Like others above my ratio of inquiries to bookings is not vry high.  I attribute this to VRBO/HomeAways system that permits inquiries to go to similar other houses in the same geographical area.  It is apparanet from many of the inquiries that the person is inquiring on another property or simply doing a broadcast search.  Simply, wht we are getting spam from the system.

In speaking to a sperson yesterday, it became apparent that the person was not familiar with the area, the house, or other details.  I know it is up to me to sell the property, but....  a bit better vetting by the system is what I expect but am not getting.

This is one of my favorite topics:  the OP asks...and the thread is about...  "ba ba ba....hearing nothing further" ...from inquirers.

Since it was "invented" it's been my pet peeve that the combination of the "bulk" inquiry feature + the exposed 10 competiting properties in our locations for every search that a traveller carries out,  are what is affecting the "response" level ..(.the lack thereof)....and real outcome  [ROI]  for us, in my opinion. 

I am immodest to claim:   "I do GREAT response!"   The ball goes to the court of my "inquirer" quickly and thoroughly. 

It's always been a competitive trade, especially in high tourist areas such as mine, but never before have I had so few "responses"  from prospects whom I  "thought"  were interested in hearing from me about "my" property.  But,  no no no....they are actually taking the easy path:  to "search" by sending ONE email  to MANY owners, instead of approaching me with specific interest.   And...phoning them, if they dare to include a telephone number, gets me their *voice message*....and they do not call back.

Okay, I've been in this trade for years....I get it...if I continue to keep my listing here, I am having to accept that "bulk inquiry / competition exposure"  *search feature*  that has been offered to travellers, and then work harder to stand  out among my competition.  I do work to stand out, anyway.  So, we have to  create eye-catching headlines, make competitive offers...and to purchase high levels, use RM etc...to get higher listing placement, keep the calendar current ....make sure our key words are the right ones...etc...eventually log in to respond (dread that) and respond quickly to the traveller...etc....and more and more hoops to jump through to "get the ROI"....and the favourable "feedback", online.   Whew.  Okay...I do this.

From time to time  I read the "traveller forum" in this Community.  And...

I have a *new pet peeve*.  It's the "traveller inquiry behaviour" ...and I suspect that it's been influenced as a result of HA making it ever so much more convenient for **travellers*** to find a property.  So, now my pet peeve for "the bulk feature...etc.  is even BIGGER. 

The traveller sends us "generic" unspecific and unqualified messages, still.....in spite of the "filter" that's supposed to bring us more "qualified" inquiries. It seems that we still are getting the "unqualified" in our inboxes.

But an issue that I have with travellers' inquiry behavioiur is that they ...the *travellers* ....wonder  (ref. read their complaints in the traveller forum on this Community)  why they do not get responses from *owners*.....when they...  the  ***travellers themselves*** ... do NOT  respond to the information we send them --- after we've received  ***their (bulk) inquiries.***    

I use templates for responses, but they can not be used without "customizing" them.....and I'm also finding myself answering questions the travellers include in "comments".....----anyway responding to them all takes time.

So, why is it that the travellers complain about not getting responses from owners.... yet... it seems a common reality that we, owners, do not get replies from the travellers whom we "serviced" with our offers?   We spend a lot of time to service the inquiry.

Yet...travellers do not take 60 seconds to type out a brief response to us, like.....

- Thank you for your reply to my request. ....I'm just researching several properites, at this point.

-    "ditto"....I've already found another property

-    "ditto"....Your offer doesn't meet my budget

-    "ditto" ...whatever.

We send "offers" into the "abyss" ...travellers just don't respond ....after we've done the work to answer their questions and even send them offers that are customized. 

Also....

I'm wondering, as many here seem to continue to express (including myself) that we have all of our listing details in order, up to date,  and there is now an "enhanced" search filter for travellers to use....why do we still get inquiries that are "unqualified"? 

P.S.  I don't expect anyone to have answers to any of the above....it's just a Monday "rant" about the "non- response" beef that travellers have about us...(I've been reading the "traveller forum again").

Marina,  you have a beautiful property and it takes a while but things will kick in.  I have cruised out of the marinas there and it is a real treat.  May I suggest you post a few pictures of the marina's below you.  They would surely make me do a double take!

Good luck,

Doug

Marina, you do have a nice property so don't despari!  Call an inquiry ASAP then email if they don't answer.  I've had my property on VRBO for 12 years and I've noticed a lot more inquiries that don't reply this year.  Often I get inquires from people wanting a reply that I suspect are hoping for an  "opt in" reply to harvest your address for an email list.  I I seldom get a reply when there is no phone number and very little text in the inquiry.  There is plenty of info in the forums concerning scams as well so research that info so you'll be prepared for the 2-4 week inquires.

Great news.  I went back and looked at the bookings from when we first signed up with HA a little over a year ago. It took about 2 months for our first booking.  Your next focus should be in getting some reviews.  We found that the inquiries went up quickly after we had the first 3 reviews.  Reviews are harder to get than you would think.  I would guess that we ony get a review about a third of the time, but all have been very good.  When I speak to guests on the phone, they always mentions reviews as one of the key inputs to their decision,  When we booked our own vacation (through HA) we pushed properties with no reviews to the bottom. After the first year, and many reviews, we raised our rates but haven't noticed any decline in bookings.

Good luck

Scott

I just got my 2nd booking!! Again it was with Airbnb. I wonder if the

bookit button really does help increase bookings.