1. Get Your Rental Ready for Guests
First, you need to get your home guest-ready. Again, there are a lot of factors that go into this step, many of which I’ve already covered in greater detail . The long and the short of it is, if you want people to book stays at your home, you’ll need to view it through their eyes first. Think about what you expect from the places you stay when you travel. Your listing should model those places
2. Get Your Neighbors on Board
Next, you’ll want to get your neighbors on board with your plan. Is this a requirement? Not necessarily (unless you’re a member of a condo or homeowners association). But it’s something I strongly recommend, particularly from a guest satisfaction standpoint. As long as your neighbors understand and are comfortable with you having occasional VACA Monster guests, everybody will get along better.
3. Build Your VACA Monster Profile
Once you’ve got all your ducks in a row on the home front, the next step is setting up your VACA Monster profile. This is super important because it’s the first impression that a prospective guest will have, which will often determine whether or not they’re going to book with you. Make sure your profile is complete and includes a detailed description and high-quality pictures. And always be honest. If you misrepresent something, it could end up costing you future bookings. This is why you should make short video of your listing and post it with your listing in the video section you will see a spot to place it when setting up your VACA Monster profile
4. Set Rules for Your Rental
Another important thing to keep in mind as a first-time short term rental host is to set ground rules. Don’t want smokers? Make it abundantly clear in your listing. Not pet-friendly? Be upfront. In my experience, it’s all about setting expectations – clearly and often. That way, everyone is on the same page, and there is less of a chance that something ends up going off the rails.
5. Anticipate Your Guest Needs
In addition to setting expectations, I like to set my guests up for success right from the get-go. I do this by keeping the lines of communication open and providing them with all the information they need to enjoy a great stay. I recommend creating a welcome book that contains everything from how to use the appliances to the best place in town to grab brunch. Not only will these details keep your VACA Monster guests happy, but it’ll cut down on the number of calls, emails, or texts you get with questions. So, you win too
6. Focus on the Details
The real bread and butter of success as an VACA Monster host, though, is in the reviews. Once you’ve rented your place out a few times, you’ll start getting reviews from your guests. These reviews are hugely important because they help other prospective guests decide whether to book with you. To tip the scales in your favor, focus on the little details that will really wow your guests. Going above and beyond may cost a little extra time and money, but it’ll pay off big time once those five stars start adding up.We advise that you tell your gest to take a video of them enjoying your property an post it on FOMAZY › Sign Up
7. More Effort, More Success
If there’s one single piece of advice I’d pass on to someone who is just starting out as an VACA Monster host, it’s this: you get what you put into it. If you do the bare minimum, your guests will probably be satisfied. But if you really want to maximize profits, you’ll need to do more. Be willing to give it your all, and in return, you’ll enjoy the same sustainable, long-term success that I’ve been lucky enough to have in this business.
