Community : All Content - Maintenance

Outsourcing To India?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:24:57 GMT

Has anyone outsourced any work to India? If so, what was your experience?

http://vacationwebsitereviews.com/my-vacation-rental-website-adventure/should-i-outsource-my-website-to-india

Trent

HOW DOES ONE COMPLAIN TO HOMEAWAY ABOUT AN APARTMENT?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:57:22 GMT

OK, How does one go about letting Homeaway know that a property should be removed from the site? I recently spent a week in aunit that had black mold on the walls in the bedroom & kitchen & was infested with small black bugs. The owner was not available & the indiviual that met us & then did the check out didnot speak a word of English. I was visiting family (who did speak the language) so thankfully I did not have to spend much time in this apartment but it certainly is not something one would expect to rent

I am purchasing a bioblaster 3 for odor......

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:05:05 GMT

Hi everyone:

I am purchasing a bioblaster 3 for odor control including cigarette smoke. I had a corporate guest who knew they were NOT allowed to smoke in the house. However, I guess they thought that the Garage was NOT a part of the house. ARGH. I had servpro give me a bid and they want $750.00 to "cleanse" the garage (only) of the smell. So, I have done some research and the equipment that they use is the same as something we can purchase and use over and over. So, I purchased the bioblaster 3 for $400.00 including shipping. I will let you all know how it worked. The website states that it can be used for dog odor, cat odor smoke, etc. The home must be unoccupied when you use it (so between rentals). The website talks about larger more commercial type ones being able to get rid of bed bugs, termites, etc. I am excited.....hopefully I won't be disappointed after the treatment. Thought I would post this so that we can all benefit from my experiment.

I will keep you posted in the coming weeks as it gets delivered and the work is completed!!

Have any homeowners tried the NEST thermostat at their rental property?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:20:07 GMT

I hear a lot of advertising for the NEST thermostat [ http://www.nest.com ] for residential use but not sure if it would work out in a vacation rental. I know there are plenty of other options for remote access thermostats and apps to control the temperature and set high/low limits via a dashboard or even iPhone/Android apps. I like the simple design but wonder if there is anyway to lock out guests from changing the settings?

If anyone has used NEST in their primary OR vacation home, what are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Brent Evans

Hilltop Hideaway Cabin

HA: 173042 | VRBO: 104646

Thermostat with door/window sensors

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:37:35 GMT

I've been looking at the solutions for adding a thermostat with some temperature limits and also sensors that will shut it down when the doors are open. We're on the beach and Florida and don't want to pay to run the AC while the guest has the doors to the balcony wide open

I'm looking at this thermostat by Leviton: http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ProductDetail.jsp?partnumber=WS0TH-S00&section=38835&minisite=10251

and adding the wireless window/door sensor and occupancy sensor.

Frankly, this looks to be identical to what Coastal Green Air is selling but about half the cost.

Does anyone have experience with this system the could share regarding installation and performance?

Thanks!
Brad

Damage to mattress and what to charge?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:25:17 GMT

We have two homes that sleep about 16-18 each and share amenities. We had a group last week rent both homes for a family reunion. They left everything in good condition, except for one of the king-size mattresses. My cleaners sent me a photo showing a large stain that seeped through the mattress pad and onto the end of the mattress. It is hard to tell what it is - blood, food - but the cleaners were unable to get it out. The guests never mentioned it in an email after check-out; they did mention a couple of minor complaints about the cleaning (dirty dishes left in dishwasher, used wash rag left in tub area), and I'm not sure if they're complaining about the cleaning as a way to hedge the issue about the stain they caused (I have so far not mentioned it either). At any rate, do I charge them the cost of a new mattress or a couple hundred dollars, or what? The mattress cannot be turned over to hide the stain. It can be hid with a new mattress cover, until a guest decides to strip a bed and discovers it.

Also, I have just received my first negative review (3 of 5 stars), which surprised us because we bent over backwards to make sure it was a good experience for the guests, and they indicated everything was great. So I am a little concerned about possible "retaliation" over charging for damage for a group that overall left things fine. Thoughts?

Gorgeous Vacation Rental Gardens

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:10:35 GMT

There's no shortage of information on this site about how to keep the inside of your rental looking beautiful. But we can't forget about the outdoor space. You can reduce wear and tear on your rental by encouraging your travelers to spend time outside. As April is National Garden Month, we wanted to bring you a sampling of some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces on HomeAway.com.

This Pisa, Italy vacation rental showcases a gorgeous terrace with two seating areas - perfect for a family gathering or meal.

This Santa Barbara, CA vacation rental features an outdoor kitchen surrounded by blossoms.

This private Montecito, CA vacation rental has a tranquil and lush meditation garden.

The atrium garden in this Ubud, Thailand vacation rental bring the outdoors inside. The owners also added potted plants to the corners of the room for extra greenery.

This San Miguel de Allende, Mexico romantic hacienda vacation rental features a gorgeous garden. The owners hung lanterns above the garden for a unique design touch that also brings light into the space.

Though gardens may require more work tending, watering, and maintaining, the view is probably worth the work! Even if you can't afford a major backyard renovation, here are some tips for improving your outdoor space:

Add potted plants around your patio. If the space permits, add a table and chairs.
Buy an outdoor grill so your guests can cook outside. It means less mess on your indoor cooktop and oven!
Buy lawn games such as bocce ball, croquet, wiffle ball, or horseshoes.
String outdoor lights to create a festive atmosphere.
Install a water feature such as a small fountain or pond to create tranquility.

No matter how you decide to spruce up your outdoor space, your travelers will appreciate the decorative touch.

Keyless entry vs. Keys

kastnersbeachhouse@gmail.com — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:27:04 GMT

Hi All! After discovering an unauthorized "guest" in our unit this week, we obviously are changing the locks. However, we got to wondering if it would be more secure and easier since we are 700 miles away to go with keyless entry that we can change the code for each renter from home. It would cut out the hassle of mailing the key and we wouldnt have to worry about how many keys are floating around that we dont know about. Anyone have any input on this? Pros or Cons? My main issue I see with it is if the unit malfunctions and we are that far away. Was thinking we could hide a key somewhere in a code protected lockbox for such emergencies. Thanks for any thoughts!

Need help with heating system

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:30:09 GMT

We have to replace the heating system in our cabin in Breckenridge. (Hoping out heater lasts through high season...keeping fingers crossed). We have the option to go with a 95% efficient gas furnace and will need to do some upgrading our duct work at the same time, or having radient floor heating installed. The cost for the furnace is about $8,000 and the radiant heat with install would cost us about $30,000 (yikes!)

Does anyone have any tips or can help with why we should go one route or another? We do plan on retiring at this home in about 10 years.

Changing out mattress pads each time and shower curtain liner?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:46:19 GMT

Although I provided a 2nd set of mattress pads for each bed and shower curtain liners, the housekeeper did not do it. She has lots of experience changing over vacation rentals for a property management firm, so it appears other places don't require that.. How important do you think it is?