Handling cleaning and maintenance from a distance will likely be the biggest challenge you face as a vacation rental owner. The key is hiring someone you can rely on to be your "eyes and ears" at your vacation home property when you're not there.

Hire a Great Housekeeper

The best place to find a housekeeper to clean your vacation home is right outside your front door. Visit your vacation home during the peak season and talk with the housekeepers cleaning your neighbors' vacation rental homes. Not able to make the trip? Look up your neighbors on HomeAway.com and give them a call to find out which housekeeper or cleaning service they use to clean their cabin, condo, etc.

Hire a Maintenance Person

Consider hiring a maintenance person or company to oversee your property on a continual basis. This works particularly well for people who live far from their second home and can't visit more than once or twice a year.

Do Proper Preventative Maintenance

Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll only call in maintenance people when something is broken. You've heard this phrase countless times before, but it bears repeating here: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Stock Your Home with Maintenance Tools

It's amazing what your renters will fix if you just give them the materials they need. Keep cleaning supplies and various tools on hand and your renters will likely help clean or repair any unexpected mishaps at your vacation rental home.



© Copyright HomeAway, Inc. 2007