Blog Posts

The advance of technology, particularly entertainment technology, is relentless. So if you offer your second home as a vacation rental, you absolutely must provide up-to-date entertainment amenities. When we first got into the vacation-rental business in 1994, we provided tube TVs with VCR players... Read more

I had originally named this piece, "5 Things I Hate About The Vacation Rental Industry,” for two reasons. The first reason is selfish. The more eye-catching (or dramatic you could say) a post title is, the more likely its content will be read and digested. Using outrageous titles is a trick... Read more

It’s no secret vacations are important to families – or that they can be stressful. What is shocking, however, is 40 percent of U.S. travelers admitted to not being able to fully enjoy their vacation because of stress, according to a new survey from HomeAway.   On the other hand,... Read more

Today, we’re very happy to announce the immediate availability of Insider Guides. Launched in partnership with Gogobot, this new, free product enables vacation rental owners and managers to create custom online guides that enable authentic, local experiences for travelers.   Most of us... Read more

[The following conversation with a licensed Texas CPA is for illustrative purposes. It does not constitute legal or tax advice and readers are encouraged to consult with their own professional service providers should they chose to further investigate the opinions expressed here]   It’s... Read more

If you want a calendar booked solid with happy travelers, you’re in the right place.   If you’re thinking about getting started with vacation rentals but don’t know where to begin, you’re also in the right place.   Here’s the deal: In order to succeed in this... Read more

Why aren’t you going to the HomeAway Summit this year?    For those who are still undecided or are thinking of not going to the Summit, you are missing out on a great opportunity to improve your ROI.  The information, new ideas, connections and resources you gain at a Summit... Read more

“The shortest period of time lies between the minute you put some money away for a rainy day and the unexpected arrival of rain.”  Jane Bryant Quinn   I see saving up for a rainy day, or establishing a Reserve Fund, kind of like how my kids see their vegetables.  We both... Read more

In the past year, I have established my Vacation Rental Marketing Blog as the most comprehensive database of DIY vacation rental marketing on the internet. But does this mean that all owners should partake in improvised marketing for their property? Does this mean that anyone can just jump in and... Read more

A Letter from Bill Furlong, VP of HomeAway Software®   Before 2012 becomes a distant memory, we wanted to recap a few of the many things we focused on during the past twelve months. Our goal is to be nothing less than the best software provider in the vacation rental industry. We work... Read more

January. It’s the time to put away holiday decorations, make resolutions, and, if you’re a vacation-rental owner, prepare for a high volume of inquiries from travelers who likewise have turned their attention from the holidays to vacation planning. For most VR owners, the first few... Read more

Most vacation rental owners look far and wide for inexpensive ways to get a leg up on  competitor rentals just down the street. Some build their own websites. Others upgrade their HomeAway listing for several hundred dollars. But what few fail to realize, is that the biggest, most influential... Read more

To set the record straight, the storm that hit the Northeast in late October 2012 was a hurricane! In fact, it was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. And it was second only to Katrina in costliness. So as owners of a home and vacation rental on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, just a... Read more

I travel with my two young kids - a lot - and I’ve had both good and bad experiences. Some days we get lucky and the travel gods are on our side. Other days, I’ve been the one whose child is having a complete meltdown and WILL NOT buckle her seat belt as the plane has to circle due to... Read more

Traveling with children is stressful enough without the added pressure of having extra people around judging my parenting capabilities during some of the most difficult parenting situations - long flights, potty training days in an airport, meltdowns from the overwhelming nature of everything being... Read more