates, the more flexible you can be
with your rules... I would stick to the rules until maybe
4-6 weeks prior to the arrival date, then if the week is
still not booked, go ahead and accept that 4 night
booking... it's better to get a 4 night rental then to let
the property sit empty for a whole week.  You'll have to
determine when to start being flexible based upon what you
know about your location.

Q: How can I accept 5 or 6 night rentals without hurting my
bottom line?

A: The rule of thumb offered in the last newsletter for
setting your weekly rate is 5.5 times your nightly rate.  If
a renter wants to stay 6 nights instead of 7, go ahead and
accept the booking and tell them it's less expensive for
them if you charge them the weekly rate.  However, If a
renter wants a 5 night rental, charge them your higher
nightly rate.  NOTE: If you only accept 5 night rentals that
start or end on your specified arrival/departure date, then
you still have the opportunity to rent a 2 night rental,
which will actually net you more than a full 1 week rental,
since you will be charging the higher nightly rate (but you
do have to take into account that you will have 2 cleaning
fees to pay)

Q: What rental is the worst and how to avoid it.

A: The worst possible rental for a back to back plan is a
short 2 or 3 night rental that does not arrive on your
stated arrival/departure date and includes staying over
night on one of your specified arrival/departure nights.

For example: Your arrival day is Saturday: If you accept a
booking from a renter who wants to arrive on Friday and
depart on Monday, you have made one of the worst bookings
possible.  You have taken a 3 day booking and you have
prevented the booking of 2 full back to back weeks.  You
lose the potential of 14 nights of bookings with one 3 night
rental.

I hope this article has started you thinking of ways that
you can use back to back rentals to boost your rental
income.

-- David Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner
===================================
3- Holiday Rates & Dates, 2002-2003
===================================

The 2002 Summer vacation season has ended in the USA, so
it's time to update rates on your vacation rental webpages.

Here are some possible "rate-premium" USA holidays to
consider when you set your vacation rental rates and dates
for the rest of 2002, and for all of 2003. The dates shown
are the dates that these holidays are actually "observed" in
most parts of the USA. Some dates command premium rates in
just a few locations -- like Columbus Day week in New
England, for "leaf-peeping" during the fall foliage season.

SELECTED USA HOLIDAYS, BALANCE OF 2002

   Oct 14 2002, Monday:    USA Columbus Day
   Nov 11 2002, Monday:    USA Veterans Day
   Nov 28 2002, Thursday:  USA Thanksgiving Day
   Dec 25 2002, Wednesday: USA Christmas Day

SELECTED USA HOLIDAYS, 2003

   Jan 01 2003, Wednesday: USA New Years Day [2003]
   Jan 20 2003, Monday:    USA Martin Luther King's Birthday
   Feb 12 2003, Wednesday: USA Lincoln's Birthday
   Feb 14 2003, Friday:    USA Valentines Day
   Feb 17 2003, Monday:    USA Washington's Birthday
   Feb 17 2003, Monday:    USA Presidents' Day
   Apr 18 2003, Friday:    USA Good Friday
   Apr 20 2003, Sunday:    USA Easter Sunday
   May 26 2003, Monday:    USA Memorial Day
   Jul 04 2003, Friday:    USA Independence Day
   Sep 01 2003, Monday:    USA Labor Day
   Oct 13 2003, Monday:    USA Columbus Day
   Nov 11 2003, Tuesday:   USA Veterans Day
   Nov 27 2003, Thursday:  USA Thanksgiving Day
   Dec 25 2003, Thursday:  USA Christmas Day
   Jan 01 2004, Thursday:  USA New Years Day [2004]

-- Brian Raub, A1Vacations
========================
4 - Pets Allowed or Not?
========================

The decision on whether or not to accept pets is an
important one for most vacation rental property owners:
allowing pets can increase your occupancy level and even the
rate you charge, but it requires the owner to accept a
higher risk of wear-and-tear and the probability of pet
caused damage. Because alternative lodging such as hotels,
motels and B&Bs often prohibit guests to bring their little
friends, the travelling public is increasingly turning to
vacation rentals as their only alternative. Due to
demographic changes this interest is sure to grow in the
future: an aging population, smaller families, increased
dedication to pets, etc.)

If you bring you own pets to your vacation property you
should definitely consider allowing others. Chances are your
rental is already 'pet-proofed'. Of course you should be
sure to protect yourself by clearly spelling out your pet
policies in your Rental Agreement; include info on damage
deposits, what vacationers should bring with them, etc. Some
homeowners deal creatively with the question of pets by
charging extra for them, as if they were an additional
person. In this manner they keep their 'no pet' rate low,
but at the same time build in the opportunity for additional
revenue, and cover themselves for the increased risk.

Even if you cannot permit pets due to condo laws, allergies,
or whatever else, it is important to be aware of the
importance with which folks with pets are concerned about
the issue. Help them with their plans, it's good for the
vacation rental business overall, and vacationers might
remember the tip and return to your spot, pet-less, in some
future time.

For further info on 'pet travel' look up these links:

http://www.PetTravel.com
http://takeyourpet.com/
http://www.traveldog.com
http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Pets/Travel/

Besides finding useful tips for yourself and your guests,
you can find spots to further advertise your pet friendly
home. Many sites on the web are actively looking for
properties that allow pets!

-- Hunter Melville, CyberRentals
=================================================
5 - ENTRY LOCKS WITHOUT KEYS? WHAT A COMBINATION!
=================================================

Do you pay a service to hand out the keys to your vacation
rentals? Do you wonder if you should have your locks changed
since some copies of your keys have not been returned? You
might want to check into one of the new high-tech, push-
button combination locks. These generally allow easy
reprogramming of the combinations by the designated 'master
user', who could be anyone you choose and trust. Perhaps
even the person or outfit who cleans your place after a
guest leaves. Several companies make these locks.

The one we liked was the Mas-Hamilton Powerlever 1000. For
starters this one is built like a tank, and will last a long
time. Many levels of security are available, and it
generates electricity each time the lever is pressed, thus
avoiding the need for a battery! Higher level models
actually allow you to change the combinations using a
personal computer.

For more information and photos, check out
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product-specs.php?p_ref=2949

--Jan Van Voorhis, Great Rentals
==============================
6 - Rental Property Phone Tips
==============================

If you want to avoid the "surprise" of getting a huge
telephone bill on your rental property phone, you should
contact your local phone company about adding "toll
restriction" or "call blocking" service to your telephone
line.

You are probably aware that you need to protect yourself by
blocking long distance calls... however, it is also
important to block other calls that can inflate your phone
bill just as quickly.  These include:

1. 900 and 976 calls,
2. Operator assistance
3. 411 calls
4. Three way calls
5. INCOMING "collect" calls

Local phone companies offer "blocking" services under
different names such as "Toll Restriction" or "Dial Lock".
Each company offers different options with different names
and you'll need to check with your own local phone company
to determine what services are available in your location.

The cost should be in the range of $2.00 to $4.00 per month
depending on the additional features offered... for example,
some plans allow the homeowner to remove the blocking
feature while in residence (for their own ease of use).
Don't forget to restore the block prior to departure.

Be sure to warn your guests BEFORE they arrive that they
might consider bringing a calling card if they wish to make
long distance calls.  In the US and Canada, double check to
make sure that the blocking service you choose does not
prevent toll-free 800 number calls to be dialed so that
renters are able to make use of their calling cards.

-- David Clouse, Vacation Rentals by Owner
=======================
7 - Check-Out Checklist
=======================

Be sure that your vacation rental guests know exactly what's
expected of them at check-out. A checklist should include:

__ Wash all dirty dishes and return to cupboards.
__ Heating/cooling system instructions.
__ Turn off all lights and appliances.
__ Unplug coffee maker and toaster.
__ Instructions for pool, pool heat, and spa.
__ What to do with used bed linens and towels.
__ What to do with leftover food.
__ How to dispose of garbage.
__ Instructions for safe disposal of fireplace ashes.
__ How to report broken, damaged, or lost items.
__ Your request for suggestions to improve your property.
__ Guestbook instructions.
__ Your request for email addresses of others who might like
   to view your vacation rental webpage.
__ Instructions for locking up your property.
__ What to do with the keys.
__ When to expect return of security deposit, including
   anything that might cause "deductions". Be specific to
   avoid misunderstandings, hard feelings, or complaints.

-- Lisa Raub, A1Vacations
================
8 - Summer Recap
================

For many homeowners, the summer period represents the bulk
of their rental revenues. Now that the summer is winding
down to an end, don't forget to take advantage of the things
learned from summer past. Always take care to review your
rates. Do you expect to increase your rates? Were there open
periods? Should returning guests get favorable discounted
rates? Should your rate structure be staggered to entice
more demand for the shoulder periods of the summer? These
answers will be tempered by the economy and other competing
listings to say the least.

At this time, take note of guest feedback and plan
accordingly. Should an item like a new blender for the
kitchen or air-conditioner be added to that upstairs
bedroom? Perhaps your on-site guest book will lend clues;
Rentors.org offers a free on-line guestbook(and calendar)
and is an excellent way in which to promote your home.
You'll want to review the little things that need to be done
prior to the next period...repair the screens, replace trash
cans and so forth. For those with more extensive plans, line
up those contractors now before they are too busy to handle
your new deck or renovation project.

Attention to your rate structure and guest feed back, will
ensure smooth, uninterrupted bookings.

--Dave Bollinger, CyberRentals
===============================
9 - Redundancy - Redundancy
===============================

When deciding which web sites to advertise with, it is
important to know that redundancy is beneficial.  The number
one way travelers find your listing is to use one of the
major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL Netfind, etc.)
Their search results will generally display vacation rental
web sites (such as the ones who sponsor this newsletter).
The vacationer then chooses one of the sites, begins to
browse through the listings on that site, and ultimately
(hopefully) chooses your property and initiates an inquiry.
The search engine results vary depending upon which SE is
used and which keywords are used for the search. Advertising
on several vacation rental sites will give you greater
exposure. The bottom line is that you will always get more
inquiries by advertising on multiple web sites.

Jumping from one site to another based upon the current
status of search engine results is as futile as timing the
stock market. Search engines are constantly changing their
rules and rankings.  All of the sponsor sites for this
newsletter keep current with the search engine rules in
order to keep their SE rankings high. The popularity of
these sites also plays an important role in the rankings.

The good news is that the days of paying thousands of
dollars to various newspapers for classified advertising is
over! Even if you subscribed to all of the web sites
mentioned in this newsletter, your total advertising fee
would be under $500/year - much less than the revenues from
a single week's rental!

--Pat Van Voorhis, Great Rentals
==============================
10- More Vacation Rental Tips
==============================

If you like to read more vacation rental tips, you
can refer to articles that were featured in previous issues
of the newsletters.

http://www.rentors.org/archive/index.html

====================================
11 - Rentors.org Sponsors 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 and guestbook works on
all of them, and you'll have just ONE calendar and guestbook
to maintain!

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/

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

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

This "Tips for Vacation Rental Homeowners" newsletter was
emailed to 8,400 members of Rentors.org -- which offers
FREE online availability calendars and guestbooks for
vacation rental property homeowners and property managers.
Please refer a friend to:

 http://www.rentors.org

=======================
13 - 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)and guestbook (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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