The global Coronavirus pandemic has changed many aspects of life in just a few short months.  The travel sector, in particular, has been profoundly impacted.

Restoring people’s faith in travel is going to require sustained and careful effort to reassure staff, guests and travellers.  It is our belief that this restoration of faith must be achieved without creating any misplaced confidence and must be built on safeguarding all involved in the best possible way.

Essential Coronavirus cleaning measures

White Rose Villas has implemented safer cleaning regimes since the news of the pandemic first emerged.  We have been following advice to leave homes empty for 24 to 72 hours between bookings, depending on size of the home and the quantity of bedlinen available. 

We have provided staff with personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves.  And we have asked them to stay at home if they show any signs of symptoms, as per the official guidance.

As always, our routine inspections are in place to ensure that your vacation rental meets all expectations.  

Our cleaning commitment

Our cleaning programme ensures all guests can enjoy a thoroughly cleaned villa by including such practices as washing and drying all towels, sheets and comforters at high temperatures. Staff will use new gloves when handling clean and disinfected items.

Our housekeeping team will also pay extra attention when cleaning high-touch surfaces.  High touch areas include (but are not limited to):

• Doorknobs
• Stair railings
• Telephones
• Remote controls
• Television buttons
• Sliding door handles
• Touch screens
• Kitchen appliances and fixtures
• Light switches

All of these surfaces will be cleaned with hospital-grade, EPA-approved disinfectants to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned to the highest standards.

To give further confidence, we are now following the new SafeHome scheme.

The SafeHome scheme for vacation rental properties

The Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP) and the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) have launched a new SafeHome initiative to help members adopt safe cleaning standards.  In many cases, these standards exceed those mandated nationally, state-wide or locally.

Since these enhanced precautions have been developed to keep guests and staff safe and healthy, we have decided to adopt these enhanced cleaning standards.

The SafeHome recommendations include:

• Disinfection and sanitation techniques
• Proper use of personal protective equipment
• Recommended products, cleaning agents and equipment
• Updated cleaning and inspection processes for soft surfaces, upholstery and linens
• Waste removal and maintenance processes
• Communicating the new, expanded cleaning processes to guests

VRBO President Jeff Hurst said, “Making families feel comfortable enough to travel again after this pandemic is a must for the entire vacation rental industry.  Adopting these new cleaning guidelines will reassure travellers that vacation rentals are safe places for their next vacation.”

Self-catering can be the safest way to enjoy travel

Toby Babich, the president of VRMA, also highlighted how the launch of the SafeHome scheme will help to restore confidence.  He said, “We can count on our professional community to rise to this occasion and restore confidence within our local governments and guest populations that staying in a professionally managed vacation rental is the safest way to enjoy travel.”

We agree.  That’s why we welcome the news that we can reopen our homes in Osceola county to bookings from across the USA (provided the guests are resident in U.S. states with COVID-19 case rates less than 700 cases/100K residents).  For your information, CDC information on COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population by the state can be found here.

The new changes we’re making to White Rose Villas cleaning processes

As part of the implementation of the SafeHome guidance, you will notice some major changes to the way we clean your home. 

These changes include:

• Dining tables and breakfast bars will no longer be set.  Plates, glasses, etc. will be washed and put away with the other dishes in the kitchen.
  
• Throw cushions and throws will be washed and put away in the closets.
  
• Handwash and extra soap will be left for guests on arrival.  In addition, cleaning spray and cloths will be left in the home for guests’ use.
  
• We will be training all staff on approved VRHP courses about the new cleaning procedures and how to enact safe social distancing rules.
  
• In light of the new guidance, owners won’t be allowed to clean the home as this needs to be carried out by professionally licensed cleaners.
  
• Additional pillow protectors, pillows, mattress pads/protectors, blankets, comforters should be purchased, as possible, so they can be easily changed and laundered.  If choose not to purchase additional linens, we will continue implementing the 72-hour delay between bookings.

Procedures after cleaning has been completed

We have introduced a new detailed cleaning checklist to outline the new procedures and help our staff to embed them.  We are happy to send any of our owners a sample checklist for review, if you wish.  If you’d like us to do this for you, please get in touch.

From now on, all cleaning reports will follow this new extended format and you will receive a copy of it after every clean, as per normal.

Once homes have been cleaned, our usual pre-arrival inspections will be performed to confirm that the villa meets the standards we have set.  This final inspection confirms if a villa is show-ready and able to welcome its newest guests, making our procedures as thorough as possible.

Do you have questions?

As always, our team remain on hand to answer your questions.  If you would like any further clarification about these changes, or have any questions at all, please call or email the White Rose Villas team. 

Thank you for your support.

These are tough times for us all.  But tough times also present new opportunities and this blog is written to help you seize these opportunities.

 

Until just a few weeks ago, it was business as normal.  Somehow, in those few short weeks, everything has changed for everyone in the travel industry, including vacation homeowners.  We’re all grappling with how to keep each other safe, while adjusting to the new normal.  

 

Renting out your Orlando vacation home

 

As the short-term rental industry navigates the impact of COVID-19 global pandemic, new strategies for overcoming the challenges of this period need to be developed.  To help you, we’ve identified the main areas that you need to review in order to maintain business stability and longevity.

At a glance – the important actions you should take now:

• Diversify marketing channels
• Adjust listings to attract new audiences and emphasise key changes
• Discount long stays
• Change cancellation policy
• Improve communication – stay alert

 

Diversify your marketing channels

We might as well make most of the lull and make it work for us.  Use this time to research and advertise on other listing sites.  You could even use this time to make a start on becoming listing-site free!

This quiet period is a great time to concentrate on creating a website for your vacation home – or revamp your existing website, if you already have one. 

You could design a newsletter to keep in touch with previous guests.  Or advertise your home on social media.  Test out different channels to see what works for your home.

Another option is to introduce a Groupon-style voucher for future bookings.  Perhaps you could offer your guests the option to purchase $1,000 of future holiday credit for $500 (or whatever ratio you choose).  This way, you can generate cash flow during these fallow months.

 

Update your listing to emphasise key changes

Take this downtime to update your listings and emphasise key changes.  Don’t just update the content, but look at adding the key changes you’ve made in response to Coronavirus.  Make sure these changes are reflected in your listing profile photos.

These changes will include: new rules for sanitising the property, plenty of toilet paper, masks provided, grocery shopping deliveries, fast WiFi, self-check-in, PlayStation and games provided.  These aspects let guests know at a glance that they’ll be comfy for a long stay.

WRV vacation home owners: to help our vacation home owners we are offering to update the profile photo with the above labels.  This is provided free of charge.  Just email your main profile photo to admin@whiterosevillas.com 

Highlight the features you already have in place for example self-check-in, thereby eliminating the need for unnecessary person-to-person contact.

 

Attract new Orlando vacation home guests

New traveller demographics will emerge out of this mayhem and, as a host, you need to be able to pivot from your usual target audiences and appeal to these new types of travellers. 

Four of the most common new guest types are listed here.  Get a head start on these groups: they are your future guests.

• Stranded guests
• Work from homers
• Staycationers
  With cancelled international travel plans, domestic tourists are booking more staycations.
• Medical staff / Self-quarantiners
  Local service providers and medical staff often require a place to stay while working so they can avoid cross-contamination with other family members.

 

Offer guests a flexible refund policy

It’s also worth considering making a change to a more flexible refund policy during these times of uncertainty.  It’s a simple way to help guests feel happier and more confident when placing a booking.  Guests want more protection. 

Don’t forget to highlight this new flexibility in your listing profile picture.  Once things go back to normal, you can always revert back to your standard cancellation policy.

 

Pricing your Orlando vacation home

Attracting shorter stays can be very challenging at a time like this.  In Florida, the governor has said that stays must be longer than 30 days.

Be flexible and offer large, monthly discounts to attract monthly stays and keep occupancy up. 

You may also need to look at heavily discounting your daily rates.  For example, you could offer a special price for people on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, including doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

You may also attract people who need to book a place to stay for a 14-day quarantine by offering a discount.

 

Stay alert to changes in the vacation rental market

Even thought things are quieter, you need to be checking your messages and listing sites regularly.  Stay alert to messages and enquiries and attend to them as fast as you can. 

This will give you an important edge over your competition.  Things are moving fast for affected people and responding quickly may make all the different in securing the booking.

Do you best to remain in regular and frequent communication with guests – this is so important given how quickly things can change. 

 

Don’t write off cancelled bookings!

Don’t forget to nurture your cancelled reservations.  These guests wanted to stay; it is only circumstances keeping them away.  At some point they will rebook – make sure it is with you!

Keep in touch with guests who have cancelled.  The easy way to do this is to schedule an auto-message after reservation cancellations offering discounts for future stays.  This helps to encourage the guest to book with you when they are ready.

Remember, this is a challenging time for everyone.  Yet, during these quiet periods there is no better time to review your marketing strategy.  Do it now and you will be ready for the inevitable upsurge when this is over. 

 

These are challenging times for all of us involved with vacation homes in Orlando, both financially and emotionally.  I’d like to say a big thank you for your support and understanding as we work through these changes together.

 

As you know, the situation on the ground in Florida is very fluid and we are continuing our work to keep all of our vacation home owners and guests appraised of the latest information.

 

Where do vacation-home owners stand now?

Florida Governor DeSantis announced the shutdown in March and the restriction on vacation rentals began on March 27 following an Executive Order.

On April 29, Governor DeSantis announced the phased reopening of Florida businesses.  The first phase began on Monday 4.  This included the opening of restaurants with outside dining having spaces of six feet between tables and indoor dining reduce to 25% capacity. Retail stores also reduced shopper capacity inside of 25%, and the resumption of elective surgeries.

Sadly, vacation homes were not included in this first phase of reopening.

 

How have vacation-home owners responded?

Many Florida vacation-home owners have expressed frustration that the phased reopening hasn’t allowed vacation homes to reopen in the first phase.

The San Destin Golf and Beach resort wrote to the state government to argue that vacation homes are safer for social distancing than a hotel, yet hotels have been allowed to reopen.  It wrote, “The entire nation has been sent to their own homes to shelter in place, making a private residence much less of a threat than a multi-room hotel with countless public areas.”

This frustration has led to a Change.org petition with over 20,000 signatures, petitioning for Governor DeSantis to reconsider the ban and provide greater clarity about the next stages.

 

Florida’s vacation rental ban is challenged in court

You may have heard rumours that some vacation-home owners have started legal action against the ban.  A number of plaintiffs filed a lawsuit to this effect in Tampa last Thursday, arguing that the vacation-rental ban violates due process, equal protection and other constitutional rights.

The lawyers also argued against the prohibition on advertising, arguing: “Ironically, Fortune 500 companies which own hotels or large timeshare businesses may engage legally in the same speech that the plaintiffs find themselves subject to criminal and administrative sanctions.”

 

What is likely to happen in the near future regarding the ban?

The situation remains very changeable and it remains very difficult to predict when things are likely to change.

The task force charged with planning Phase Two has suggested that vacation homes could open under certain conditions in phase two of the reopening.  These conditions are likely to include:

• Open, but only to in-state reservations (Florida residents only)
• Ban on rentals to visitors from countries that do not have the virus under control
• A mandatory 72-hour hiatus between guest check-ins
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfection between rentals
• Signage in all units detailing the new cleaning and sanitation procedures.

However, at this stage there are no guarantees about this phase of reopening or the conditions that are likely to be applied.  We will continue to monitor the situation and bring you news when we have it.

 

What should vacation-home owners do during this time?

This period is worrying for us all.  We’re doing our best to turn the situation into a positive as much as we can for our homeowners. 

For this reason, we’re implementing new safety procedures for the guests that do book.  We are encouraging everyone to use this fallow time to prepare their homes and marketing, ready for when the market does reopen again – everyone is going to be so keen to holiday once it is safe to do so again and we are expecting a surge in bookings as soon as restrictions are lifted.

Here’s a list of what the White Rose Villa team are doing to support our home owners at the moment:

• Weekly inspections of vacant homes
• Conducting health and safety audits
• We have contracted a photographer to take new photos of all homes.  These will be given to owners free of charge as a thank you for their support.
• We are redesigning the WRV blog to make it more helpful to our owners during this difficult time.  Check back regularly – or follow us – because we’ll be updating the blog regularly.
• We’re reviewing listings and activities across all the listing sites, property descriptions and marketing channels.
• We’re offering discounted deep cleans for homeowners who book a deep clean during this period.  It’s often hard to find vacant periods where we can schedule deep cleans, so this is the perfect opportunity to wash those carpets and jet wash those hard surfaces!  If you’d like to benefit from this service, please call us.

 

What’s happening elsewhere in Florida?

You may be aware that some restaurants and shops are beginning to reopen their doors under the first phase of the reopening specified by Governor DeSantis.  However, the news from the parks is less positive at the moment.

 

News from Disney

There has been much speculation online about the opening of the Disney parks, especially with the Disney Shanghai park opening earlier this week.

However, the Disney parks around the rest of the world – including Orlando and California – won’t be opening to guests anytime soon.

The good news is that Disney Springs will begin a limited reopening from May 20.  This will allow third-party traders on the site to reopen, provided the appropriate safety measures are in place.  However, the rest of Walt Disney Resort will remain closed for the foreseeable future, including theme parks and resort hotels.

Note that guests to Disney Springs will be expected to wear a mask and observe social distancing rules.

 

News from Universal

As with the Disney Parks, there is no sign of the Universal parks being able to open anytime soon. 

The good news from Universal, is that City Walk will begin its limited reopening from May 14.

As with Disney, CDC guidance – including the wearing of masks and the observance of social distancing rules – only certain traders will be opening.

Universal Studios store and a number of merchandise stores will open.  Some restaurants will open with a limited menu and limited seating.  Valet parking won’t be available.  All nightclubs, Blue Man Group venues and Universal Cinemark will remain closed.

A temperature check will be required on arrival and you will need to wear a mask.  Universal is also temperature checking its staff.  It is also limiting capacity to enforce social distancing and has placed signage around City Walk to help with this.

 

Do you have questions for us?

Our team remain on hand to answer all of your questions.  Please get in touch if you have any concerns or would like further information about anything listed here. Drop us an email at admin@whiterosevillas.com

Tips for Active Revenue Management for Orlando Vacation Rental owners in the post-Covid recovery period

 

There is a lot of uncertainty right now and property managers and owners are going to have to evolve their strategy to stay competitive when markets begin to bounce back.

 

More than Just Lowering Prices

Dynamic pricing is only one component of revenue management. It should also include the following:

• Channel management
• Marketing
• Forecasting

Now is a good time to focus on your vacation rental business and look at how and where you advertise your Orlando vacation home. 

Plus, you can use this quiet time before the markets reopen to look at the ways you can make your home more appealing for guests.  Stay ahead of the competition.  Maybe offer a late check out or – for the road tripper – a complimentary early check in. 

Will you welcome pets?  Most road trips involve families taking their beloved pets.  Accepting them could open up a whole new market segment for your home.

 

Forecasting for your Florida vacation home

Anticipating future demands and forecasting trends is another key skill that property owners need to develop. 

A good place to start is looking at publicly available information and statistics from local and international tourism boards.  AirDNA and Transparent provide market insights, historical data and benchmarking tools, so you can forecast low and high demand.

Tip! Record your own vacation home booking data to help you analyse and anticipate future booking behaviour

 

Expand your Distribution

Are you only selling on one channel? There are lots of channels open to homeowners these days: your own website, AirBnB, VRBO, etc.

Now is the time for owners to look to expand your presence and attract more guests to book your Orlando vacation home.

Rather than depend on low prices to get your occupancy levels up, you can use these new channels to find completely new audiences for you to sell to. 

Have you thought about business travellers?  Contacting conference centres to see what events may be running in the future when things are back to normal?  Reach out to large companies, airlines, tour operators as they may have stranded staff that need accommodation.  Get creative and think outside the box!

Increased marketing efforts will drive more traffic to your website or listing.  Expanding your online presence for your Orlando vacation home, whether it be via social media or new listing sites, is an easy way to increase your potential pool of guests.

Tip! Be mindful to review commission and fees on the different distribution channels, as these can vary.  Work out the net rates that you would see after the booking.

Remember that lowering your prices to be more competitive is something that can be easily matched by your competitors.  Worse – ultimately it can lead to a nasty price war!

Yes, be competitive with rates.  But, to be successful, you will need to look for more ways you can widen your home’s appeal to guests.

 

 

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus the short-term rental and travel industry have reported great losses globally.  This virus has not only affected peoples health, but business too. Vacation property owners in Florida have been particularly badly hit. 

 

It’s important to know how your Property Management company is dealing with the situation in the best possible way. This way, you know that when the time eventually comes for things to return to normal, you have planned effectively and are able to get the best outcome for you and your home.

Boost health & safety

Ensuring that your home is cleaned, sanitised and prepared for guests is not new.

However, your property manager should have introduced new, more stringent cleaning and sanitising activities in the wake of this global pandemic.  For example, bleach-based cleaners are more effective than anti-bacterial cleaners.

Check with your Property Manager that care has been taken to ensure that all areas or items that many guests would touch, that would usually only be wiped down are now sanitised with alcohol-based wipes. This list should include TV remotes, light switches, appliances, door handles etc. 

Ensure ALL crockery and cutlery are washed in soapy water (standard washing up liquids are effective) between guests and are packed away to prevent any accidental contamination.

Cleaning schedules should allow for one cleaner to be in the home at a given time, wearing mask and gloves and then the pre-arrival inspector arriving separately ensuring mask and gloves are worn at all times limiting any contamination during this process.

These should remain in place for the foreseeable future.

 

Book a deep clean

You can use this fallow period to your advantage and get your home and carpets deep cleaned and jet washing completed. 

With these additional precautions taking place in your home, you can rest easy knowing that your guests and home is being maintained at the highest standard.

 

Stay in touch with guests

The situation remains very fluid, with advice being updated on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

During this uncertain time, it is vital to stay in touch with your guests who have booked directly with you, the owner.  They will have many questions and may decide to stay or cancel their reservation depending on their situation.  Stay ahead of any cancellations and notify your Property Manager so they can plan and amend their schedules accordingly.

For your guests who have decided to stay, it is a good idea to highlight your increased Health and Safety protocols so they feel comfortable and know that their well-being is your top priority.

 

How to respond to the inevitable cancellations

Given the current situation, it is inevitable that some guests will want to cancel.

With travel restrictions in place around many parts of the world, some will have no choice but to cancel their booking with you.

For your guests who have decided to cancel, the best solution is to offer them the option to amend their dates to later on in the year or in 2021. 

Encouraging them to amend their reservation rather than cancel outright will help you to ensure your calendar is booked and bounce back again as soon as possible.

 

Marketing your home

This is a very difficult time to market vacations in general due to the restrictions of flights and travel bans. 

You will need to be sensitive to the situation, but also open to potential guests who you would perhaps not have had stay before.  For example, you can take bookings for longer than 30 days, so looking for longer-term lets is one important way to keep the money coming in.

These potential guests may require longer stays, but lower daily rates.  This is something you will need to discuss with your Property Manager and perhaps consider, should the opportunity arise, to ensure some occupancy in your home over the next coming months.

 

Communication is key

Keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and your Property Manager is vital.

Ensuring you are informed at all times and answering any questions you may have is part of the value-added service your Property Manager should be providing.  Working in partnership will ensure the best outcome for you and your home moving forward.

 

Have any questions or looking for Property Management Company in the Orlando, Florida area? 

Contact us for more information at:  admin@whiterosevillas.com

It’s the most wonderful time of year! If you’re visiting Orlando this holiday season, why not indulge in these favourite festive holiday experiences, as recommended by the White Rose Villas team?

 

#1. Take a walk around Disney Springs

At this time of year, the shops and restaurants are decked out in their festive finery.  Enjoy the holiday atmosphere while you pick out a few gifts for the folks back home.

 

#2. Whizz down the ice slides at ICE! Gaylord Palms

See the beautiful ice sculptures at this Kissimmee Resort and, at the end of your tour, you get to slide down giant ice slides.  A firm family favourite.

 

#3. See the giant gingerbread houses at Disney’s Grand Floridian

At Disney’s Grand Floridian hotel, the foyer is filled with Christmas decorations – including giant gingerbread houses.  Plus, you can buy more pocket-sized gingerbread Christmas treats to take home.

 

#4. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the town of Celebration

Celebration is a picture-perfect lakeside town just a short drive from the main gates of Disney.  At this time of year, you can expect carol singers, lights and even snow!  For a really Christmassy feel, take a tour around town in a horse-drawn carriage.

 

#5. Walk down Main Street and watch the special Christmas fireworks show

It’s hard to imagine a more magical experience than your first Disney parade, but it is extra special at Christmas time. 

 

#6. Meet Santa!

Most of the theme parks offer opportunities to visit with Santa.  Outside the parks, the most highly regarded Santa meet and greets can be found at Disney Springs (he has a chalet on the Christmas Tree Trail), at the Mall at Millenia and you can also find his chalet beside the lake in Celebration.

#7. Enjoy the “snowfall” in Celebration

Snow falls every night in Celebration at this time of year and it’s super fun! 

 

#8. Take a festive cookie stroll at Epcot

As you wander around the world showcase, you can collect Christmas cookies as you go.

 

#9. See Hogwarts decorated for Christmas

If you’ve ever wondered about Dumbledore’s taste in tinsel, take a wander around Hogwarts castle at Universal’s Islands of Adventure at this time of year and all your questions will be answered!  Definitely better than the Dursley’s!

 

#10. Listen to the carols at Epcot

Epcot’s Christmas highlight is the Candlelight Processional.  It features a 50-piece orchestra and takes place three times each night.

 

#11. Enjoy a butterbeer!

Head down to Diagon Alley or the village of Hogsmeade at Christmas and you can enjoy a delicious draught of warm butterbeer – it’s bound to fill you with Christmas cheer.

 

#12. Breakfast with the Grinch

Bah humbug!  You’ll need to book in advance if you want to start the day with the Grinch at Universal’s Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast.  You can meet a variety of Dr Seuss characters before heading into the park to enjoy the Who-liday Spectacular show.

 

#13. See a classic Christmas ballet

The Orlando Ballet’s annual performance of the Nutcracker at the Dr Phillips Centre is something of an Orlando institution.  A magical way to celebrate the season.

 

#14. Sit in a giant Lego sleigh

Of course, Legoland is decked out in all its finery at this time of year too – and if you have Lego-mad kids the giant sleigh is going to be a highlight.

 

#15. Party with Mickey and friends

What better way to celebrate the season in Orlando than the all-singing, all-dancing Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?  The party atmosphere on these select nights through November and December will have you dancing in the Magic Kingdom, plus you can enjoy Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.

 

We’d love to hear about your favourite seasonal events and activities in Orlando and Central Florida at this time of year. Please share your thoughts with us!

Or for more tips, ask our team!

US – 321-710-8779

UK – 0333-332-1411

Choosing the right partner to help you manage your vacation home is vital for maximising revenue – as well as for your peace of mind.

 

Every home and every home owner are different.  Naturally, this means that what each home owner needs from their property manager is different too.

However, there are a few questions that every home owner should ask before choosing a property manager – and that every property manager should be able to answer!

 

Ten questions to ask any potential property manager

 

The White Rose Villas team talks you through the ten questions you should ask of any property manager with whom you are thinking of working.

 

#1. How do you expect my home to perform?

 

You should be seeking a realistic but enthusiastic answer to this question. 

Don’t be fooled by wild statements about huge returns that the property manager can’t back up with evidence about how other similar properties in the area are performing.  But don’t settle for overly conservative estimates either.

If the answer you receive differs greatly from the estimations offered by your realtor when you purchased the property, ask the property manager to explain why this might be.

Most importantly, how excited is your potential property manager about marketing your property?  This is important, because you want your property manager to believe in your home’s potential and to relish the opportunity to help you achieve it.

 

#2. What can you tell me about the local market?

 

Your property manager should be able to discuss recent regulations, trends, rentable values and what potential renters expect.

If they can’t talk confidently about these topics with you, be wary.  Sense check their answers with what you’ve heard from the other property managers you’ve interviewed. 

Once you have spoken to three or four potential partners, you should have a good overview of what the real picture is and who is on top of their brief.

 

#3. What regulations do I need to be aware of?

 

Of course, you can research federal, state and local regulations on sites like ours.  But you do need to ask this question of any potential property manager too.

A good property manager is not only up to speed with all the regulations that apply to their business and your rental property, they will be able to offer advice about how you can ensure you comply – and (hopefully) be able to explain how their services help you do this.

 

#4. How will you market my property?

 

You want a good mix of marketing approaches in answer to this question.  It’s so easy to get bamboozled by marketing speak but, at a minimum, you need to look for:

• Listing on your property manager’s own website
• Potential for online bookings
• Investment into online marketing and search engine optimisation
• Database of previous guests with a good track record of repeat bookings to whom regular marketing communications are sent
• Listings on major vacation rental sites, including: AirBnB, VRBO, etc.
• Partnerships with other vacation companies
• Social media promotions

Every property manager will offer a different combination of these marketing approaches.  It’s worth spending time to talk through a tactical plan for the first six to twelve months, including agreeing any promotions you might want to run together.

 

#5. How will guests be able to book my property?

 

You’ll know from your own experience that guests don’t make vacation plans within normal office hours.  How available is your property manager to answer guests’ questions during the evenings and weekends?  How quickly do they respond to guest enquiries?

There is an easy way to test the validity of each potential property manager’s claims in this regard.

 

#6. How do you price your services?  What fees can I expect to pay?

 

Property managers usually charge anything from between ten percent to twenty-five percent of rental income – so you may find some very varied answers to this question.

However, it is vitally important to consider what you are getting for that percentage charge.  It’s not always easy to compare like with like.  Ten percent of hardly any bookings could be worse value than twenty-five percent of nearly full occupancy.

You first step should be to clearly define where you need help and how you need the property manager to add value.  Then you can really make a judgement about whether you are getting good value for money.  Or, more specifically, the right value for your money.

 

#7. What services are included in your management fees?

 

We’ve already touched on this and why it is important.  Ask potential property managers to supply a full price list, so you can understand their charges and ask them to explain how and when they might apply.

Here at White Rose Villas, we offer three different approaches to fees – you can pay as you go, opt for a package which covers all the essentials, or choose an all-inclusive arrangement with us.  What is best for you will very much depend on how much help and support you need from your property manager and it what areas, e.g. marketing, maintenance, housekeeping, guest relationship management, etc.

Not everyone needs help with everything – so find a property manager with a package to suit you.

 

#8. How will I be charged for these services?

 

This is important for your planning; you need to know how your property manager is going to help you achieve your rental income goals. 

Does your potential property manager require you to open an escrow account?  If so, what amount of funds do they expect to hold in there?  How frequently does your property manager pay out income?  Ask them to show you some typical monthly statements, so you can see how costs and income will be reported to you.

 

#9. Do you manage local taxes for your homeowners?

 

Here in Florida properties are subject to a “tourist tax” as well as sales tax.  These are paid to local and state authorities respectively.

A good property manager will manage these tax payments on your behalf; automatically applying them to guest bookings and forwarding payments to the relevant authorities.  It is worth checking whether this is the case, and how the property manager proposes to administer these payments.

 

#10. What sort of reporting can I expect?

 

As a vacation property owner, you need to know exactly where you stand with regards to the rental income your property is generating for you.  This requires clear monthly statements at the very least. 

In the longer term, what does your property manager offer to help you keep track of your property’s performance?  Here at White Rose Rentals, we schedule an annual review with each of our home owners.  This gives us a chance to discuss how your home is performing against your expectations, how we are doing, and what suggestions we have that can help you maximise bookings and revenue.

 

 

We think these are the ten base questions you should ask any potential property manager before deciding who to sign with. 

You’re sure to have your own to add to this list as well.

If you have questions of your own, please get in touch. 

Email: admin@whiterosevillas.com 

US – 321-710-8779

UK –  0333-332-1411