Rental Property Investor · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
I got my first booking set for six months' out, a snowbird 60 day rental, through VRBO.
It took a couple of days, but I got set up on AIrBnb and now have 5 immediate bookings. I have just sent my first "You'll be here soon" email to the first visitor, who will be arriving in two days.
We are doing all of our final safety checks, such as adding carbon monoxide detectors to the existing smoke detectors, putting in the child protective outlet covers around the property. Just washed windows.
I got my first booking set for six months' out, a snowbird 60 day rental, through VRBO.
It took a couple of days, but I got set up on AIrBnb and now have 5 immediate bookings. I have just sent my first "You'll be here soon" email to the first visitor, who will be arriving in two days.
We are doing all of our final safety checks, such as adding carbon monoxide detectors to the existing smoke detectors, putting in the child protective outlet covers around the property. Just washed windows.
I'm so excited for the first guest!
Good for you Kerry!!!
We didn't sleep one wink while our first renter was in our STR condo...I was literally scared to death worrying about everything from them not knowing how to use the Keurig to them burning the building down trying to light a candle or something!
And now it's old hat, but still pretty cool when you look at your calendar and see all the gray weeks covered!
Rental Property Investor · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7y
@Doug Pintarch, my first guest checked in last night. I know what you mean about not sleeping! We also have 4 kids under 10 there right now. Checkout is Monday, and we have a quick turn. It looks terrific, and I hope they are enjoying the special touches that we put in for them.
I just *had* to try the Keurig to see how it worked. :D
@Doug Pintarch, my first guest checked in last night. I know what you mean about not sleeping! We also have 4 kids under 10 there right now. Checkout is Monday, and we have a quick turn. It looks terrific, and I hope they are enjoying the special touches that we put in for them.
I just *had* to try the Keurig to see how it worked. :D
Kerry your special touches are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL and the very key, along with the unit being spotless, to 5-stqr ratings. Do them consistently every single time an people will mention those amenities in their reviews, and new renters will look for them on check-in!
Best of luck to you guys!
-Doug
p.s. Glad you figured out those fire-starting Keurig machines!
Real Estate Agent · Fort Walton Beach, FL · Member since 2018 · 219 posts · 275 votes
7y
@Kerry Baird Congratulations! That is awesome! Make sure to ask your first few guests for private feedback (via text, etc that does not show up online). Always good to worked out the initial kinks that way :-)
Rental Property Investor · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7y
Six have completed their stays. I have 4 upcoming. And, gratefully, I have 4 5-star reviews.
I used the Airbnb suggestion to drop prices and auto-book for the first 15 days. I got the 4 great reviews. Once those stays were over, I priced Airbnb very high and put VRBO on auto-book. I’m aiming to get positive reviews on VRBO in the next few weeks.
So far, I’m getting primarily grandparents with their adult children and a couple grandkids, who are doing beach stays. I have a cloth play tent and camping toys (battery lanterns, felt foods, teeny pots and pans, colorful flashlights) in the kids’ room. Additionally, I have a number of books for kids and teens. Have gotten kudus for those items on my reviews.
Airdna says VRBO to Airbnb is quite evenly split in this area, which is why I am aiming to get reviews on both immediately.