Logistics of self-rental as supplement to management company

[Mermaid]

At long last our studio condo at Hidden Beach Villas is ready for rental (five hard weeks of renovation finally done :razz: ). Kurt will be coming in some time this month for the virtual tour and then all will be complete, except for one detail we're trying to sort out.

We're using the on-site management to garner our rentals. However, their website is not very exciting (www.hiddenbeachvillas.com to see for yourself) and we feel we'd be remiss in not trying to catch more potential rentals ourselves. We'll probably use greatrentals.com or one of the others. I know there are a several of you that do the same.

So here's my question--what phone number and e-mail address do we list? Do we put our home phone down so I can talk to prospects, or do we simply direct them to our management company first-off?

On the one hand, if I talk to them, I can give them the full scoop. And I am a pretty good saleswoman. However, that means that I have to check with our management company to see if the week that they want is available. That could mean possible phone tag. Or I could automatically say the week they want is available, but that would still mean calling them back if it's not.

But if they call direct and say they found the rental on our website, we get a slight discount in our rental fees for the referral. I'm beginning to think this might be easier?

Help from the experienced please!!! What has worked best for you in this regard?

[Paula]

Hi Mermaid:

I enjoyed meeting you and Merman last week! It's sad to be back home in the cold...

We use VRBO for our rentals and are happy with them though I know others on this message board are happier with other online rental sites. If you use one of these sites, you can list your email address (I don't give out my phone number). Then, people can contact you and after you had a chance to talk to the people (they usually leave their phone number as well as email on VRBO so you can call them back if you want to talk in person rather than by email) you can send them to your management company.

Hope this helps! I just got back so I need to do other things to settle in but then can give you more info if you have other specific questions.

[Miss Kitty]

I am just so impressed by the title of your latest thread, that I can barely type!

Congrats to you and Merman on your great accomplishment! I know a lot of labor and love went into your place!!! Best of luck in this latest endeavor. Don't rent it out in October or FTLOG....next NYE!!!!

[CastlesOfSand]

Hey Mermaid,
We usually rent through VRBO! We have always been happy with our rentals and the owners have all been really great!!!! :cool:

[Mermaid]

See, isn't this place great? Ask a question and you get answers pronto. And no one calls you a doh doh for not seeing the obvious. :clap_1:

E-mail! Why didn't I think of using that with the self-rental! It was the telephone business that was hanging me up. (oops, sorry, absolutely no pun intended) Sometimes if our daughter takes a message it doesn't get to us for a while. And then there's the matter of sharing the phone with the teenager in the first place. But the e-mail should work out. Prospectives could e-mail us; I could check the available dates with our management company, and then I'd be more prepared and professional when I respond to their inquiries.

Honestly, I think I'd be a lost little camper without SoWal advice. Thanks thanks thanks.

[Ocean Lover]

Hey Mermaid,
We usually rent through VRBO! We have always been happy with our rentals and the owners have all been really great!!!! :cool:

Same here. We've also rented through BRSW and that's been good too. Both online via email.

[shakennotstirred]

I have rented through VRBO as well. Everything was done via e-mail. The owners were very helpful & responded to my inquiries very quickly. I would definitely use it again.

[STL Don]

Renewing an old, but good, thread. Thinking of using VRBO or findvacationrentals.com or something else to supplement rentals. What have you folks been happy with lately?

:cool:

[Minnie]

I use VRBO frequently and have been very pleased. Within a few emails I can tell if the owner and I are going to jell.