Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Starting a Florida Vacation Rental !

Facts about Florida

What to do and Where to do it

When advertising your Florida vacation rental to vacationer , it's a safe bet to promote outdoor recreation like swimming, fishing, water sports, and a trip to Everglades National Park. Most travelers will also look forward to a break from the sun so you may want to advertise cultural attractions like Disney World, Universal Studios, and local museums. And don't forget that Florida is full of science! Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Station are right next to each other on the eastern Florida coast.

If you are thinking about buying a vacation home in Florida, you should be aware of the state's major regions. Central Florida is popular because it has both Orlando and the Ocala Natural Forest. In Southern Florida, the Florida Keys dot the eastern coast. Naples, Ft. Myers, and Cape Coral are on the Western coast, northwest of Everglades National Park, and Tampa and St. Petersburg are on the Gulf Coast. The Florida Panhandle, perhaps the best kept secret of the entire Florida vacation rental market, is in the Northwestern part of the state.

Getting Started

 Some target markets to consider:
    Price-oriented travelers come in all shapes and sizes. While some are budget-minded, others are looking for the best value. Additionally, certain vacationers are seeking luxury and are willing to pay for it.
    Groups can range from couples to families with small children. They can be as small as two people or as large as a dozen or more.
    Sports enthusiasts enjoy activities such as golfing, surfing, and fishing.
   International tourists often take longer vacations because they are traveling a greater distance and sometimes because they have more vacation days than American travelers.
    Business men and women may have to travel for an extended period of time, which can make vacation homes more attractive than hotels.
    Snowbirds live in the North and vacation in the South during the winter and tend to like beachfront vacation rentals.


Setting Your Rates
    See what the competition charges. Stay on top of the Florida vacation rental and hotel market to see what other homeowners are charging.
    Consider setting your nightly rental rate around 1/5th to 1/6th of your weekly rate.
    Check the nightly rates for hotels in your area. If your vacation home sleeps a family of 6, how many hotel rooms would they need? If it's 2, multiply the hotel's nightly rate by 2. If your nightly rate is higher, perhaps your amenities make it worth the difference.
    Determine your peak seasons and structure your pricing accordingly.
    Charge more for holiday weeks or weekends like Thanksgiving, Labor Day, or Memorial Day.
   6   Check your county or homeowner association's short-term rental regulations to see if a mandated minim um stay is in place.
    7   Decide upon a minimum stay.


Guidelines for Creating a Thorough Rental Agreement

Here are some directions for writing a solid rental agreement:
    Include payment instructions
    Indicate whether or not you accept credit cards
    Explicitly state your inclement weather, cancellation, and refund policy
    Outline the rental rules for your home
    Include post-stay information explaining policies such as the deposit refund or checkout process.
    Highlight complex amenities available to guests
    Include distances to the nearest beach access points. If you have a beachfront vacation rental, then say so.
    Include miscellaneous details such as parking information, amenities that you offer your guests like beach umbrellas, beach chairs, etc


Article Source: EzineArticles

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