Establishing Credibility And Trust
As a property owner, you need to win your customers' trust before they'll agree to rent your home. Gaining that trust over the Internet can be a challenge. This section will look at ways to establish your credibility in order to get more bookings.
Building Trust
When renting a property sight unseen from its owner, many people are concerned that the owner isn't representing his or her rental accurately.
Two of the most common questions asked are, "How do I know the owner's online listing truly reflects the property?" and "How do I know the rental will even be there or be in good condition?"
Many vacation rental agencies use this fear to their advantage. A recent Fortune Magazine article on renting directly from home owners said, "Trying to cut out the middlemen is rarely a good idea. You'll have little assurance about whom you're dealing with, and you'll forfeit the protection and clout of the rental agency should you encounter a problem."
Scaring consumers out of renting directly from owners seems to be a popular strategy among agencies who are losing business to owners who rent direct.
How do you overcome this challenge?
The Persuasive Power of Pictures - When it comes to pictures, quality is critical. You will not get inquiries if you have grainy, fuzzy pictures of your home on your web pages. So make certain your pictures are clear, professional looking, and accurately represent your property.
A Professional Design - Your rental website needs to be professional looking - not fancy or high-tech - just professional, easy to use, with good pictures, and no spelling or grammar mistakes. If your website looks sloppy, it reflects on you and sends the message that your home might look the same.
References/Testimonials
Have a list of references to give potential renters. These should be past renters and anyone else who can genuinely vouch for your trustworthiness. Placing testimonials from satisfied guests on your site also works wonders.
Be honest, professional, courteous, kind and deliver everything you promise. Renters don't expect perfection. But neither do they expect unpleasant surprises. You can show off about how terrific your place is but don't gloss over negative features.
If the swimming pool is a shared pool, they deserve to know. If there is a night club next door, make certain you tell them. If the photo you are using of the beach makes it seem like the beach is ten yards from your door but it's actually a three kilometer walk, you'd better tell them.
The Result of Trust
When a guest has a great time, they will tell friends and acquaintances. In business, referrals can make the difference between having an average business or a highly successful one. Referrals cost you nothing in advertising or marketing and there is no stronger testimony about you and your rental than a guest who has rented from you.
The referral is already prepared to trust you and want to rent from you because their friends said such great things. Referrals are the cheapest and fastest way to gain new clients.
Start building trust with these tips as well as those on the next page which deals with the importance of clear communication.
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