Reservation Keys To Success
This section offers suggestions on how to keep your property consistently booked.
It's about turning inquiries into reservations and reservations into repeat guests. It's also about making certain your house is ready when the renters show up.
The 4 Keys to Reservation Success:
1. Prompt Follow Up
2. Establishing Credibility And Trust
3. Communication
4. Get Prepared And Organized
Respond Promptly To Inquires
Promptly answer inquiries and you will substantially increase the number of reservations you make. Two things to remember:
- get back to them fast
- make them feel good about you and your rental
It's amazing how long it takes some owners to get back to potential customers. You need to make it a top priority to answer inquiries. If you don't, someone else will. And that means you could easily lose the reservation.
When you receive an inquiry for your rental, the way you reply is also critical since this is where you establish trust and are able to make guests feel good about you and your home.
The following tips will improve your level of service and increase your reservations.
Reply before anyone else.
People searching for a vacation rental will contact more than one property owner or agent. The first person to reply has a substantial advantage. Check your phone and email messages often and reply quickly. The faster you reply, the more important the person will feel, and the more likely you are to get the booking.
Standard emails.
Use prepared standard emails that focus on the usual questions that a renter has. Some useful emails would include more photos of your rental, more information on the area, previous guest testimonials, a reference list, payment details, rental contract, and directions. Simply copy these standard emails into your reply and customize them for the particular question.
Sell your home and yourself in your emails.
When you reply to an email, describe some of the wonderful features in your rental. It is a good idea to include well written follow-up details with your response to every e-mail enquiry. At the beginning people are interested in your property, and any extra bit of information will influence their decision.
Be certain that you make it easy for guests to know what property you are writing about. In each email, provide the guest with the web address of your website and, if you own a number of rentals, include the specific address to the property they are interested in.
Booked for the time period requested - its an opportunity.
If you are already booked make certain to suggest other dates. If alternate dates aren't convenient give the inquiry to another owner in your area.
Close the reservation.
At the end of each of your conversations let the guest know what the next step is. For example, if you are waiting for them to sign the contract make certain they understand that you can only hold the reservation for a certain number of days.
Continuous prompt responses.
Make certain you respond to each and every inquiry promptly. The first reply is important, though the more you show guests and potential guests that you are there for them, the more comfortable they will feel about you and your rental. You do this by replying to each of their inquiries. It shows that they can trust you.
Replying to every email and phone call will separate your from many other owners and will often times make the difference. Prompt professional responses are a key step in establishing a solid reputation. Always be patient and courteous, even if the answer to a question is already given on your advertisement.
Enthusiasm sells.
If you are not enthusiastic about your property, you cannot expect people to want to rent it.
Next... establishing credibility and trust.
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