How to Increase Your Vacation Rental Occupancy Rates for FREE

The best way to fill up your rental calendar is to be proactive – follow up on inquiries and look for renters in order to secure the most bookings. Consider it part of your overall marketing effort. The time and money you put into marketing your vacation rental property can be exorbitant. By following these steps and tips, you can get the best return on your investment of time, with little or no money spent.

Maintain a list of possible renters

Make it a habit to maintain a spreadsheet with the names and contact information for anyone who has expressed interest of previously rented your property. In the sales business, lists of “qualified leads” are created of potential customers who are likely to make a purchase. In the vacation rental business, these would be the potential guests that are likely to book a stay at your property. Working from an up-to-date list of qualified leads will give you the highest percentage return on your outreach efforts.

Why you want repeat guests

Some renters are secretly looking for “their” vacation home, a place they can rent year-after-year and get to know inside and out.

Focusing on the guests that stayed, were trouble-free, and had a great time means that you might get them back for another easy week. This group is prescreened by you, and you know who is staying in your home. The vacation rental owner’s dream is to maintain a regular schedule of previous guests throughout the year. Why? Because it makes life easier. You don’t get the calls at 7:00 AM looking for more toilet paper. They know your electronics and appliances, and they probably won’t have parties that wake up the neighbors and leave holes in your walls.

Collect valuable opinion and travel trend information

After a guest departs, send a thank-you email and survey. Find out if everything was up to their expectations. It is essential to remember that your experience at your vacation home is not the same as everyone else’s.

Learn about those that are staying at your home to develop a better picture of your target audience. If you notice trends, set up your home to better accommodate that type of guest – it will make your property more attractive. For example, are your outdoor adventurer guests bored when it rains outside? Give them something to do, like a game room, to keep the family busy.

In your survey, ask about what they loved and didn’t, reinforcing that your goal is to make sure that they had a great time at your property. Pose a question or two about their travel preferences and about their experience in the region, too.

Reward loyalty

Consider offering a repeat guest “loyalty” discount, or give discounts for repeat guests who book off-peak weeks. Invite them back for their next vacation, and offer a small discount, like one night free, or 10% off. Depending on your booking strategy, you may want to blackout this offer during peak season.

Ask for referrals

Send along a flyer to previous renters who want to tell their friends about your vacation home. Or better yet, offer an option on your webpage to send information to a friend, where web users can complete an online form that captures the recipient’s email address.

Start early for best results

The early bird gets the worm in the vacation rental business. Many families plan their vacations at the same time each year, so try to pay attention to when they booked your home. People set up their vacation plans as much as a year in advance. If you track your when your guests book, you can customize a communication especially for them.

The goal of any vacation rental property business is to have the highest occupancy rate possible, and with some targeted marketing early in the booking season, you will be happy with the results. For a minimal investment of your time and money, you stand to generate substantial rental income for your vacation property.