All Forum Posts by: Lisa Graesser

@clint guests print the agreement and waiver and either scan it back to me or mail it to me.

I have a golf cart at each of my rental homes in a golf cart community.  The cart is included with the rental cost. The cart stays in the garage so its included whether someone wants to use it or not. I manage remotely so giving the option to rent it separately is not an option. I know you are  more interested in having the "cart" available if wanting to rent it separately. So this situation is not the same. I do have insurance for each cart that covers liability for the guests use of the cart. I also have a waiver that the guests have to agree to when making the reservation that is included with my rental agreement. Our carts are for use on multi modal paths, not street legal. Having a cart included is not unusual in the community my rentals are located in. Those with the cart can charge a higher nightly rate, but I haven't put in the time to really study what those without the cart charge and compare their occupancy rate. I know guests do look for homes with the cart included if they want the use if the cart, so I would say my rentals would be occupied prior to those that do not offer them. Those that do not offer the carts with their rentals are mostly concerned with the liability issues.

I heard they no longer offer the annual subscription for new listings, only pay per booking. I think you  are grandfathered in at this point if you were already paying the annual subscription. 

Most hosts state in their rates information that Jan-March is a 1-3 month minimum, some will add that Jan needs to be included with February because January is sometimes  harder to rent alone. 

Set your calendars for a 1 month min. or block your dates on VRBO or Airbnb if you think you can get direct booking for that time period.

Most guest will expect a discount off your nightly rate for a 1 month stay.

In Lieu of having a website, I direct any inquiries I recieve from Facebook, Google or zillow to Houfy.com. It is a booking platform that is free for hosts and guests. You can set up credit card payments through STRIPE or SQUARE or take payments how ever you choose. You have direct contact with the guests. The site makes it simple for guests to look at your availability on the calendar, pictures, information & rental agreement. All that you could do through your own websitw. As it grows I hope to get more bookings directly from the Houfy website. I have had a couple that actually found my listings on Houfy, so word is getting around.  I have had quite a few direct bookings in the last week.

@John Underwood  from January 2021-June 2021 I have a total of 51 bookings, (37 VRBO and 14 Houfy) Most of my Houfy bookings are repeat guests or those that I directed to my Houfy link through facebook groups, local listing sites or zillow. I have had 2 direct bookings from Houfy. There are more and more listing added everyday, so it is catching on. I am not looking to replace VRBO as I have had nothing but great experiences with them. But it is nice to take direct bookings also, that not only save me some money, but also saves the guest money and gives them other options.

Have you taken a look at Houfy.com, It has been around for a couple of years.  it is free to list for host and free for guests to use. You can use you airbnb or vrbo listing info to set it up. Take payment with credit card through Stripe or Square or take payments directly how ever you like. Here is the link to  my listings if you want to take a look.

www.Houfy.com/l/villagershomestyle

Have you taken a look at Houfy.com, It has been around for a couple of years.  it is free to list for host and free for guests to use. You can use you airbnb or vrbo listing info to set it up. Take payment with credit card through Stripe or Square or take payments directly how ever you like. Here is the link to  my listings if you want to take a look.

www.Houfy.com/l/villagershomestyle

There is a shortage where we are too