Your browser's security settings have disabled Javascript, which is required to use this web site effectively.
Please alter your security settings. Click here to see how.

How to Handle Vacation Rental Inquiries: Communication & Screening

Joan Talmadge | 12/31/2025
Vacation Rental Inquiries Guest Screening Tips

Every successful vacation rental booking starts with the first inquiry. These articles share proven best practices for responding to vacation rental inquiries, communicating expectations clearly, screening prospective guests, and finding the right fit—helping homeowners attract respectful renters, avoid misunderstandings, and create smoother bookings from the start.

How to Find Respectful Guests Who Return Year After Year
How to Find Respectful Guests Who Return Year After Year
Handling International Vacation Rental Inquiries, Payments, and Bookings
Handling International Vacation Rental Inquiries, Payments, and Bookings
How to Research Prospective Vacation Rental Guests
How to Research Prospective Vacation Rental Guests
Screening Vacation Rental Tenants: It's OK to say No!
Screening Vacation Rental Tenants: It's OK to say No!
Offering Online Payment Options for Your Vacation Rental
Offering Online Payment Options for Your Vacation Rental
Red Flags During the Screening Process
Red Flags During the Screening Process
About Joan Talmadge

About Joan Talmadge: What began in 1996 as a way for Jeff and me to rent our Cape vacation home soon grew into WeNeedaVacation—and an entirely new career for me after years in education and publishing. Nearly three decades later, we're still at it, now with a wonderfully talented team and two of our children working alongside us. We live on the Cape year round, and it truly is magical in every season.