A great vacation rental listing does more than describe a property—it helps vacationers imagine their time there. The most successful listings combine beautiful photos, compelling descriptions, guest reviews, and up-to-date information to create a positive first impression and inspire confidence.
Whether you're creating a new listing or refreshing an existing one, the following recommendations will help you showcase your home, highlight its unique features, and attract more qualified inquiries and bookings.
Pictures & Video
- Your pictures should provide a complete overview of your home. Include an exterior front shot, living room, dining room/area, kitchen, all bedrooms, at least one bathroom, porch/deck/patio, sunroom, backyard. And don't forget a beach picture and any unique amenities, such as kayaks and beach equipment!
- Pictures should be of good quality. Take photos on a bright day to maximize natural light. Horizontal photos tend to display better than vertical ones.
- Stage your scenes by setting the table, adding flowers, opening doors, turning on lights, etc. (No personal effects or people in the interior pictures.)
- Video is an excellent enhancement, especially if your property has expansive views. Include video of both your home and its surroundings.
Captions
- Use captions to reinforce key selling points and create an emotional connection.
- Examples: sunny, serene, comfortable, private, charming
View more information on Pictures and Video.
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Guest Reviews
- Listings with 7+ recent reviews are 34% more likely to be fully booked.
- Try to get at least a few new reviews every year.
- Use our Request Form feature to solicit new reviews.
- Ask for a review shortly after guests' departure. Reviews must be submitted within 90 days of guests' arrival.
View more information on Guest Reviews.
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Title
- Your title appears in search results, so make it compelling enough to encourage vacationers to click through to your full listing.
- Highlight your greatest assets.
- Include words that optimize your visibility on search engines.
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Property Description
Describe what makes your home unique, highlighting the following information:
- Important amenities that vacationers frequently search for, such as air conditioning, outdoor shower, linens provided, EV charger, and pet-friendly accommodations.
- A general description and layout of the rooms and bed configurations, as well as any special, individual amenities.
- The immediate setting, including your porch/deck/patio, yard, immediate neighborhood, and any views or water access.
- The general location, including your proximity to beaches and other area attractions such as restaurants, shopping, ferries, golf, bike trails, playgrounds, and more.
About the Owner
Create a sense of connection and trust by sharing your story, what you love about your home, and the unique qualities of your town and surroundings.
Map Location
- Verify that your home's location is accurately placed on the map.
- Vacationers appreciate seeing exactly where a home is located and how close it is to beaches, town centers, bike paths, restaurants, and major roads. Providing this context helps guests visualize their stay, assess convenience, and feel more confident about choosing your property.
Do's
- Use complete, flowing sentences rather than short phrases and abbreviations.
- Describe your home and its surroundings accurately so that guests arrive with the right expectations.
- Take a few minutes to proofread your listing for typos, grammar, and punctuation. A polished listing helps create a strong first impression and inspires confidence.
Don'ts
- Don't use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS or excessive exclamation points.
- While it's important to communicate your policies clearly, detailed policies and legal terms are often better addressed after a guest has expressed interest. Be sure to include these details in your lease agreement.
View more information on the Property Description.
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Pricing and Availability Calendar
- Keep your calendar up to date regularly by clicking Update date stamp, even if there haven't been any changes. This automatically displays the current date.
- A recently updated calendar builds confidence and may encourage vacationers to book sooner.
- Make sure there are no odd checkmarks midweek, and do not check as unavailable the day the guests are leaving.
View the Calendar Setup Instructions.
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Owner Special
- Be specific. Examples: free extra night, early check-in, late checkout, restaurant gift card, or seasonal discount.
- Give vacationers an incentive to book sooner rather than later.
- Draw vacationers in and entice them to explore your full listing.
- Keep it current and appropriate to the time of year.
- If you are advertising a discounted price in your Owner Special, be sure to adjust your calendar to reflect the new price.
View more information on Owner Specials.
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Last-minute Availability Alert
- Use the Alert to further highlight availability within the next four weeks of posting.
- It's most effective when used in conjunction with an Owner Special.
- Be sure to reflect any price reduction on your calendar, too.
- An Alert icon is displayed on the search results page, the town property directory page, and on your actual listing.
- Your Alert will also appear on our Last-Minute Availability & Deals page, where vacationers look for last-minute availability and special offers.
View more information on Last-Minute Availability Alerts.
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- Each season, be sure your contact information is accurate and includes at least one phone number and email address.
- Next to each cell number, check the box to indicate that you would like to receive an alert from WeNeedaVacation when you have a new inquiry.
Booking Management
Booking Management gives you a simple, centralized way to track bookings, manage payments, avoid double bookings, and keep notes on guests. You can quickly see which weeks are booked, by whom, and at what price, while also tracking leases, deposits, and other booking details. Optional email reminders and alerts help you stay organized and on top of important deadlines.
Listing Quality Audit
Your Listing Rating is one of the key factors that determines where your home appears in search results—the higher your rating, the greater your visibility. Our Listing Quality Audit provides a quick, personalized assessment of your listing, evaluating factors such as response time and rate, calendar updates, photos, guest reviews, availability, and pricing. You'll receive practical, tailored recommendations to help you market your home more effectively.
View more information on the Listing Quality Audit.
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