Vacation Rental Direct Bookings Checklist

Protect your nest egg and take back control of your vacation rental from the big listing sites (like VRBO and AirBnb). 

Use this checklist to transition your vacation rental to be able to take direct bookings and keep your piece of mind.

Are you tired of playing games with the vacation rental sharks? It’s time to be come Listing Independent.

We pulled out from the FEE (NOT free) listing sites in February, 2018 and haven’t looked back or regretted it for a minute.

YOU can do it, too! It’s not as scary as you think.

For more information about the vacation rental business, check out my other website https://www.trendyhospitality.com.

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Listing Independence Checklist

• Gain Control of Your Email List and Establish an Email Server
   Capture emails and addresses from every inquiry and every guest and ask for permission to email
   Establish an email server (MailChimp, Constant Contact, Smore, etc.)
   Email or mail your inquiry/guest list with new booking process and website information
• Review Current Listing Contracts
   When does it expire?
   How much notice do I need to give (what is the “out clause”)?
   Note and plan for any other contract issues
• Establish Business Coverages
   Liability insurances
  Rental agreement
   Damage deposit processes
   Guest damage and/or trip insurance (may be provided by online booking website)
• Purchase Items Previously Provided by Management Company
  • Keyless entry locks (RemoteLock, Schlage, etc.)
  • Linens (if not provided by cleaning service)
  • Paper products (if not provided by cleaning service)
  • Other

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• Establish Business & Tax Accounts (business, lodging and sales taxes)
   City
   County
   State
   File 1099s at year end (service providers, etc.)
• Establish Service Contacts
   Be sure the service provider is willing to provide a Form W-9
   Maintenance (are they available “on-call”?)
   Cleaning/Laundry (do they provide linens? paper products? soaps? hot tub supplies? do they allow or charge extra for pets? etc.)
   Lawncare
   HVAC/Electrical
   Plumbing
• Create a Fee-Free Website
   Free listing sites (Houfy or HomeEscape)
   Paid online booking website (Vacation Rental Desk, OwnerRez, Logify, Bookerville, etc.)
   Create your own website
  •  Do-it-yourself or outsource?
     Domain name and hosting (Bluehost, GoDaddy, etc.)
     Website building software (WordPress, Wix, etc.)
  • Consider how to manage the booking calendar integration during independence interim
  • Consider how the website will process credit card payments
• Establish Payment Methods and Processes
   Credit card processing service (consider processing fees)
   PayPal account
   Checks
• Create Social Media Business Accounts
   Facebook
   Instagram
   Twitter
   Pinterest
   Join social media groups (local and owner groups)

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