Fall bookings are running 13.6% ahead of last year, reflecting continued growth in the popularity of renting on the Cape and Islands in the fall season. Keep in mind, however, that the number of available rental properties has also steadily increased, requiring you to consider new ways to compete by offering an off-season perspective rather than the normal summer one.
One suggestion is to consider altering your listing a bit so that it's more enticing to off season renters. Rather than highlighting the fact that you have ceiling fans or air conditioners, for example, you might mention a woodstove or fireplace for cool fall evenings. Remember you are marketing primarily to vacationers without children.
Popular posts on our Homeowner Blog:
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Solicit tenant feedback using the Guest Review Request feature
Guest reviews strongly influence the decision-making process of the vacationer to inquire about and book your vacation rental. Even if you have some reviews posted, be sure to keep them current by adding new ones each season.
Not sure how to solicit feedback from your tenants? The Guest Review Request Form feature enables you to email your recent tenants directly from your listing to request their feedback. It's easy for you - and easy for them! Access your Guest Reviews page from your Homeowner Center, and click on the "Request Form" tab to send emails to your tenant. Or watch our
Guest Review Request Tutorial video for step-by-step instructions.
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Conducting business with respect to our community and the environment. Year round and seasonal services are our specialty. From Rubbish removal to portable toilets, we've got you covered.
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We are already receiving a number of calls in the office from vacationers making plans for next year! Listings with pricing and availability for summer 2015 will get more hits than those without. If you are not ready to post pricing and availability, just leave the calendar as is, and it will show the weeks as "unknown."
 Look for the
 button on your calendar. This will show you the prices you initially entered on your calendar for the past season and is a good reference as you make your pricing decisions about next year.
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Pricing your home for next season
Homeowners have been asking our opinion about pricing for next season. One natural indicator, of course, is how quickly and easily you booked your home this past season. If you struggled, we would not recommend you increase your rates for next season. In general, though, competitively priced homes rent earlier in the season and at their asking price. The more aggressively priced homes tend to rent later in the booking season, and vacationers booking late are more likely to ask for, and even expect, reduced rates.
More about pricing your home.
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Although
we offer 3- and 6-month renewal plans, more than 77% of our Cape and
Islands homeowners are annual listers. They realize that getting even
one more booking will pay for the extra advertising many times over. In
addition, in recent years 17% of all summer bookings were made between
August and December of the previous year. More info on year-round advertising. |
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The Long Term Rental Directory lists off-season rentals of a month or longer from a link on our home page. So, if your home is listed on the Long Term Directory, make sure your information is accurate and up-to-date. To edit your information or add your home to the Directory, click on the "Description, amenities and map options" link in your Homeowner Center. More info on winter rental advertising.
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Save the date for our fall Homeowner Forums!
Our popular, annual, complimentary Homeowner Forums have been scheduled for this fall, and more information about them will be coming soon. The Forums are a wonderful opportunity for you to meet with other homeowners and some of our staff, engage in lively conversation concerning the vacation rental market, and share ideas.
Martha's Vineyard - Saturday, Sept 27, 10 AM - noon
Brewster - Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 - 11:30 AM and 1:30 - 4 PM
Wellesley - Saturday, Nov. 1, 4 - 6 PM
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We're asking our vacationers and homeowners to gather your Cape and Islands vacation memories and create an online scrapbook to share and treasure. One scrapbook will be chosen by a panel of judges to win $500 towards a Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket vacation rental.
 HOMEOWNER BONUS PRIZE: If the winning scrapbook noted that they stayed in your rental, you’ll win a free one year subscription for your listing.
It’s not too late for you or your guests to enter for a chance to win!
FINALISTS:
The contest will have 18 finalists, 6 finalists for each month of July, August and September.
Approved entries only compete with other entries approved in the same month. This means you could have a scrapbook approved on September 9th and you would only be competing against the other entries approved in September for one of September’s 6 finalist spots.
VOTING:
Voting on approved entries continues all the way up to September 21, the end of the contest, and the monthly finalists are determined then. This means that entries in the 7th or 8th position at the end of August still have until September 21 to try to surpass entries with more votes.
The entry period ends September 14 but voting continues up until September 21.
Last, the preservation part! For every approved entry, we’ll make a donation to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and CARE for the Cape & Islands (Creating a Responsible Environment). So enter your scrapbook, and encourage your guests to submit their own, to treasure your memories, and, in the process, aid in the preservation of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
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The advantages of up-to-date photos and video
Fresh and inviting pictures are the single most important aspect of your listing. When polled, thousands of vacationers indicated that their first impression of a listing is based on the quality of the photographs. Only 11% indicated they would inquire about a home with dark pictures. See picture taking tips.
Take new pictures in the early fall and benefit from them for years!
If you need assistance taking great photographs or video, our staff photographer & videographer, Becky Fischer, is now booking for the fall. If you would like to arrange for an appointment or hear more about her service, email her at becky@weneedavacation.com. Read what other homeowners say about her services: Reviews of Photo Service
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Click on your area:
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| Reminders |
| Vacation Planner |
Refer-a-Friend |
Ideas for newsletters? |
Be sure to tell your tenants to check out the Vacation Planner for activities, events, dining and more.
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Refer a friend and receive 2 free months if you list for a year or more, or 1 extra month if you list for 6 months!
And, don't forget: referring a Vacation Planner or Home Services business counts, too! |
Email us if you have other topics you would like to see us address in our monthly homeowner newsletters.
See our past newsletters.
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