Preparing Your Property For The Vacation Rental Market

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Doug

All The Comforts Of Home

The vacation rental market is one of the fastest growing segments of the lodging industry. The slowdown in real estate sales has forced property owners to look for creative ways to generate income in order to wait out the market. If you own a home in a popular resort area you may want to consider converting your property into a vacation rental to generate income when you’re not using it. Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare your vacation property for the rental market.

Local Regulations
The first step in preparing your property for the rental market is to research the rental ordinance at the local governing agency. Some resort areas have banned or restricted vacation rentals (occupancy of less than 30 days) and many require registration and/or inspection. Transient Occupancy Tax, or bed taxes, must be collected on every reservation and forwarded to your local city or county. Some cities require that vacation rental properties pay registration fees and be inspected for safety issues before the property is occupied. Get to know your local rules and regulations before you start renting.

Furnishings and Decor
Rental properties should have comfortable but durable furniture with fabrics that clean easily and resist stains. Used furniture is acceptable as long as it matches and is in “like new” condition. Use commercial quality, stain resistant carpeting in practical colors. White carpeting may look great in your own home but is not recommended for rental property. Top quality beds and bedding are a priority with mattresses more firm than soft. Hang colorful pictures and paintings that reflect your location or decorating theme. The kitchen should be fully equipped, just like your personal residence. Washers and dryers are highly recommended. Make sure you have enough dining and living room seating to accommodate the amount of people your property can sleep.

Amenities
Popular amenities include: flat screen television, dvd player, pool table, Jacuzzi or hot tub, foosball table, board games, internet access, crib, books and magazines. Put together a notebook detailing how to operate the general systems of the property and include emergency contact numbers, brochures for local attractions, maps, and dining guides. Amenities will vary depending on your location. If your property is located near the beach, you may want to provide beach chairs and bicycles. A mountain property might have snow sleds or fishing poles available for guest use. Be creative and have fun with it.

Cleanliness
Vacation rentals must be cleaned in-between each guest stay. Always provide your cleaners with a detailed list of your cleaning requirements. Purchase a second set of linens and have them ready for back to back reservations. Inspect the property after each cleaning to make sure it’s ready for the next guest. Complaints about cleanliness are the most common and avoidable type of complaint a vacation rental can receive. Going the extra mile in this department will save you both money and headaches in the long run.

Condition
If something is not working correctly, or if furniture is damaged, get it fixed immediately. Even something as small as a light bulb needing replacement can cause a guest to complain. Once again, inspections are the key to avoiding any potential problems. Create a room by room, top to bottom, inspection checklist and always give yourself enough time to make the necessary repairs. Plan on, and budget for, painting the interior walls and replacing the carpeting and flooring every 3 to 5 years. You are going to want your property to be occupied as often as possible and that means wear and tear. Deferred maintenance is part of the rental business.

Miscellaneous
Take good pictures of your property and post as many as possible. Photos are the best way to represent your property to potential guests, either online or in your brochure. Invest in a good camera with a wide-angle lens or hire a professional photographer. Keep a guest book in the property for guest comments and ask for permission to reprint their reviews. Remind your guests to review your property on Tripadvisor, Google, and Yahoo. Reward your guests that leave favorable reviews with a discounted future stay or some other incentive.

There are many details to managing a vacation rental. Take the time to prepare your property for the vacation rental market and it will be a rewarding experience for you and your guests.

Doug Meeder is a consultant with over 20 years experience in the vacation rental industry and has managed over 200 properties as a rental business owner. He works with vacation rental managers, property owners, Realtors*, and homeowner associations, developing and implementing a profitable, proven, business plan and marketing strategy for successful vacation rental management.

Doug’s expertise includes: website development and software solutions, sales and marketing, policy and procedure, branding, housekeeping and maintenance, safety and risk management, social networking, code compliance, and alternative revenue sources.

Contact Doug for a free initial consultation or additional information on his services, qualifications, and references at (909) 856-2124.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Meeder

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Vacation Rental Marketing – Internet and Social Media

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Doug

Vacation Rental Marketing

The growth of the vacation rental industry is a direct result of the internet phenomenon.  It has never been easier to reach out to potential renters and advertise vacancies.  The trick is knowing where to spend your time and money for maximum effect.  The following is a primer on internet marketing.

If you don’t have an individual website for your vacation rental you’re missing the boat. Even if you’re listed with a property manager or on a directory like VRBO it’s crucial to have a web presence for your property. You can design your own basic website or pay someone else to put one together for you. Be sure to use the best possible pictures for your website.  Paying a professional is money well spent

I really like the blog format websites. You can use the blog to write about your property, local events, and lodging specials or packages. Search engines seem to like blogs better than static websites. You’ll need to register a domain name using relevent keywords and get your site hosted by someone who will submit your new site to the search engines.  A quick online search will reveal lots of tech savvy people willing to assist you.

The next step in internet marketing is social media. Post your website and blog entries to your www.facebook.com personal profile or better yet, put together a “fan page” for your property and invite all your friends to “like” it.  Build your fan base by searching for the profiles of your past guests and invite them to follow you.  Use the Facebook tutorials to help you navigate the process. 

Grab your video camera and create a tour of your property. It doesn’t matter if the quality is a little rough at first. A collage of still photos with some background music and/or voice-over is all you need. Add it to your www.youtube.com account and think of other related video subjects (local events, activities, places of interest, etc) that you can use to promote your property. The more videos you create the better. Feature a few videos on your website and update them with each season or when you add new amenities.

Now you have original content relevant to your vacation rental that you can use for internet and social media marketing.  Use your blog posts as content for Facebook or www.twitter.com and add video and pictures to everything (search engines love pictures and video).

This is a brief overview of a very important subject. I’ll dive deeper into internet/social media marketing in future posts.  Happy Renting!

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Vacation Rental Marketing – Getting Started

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Doug

For Rent: A Slice Of Heaven

In todays competitive vacation rental market it’s all about marketing. You can’t just list your property with a property manager or on a directory and expect the same occupancy rates you were getting in years past.  You have to be creative, innovative, consistent, and focused.  Here are a few tips to get your marketing campaign off the ground.

The best place to start any marketing campaign is with research. Find out what the competition is doing and look for opportunities. Review the competition’s websites for specials or other incentives. Make sure you’re aware of any community events such as car shows or fishing tournaments and ask the organizers about any lodging directories or marketing opportunities. I strongly recommend joining one of the vacation rental groups on Facebook or Linkedin and getting active in the discussions. I learn something new in almost every new post and article that I come across.

Make sure that your circle of influence knows all about your vacation rental and have your contact information in case a referral pops up. Carry brochures or cards with your rental info and a great picture or two and hand them out every chance you get. Pick an off weekend and have an open house or some sort of get together at your vacation rental and use it as an opportunity to build relationships.  People do business with people they like and they can’t like you if they don’t know you.

If your property has a rental history be sure you stay in contact with past guests and offer them incentives to return. Repeat customers are the lifeblood of any business but you have to work them to get results. Set up an e-mail campaign through www.constantcontact.com and send quarterly messages to past guests. Remind them how great their last stay was and give them a reason to return. Offer a third night free or include a complimentary ticket to a local attraction with their next stay.  “Hello Smith Family! The local fishing is great up here and I’m including a free boat rental with your next reservation PLUS all return guests receive 15% off.”  “We look forward to seeing you again!” Anything like that will work.  The key is to just get started and stick to a plan.

In my next few articles I’ll dive a little deeper into vacation rental marketing including internet and social media strategies for promoting your property.  Happy Renting!

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The Big Bear Vacation Rental Market

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Doug

The Big Bear Dream

Vacation rentals have been a popular lodging choice in Big Bear for decades.  What was once a cottage industry with just a handful of players has turned into one of the most competitive vacation rental markets in all of California.  With the advent of the internet the Big Bear vacation rental market has exploded into a $20 million industry generating over $1.2 million in occupancy taxes.  The City of Big Bear Lake has 1,059 approved rentals and another 300 properties on the waiting list.

The story of vacation rentals in Big Bear has had its rough moments.  In 2007 a group of motel and B&B owners tried unsuccessfully to force vacation rentals out of business.  Citing unfair advantages, the opposition group had hoped to convince the City of Big Bear Lake that private rentals were in fact small businesses and that each property should have to obtain a business license and conform to same strict rules that public properties and commercial businesses must follow.  They also argued that the Jacuzzi’s that property owners provide for their guests should be subject to the same health codes that public pools and spas must follow.  

The City of Big Bear Lake decided that vacations rentals were too important to the local economy and that the best course of action was to develop a local ordinance (99-300) that property owners and managers must follow.  The ordinance requires owners and managers to pay a registration fee ($175.00) and have the property inspected for safety and health risks. Big Bear is now a model for other communities trying to regulate their own vacation rental industry.

Vacation rentals are private property and labeling them as commercial businesses would infringe on property rights.  The best way to protect those property rights is to collect and pay the transient occupancy tax that the city requires.   The guests pay the tax and the property owner simply has to forward the funds to the city.  Transient occupancy taxes, registrations, and inspections are now the law and mangers could lose their business license and property owners face stiff fines if caught renting illegally.

Visitors to Big Bear have been staying in vacation rentals for as long as there’s been a way to get here.  The local rental market has grown into one of the most popular lodging choices in California and it’s important that everyone follow the rules and protect our rights.  For more information on Big Bear Lake’s rental ordinance, contact Cathy Hernandez at 909-866-5831 x122. 

If you’re interested in entering the vacation rental market or would like to discuss how to make your existing rental property reach its full potential give Doug Meeder a call at 909-856-2124.

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Vacation Rental Services

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Doug

The Vacation Rental Dream

Vacation rental management is a unique blend of property management, real estate marketing, and hospitality services.  With the right mix of knowledge, time, and effort, your vacation rental can generate enough income to cover expenses and possibly show a profit.  Unfortunately, the real estate meltdown has forced many property owners into the rental market, unprepared for the realities of property management and internet marketing.  In just a few short years the number of available vacation rentals has almost doubled while demand has barely kept pace. It’s not rocket science, but to be successful in the current rental market you really have to work at it or the competition will eat you alive. Your dream of a second home can become a serious drain on your finances and consume much of your free time.

From property staging and pricing to marketing and guest services, if one part of the equation is missing the whole process can fail. There’s nothing more frustrating than owning a well located, fully equipped, vacation rental property that’s only rarely occupied.  It doesn’t matter if you rent one property or 500, if you don’t have a written business and marketing plan, something that’s followed closely and updated regularly, you will always be reacting to the rental market instead of creating it.  If you’re not taking advantage of the new marketing trends, chances are your competitor is. There may be a negative review on your property floating around out there that you have no idea exists. It seems almost impossible to navigate the details and stay on top of industry trends.

As a property manager I am a firm believer that there is no substitute for the services of a professional to assist the owner in the rental process. Whether it’s a full service management company or just your cleaning lady, having the right help in your corner is the key to successful renting. If you try to do everything yourself; marketing, bookkeeping, inspections, maintenance, housekeeping, and emergency contact, you’re going to start resenting ever buying a rental property. The dream getaway spot you fell in love with is now taking up all your free time and costing you instead of making you money.

The focus of my blog, www.vacationrentalservices.net, is how to best manage and market vacation rentals in today’s growing market. The industry has changed dramatically in the last few years and has never been more competitive. When the real estate market tanked, many property owners were forced to find a way to cover their expenses on the properties they could not sell. The “for rent by owner” segment of the market exploded and now websites like VRBO.com and HomeAway dominate the search engines. Over 50% of rental property owners choose to market their vacancies themselves.

It is my goal to address the issues that drive vacation rental management and to inform my readers of the best practices in the industry. In return I’d like other property owners and managers to share their experience and knowledge in order to reach a common goal – profitable, well-managed vacation rental properties for everyone to enjoy.  Happy Renting!

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Vacation Rentals, the ADA, and Preditory Lawsuits.

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Doug
Here Comes The Judge!

When two local Big Bear property managers were contacted last year by an individual looking for an ADA compliant rental they had no idea that they would end up in federal court, being sued for thousands of dollars.  The agents advised the caller that they did in fact have wheelchair accessible properties but they were not ADA compliant.  This prompted the individual to file a lawsuit asking for several thousand dollars because he was denied access.  The good news is the property managers won the lawsuit, the bad news is the language of the ruling opened the door for lawsuits aimed at individual vacation rental owners.

Welcome to the rough and tumble world of providing access to the disabled. At the heart of the matter is the American with Disabilities Act, the controversial federal law requiring a minimum level of access in all public places.  The practice of suing commercial businesses for ADA compliance has been going on for years and now the battle has hit the vacation rental industry.

Judge Dolly M. Gee, of the U.S. District Court, stated in her ruling that to operate means to put or keep in operation.  Vacation rental managers are not authorized to make structural modifications to the vacation rental homes to render the homes ADA compliant.  The property managers only manage the homes on behalf of the owners and do not operate the rentals, the court ruled.

Disabled advocates say that since no government agency enforces the law, that task has fallen to private attorneys who file lawsuits to compel the non-compliant to provide equal access to all.  Because of a quirk in California law, the state stands out as a magnet for disabled-access lawsuits and several lawyers have made a name for themselves as frequent filers.

In another case out of Florida, a rental manager was threatened with a lawsuit after an individual with a service dog was told that the property he wanted to rent was not pet-friendly and the owners were allergic to dogs.  It didn’t matter that the management company had several other pet-friendly properties available, the person insisted on staying at the property in question and told the manager to expect a lawsuit if they didn’t permit the rental.  Service dogs are not considered pets and the law is very clear that where ever the general public is allowed, service dogs must be allowed also.

What should you do if you find yourself in a similar situation?  Try not to panic, to the best of my knowledge no private home owner has ever been successfully sued for ADA compliance.  Vacation rentals are considered private property and are exempt from the same rules and regulations that commercial properties must follow.  But before you say or do something to inflame the situation I strongly recommend that you contact an attorney and discuss your options.

The people who attempt to profit from the law are the exception, not the rule, and handicapped individuals should be given every possible courtesy when they inquire about staying at your property.  I have friends and family who are disabled and it’s a fact that access can be very difficult. Many people simply stay home rather than create a spectacle over their disability. 

If your vacation rental is not practical for a special needs guest find out who in your area has an ADA compliant property and refer those guests to them.  I made a quick search and found ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible vacation rentals in almost every area that I searched.  The law may be on your side but remember that you are in the hospitality business and you should do your best to accommodate potential guests, even if that means referring them to a competitor if you don’t have what they’re looking for.

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Insuring Your Vacation Rental – Four Basic Rules

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Doug

"Better Safe Than Sorry"

Finding and maintaining the correct property and liability insurance for your vacation rental can be a challenge.  Most vacation rental properties are located in high risk areas such as low-lying beach towns or in national forests and that alone can make finding insurance difficult.  Add into the equation that the property will be rented on a part-time basis and things can get really complicated.  Here’s a few basic rules to follow to help protect you and your property from insurance nightmares.

Rule One – Honesty Is The Best Policy

It’s imperative that you be completely honest with your insurance agent about your intent to rent out your property on a short-term basis.  If a guest staying in your property causes damage, or files a lawsuit against you, your insurance agent will get wise to your rental activity.  If you haven’t disclosed that your property is a vacation rental, your insurance policy can be voided and you will be completely exposed.  Be honest from the get-go.  Sure, it will mean a higher premium, but it’s not worth risking your life savings.

Rule Two – If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try Again

When shopping for insurance, start with the companies that have your current homeowners and auto policies.  It’s always cheaper to umbrella your coverage with one company.  But don’t be surprised if you get turned down.  Vacation rental insurance is a specialty market and most  of the traditional companies won’t have what you’re looking for. 

Ask your agent for a referral and check with other rental owners in your area.  They will probably have several recommendations between them and one of the companies will be a good fit for what you need.

Rule Three – Ask The Right Questions, Give The Right Answers

It’s important to use the right language and ask the right questions when speaking to an insurance agent.  Never tell your agent that your property will be vacant.  The correct term to use is “unoccupied”  A vacant property is a red flag that will scare off most insurance companies.

Vacation rental insurance usually falls under the “surplus lines” category.  The companies that specialize in this type of insurance are Lloyd’s of London, AIG, Lexington, and Allied Insurance.  If your current insurer can’t cover you rental property, ask them for a surplus lines referral.

Ask your insurance agent how much liability coverage you should be carrying.  The minimum is usually about $1,000,000 but the amount can change based upon your financial situation.  It’s just common sense, if you have more to lose you’ll want more liability coverage.

You will be asked for the name of your property manager and you need to be prepared.  If you’re a “rent by owner” and you’re asked who manages your property, give them the name of your housekeeper or maintenance man.  The insurance company is going to want to hear that someone is available in case of emergency.  If you don’t have a third-party contact set up you could potentially raise another red flag.

Rule Four – Check Your Insurance Company’s Financial Status

There are hundreds of insurance companies trying to get your business.  If you stumble across a company with rates and terms too good to be true, be very careful.  There really are “fly by night” insurance companies out there and if there’s a flood or earthquake they could be wiped out financially.

The place to check the financial status of an insurance company is www.ambest.com.  Type in the name of the insurance company and you’ll be able to pull up a little history of that insurance company, how long they’ve been in business, and what their financial status is.  What you’re really looking for is an A rated company. Don’t go back to grade school and think that B and C are any good. You really want an A rated insurance company.

Insurance is one area of vacation rental management where you cannot afford to cut corners.  There are too many things that can go wrong and the term “better safe than sorry” is the most important rule of the insurance game.  If you would like the name of a good insurance agent or if you have any questions about vacation rental management please leave me a comment.  Happy Renting!

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What Makes A Great Vacation Rental?

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Doug

Home Away From Home

What exactly is it that makes a vacation rental truly great?   A place that the guests rave about to their friends and return to year after year.  The fact is that you can have an amazing location, every conceivable amenity, and the best rates in town, but if you ignore a few basic rules of property management you can spoil the whole deal.

Rule One – Be the perfect host.  The people paying to stay in your property are your guests and should be treated like royalty.  If you can’t handle a few complaints with dignity and grace, maybe you shouldn’t be in this business.  I can’t tell you how many owners and managers I’ve talked to that seem to fall apart just because their guests are a little high-maintenance. 

I’ve received calls in the middle of the night from very agitated guests needing to know how to turn on the television.  Not a big deal, right?  Well, you need to remember that when you’re in a strange place it can get very frustrating if something doesn’t seem to be working correctly.  It may be a very simple and obvious thing to you, but to your guests it’s the end of the world.  Take a deep breath and try to put yourself in their shoes.  A little kindness and understanding will go a long way.

Rule Two – Inspect your property yourself.  Never leave inspections to the housekeepers.  They have enough to think about without having to remember if something was broken or missing from the last occupancy.  You shouldn’t attempt to recover money for damage of loss unless you know yourself what condition your property was in before the guest arrived.  If you leave it up to your housekeepers’ word against the guests’, you are setting yourself up for a charge back that you will not win. 

You or your property manager should have a separate inspection checklist for every property and it must be completed in-between each and every guest stay.  Give yourself time to make any necessary repairs.  Don’t think that a guest will never notice if something isn’t just right.  Assume that they will notice and announce to their 2,000 friends on Facebook that your rental property stinks.  It happens!

Rule Three – Leave a “How Can We Do Better?” form.   Encourage your guests to fill out your form and take their suggestions seriously.  It’s not enough to have a guest book.  Tell your guests that you want their experience in your property to be the best it can possibly be and in return you want them to tell the world about your property.  You can learn everything you’ll ever need to know about vacation rental management just by taking the time to ask if they were completely satisfied.  If they know that you care, chances are they will be willing to give you a positive review, even if something went wrong during their stay.

Remember, people like doing business with people they like.  If you are sincere your guests will forgive most minor annoyances that would have turned into nightmares if you had not addressed them promptly and correctly.

To sum it up – A great property is only as great as the people who own and operate it.  You’ll have some difficult guests and some dream guests and they must all be treated with the same care and respect.  That is the secret to success in this game we call vacation rental management.

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Preparing Your Property For The Rental Market

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Doug

Give Your Renters What They Want

The vacation rental market is one of the fastest growing segments of the lodging industry. If you own a home in a popular resort area, convert your property into a vacation rental and generate income when you’re not using it. Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare your property for the rental market.

Local Regulations
The first step in preparing your property for the rental market is to find out the requirements of your local governing agency. Some resort areas have banned or restricted vacation rentals of less than 30 days. Transient Occupancy Tax, or bed taxes, should be collected on every reservation and forwarded to your local city or county. Many resort areas require that vacation rental properties pay registration fees and be inspected for safety issues before the property is occupied. Get to know your local rules and regulations before you start renting.

Furnishings and Decor
Rental properties should have comfortable but durable furniture with fabrics that clean easily and resist stains. Used furniture is acceptable as long as it matches and is in “like new” condition. Use commercial quality, stain resistant carpeting in practical colors. White carpeting may look great in your own home but is not recommended for rental property. Top quality beds and bedding are a priority with mattresses more firm than soft. Hang colorful pictures and paintings that reflect your location or decorating theme. The kitchen should be fully equipped, just like your personal residence. Washers and dryers are highly recommended. Make sure you have enough dining and living room seating to accommodate the amount of people your property can sleep.

Amenities
Popular amenities include: flat screen television, dvd player, pool table, Jacuzzi or hot tub, foosball table, board games, internet access, crib, books and magazines. Put together a notebook detailing how to operate the general systems of the property and include emergency contact numbers, brochures for local attractions, maps, and dining guides. Amenities will vary depending on your location. If your property is located near the beach, you may want to provide beach chairs and bicycles. A mountain property might have snow sleds or fishing poles available for guest use. Be creative and have fun with it.

Cleanliness
Vacation rentals must be cleaned in-between each guest stay. Always provide your cleaners with a detailed list of your cleaning requirements. Purchase a second set of linens and have them ready for back to back reservations. Inspect the property after each cleaning to make sure it’s ready for the next guest. Going the extra mile in this department will save you in the long run.

Condition
If something is not working correctly, or if furniture is damaged, get it fixed immediately. Even something as small as a light bulb needing replacement can cause a guest to complain. Once again, inspections are the key to avoiding headaches. Create a room by room, top to bottom, inspection checklist and always give yourself enough time to make the necessary repairs. Plan on, and budget for, painting the interior walls and replacing the carpeting and flooring every 3 to 5 years. You are going to want your property to be occupied as often as possible and that means wear and tear. Deferred maintenance is part of the rental business.

Miscellaneous
Take good pictures of your property and post as many as possible. Photos are the best way to represent your property to potential guests, either online or in your brochure. Invest in a good camera with a wide- angle lens or hire a professional photographer. Keep a guest book in the property for guest comments and ask for permission to reprint their reviews. Remind your guests to review your property on Tripadvisor, Google, and Yahoo.

There are many details to managing a vacation rental. Take the time to prepare your property for the vacation rental market and it will be a rewarding experience for you and your guests.

Doug Meeder is a consultant with over 20 years experience in the vacation rental industry and has managed over 200 properties as a rental business owner. He works with vacation rental managers, property owners, Realtors*, and homeowner associations, developing and implementing a profitable, proven, business plan and marketing strategy for successful vacation rental management.

Doug’s expertise includes: website development and software solutions, sales and marketing, policy and procedure, branding, housekeeping and maintenance, safety and risk management, social networking, code compliance, and alternative revenue sources.

Contact Doug for a free initial consultation or additional information on his services, qualifications, and references at (909) 856-2124.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Meeder

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6205960

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Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Doug

People Love To Travel With Their Pets

Vacation rental property owners must try to accommodate the wants and needs of potential guests by offering amenities that appeal to the traveling public.  One of the most popular amenities that owners should consider is to be a “pet-friendly” vacation rental.

A recent study showed that almost 60% of adult pet owners plan to take their four-legged family members on vacation sometime in the next 12 months.  In order to grab a part of this demographic, it’s not enough just to say that you accept pets.  Your property must be suitable for animals and equipped with things like a fenced yard, dog beds, food and water bowls, furniture covers, and information on local pet-friendly activities and attractions.

If the property is truly “pet-friendly” and has “pet amenities”, guests will gladly pay for the service. I’ve heard of fees from as little as $10.00 per pet, per night, on up to a $300.00 security deposit plus $75.00 damage waiver. What you charge should be dictated by how well the property and surrounding area accommodates the pet(s).  If you decide to accept pets be sure to spell out your pet charges, security deposit requirements, and conditions in your rental contract.

I’ve only traveled with a pet once, when I had to evacuate from a forest fire with my 12-year-old golden retriever. We ended up at a vacation rental in Palm Springs and the additional pet fees were over $100.00 for three nights. Fortunately, the property had a huge fenced yard and a few dog toys and even some low-grade dog food. I was dreading the experience on the drive down but the property was perfect for my big goofy golden and I gladly paid those extra fees.

If your property is suitable for pets consider making a few pet-friendly improvements and start taking advantage of this huge segment of the travel industry.

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