Saturday, September 22, 2007

Convert Inquiries into Bookings

One of the most exciting aspects of vacation rental homeownership is checking your mailbox for inquiries. Once you've received an inquiry from a potential renter the ball is in your court to convince them that your vacation home is the perfect base for their stay. The absolute most important tip from all the experts in the vacation rental field is to respond quickly and accurately to your inquiries. Timeliness matters. The more responsive you are to your potential guests sends them the message that you are a professional who is attentive to the needs of your guests.

You should also be sure to highlight some of the key features and amenities of your home based on the information they have given you, for instance, they list their group as 4 adults and 4 children. This sounds like 2 families in which case try to mention the kid friendly aspects of your home as well as the benefits for the parents to enjoy some adult time. This sound be done in a well thought out concise form, one or two paragraphs at most.

Your e-mail reply should include confirmation of the dates they requested and the number in their party and price for rental period inclusive of all taxes, cleaning fees and other potential charges. It should also discuss your rental agreement,deposit requirements and your payment methods.

Lastly, try to convey to your potential guests how much you appreciate their consideration and time. Today, renters have many choices for their accommodations and your success in great part depends upon the how well you are at selling your place in this intial correspondence.