Most vacation rental owners and managers have great insight to offer you about their vacation rentals.  One of the most important items that should be provided by owners and managers is a comprehensive welcome book.  The welcome book is a great introduction of your home to travelers – especially those not very familiar with the area.  You will find that it not only saves time for your visitors – but you too!  The welcome book is equivalent to your FAQ’s for your rental home.

It has been our experience that welcome books save travelers time and frustration.  We keep our visitors happy by pointing them to the most affordable and/or best tasting restaurants.  You know the best restaurants and areas of your town – be sure to share your experiences – trials and errors with your visitors.  No sense is making them play “Russian Restaurant Roulette” when you know what is good and what is bad.

A vacation rental welcome book should also include arrival and departure instructions, emergency numbers, and perhaps information for nearby hospitals or a reputable dentist!  It sure helps if a visitor loses a crown or the kids take a spill or crack a tooth.  It sure makes it a better experience for your renters – better than sifting thru the yellow pages. 

Hello House Keeping?

Yes – Is there any way we can get a few more remote controls! 

Make sure you devote a page to Electronics and Appliances!  Nothing more frustrating than trying to figure out how to get an internet connection, what channel the TV needs to be on and which remote control goes to which dvd player, TV, MP3, Stereo or VCR.  Leave extra batteries too – 9 volts for smoke detectors and AAs for the remotes!  Include information about which day is trash and recycles pickup too.

You may consider outfitting your furnished rental guide with area maps, maps for your complex or association, area brochures to museums, outdoor activities and tour operators.  We have found that travelers from all over the world have helped us build our welcome books.  We added clear plastic paper holders in our books and visitors continue to add golf course brochures, restaurant menus and such as a courtesy to travelers!

Last but not least – Every one likes to read previous guest comments!  Be sure to leave a guest book for your visitors to sign.  It is great for everyone to see where all the visitors come from, the nature of their trip and experiences while staying in your home.  You can use these guest comments to improve and market your vacation rentals.  We put our reviews into all vacation rental directories that allow for you to post previous guest reviews.  Furnishedhomes.com allows your visitors to go directly in and review your rental – just be sure to send them a link to your listing or property id number and they can post reviews.

A welcome book and guest comments book in your furnished rental will go a long way to help your visitors.  Trust Me – I am a Vacation Rental Homeowner!