All Forum Posts by: Nick VanDer Sluis

@Lisa Graesser @Kyle Shankin

We have some guest's who reach out but we do not actively promote it on our listings due to T&C of sites like Aribnb and Homeaway which I believe prevent that. 

In terms of calendars and double bookings there is a super simple way to do it with Airbnb & Homeaway; which I imagine would be the same sort of thing for any website booking calendar you would have. Essentially you just import/export HTML links to each site for the other sites you list on and they auto update versus you having to manually update them. Here's the steps through Homeaway if you are interested in trying it: 

1. In your reservation calendar, click the Import/Export arrows icon
2. Click Import Calendar
3. Give the calendar a name
4. Select a color to represent the calendar
5. In the URL field, paste the calendar address.
6. Change webcal:// to http:// in the URL
7. Select whether the calendar will block availability
8. Click Import Calendar

I dont really intend to dump money into advertising the site as we'll obviously never compete with the big dog budgets; but will find ways to post signs in properties and let people know they can book directly through email signature and what not as well next time to save a few bucks. 

I also feel that having one of these sites makes you appear more professional because all successful business have an online presence...just my opinion though. 

Thanks everyone for your input I do appreciate it thus far greatly. We are not looking to move away from Airbnb or VRBO as we realize their marketing pockets is deeper than ours and we have about 250 cobined reviews on our listings for Homeaway.

Looking to give the option to travelers because we've had a lot more folks ask for direct booking to avoid the fees these sites charge; which is sometimes hundred of dollars for our units in peak season. Furthermore, we have been having copious amounts of issues with Homeaway and getting paid this year as well as increased competition in our ski markets with many new owners charging rates that in my mind are way to low so they can get a booking.

So, while I do not expect take a massive percentage of our bookings this way I do think it would be helpful and professional to offer this service to the more budget minded or savvy traveler. 

Thanks again I appreciate everyone's input and will give some of this a whirl or at least a look now that you've all so graciously offered a few thoughts to get me thinking. Happy booking everyone!
 

Hello-

We run some vacation rentals in a few markets and I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for folks that do website design & marketing through add maybe ad words, instagram, facebook or some combination I have no idea about; which seems more likely in this realm. 

Essentially we are realizing the need to diversify and encourage guests to book through us directly instead of the VRBOs and Airbnb but still incorporate those calendars through html links or whatever to prevent double bookings. 

I'd also like to see if it might be possible to set up a smaller marketing campaign through some of those previously mentioned channels to help encourage bookings; but this is an area I know very little about so hoping you all might have some suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any and all input. 

@Wayne Brooks no I am not hung up on that fact that it should be "automatically credited back" so maybe re-read the question before you put words in someones mouth as I have not iterated those words sir. I was simply trying to understand how agency/brokerage was established in the state of FL...that's it. 

Yes shame on me for having that conversation over the phone versus getting it in writing prior to signing as I should know better you are correct in that sense...hence my questions to the group regarding brokerage. However, it is very apparent to me in dealings with others as to why the real estate profession is where it is in this country. Spineless, unethical and greedy realtors who believe they are entitled to 5-7% of a home price for a few hours of work....and that's really all it is. It's not cumbersome work and the world has figured that out. 

Another canned response from someone trying to protect an ever dwindling income because our jobs are not that tough. So Yeah logic within that law knows that even though those funds come from the seller they are paid for buy the buyer. So, when you can wrap your head around that and allow people who are as smart or smarter than your are to understand the fees and how the system works there is nothing wrong with trying to save yourself some money as a buyer by representing yourself in a contract that is standardized and publicly available for a reason. Process that and let me understand how I need to be a party to a transaction to understand how it’s structured. Your time of filling out a contract isn’t not worth 10k+ ever and you’ll never convinced me with any facts that it is in today’s day and agenda of marketing/listing a property. 

@Wayne Brooks when you tel some you represent yourself that does not equate to transaction agency. Volunteering to fill out a contract so we can use electronic signatures is also not brokerage in my opinion but I’m not a lawyer. Anyway wasn’t about being wrong or right just asking for input and your logic seems blurry old school in nature as well in my opinion. In today’s day an age those canned responses have now been used for a decade and are virtually useless given so many alternatives to purchase a home these days . However I do appreciate your input and opinions so thanks.

I do think he’s banking on selling it as it will go in the crystal beach area no problem I have no doubt. 

Anyway thanks to both of you I appreciate it very much. Going to walk on principle and hope the industry trends get the best of the old school mentality and his overpaid position will go away. Spoken by a realtor himself haha 

Hello-

My wife and I are under contract to purchase a condo that we had made an offer on in Destin, FL after calling the listing agent directly. I indicated over the phone we were not represented but did not get it in writing that there was no Brokerage Relationship unfortunately. 

So, long story short I asked him how commissions were handled and he stated that he was now my transaction broker and would be collecting both of the sell and the buy sides instead of issuing a credit to me at closing like I expected beings I was representing myself., or so I thought. 

My questions are as follows: 

Do I need the no Brokerage relationship form prior to making an offer through the listing agent? 

Even though FL law assumes transaction brokerage do I still need to sign the agreement to make the agency as we only signed the offer? 

Thanks for your insight here as we learn the ropes of another state I guess. Seems to me this is a shady practice and is what has given realtors such a bad reputation when they do these things. Have a great day thanks in advance for any and all advice I appreciate it. 

Thanks I'll have to do that. We were supposed to be getting there now but frontier cancelled our flights so hoping to make it back soon to check out the area and get someting under contract. Until then back to selling and flipping in Denver I guess

@Harjeet Bhatti thanks for the reply and information I do appreciate it as we be got a couple feelers out locally but they aren’t referrals. Always like to ask around this community as others generally have been there before I! 

Having some experience with condotela we are just looking to fully understand how it works in this mkt and state; but also understand it will vary from complex to complex too so we shall see! Thanks again though I do appreciate your response and time!