Month: June 2017

It can be surprising that many travelers still haven’t clued into the fact that prices can increase with demand, which is one of the truths of the travel industry. Business travelers and frequent flyers understand that flight prices, hotel prices, and accommodation rentals can be considerably higher during peak travel times. Yet, it doesn’t stop travelers from asking homeowners and property managers why rates are higher during certain times of the year.

But it’s good to know that higher vacation rates aren’t the same across the entire industry. For example, Florida vacation rental rates may be higher in the summer, as the kids are out of school for summer vacation, while ski resorts may have higher rates in February, near the end of the season. Long weekends can also command higher rates.

No matter how you’re questioned by your future guests, your answer is always going to be that the busy travel season means that guests pay normal rates during these times, but you do offer discounts during the off-season.

But what does this really mean in business? It’s one of the fundamental laws of capitalism that is known as supply and demand. A marketing manager may call this a compressed demand, something that occurs during a specific time of the year. This is what causes the rates to go up.

Airlines, short-accommodation hosts, and vacation rental owners know they can raise the prices during these higher times of supply and demand, and there will still be plenty of people willing to pay the higher prices. This pushes the rates up so there is a better ROI—Return on Investment—for owners. This means that the owners make higher profits off of travelers and guests.

This is one of the basic concepts of business and can be likened to how gas prices are always raised right before a long weekend too.

This means that a guest has to expect they’re going to pay higher prices during the summer vacation, a long weekend, holidays, and even special events or conventions that are occurring in their chosen city that week.

The good news is that if guests are flexible with travel plans, they can also benefit from discounts from the off-season. Vacation rental owners are happy to announce special discounts, as they want to get accommodations booked up during these quiet times.

To fill up bookings year-round, guests will be enticed with lower rates during the quieter times of the year. While the owners don’t get as much cash, they certainly can optimize their revenues by still being fully booked throughout the entire year.

If you’re listing your vacation rentals on CuddlyNest, or you are a property manager wanting to provide the best customer service to your guests, the best way to think positively about it is to realize that the high season means that you’re charging regular or normal rates, while the low season is the time that you give the big discounts.

It’s best to offer guests who complain about regular vacation rental rates an option for discounted rates during the off-season. Stay positive, and you never know, your guest may still be willing to pay a “regular rate” for the convenience of summer travel.

Browse. Book. Stay.

CuddlyNest provides all accommodations to all travelers at the best price. Find unlimited travel inspiration on our blog and social media channels:
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and X.

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When you read the first negative review on your vacation rental property it may be tempting to backlash, so it’s important to take a step back and not take the guest review personally. Unfortunately, even the best vacation rental properties on CuddlyNest are going to eventually get a negative review, as you can’t please everyone.

Here’s how to cope when you get that first negative review:

A Negative Review May Have Just Been One Thing

People are quick to tap on the one star, even though all other aspects of their stay were enjoyable. They may have been overreacting when they said the coffee wasn’t good, or the door hinge squeaked. It may be a quick fix for the next guest.

Respond to all Negative Comments

Often, it’s the way that you tackle the problem that can provide a happy resolution for the guest. They may still book with you in the future, or, if the system allows it, they may be willing to add an update to the review. Often when a guest posts a negative review, they are waiting for a response. It’s important to read the review, apologize, and offer a solution for the future.

Respond Quickly

Don’t check through your reviews once a month. Set aside time at least twice a week to check into the ratings review system. Often many property managers and homeowners also like to post a “thank you” for the positive reviews. This shows that there really is a real person at the other end. You may even be able to set a Google Alert for when someone posts a review about your vacation rental property.

Turn the Negative into a Positive

Most of the time, negative reviews are related to a bad experience, rather than being an intentional attack on you. For example, if you have a review that says your apartment isn’t kid-friendly, maybe you can turn that into a positive and get more adults staying at your quiet and tranquil place because your rental is not suitable for a family environment.

If there are complaints that your neighborhood is too noisy, you can highlight how your apartment is located in a fun and lively part of the city.

As for complaints about cleanliness, it’s time to put on your glasses and do a good scrubbing and sanitation of your rental space. Sometimes we can tune out dirt and grime.

What You Shouldn’t Do in a Review

Never show your emotions in a response. This means not personally attacking someone just because you don’t agree with them. If someone has truly lied on the review, post a photo or a link to a past review to temper it down, and thank them for their review.

It can be a cause for alarm if all your reviews are five-star experiences, as some guests may wonder if your five-star reviews are fake.

Browse. Book. Stay.

CuddlyNest provides all accommodations to all travelers at the best price. Find unlimited travel inspiration on our blog and social media channels Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Here Are Some Curated Readings For You:

CuddlyNest secures US$3.5M funding to accelerate growth
CuddlyNest reaches 25,000 property listings in Scandinavia
CuddlyNest raises an additional US$6 million amidst pandemic
CuddlyNest surpasses 60,000 properties across India

If you own property in a city or town that would be considered a tourist destination, you’ve probably wondered how much you could make renting it out during the months you’re not staying there. Or maybe you have a home with an extra room no one is using and know that you could make some extra money renting it out short-term.

Whatever your situation, you’re probably wondering what the basic first steps are to positioning your property for short-term or vacation rental. Here are some of the basics to get you started:

Choose a Platform to Post Your Listing

There are a lot of short-term rental vacation portals to choose from. Understand that there are upfront charges that you will need to consider.

Some vacation portals charge as high as 35% booking fees for every reservation that you accept, while at CuddlyNest the booking fees never go higher than 9%. Also, while some vacation rental platforms will charge well over $300 for a 12-month annual subscription, on CuddlyNest, there’s no subscription fee to be paid, and there’s no restriction on the number of properties you can list.

Remove Personal Items from the Property

Personal items should be removed for safety purposes as well as aesthetic reasons. While it is nice to stay in a vacation home that has personality, it is another thing entirely to enjoy a relaxing evening in front of the fireplace with a very large, framed photo of the family who owns the house watching you.

Hide any personal effects like picture frames or monogrammed towels. Clear away any clutter like old bills you have stored in the drawers. Valuables and irreplaceable items should be stowed away somewhere safe and secure.

Take Stock of Your Property’s Best Features

Start thinking about what makes your property unique. There may be a fascinating story to when and how it was built or perhaps you’ve just renovated the kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances. Whatever interesting and special things there are about the home and property, write it all down. You’ll need all those details when you create your listing description.

Take as many photos as you can of every angle of the home. Open up the curtains and let natural light in so you can capture the bright photos. You may even want to hire a professional to take high-quality images of your property.

Think About Amenities You Want to Offer

Your home may already be equipped with the basics to make a guest’s stay comfortable. However, adding special amenities like a hair dryer, free Wi-Fi, a coffee machine, a video game console, or snacks are simple additions that can elevate the guest’s experience and lead to positive reviews.

Protect Your Property and Consider Insurance

Accidents can happen. Unfortunately, so can theft.

Before you rent out your home, you have to be realistic and accept that there is the possibility of renters damaging your home in some way, whether accidental or intentional. And you often will not know it until they have left and you inspect the property.

While you can hold them accountable and demand that they pay for the damages, having that extra layer of protection is recommended.

Rental Rates Table

Once you’ve got the home clear of clutter, rent-ready, a chosen platform to advertise on, photos ready for uploading, and a compelling description, you still need one very crucial component to your property listing – rental rates.

Be smart about how much you intend to charge per night. Consider its location, size, and amenities. Do your research and see how much the rates are for properties in your area that are similar to yours. If your property is in a city with changing seasons, think about if you want to charge more during tourist peak seasons. You may even want to charge a higher rate for weekend stays.

The choice is entirely up to you. Some property managers maintain comparatively high prices to market their rental as a luxury home while other hosts prefer to keep their rates low, so they enjoy more bookings year-round.

Browse. Book. Stay.

CuddlyNest provides all accommodations to all travelers at the best price. Find unlimited travel inspiration on our blog and social media channels Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Here Are Some Curated Readings For You:

CuddlyNest secures US$3.5M funding to accelerate growth
CuddlyNest reaches 25,000 property listings in Scandinavia
CuddlyNest raises an additional US$6 million amidst pandemic
CuddlyNest surpasses 60,000 properties across India

When people search for properties to rent short-term for vacation or business, they’re likely to be presented with multiple options when they perform a search.

What is it that makes certain properties stand out more and keeps potential guests from clicking on the next property? Here are a few tips on how to keep their attention and differentiate you from all the other properties they may be considering.

Post Multiple Photos

We talk a lot about posting the best photos but posting multiple photos is just as important. Many potential guests move on to the next listing when they don’t learn enough about the property at first glance. Presenting them with more visuals creates a clearer picture of the home.

If you’re only renting out a room, you don’t need to stop at just one photo. Take pictures of the room from different angles and perspectives. Take a photo of the bed and maybe even the view outside its window. Post pictures of the amenities and closet space.

If your property boasts four bedrooms and four baths, don’t just share 2 or 3 images that show the living room and the house’s exterior. People want to see details, and if you show little interest in showing off the property, they will, in turn, lose interest.

Share What Makes the Property Special

Every home has something special about it. It could be your location, the structure itself, or the unique amenities that you offer.

Potential guests will be interested to hear about luxurious eco-friendly linens or goose-down pillows. Do you have an oversized bathtub in the master bathroom that fits two? Does your property have a pool or a stone oven in the backyard?

If you worry that your property isn’t glamorous or luxurious enough, think about what makes your property unique. Perhaps there’s history behind when it was built and an ancestral story behind it. Mention if it’s a craftsman-style home with custom-built features.

Talk About the Neighbourhood

Some guests like to go out and explore, particularly if they are on vacation. They want to go home with experiences and stories to tell.

Talk about all the must-see places near the property. Is there a diner in your area that claims to make the best pecan pies? Are there parks nearby that have a great path for running? Perhaps there’s a farmer’s market just a few blocks away.

Describe all the fun and interesting things that can be done in your neighborhood. Think about all the things that make your community different and how they may appeal to visitors such as historical landmarks, street art, or even spots that sell dishes they won’t be able to try anywhere else.

Beyond all the potential fun, they’ll also want to hear about the 24-hour convenience store just 10 minutes away or that they can take a short bus ride to the nearest mall.

Remember, when thinking about how to make your property stand out, don’t think like a property manager or a host – think like a guest. Consider mentioning all the things that catch your attention when you search through listings and what sparks your interest.

Browse. Book. Stay.

CuddlyNest provides all accommodations to all travelers at the best price. Find unlimited travel inspiration on our blog and social media channels:
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and X.

You May Also Like:

CuddlyNest secures US$3.5M funding to accelerate growth
CuddlyNest reaches 25,000 property listings in Scandinavia
CuddlyNest raises an additional US$6 million amidst pandemic
CuddlyNest surpasses 60,000 properties across India