Posts Tagged ‘Vacation Rental Blog’
ReserveMyHome – A compelling case for this vacation rentals website award.
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Here I will describe why this website and company’s business model sets itself apart from the competition in the vacation rental industry. A measure of hundreds of online vacation rentals websites sites were used in this comparison over a two year period.
A website in the vacation rentals space must do three things to enable travelers to make an online reservation with confidence:
- Be the perfect storefront for each rental home, attracting renters to explore it further; and
- Provide the traveler with comprehensive information they need to know so they can best identify what they get with their purchase.
- Allow travelers and owners to view travel guides and post useful booking and travel content, tips and advice.
In addition to the above, a winning vacation rentals website that is both innovative by way of design and provides a feature set that allows a renter to easily book the verified home online.
Following those two things, travelers need an easy-to-use feature set which allows them to search for and find fitting rentals, send inquiries and book their vacation rental accommodations easily and without worry. In addition to any brand familiarity provided by the virtual store front, the site must instill trust by way of a verification process for each of the rentals listed on the site to help prevent scams that are prevalent in this marketplace.
Owners of vacation rentals need an easy-to-use tool set to list their vacation properties, share information on the “Vacation Rentals for Family Vacations Blog,” and facilitate the booking process on the rentals site. ReserveMyHome encourages property managers of vacation rentals to simply copy and post a direct link back to their unique ReserveMyHome viewing and booking page from wherever they are promoting their properties – taking travelers seamlessly from exploring to booking.
You could say ReserveMyHome was built for those who want more exposure and bookings without the hassle. The live reservation agents are there to assist travelers with general questions and can usually handle most requests quickly. Travelers like this. Best of all, the ReserveMyHome model is performance based so there is no charge to list rentals on the site and a small commission is subtracted from the nightly rate for all successful bookings on the website.
There are very few websites today that offer all of these innovative components for travelers and owners alike. However, these are all key features for travelers and owners of vacation rentals that are integrated into the ReserveMyHome site making it a leader in the vacation rentals and booking marketplace.
Beyond a typical “billboard” rentals site ReserveMyHome offers instant bookings on most of their rentals. To put this in perspective they have done what the hotel industry has been doing for years but on a more complex level by offering each home’s individual location, features, pictures, amenities, availability and pricing and the ability to book it and go.
The fear of losing a booking is a traditional stress for owners. The loss of two bookings per month at $300 per night with a three-night stay amounts to a $21,600.00 annual loss. ReserveMyHome has changed that, without risk to owners.
At the time of booking on the site, a traveler can easily enter their arrival and departure dates, select a damage insurance waiver vs. a hefty deposit and pay with a credit card. Almost instantly the traveler receives the following:
- Confirmation of payment and dates for their selected vacation period
- A rental contract
- Additional paid amenities associated with the booking
Seven days prior to their arrival a second email is automatically sent with the following information:
- Clear and detailed driving directions to the vacation rental.
- Entry instructions for access to the home
- The owner or property managers contact information for specific last minute details or in the event of an emergency.
All relative booking information is then shared in “real time” between the (parties) property manager of the vacation rental and traveler. Furthermore, the property manager saves money in advertising, employee wages and support as ReserveMyHome remits payment timely and directly.
At anytime a renter can log in to their own unique account to view all of their booking details. Upon arrival back home, the traveler also receives an email with a welcome back greeting that allows the traveler to post a review of their vacation rental and stay.
This vacation rentals website, built and maintained by ReserveMyHome, LLC, simply takes virtual vacation rentals website listings directly to confirmed bookings: a level well beyond the scope of most in this competitive marketplace.
Finally, as of this writing it has been reported that state of the art search and mapping functionality on the site is set to be integrated in early May 2010.
About ReserveMyHome
The ReserveMyHome, LLC website portal connects vacation homeowners and property managers with travelers and renters who seek fast, easy, search options and who want fast, streamlined bookings for trusted vacation rentals, homes, cabins, condos, beach houses and cottages in the USA, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.
Coming March 31, 2010 Be Ready. Be Excited. It’s Going to Be Super!
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
This is Going to Be Good!
Over the last several months this idea has been coming back to me time and time again. Initially it came on strong and I put it behind the more pressing things on my plate. A little over a month ago the sky opened up and creativity settled back in and sure enough boom… there it was again, dead center: an idea with a purpose that has every chance to change and enhance the vacation rental industry, and people’s experiences.
My usual method when starting a new project is to grab a piece of paper, pencil and ruler since I cannot draw any better than my seven year old. For some strange reason this approach did not work this time as I was overcome with thoughts of “You know what you need to do so just crank it out.” This is usually the second step.
For the next week or so all my waking energy went in to tapping on the keyboard, using the copy and paste feature in Word, capturing all those thoughts that had been rumbling around and applying them to this new concept. The phone rang, email filled my email inbox. I think I was a bad dad for a while by not paying attention to the family but this just had to get done. My mind was simply tired of storing up all the little ideas. Those ideas needed to fall into place. So I had to let it happen and put everything else on hold.
Days went by, and then weeks. I worked deep into the late night hours (this is when I do my best work) and finally it all fell into place. Everything that had been stored was now in digital format ready for the next step. The click of a button and off this project went to land on the desktop of my friend that is much more adept than I.
Upon first glance he said, “It’s a winner,” and something that “should have been done long ago.” I actually think he was as excited as I was which is hard to believe because I do tend to get a little wound up. You should see me at professional hockey games when the refs are out of line.
By now you may be wondering, “Just what the heck is this guy blogging about?” Or you may just think I’m nuts. Whatever the case may be, the vacation rentals industry will take notice. Perhaps not today or tomorrow or even this year but this idea will be launched and I believe will make an impact for the better of the wonderful vacation rentals industry I am involved in. The initial announcement will take place right here on WEDNESDAY MARCH 31, 2010 so…
Be Ready. Be Excited. It’s Going to Be Super! Coming April 2010.
Please Give Me a Refund!
Monday, February 15th, 2010Often, I receive emails from vacation renters but a recent email request has been on my mind of late. The renter simply wanted a refund. What most travelers do not realize is that once a booking is made by a traveler for a rental home, cabin or condo the owner’s home is taken off the market. This means it is no longer for rent. It is unavailable period. Could you imagine showing up at the home only to find another family is cooking dinner and enjoying their stay? What a mess!
So, let’s assume for a moment that a traveler books a vacation rental for Christmas week in the middle of November. This amounts to one and a half months prior to their booked arrival date. Over the next forty five days inquires will no doubt come in for that same home (that is off the market) and other inquires for different rentals listed on the ReserveMyHome site. Many folks will still inquire about the unavailable home that has been booked. These travelers are turned away from the booked rental because it is simply unavailable. Some renters will move on to the next home or website to seek a similar home.
Unlike a hotel room, a vacation rental cannot be switched around to accommodate a renters request of an ocean view, a deluxe room with two king beds or perhaps a request for a higher floor.
The vacation rental is selected and booked ahead of time. Typically a renter will research and accept suggestions and agreements from family and friends, agree on a location and the amenities that come with the rental. After all this sharing and research is complete a decision is made. Friends and family are advised of their secured accommodations and other travel plans are made to complete the trip. Using this example above and can consider the rental booked. Then tragedy happens and the renter that booked the home or cabin months ago can no longer honor their agreement and requests a cancellation and refund.
They know the refund and cancellation policy, they know it’s a long shot, but what they may not know is how many bookings have been turned aside since their original booking. This is why ReserveMyHome has a refund and cancellation policy. It is used to protect the owner of the home from loss. It is used to clearly define the process if tragedy happens. It is upheld by our company to ensure the home is available. In a perfect world we could make everyone happy (and we try very hard to do just that).
ReserveMyHome is not in the business of giving out refunds or switching around rooms like a hotel. When a renter books it they can trust in it. The home will be there for them and their family and friends when they arrive on their confirmed dates.
Recently, a request for a refund came in. Tragedy had struck and they simply could not attend. In this case, a new renter wanted the same home which resulted in this email from the original renter…
‘To Reserve My Home,
I recently booked a house with ReserveMyHome. We had a serious family emergency that came up two weeks prior to my arrival date. I contacted Zoe Avery and advised her of my situation. Zoe informed me of the cancellation policy and notified me that it was not in the agreement to refund the payment of the house.
Despite the policy Zoe and ReserveMyHome went above and beyond to work with me in regards to the payment of the house. The compassion and excellent customer service your company has shown is greatly appreciated. I look forward to doing business in the future with you and would recommend this company to anyone I know. I appreciate all that help you have extended to me in this tough time. Thank you again Zoe and ReserveMyHome.’
Sincerely,
W. Padilla Jr.
I wish it was this easy all the time! But the fact is… It’s not.
“Don’t Worry, It’s a Vacation Rental”
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Who is Watching Your Rental?
Almost everyone’s said it, about a car or a house or a hotel room – that’s why when we’re on the other side we have concerns about opening our personal vacation property to renters.
One specific concern is the rental group who overfills any house with more (sometimes many more) people than it reasonably accommodates. Sometimes it’s to reduce the cost, sometimes more people than expected show up; but sometimes renters intentionally take the opportunity to invite as many folks as they want – knowing that “it’s just a rental.”
Some destinations even advertise this as a specific benefit vacation rentals compared to hotels: “Hold your family reunion here, no capacity requirements!” It is a difficult situation to control, so what can you do as the property owner to influence renters to bring only a reasonable number of people along?
Listen for clues
Most renters will ask questions…listen carefully:
• How many cars can we park?
• Do you have any more pullout couches or cots?
• Can we bring tents?
• Is there space at the dock for more than one boat?
• Is there parking for an RV?
Ask for number of adults and children on your rental application
Provide the empty space on the form and it will most likely get filled in accurately. Without specifically asking for number of children, you may only get the count of adults declared. I like the sign my veterinarian has in her office: “Any children playing on the scale will be sent home with a kitten.”
Set the agreement for their number of guests
Provide your rental agreement for the number of guests the renter has stated in the application, even if your property accommodates more. If the renter was intending to bring more people, this will generate questions and help head off ill intentions.
Add a clause to your Terms & Conditions
“The maximum occupancy of this property is 6 people (adults and children). Exceeding this at any time without notification will result in an immediate non-refundable charge of $150 per person in excess of 6 and/or immediate eviction with no refund.” Better to have the rules clear up front then to risk an untenable situation.
Let them know somebody’s watching
“The home is located in a great and friendly neighborhood. Neighbors watch out for each other, and can be counted on to help. As a courtesy, we notify our neighbors who live in the area full-time when we are expecting renters.” This is just a nudge to anyone who might be thinking of bending any of your rules.
At the end of the day, if someone is bound and determined to violate the rules and requirements, it will happen – owners can’t be there to monitor every renter. These tips will help to dissuade people away from taking advantage of the situation, and will help keep your home in good shape!
A Room? How About a Whole Vacation Home
Sunday, December 20th, 2009Discover the secrets of vacation rentals and cabins that are spread across most of 
the world. Imagine all the comforts of home for your family vacation in the perfect location: on your favorite river, near Disneyland, close to the ski slopes in Lake Tahoe, or on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii and the Gulf Shores. The comforts, perks and amenities are many, but the location and cost for a week-long family vacation may surprise you, in a good way.
Picture your kitchen in your home. Now picture your family in your kitchen. Sleeping. Showering. Playing. For a week. Your kitchen is about the same size as a hotel room. Now picture a fully stocked kitchen. Surrounded by 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a laundry room. Add your family to that picture for a week. Aaaaaah, much better. Space for meals. For the kids to play. For you to relax with a book. No hotel room has that much space (not even the fancy end suite) – at least no hotel that your average vacationing family can afford.
Hotels have to cover extraordinary costs with their nightly rate, their room service and restaurant prices, and their fees for services. That’s why even tiny 400 square foot rooms can be so expensive (and that’s before you’ve even eaten or gone anywhere). Vacation rental owners have much more modest costs to cover to maintain their property. And they pass those savings on to travelers. Vacation rental homes begin less expensively, allowing you to enjoy more of the things you’re on vacation to enjoy: the attractions, a couple of really good meals out, peace of mind.
The power of choice. It’s worth a lot. And it costs a lot when it’s taken away by Housekeeping entering your room at 7:30 am, or by noisy neighbors in the room above or next door, or by the raucous partiers returning to their room at 3:00 am. In a vacation rental home, you have the choice – party all night, or curl up with a good book next to a fire. Take some friends along to enjoy the company of others, or keep it low key. Either way you like it, the choice is yours.
Have a party and where does everyone end up? All together now: THE KITCHEN! The most important part of any home, it’s where home cooked meals are created and eaten. We can’t say enough about the kitchen. From a “these are the moments life is made of” perspective, having your own kitchen on vacation is priceless. From a hard cash perspective, having your own kitchen on vacation can save you bundles. Eat out two nights instead of every night. Pack picnic lunches instead of dining out. Enjoy breakfast in bed, and not for those exorbitant room service rates. Put leftovers away to enjoy the next day. That extra money? Sock it away and save it. Or spend it on one more day of lift tickets, Sea Doo rentals, a Mickey hat, or one last fabulous meal at a fabulous restaurant.
Book your travel fun on your own time! Eat the leftovers instead of paying $50.00 for lunch at the hotel. How about the silverware and refer stocked with great snacks at 75% off. Book a vacation rental clearly has its little benefits that add up to huge savings. The amenities found throughout vacation rentals, well those are FREE!
Vacation Rentals in The Gulf Shores are everywhere situated along the beaches but did you know that most all top visited travel hot spots offer vacation rentals, beach homes, villas and condo rentals? Families traveling with kids or in groups are finding some great deals on these amazing properties around the world.
Here are some of the more popular areas for vacation rentals. Cape Coral, Myrtle Beach, Indian Shores, Orlando, Destin, Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone, Telluride, Steamboat, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Big Bear Lake, Table Rock, Shawnigan Lake, Davenport, Hilton Head, Fripp Island, Scottsdale, Cancun, Palm Desert, San Diego, Las Vegas, Oregon, the Virgin Islands…just about any destination you can think of, you will find a vacation rental, not just hotels. Beach rentals in The Gulf Shores, Orlando, Florida or any beach house travel destination and ski cabins where you as a kid grew up still exist and make great family trips for you and your new family. Areas like Lake Tahoe and Breckenridge, Colorado make for some great ski adventures. The Gulf shores and Santa Cruz, California offer beach rentals that will have the kids filled with enjoyment throughout the entire day. It doesn’t get any better than vacation rentals in Maui, Hawaii for a completely relaxing vacation. In no time you will be on the phone extending your stay with the owner of the beach home or condo.
The cozy cabin perched on the creek with the swimming hole that reminds you of being a kid simply cannot be passed up for that next family vacation. Ski home rentals are some of the best deals around. Take Lake Tahoe rentals for example; every Tahoe Vacation rental has a world class ski resort within minutes of your mountain getaway. Hotels are easy but to truly relax on your next road trip vacation rentals and beach home rentals are a more affordable solution for a family vacation.
It is important to remember to always do your research BEFORE booking a vacation rental. There are a ton of scams in this market place. Your hard earned money needs to go to an owner that is verified as a good manager. ALWAYS USE WEBSITES THAT VERIFY THEIR RENTALS! NEVER BOOK VACATION RENTALS THAT ARE NOT VERIFIED! These days anyone can post a few pictures and some rates on a vacation rental listing site but getting to know who stands behind that home is very important!
There is only one really good way to determine if the Tahoe vacation rental or the Gulf Shores beach home is verified. Only search vacation rental websites that verify all rentals posted on the site AND accept credit cards. These advertising sites should have strict guidelines and owner-provided documentation that is reviewed before the listing is made available to travelers. Be very careful with sites that provide renter reviews. Inquire who reviewed and posted this information. As a general rule, take an average of the best and the worst reviews and draw your own conclusion right down the middle. Booking your vacation rental through a reputable, local property management company is always a good idea. You might pay a few extra bucks, but surprises are never good while traveling in groups. Remember to use the new adage “know BEFORE you go.”
Searching for vacation rentals to book? Simply type in “BOOK VACATION RENTALS IN LAKE TAHOE” or “BOOK VACATION RENTALS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA” or whatever destination you and your family have in mind. Many sites that list vacation rentals provide you with fantastic resources for your next holiday adventure. Remember to spend a little time on the site and most of all look for vacation rental listings that are NOT too good to be true! Talk to the owner of the site to inquire about their process of verification. And when you get tired of hotels with views of the parking lot check out a mountain top vacation rental with views of the canyon may be right for you and your family for your next family vacation.
Learn more about vacation rentals stop by ReserveMyHome where you can find out all about vacation rentals from Lake Tahoe to the Gulf shores, to the Island of Maui and Beach Homes for your next family Gulf coast family holiday.
Vacation Rentals and Travel OMG! Everyone Wants a Trip Deal
Friday, December 18th, 2009With winter here many families are preparing another expensive family vacation, but with your checkbook M.I.A., you 
may be wondering if it is even possible to afford the same level of family fun as you did last year on your winter vacation. We all want to be there for our kids and loved ones but with the economy in limbo and unemployment at record levels not seen in decades, is planning a trip really a good idea? You bet it is but there is a catch. You must look for trip deals that are out there and you have to know where to look for these deals, discounts and savings on airfare, vacation rentals, and free trials for your next family trip.
Most of us use the internet to find the best trip deals, and the economy hasn’t changed that. It’s easy and fast to plan and pay for vacations online – if you know where to look. Google a search using “trip deals” and you’ll see all the companies that are providing great rates, discounts, coupons, extra nights for free…you name it, you’ll find it! All of the great destinations are available.
However, some flexibility is going to be required on your part to make this work and here is why. Most people seek the fast and easy route to their travel destination. This demand keeps the cost up. To get a deal on your trip you have to book your stay during the non-peak days and use transportation that will have you at your travel destination a bit later than you may prefer. Airlines are famous for this as they may have you stop in an additional city before arriving at the city you are flying to. Hotels need their rooms to be booked but as the demand increases so does the price. Schedule your stay a day later to beat the crowds and save a bundle.
Don’t limit yourself to standard hotels and resorts – there is a fast-expanding market of vacation rentals out there that can also provide you great trip deals. Google “book vacation rental deals” to see all the properties that are available…oceanfront, beside a beautiful river, or mountain top…they’re all out there. Owners and property managers are happy to deal!
These days most everything related to vacation, travel, air and accommodations are on sale and it is easy to determine the best time to book a deal for your family by simply comparing peak days vs. non-peak days on the many websites that offer trip deals. Family road trips with today’s gas prices make good economical sense. Book a vacation rental that comes with discounted ski tickets if you have skiers in the family. But, go travel before the crowed or after they leave.
Finally, be patient if at all possible when planning your family vacation this year. Generally, prices start out at relatively elevated price tag. The deals, discounts and savings will arrive as your travel date becomes closer unless the demand has outstripped the supply. Search the major travel deal websites like for vacation rentals, Expedia, Cheap tickets and Travelocity for last minute trip deals. This is always the risk but in these time patience is truly a virtue that will pay off in savings that will help you to find your checkbook again and make that fun family holiday again this year. A good idea is to bookmark your favorite travel sites.
This winter should be spent with family whenever possible. If you want to find out more about trip deals, in addition you may find wonderful family travel guides for planning a fantastic budget vacation.
Welcome to ReserveMyHome. The Booking Site for Vacation Rentals.
Friday, December 4th, 2009Are You Ready?
ReserveMyHome, located in Lake Tahoe, Nevada is also known as the “All-in-One” listing and booking site for private vacation rentals in the USA, CANADA, MEXICO and the CARIBBEAN. We are one of the very few quality sites that actually verify each of our vacation rentals for your safety. This site is no ordinary cookie cutter advertising site. It has been designed with you the owner and renter in mind. Many of us here at ReserveMyHome, either own a vacation rental or book vacation rentals for family travel. We simply understand the many different paths that it takes to advertise or arrive at your vacation rental and we have made it safe and easy for you. Perhaps this is why our renters Love Us!
We hope that you find our cutting edge technology allows for fast, easy rental listing and booking. All of our owners and property managers have the option of allowing “instant bookings” directly off their unique rental listing page OR a friendly reservation agent will “call to confirm” with the owner or property manager prior to accepting the booking. What do you have to lose? Nothing. This is why owners and property managers Love Us!
For our renters and owners we do not charge a typical “rental deposit” on many of our homes, condos and cabins. Instead a nominal $30.00 security deposit fee is included at the time of booking that covers accidental damage to the home up to $3,000.00. Renters now can keep that extra $500.00 dollars and do not have to worry about getting it back upon departure. That’s nice! Even better is the ability to pay with a credit card, receive instant confirmation of dates, amount paid, amount due and even driving directions to the vacation rental. And before you ask… Yes, you will receive the owners contact information for last minute questions. Our guarantee is always in effect so much like a fine hotel.
We believe searching for a rental home shouldn’t be hard. We also believe booking a home should take less than 5 minutes. Recently a traveler said, “I booked my vacation rental faster than I packed my suitcase.” We heard that loud and clear and turned it into our slogan.
We are the #1 Booking Site for Vacation Rentals in the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean so come and join the Fun!
It’s Time...
Vacation Rentals from ReserveMyHome
