2019 has been an exciting year filled with new developments and innovations in the vacation rental industry. The latest travel trends such as glamping and tiny houses have revolutionized accommodation, making way for hosts to take advantage of the new types of homes to rent out. Technology too has made it easier for hosts and guests alike, with tools such as wifi locks for automated check-ins enables travelers to enter the rental with no-body present.
It’s also been quite a year at Lodgify! Not only have we become partners with Airbnb, Expedia and HomeAway, but we’ve also been named as preferred software partner by Airbnb! On top of all that, we’ve also launched a new website! If you haven’t seen it yet, you can check it out here.
With 2019 soon coming to an end, here our Lodgify’s top 20 vacation rental blog posts of the year:
1. 45 Must-Have Vacation Rental Amenities for Every Host
The amenities at your home can make all the difference between a one-time guest and a guest who returns again to your vacation rental. Travelers aren’t just looking for free toiletries, they’re looking for a memorable experience, and making this happen will enhance each and every aspect of their stay. Here’s a list of 45 amenities that will wow your guests and make your vacation rental stand out.
2. Vacation Rental House Rules Template for Hosts [Free Template]
House rules are key for a smooth hosting process and are a professional way of laying out the land for all guests that enter your property. They present you with an opportunity to clearly state: what you expect of them; what they can and can’t do; and what penalties will occur if these rules are broken. This blog post includes a free vacation rental house rules template in PDF which you can customize.
3. 10 Airbnb Horror Stories You Won’t Believe Are True
While most Airbnb hosts will only have great guest experiences, there are some rare occasions when things don’t go to plan. Although we’re not trying to scare you, we’ve scoured the internet to collect some of the downright most disastrous Airbnb horror stories of the last few years. Here are 10 Airbnb horror stories that are hard to believe.
4. Vacation Rental Business Plan: 12 Steps for Success [Free PDF]
A business plan is an overarching set of rules, goals and frameworks that will help you make decisions for your new business and its future. In this free guide, we take a look at what a business plan is, give you a few samples and templates to use, plus the top 12 things your vacation rental business plan needs to include to help your vacation rental business succeed.
5. Vacation Rental Agreement Template for Total Peace of Mind [Free PDF]
Every owner and manager needs a contract for their renters. This document will protect both you and your guest in case of discrepancy or dispute, and will also give you extra confidence when renting your second home to strangers. We’ve created this free downloadable vacation rental agreement template to help you get started.
6. Airbnb Search Results: 10 Tips to Improve Your Ranking
Airbnb takes more than 100 factors into account to determine your listing’s search ranking. Just as you need to optimize a website for search engines like Google and Bing, you also need to optimize your listing for the Airbnb search engine. Follow these top 10 Airbnb SEO tips to increase your bookings.
7. How Much is Airbnb Really Costing You?
Airbnb puts your vacation rental in front of millions of guests. As it is one of the world’s largest vacation rental platforms, it’s a fantastic distribution tool to get your property in front of the right viewers at the right time. But how much does it really cost you? Find out with our Airbnb calculator.
8. 7 Ways to Protect Your Vacation Rental from Troublesome Guests
Being a vacation rental owner has its challenges. On very rare occasions, things don’t go exactly to plan and you can end up with having troublesome guests. But there are a few things you can do to be fully prepared and even prevent unwanted renters. Read our top tips on how to protect your vacation rental and avoid troublesome guests.
9. Starting a Cabin Rental Business: Everything you Need to Know
Nowadays, travelers like the opportunity to get away from the city for a quiet and peaceful getaway. Cabins are a fantastic opportunity to cater to these needs. Like starting in any business, there’s a lot of research and preparation involved. If you’re considering starting a cabin rental business, here are nine key factors to examine.
10. Airbnb Theft: How to Prevent your Guests from Stealing
Have your Airbnb guests even stolen from you? Are you worried they might? Whether it’s the small items or the big ones, no one likes thieves! Especially when you have entrusted guests to stay in your home. Read the top 8 things you can do to prevent theft in your Airbnb or vacation rental.
11. How to Boost Off-Season Bookings on Your Vacation Rental Website
Every vacation rental has a different low season due to local seasonal demand. While a ski cabin in the mountains may recognize the warm summer months as off-peak, a beach vacation rental is likely to be less popular in the cooler winter months. Check out these eight important tips and see how you can boost those all-important bonus bookings in the low-season.
12. Glamping: One of the Hottest Vacation Rental Industry Trends
“Glamping” is the combination of the words “glamour” and “camping” merged together. It’s a mix of usual camping and luxury travel. This latest travel trend has emerged that offers a huge business opportunity for vacation rental owners. as the immediate turnover profit is much higher than the initial investment. As the glamping trend continues to rise, have a look at the reasons why you should start a business in glamping.
13. How to Market Your Vacation Rental to Fitness and Wellness Travelers
A fitness and wellness traveler is someone who doesn’t want to jeopardize their physical health during their vacations or even one who travels in order to stay in shape. Marketing these types of travelers is quite easy, as their needs revolve around the same thing: a healthy and active lifestyle. Find out how in this blog post.
14. Vacation Rental Turnover: Managing Check-in and Check-out
Guest arrival and departure are two of the most crucial moments in hosting. Greeting and sending off your guests is as crucial as providing comfortable pillows and tea and coffee capsules. In this article, we outline the importance of an excellent check-in and check-out service for your guests and what exactly the procedure entails. Ensure a smooth process with our vacation rental check-out list.
15. The Advantages of Owning a Tiny House Vacation Rental
Tiny houses are downsized homes which are typically between 100 – 400 square feet in size. They are all about simple living within a smaller context. The tiny house movement is growing rapidly and is a perfect business opportunity for any budding vacation rental owner. Find out the pros of tiny houses.
16. How to Clean Holiday Cottages
Cleanliness is one of the most crucial aspects of short-term lettings for both guests and hosts alike. For guests, a dirty home can ruin a holiday before it even begins. For hosts, it can tarnish their whole business’ reputation. Learn how to clean holiday cottages with our free cleaning checklist. Never overlook or miss a thing in your holiday cottage again!
17. Vacation Rental Inventory Checklist Every Host Must-Have [Free PDF]
A vacation rental inventory checklist is a list in which you go through every item and piece of furniture in your rental to evaluate its condition after your guests have stayed. Make sure nothing was damaged in your property and get ready for your next guests with a vacation rental inventory checklist. You can download our free printable PDF here.
18. How to Cancel a Guest Reservation in your Vacation Rental
When a guest books your rental and then cancels the reservation, it’s a nuisance as you’ve already saved those dates for them, but what happens when it’s the host who has to cancel a guest reservation? We’ve come up with ways to avoid it, and also how to deal with canceling guest reservations. Be sure to avoid a negative review and still keep the guest happy with these tips.
19. 10 Questions to Ask When Conducting a Vacation Rental Analysis [Free SWOT Analysis]
Running a vacation rental is like running any other business. There are strengths, weaknesses, room for improvement and threats. If you’re unaware of what your best attributes are, you may not be taking full advantage of them. Similarly, if you don’t know your weaknesses, you may not know what you need to improve on. Conduct a vacation rental analysis and evaluate your business with these 10 questions, and a free SWOT analysis catered to the vacation rental industry.
20. 101 Airbnb Guest Reviews [Free PDF]
Many hospitality businesses fall short of their competition for a simple reason: they don’t have reviews. Airbnb guest reviews are a great way to build your reputation and increase your bookings. By writing a review for each guest, you’ll get more reviews back! We’ve put together 101 examples to help you review your guests.
These blogs have helped many hosts increase traffic, boost bookings and improve their vacation rental overall. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as we’ve enjoyed writing them.
We’re excited to continue helping homeowners and property managers make the most of their vacation rental business in 2020. We’ll continue to keep you up-to-date in the new year with tips on web design, marketing, latest trends, industry updates and much more!
