Blog

Twas the Night before Vacation Rental Christmas

Published on 12/31/11 by Covey, Jan — The Christmas and New Years Holidays are a big season in almost every vacation rental market. Read how one plucky manager gets through the hub bub. read more

Vacation Road Trips Start at the Dentist

Published on 04/01/10 by Adair, Gail — Operating a vacation rental business can be fun and profitable but it also an opportunity to do some good in the world. Now property owners and managers can do that by participating in a public program that offe read more

Drive to Sunbanks Resort in Central Washington State

Published on 03/15/10 by Taylor, Penny L. — Warm weather took me on a drive to Central Washington state, to little known Banks Lake and SunBanks Resort. Toasty hot in summer it boasts warm warm water unlike most big lake resorts. read more

Everything Robert Fulgham Learned in Kindergarten

Published on 11/01/09 by May, William Victor — I stumbled onto an Internet posting the other day that told me it has been twenty years since Robert Fulgham wroteEverything I Really Need to Know I Learned in kindergarten. read more

Remembering the "Thank You" Game

Published on 09/01/09 by May, William Victor — Surprises are great. And thank you's are best. In an industry like property management that requires attention to detail, constant supervision and reconciliation of occasionally conflicting goals between guests and owners it is too easy to forget the little personal things that make life worth liv read more

World's First Vacation Rental Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Published on 03/18/09 by May, William Victor — The every increasing cost of advertising on the mammoth impersonal vacation rental listing websites has spawned innovation. On April 6th, the Vacation Rental Industry Association, with the help of Plumbob Publishing is unveiling the first every Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Vacation Rentals. T read more

Barack Obama Endorses Vacation Rentals

Published on 11/24/08 by May, William Victor — The next President of the United States has effectively endorsed the entire concept of Vacation Rentals by renting a private home in Kailua on the North Shore of Oahu, a Hawaiian Island. He is staying there for a week with his wife Michelle and two daughters. He is staying at a secluded beach re read more

What Makes Vacation Rentals Unique

Published on 06/11/07 by Kinkaid, Ana M. — Vacation Rentals are the newest member of the hospitality industry. Here are some of the ways that vacation rentals offer an attractive alternative to traditional lodging. LOTS OF ROOM - One of the biggest differences between a vacation rental and almost all other forms of lodging is the space ava read more

Is it Too Late to Invest in a Vacation Rental?

Published on 08/10/05 by May, William Victor — Are vacation rentals the espresso stands of the future? Over thirty years ago a couple of Seattle entrepreneurs started a little shop in Washington State to make and sell the kind of rich and potent coffee - common in Europe - that they couldn't find in their home town. More than a decade later, an read more

Breathtaking Photographs Are Closer Than You Think

Published on 04/19/05 by Mcintyre, Jonathan — Nothing, and I mean nothing, can help sell your rental more quickly to a perspective tenant than a great photo. There is little that ameliorates a poor website more than clear, representative and numerous photos highlighting the best your vacation property has to offer. Does your home have a beaut read more

Vacation Rentals In Afghanistan

Published on 09/05/04 by May, William Victor — I kid you not. The LA Times is reporting that Estullah Rooz, after years of fighting Soviets, rival Mujahedee and the Taliban, the man known as the Commander Mullah is going corporate. And how you say? Well, he's building the first Swiss designed and pre-fabricated Vacation Rental homes on Lake Qarg read more

The Trouble With Hotels

Published on 04/06/04 by May, William Victor — Can anyone tell me why a family would stay in a Hotel for their vacation? I was reminded recently of how distressing it can be when we visited the famous Waikiki Beach area of Hawaii. Penny and I hadn't spent much time there for 20 years but my 14 year old son decided there were things he just nee read more

Lau Lau for Christmas Dinner

Published on 12/22/03 by May, William Victor — It was six years ago on Christmas day. My then eight year old son and I were snorkeling about 40 yards off shore at Poipu Beach Kauai. Having taken weekly swimming lessons since he was just 9 months old Taylor felt safe swimming with me out and around a point in hopes of seeing one of the endangered read more

Christmas in Hawaii

Published on 12/15/03 by May, William Victor — Mele Kalikimaka Haouli Makahiki Hou (Merry Christmas Happy New Year from Hawaii). There are many wonderful reasons for owning a vacation home. But my favorite is the way ownership allows people to make another place home. And I don't mean just a nice place to eat and sleep. Instead, if you are read more