How To Rent Vacation Properties By Owner Podcast

How to get your Vacation Home Mentioned in Newspapers, Magazines or on TV

Christine Karpinski — 2011-10-31T13:50:00Z

Christine speaks with Dottie DeHart of DeHart and Company Public Relations about strategies for gaining media attention for a vacation rental home. How can you get journalists to write about your vacation homes rental property? Should you hire a PR agency? Should you write press releases?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine # 93: Protecting and Monitoring Your Vacation Home with Security Cameras

Christine Karpinski — 2011-10-24T14:14:51Z

Today’s question comes from Mike, he asks: I want to protect what is important to me. Our house, although close to attractions, is in an extremely isolated area and I view this as an asset. I am thinking about remote surveillance cameras. Not inside the house but to monitor outdoor activity.
First, I would love to see people going in and out of the house(specifically how many people). Socond, to check up on my housekeeper. Third, to make sure guests follow our rules with our hot tub. You know, over-crowding , no small children, no glass, etc. So Christine, What do you think about the cameras? And do I legally have to inform the guests that there are cameras.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Vacation Home HOA: Why you should Vote and Attend HOA Meetings.

Christine Karpinski — 2011-10-17T14:05:24Z

Christine speaks with Eva Pickens, Homeowners Association Manager for Newman Daily Resort Properties. They discuss the duties and responsibilities of HOA officers and board members. They also discuss the importance of your vote in your vacation home HOA.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine # 92: Secrets to Booking Last-Minute Openings

Christine Karpinski — 2011-10-10T19:36:51Z

Today’s question comes from Cory, she asks, I have a last-minute opening in my vacation rental. Are there any secrets you have to getting it booked?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine #91: All Work and No Play

Christine Karpinski — 2011-10-03T21:55:29Z

Today’s question comes from Margarita. She writes: When we bought our vacation home, we intended on using mainly as our second home. We decided to rent it out to off-set some of the costs of ownership. We’ve been renting it for just about 5 years now and the rentals are going very well. But our problem is our vacation home seems as if it has become “all work and no play”. Whenever we visit, we spend most of our time doing maintenance, cleaning, supplying etc. Will I ever get to enjoy my vacation home again?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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One-on-one with Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway Inc. Part II

Christine Karpinski — 2011-09-27T03:18:56Z

Today’s podcast is the continuation of Christine's conversation with Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway Inc., (HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, etc.). Christine talks with Brian the IPO, the many changes with the company and ultimately what this means for the owners and property manager who list their homes on the company’s websites. This is part two of a two part interview with Brian Sharples.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website
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One-on-one with Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway Inc. Part I

Christine Karpinski — 2011-09-19T21:01:58Z

Today’s guest is Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway Inc., (HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, etc.). Christine talks with Brian the IPO, the many changes with the company and ultimately what this means for the owners and property manager who list their homes on the company’s websites. This is part one of a two part interview with Brian Sharples. Tune in next week for the continuation of their conversation.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website
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Ask Christine # 90: Are Your Rates Scaring Guests Away Instead of Drawing Them In?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-09-12T15:30:39Z

Today’s question comes from Joseph, he asks, Christine, I have lowered my rates for my 3 bedroom cabin from $160/night all the way down to $99 per night and I’m giving free cleaning fee and free pet stays. With all of this I still cannot seem to get any bookings! Do you have any suggestions for me?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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One-on-One with a Frequent Vacation Rental Traveler

Christine Karpinski — 2011-09-05T16:00:30Z

Christine speaks with frequent vacation rental traveler Julie. She’s been renting vacation homes three to five times per year for more than ten years. Feedback from guests can often give you important feedback for you or your home. Julie shares her recent experience in renting a vacation home and offers suggestions from a traveler’s perspective.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine # 89: One Night'ers: To Book or Not to Book; That is the Question.

Christine Karpinski — 2011-08-29T14:22:00Z

Today’s question comes from Susan, she asks, I often get inquiries for one-night bookings. I would love to hear your opinion on one-night stays, do you accept them at all?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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The Advantages of Joining your Local Chamber of Commerce

Christine Karpinski — 2011-08-22T16:30:00Z

Christine Speaks with Trina Savage-Christian, director of CITA (Cayman Island Tourism Association). Trina shares the advantages and benefits of joining your local Tourism Assn., Chamber of Commerce or Visitor and Convention Bureau. In many areas the tourism boards are free (or inexpensive) to join; if you don’t register your vacation rental business, it could be a missed-opportunity for you.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine #88: The 411 on Taking Security Deposits via Credit Card

Christine Karpinski — 2011-08-15T13:30:13Z

Today’s question comes from Andrew. He asks, if I take credit cards for my vacation rental, how should I handle the security deposit? Do I take it via credit card or should I require a check. And if I take it via credit card, how do I avoid the fees associated with charging then refunding their security deposit?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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The Skinny on Advertising your Vacation Rental through Social Coupon Services.

Christine Karpinski — 2011-08-08T20:06:01Z

Christine speaks with Mary Song of Yuupon.com about advertising vacation rental properties through social coupon websites. Mary gives tactics for filling your last-minute dates and slower season using coupon websites services such as Yuupon.com, Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com, etc.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine #87: Help! My Friends Want to Stay for Free. How do I say No?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-08-01T14:25:33Z

Christine answers todays question from Gina. She asks, I always have friends who call and ask me to stay “rent” or should I say stay for free at my vacation rental. How do you handle this?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Feeling Charitable with your Vacation Rental?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-07-25T14:01:24Z

How many times has a charity asked you to donate a week of your vacation rental for a charity’s silent auction? Before you do, you should listen to this podcast. Christine talks with Michal McFadden of VacationHomesforCharity.org. Michael tells listeners many things to consider about donating your home to a charity.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine # 86: How do I handle far in advance bookings?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-07-19T00:55:27Z

Today’s question comes from Angelo, he asks, I just got a reservation request for 19 months from today. What’s the best way to handle the payment schedule for a booking so far in advance?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Sales Taxes 101 --Collecting and Remitting Sales Tax

Christine Karpinski — 2011-07-11T18:39:35Z

Christine speaks with Rob Stephens, co-owner of HotSpotTax.com about collecting and remitting sales taxes for vacation rentals. Whoops—you didn’t know you had to pay sales tax? No worries, Rob explains how you can come clean.

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Ask Christine #85: Competing with Property Managers on VRBO.com

Christine Karpinski — 2011-07-05T15:43:18Z

Today’s question comes from George, he asks: I have noticed in my area, that property managers upload large blocks of properties onto VRBO which in turn buries the single homeowner. So how does the single homeowner differentiate ourselves on VRBO?

Find more tips and advice on Christine's website

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Decorating on a Dime

Christine Karpinski — 2011-06-27T14:00:00Z

Christine interviews homeowner, Amy Greener of http://www.bluemistcabins.com/ . Amy shares some of her secrets to decorating vacation rentals on a tight budget.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Ask Christine #84: My Renters Lost The Keys To Our Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2011-06-20T14:11:11Z

Today’s question comes from Arlene, she writes: Christine, last week I had a very close call with my renters. They went to the beach and lost the key to our home. What do you do if your guests get locked out?

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Not all Professional Photographers are Created Equal

Christine Karpinski — 2011-06-13T16:22:04Z

Christine talks with professional Real Estate Photographer, Michael James of http://www.digitalcoastimage.com/ about the ins and outs of hiring a professional photographer for vacation rental advertisements. Michael offers valuable insights into the specialized field of real estate photography.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Ask Christine #84: Staging Photos

Christine Karpinski — 2011-06-07T16:10:51Z

Today’s question comes from Beth. She asks, I am just about done with a major refurbish of my vacation rental. As soon as I am done I plan on hiring a photographer to take photos. Can you sum up the most important thing I should consider when staging my photos?

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Financing a new vacation home but hitting roadblocks?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-05-30T13:18:46Z

Are you in the market to purchase a new vacation rental but running into roadblocks with the financing? Then you are not alone! Mortgaging in today’s financial market can be extremely challenging. Christine talks with author, columnist, and second home financing expert, Tom Kelly (www.TomKelly.com) who gives innovative options for financing a vacation home.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Ask Christine #83: What steps should I take if I want to start managing other owner’s properties?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-05-23T13:25:57Z

Ask Christine # 83: What steps should I take if I want to start managing other owner’s properties?
Successful vacation rental owner Louis asks today’s question: I am doing really well with my vacation rental business and over the years I have had a lot of people ask me if I would rent their homes for them. I was thinking about taking on some other people’s home to become a small property manager. What are some steps I should take?

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Another Segment to Market your Vacation Rental: Corporate Executive Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2011-05-16T19:21:00Z

Christine talks with Janice Mercieri, a new vacation rental owner who found marketing her vacation home to corporate executives even more lucrative than renting to travelers. Listen to some of the innovative marketing strategies Janice employs to get her home booked.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Ask Christine # 82: The 411 on Reservation Deposits vs. Security Deposits.

Christine Karpinski — 2011-05-09T16:41:00Z

Getting the nomenclature correct for security deposits and reservation deposit is imperative especially if a guest cancels a booking. Christine explains why it is important to get it right.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Expectations for housekeeping

Christine Karpinski — 2011-05-04T03:56:00Z

Housekeepers are our lifeline for our rentals. Get the inside scoop from Linette Simper, a housekeeper who services vacation rental properties.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Ask Christine #81 Am I losing bookings without even realizing it?

Christine Karpinski — 2011-04-25T22:26:00Z

Vacation rental owner, Nicolas says that his renters claim they never received the email responses to his inquiries. He knows he responded! Could Nicolas possibly be losing bookings over email problems? Christine explains tactic for replying to vacation rental inquiries.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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New Owner Buys in an Uncoventional Manner

Christine Karpinski — 2011-04-20T04:45:00Z

Newbie owner, Deb Gabor tells Christine how she bought her new vacation rental property in Cottonwood Canyon, Utah in one day.

Find more tips and advice at the Christine's website

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Ask Christine #80: Renting a Main House with a Guest House

Christine Karpinski — 2011-04-12T22:19:00Z

Renting a main house with a guest house as one booking or two? That is the question! This is a must-listen to podcast for anyone renting a unique property such as a lot with two houses or a duplex.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Community.

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One in a Million: Winning a Vacation Home

Christine Karpinski — 2011-04-05T21:49:00Z

Owner Leisa Tobler talks with Christine about how she came to own her very first vacation home-- she won it!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Community.

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Ask Christine #79: The 411 on Toilet Paper and Other Essentials

Christine Karpinski — 2011-03-30T19:31:00Z

Christine explains what is standard in the vacation rental business when it comes to providing essentials, like toilet paper.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Community.

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What to Expect in the First Year of Renting

Christine Karpinski — 2011-03-22T19:09:00Z

Austin, Texas-based vacation rental owner Malynda Williams talks about her huge successes in her very first year of renting.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Community.

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Ask Christine #78: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck

Christine Karpinski — 2011-03-15T22:45:00Z

Listener Gabby wants to take $5,000 and make one large upgrade to her vacation rental. Christine weighs in on which one will attract the most guests.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Community.

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BP vs. The World: Tony Buzbee on Representing Oil Spill Victims

Christine Karpinski — 2011-03-07T23:39:00Z

Tony Buzbee, of Buzbee Law Firm, speaks with Christine on representing hundreds of Deepwater Horizon oil spill victims and strategies for dealing with BP during the final payment process.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #77: Strict HOA's No Lockbox Policy

Christine Karpinski — 2011-02-21T22:33:00Z

Listener Jerry writes in to ask us how he can best get keys to renters when his HOA does not allow lockboxes on the door.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Community .

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Under 25ers: The Renters You Shouldn't Ignore

Christine Karpinski — 2011-02-07T19:02:00Z

Debi Nelson-Maney is an owner in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin who goes against the grain on one hot button issue for vacation rental owners. Not only does Debi allow 25-year-olds and under to rent her property, she encourages it. Her story might have you rethinking your current marketing outreach!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #76: Defining Weekly Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2011-01-11T17:30:00Z

Listener Cheryl asks Christine to clarify if a weekly rental is 7 days, 6 nights or 8 days, 7 nights.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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When Less is More: Preparing Your Vacation Property for Renters

Christine Karpinski — 2011-01-04T20:30:00Z

Owner Larry Barlow inherited his parents home in northern Michigan and at the suggestion of his CPA, started to think about renting his house. Once he began to prepare the property for renters (and took a long hard look at all the money involved), he realized that less might be more.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Welcome to Sunny Florida

Christine Karpinski — 2010-12-13T23:32:00Z

Debbie James started out as a real estate investor of rental properties in Atlanta, Georgia before taking on the role full time in Florida. She soon shifted gears to join the agent side of things, helping buyers and sellers of vacation property in the Destin area. Debbie is going to talk to us about the current state of the Destin market, including the impact of the oil spill as well as obtaining a mortgage.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #74: Coming Clean About Sales Tax

Christine Karpinski — 2010-12-06T22:33:00Z

If you haven't been charging sales tax, the jig is up. Christine explains how to navigate these uncertain waters.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Renting in the Nation's Capital

Christine Karpinski — 2010-11-30T22:04:00Z

Washington, D.C. property owner Jarek Mika started with his first listing on VRBO four years ago and he was amazed at the number of inquiries that started to pour in. Jarek is going to share with us some of his own best practices, his recent experience with a VRBO Bear Stay, how he came to manage properties for other owners, and even how he handled an onslaught of inquiries during the inauguration.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Going From Owner to Property Manager

Christine Karpinski — 2010-11-10T18:12:00Z

Owner-to-property manager Ann Holdridge has been in the business of vacation rentals since 1992. Learn how Ann went from running her own property to managing others' properties to eventually owning her own property management business.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #73: Alternatives to Air Conditioning

Christine Karpinski — 2010-11-01T21:15:00Z

Christine explains what owners can do to cool down their guests in lieu of an expensive air conditioner installation.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Way Back When

Christine Karpinski — 2010-10-25T21:59:00Z

Pittsburgh-based vacation rental owner Melanie Patterson discusses her property, a retro-inspired home featuring decoration from the 40's-70's.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #72: What Travelers Need

Christine Karpinski — 2010-10-19T16:02:00Z

Think that you provide everything your travelers could possibly need? Take a close look at your property to see if you're providing necessities like shampoo, conditioner, tissues and more.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Treetop Retreat

Christine Karpinski — 2010-10-11T19:27:00Z

Owner Gail Armand rents out her vacation home on the Big Island of Hawaii, but it's not just any property. Gail owns a REAL treehouse! Click here and find out how she came up with this very unique idea.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #71: Should I Charge a Fee for Internet Usage?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-10-04T19:33:00Z

Some owners with properties in remote destinations may find it costly to provide Internet access for their guests. Christine addresses the options of not providing Internet access, charging renters for usage, or bundling the costs into your rates.

Find more tipsand advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Christine Karpinski — 2010-09-29T21:37:00Z

We’ve heard a lot about bed bugs lately, and many homeowners are concerned about getting these critters in their vacation homes. Missy Henrickson, Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Pest Management Association, will help put our minds at ease about what we can do to prevent these pests.

Find more tipsand advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #70: Lightening the Load of Running Your Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2010-09-20T22:34:00Z

Are you working a full-time job, taking care of yourself (not to mention family and friends), AND managing your vacation rental? You are not alone. While it can sometimes seem daunting and tiring, there are ways of lightening the load.

Find more tipsand advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Become Your Own Maintenance Person

Christine Karpinski — 2010-09-13T20:28:00Z

Julie Ward Holland bought 11 vacation rental properties all at once and began the process of renovating them, but it wasn't all window treatments and flat screen TVs. Julie quickly became a master at basic maintenance-- from changing the toilet gasket to pressure washing, Julie can do it all.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #69: How to Enjoy Being "Off The Grid" as a Vacation Rental Homeowner

Christine Karpinski — 2010-09-07T22:41:00Z

Believe it or not, it is possible to enjoy your own personal vacation while also managing your vacation rental business. Whether you go somewhere remote or you are just enjoying a staycation, we'll tell you how to make the most of your down time.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAwayOwner Community.

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Are You Ready to Lock?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-08-31T19:37:00Z

Wouldn’t it be nice to remotely change the lock codes for your vacation rental? Christine interviews Steve Samolinski, the Solutions Manager for Connected Home Solutions at Ingersoll Rand, or simply, the guy who really knows everything about the Schlage Link!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #68: Timeshares vs. Vacation Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2010-08-24T18:08:00Z

Listener Kathy wonders about the difference between a timeshare and a vacation rental, and if timeshares are allowed on HomeAway sites.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #67: When More Is NOT Merrier

Christine Karpinski — 2010-08-17T21:09:00Z

Find out what you can do if you find out your renters have brought more people than listed on their rental agreement.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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One-on-One with Alabama Gulf Coast Vacation Rental Owner, Melissa Ray

Christine Karpinski — 2010-08-09T22:00:00Z

Christine talks with Melissa Ray, a vacation homeowner on the Gulf Coast in Alabama, about the BP claims process and how the oil spill has impacted her rental business.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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One-on-One with North Carolina Vacation Rental Owner, Callie Wellendorf

Christine Karpinski — 2010-08-04T21:58:00Z

Callie Wellendorf runs a vacation rental bed and breakfast hybrid in the mountains of North Carolina. Listen to this this truly unique story here.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #66: Special Information for Gulf Coast Owners

Christine Karpinski — 2010-07-26T22:24:00Z

This Ask Christine is a must-listen for anyone who owns vacation rental property along the Gulf Coast.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Vacation Rental Owner vs. The State

Christine Karpinski — 2010-07-19T21:03:00Z

As a former lobbyist, vacation rental owner Dian Jordan felt particularly strongly when the local government proposed legislation that all vacation rental owners in her area would have to obtain real estate licenses. Dian considers herself to be more of a hotelier, and she fought (and won) to pass state legislation to maintain VRBOs as hotels in Oklahoma.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #65: Charging a Credit Card Fee

Christine Karpinski — 2010-07-12T21:47:00Z

A new vacation homeowner wonders if he can charge a fee to renters booking with a credit card.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #64: Can I Include a Boat with my Vacation Rental?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-07-07T15:53:00Z

Christine explains how to confidently and safely include amenities like ATVs, golf carts,surfboards, bicycles, and even baby gear with your vacation rental.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Investing in Vacation Rental Properties

Christine Karpinski — 2010-06-28T22:59:00Z

Christine talks with Dave Stech, a Las Vegas-area vacation rental investor. If you are thinking of investing in multiple vacation rental properties, this podcast is a must-listen.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #63: How to Prevent Guests from Moving Furniture?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-06-21T21:42:00Z

Although moved furniture can be a pain, Christine explains why it may not always be a bad thing.

Find moretips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #62: New Vacation Rental With a Blank Calendar

Christine Karpinski — 2010-06-08T16:15:00Z

If you have a new vacation rental, most likely you also have a blank calendar. Learn how to make your property stand out amongst the often-rented properties even before the first booking.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #61: When Renters Want to See the Home Before Booking

Christine Karpinski — 2010-05-25T16:33:00Z

"Can we just stop by to check out the house before we book?" We've all had to face this question at some point! Christine will explain what's an appropriate answer.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Renting to the VRBO Bear

Christine Karpinski — 2010-05-04T19:31:00Z

Kari Ann Gerlach has been renting her luxury property in Santa Barbara, California for about 2 years. The second booking she ever accepted was actually for HomeAway executives traveling with the VRBO bear. If you haven't heard of it, learn more about it in Christine’s interview with Kari Ann.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #60: Which Comes First - the Contract or the Deposit?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-04-29T22:36:00Z

In reality, it’s probably not possible to get both the deposit and the signed contract simultaneously, so Christine will explain how she handles her own bookings.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #59: Should I Advertise One Rate for the Entire Year?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-04-19T21:56:00Z

Christine explains why the location of your property affects the answer to this question.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #58: Should You Meet and Greet with Renters at Check-In?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-04-13T05:00:00Z

Are you on the fence about whether to meet with your renters at check-in or mail them the keys? Christine weighs in.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

One-on-One with Austin Vacation Rental Owner, Jim Leonard

Christine Karpinski — 2010-04-06T19:24:00Z

Christine chats with Jim Leonard, a vacation homeowner in Austin, Texas who rented his condo for the first time during the SXSW music festival... to a rock band!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #57: Disclosing Your Rental Agreement Before the Booking

Christine Karpinski — 2010-03-29T22:09:00Z

Want to allow travelers to see your rental agreement before the booking has been completed but don't want to compromise your address or amenities? Find out how on this episode!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Copying is NOT the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Christine Karpinski — 2010-03-22T21:45:00Z

Surfside, S.C. vacation rental owner Penny Black Rudinger shares herexperience and solutions when another owner plagiarized her listing.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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One-on-One with Costa Rica Vacation Rental Owner, Evelyn Gallardo

Christine Karpinski — 2010-03-16T15:34:00Z

Evelyn Gallardo, professional photographer and vacation homeowner, discusses buying a vacation house in Costa Rica and why she hired someone else to take property photos.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #56: The Best-Sized Bed

Christine Karpinski — 2010-03-08T20:36:00Z

Christine discusses how to use the size of your beds to take advantage of the maximum number of people you can sleep.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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The Ins and Outs of Credit Card Merchant Accounts, Part II

Christine Karpinski — 2010-03-02T15:25:00Z

Learn the advantages of using a merchant account like PPI from Robert Lawson, a PPI Sales Manager.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #55: Local Number vs. 800 Number

Christine Karpinski — 2010-02-22T22:31:00Z

Christine discusses whether listing an 800 number or a local phone number is better for your vacation rental business.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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The Ins and Outs of Credit Card Merchant Accounts

Christine Karpinski — 2010-02-15T22:20:00Z

Christine and Robert Lawson, sales manager at Payment Processing, Inc., discuss the process of accepting credit cards through merchant accounts, and the potential benefits of doing so.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #54: Should I Perform Background Checks for Short-Term Rentals?

Christine Karpinski — 2010-02-09T15:22:00Z

Beyond your typical screening process, is a background check really necessary?

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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From Home Exchange to Home Ownership

Christine Karpinski — 2010-02-01T21:42:00Z

Christine interviews John Farago about falling in love with Budapest, Hungary through a home exchange, which led to buying his own property, converting it to a vacation rental, and managing it all the way from the States.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #53: Putting Your Guestbook to Use

Christine Karpinski — 2010-01-26T00:29:00Z

An owner writes, “I have so many great reviews that are sitting in my guestbook at my vacation home. I really want to get these reviews out there because these types of comments might help a renter choose my property. How can I encourage people to leave reviews in my online guestbook?”

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Why I Chose Vacation Rentals: Perspectives from Cindy Hill, Part 2

Christine Karpinski — 2010-01-18T20:10:00Z

After negative experiences with long-term renting, Austin-based owner Cindy Hill and her husband chose to own 4 vacation rentals in anticipation of their retirement. Why did they choose vacation rentals and how did the choice impact their future plans?

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #52: Getting Geared Up for 2010

Christine Karpinski — 2010-01-11T22:51:00Z

Christine shares advice for preparing for the busy booking season between January and April.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #51: Housekeeping for Back-to-Back Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2010-01-04T23:15:00Z

An owners asks: “I am new to vacation rentals and a little panicky about back-to-back cleanings. How do I know my housekeeper has time to finish everything before my next guest arrives?”

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Collaborate Instead of Compete: Starting a Vacation Rental Owners Networking Group

Christine Karpinski — 2009-12-28T15:35:00Z

Christine interviews Cindy Hill of Austin, Texas about how she started a local group of vacation homeowners to share insights, experiences and even referrals.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #50: Charging for Negligence

Christine Karpinski — 2009-12-21T22:46:00Z

An owner had renters leave her vacation home with the back door wide open, resulting in an excessive heating bill. Plus, this left her home accessible to creatures and theft. She is wondering if she can charge the renters not only for the increase in heating costs but also for negligence.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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From Flat Tires to Earthquake-Proofing: Buying a Vacation Home in Costa Rica

Christine Karpinski — 2009-12-14T23:50:00Z

Christine interviews Wesley Weidemann about the trials and tribulations of building an international vacation home and renting it to travelers. Despite the extra effort, Wesley shares his philosophy on finding a home that he and his wife would love no matter what happened with their investment.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #49: Post-Checkout Procedures

Christine Karpinski — 2009-12-07T22:18:00Z

An owner asks, “What do you do with renters to follow up after their stay?” Christine shares some advice on obtaining honest feedback about your home, handling the logistics of security deposit refunds after checkout, and keeping in touch with past guests to secure future bookings.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #48: When Your Guests' Stay is Being Paid for by Someone Else

Christine Karpinski — 2009-11-30T22:07:00Z

An owner asks: "I accepted a booking from a couple where the trip was a gift from their in-laws. Since the credit card was in someone else's name, should there be other steps involved in confirming the reservation?" Christine explains the proper procedures.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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The “Official” Price and the Real Price: Buying Vacation Real Estate in Italy

Christine Karpinski — 2009-11-23T23:35:00Z

American Andrew Quicke provides a look at the confusing and often convoluted process he and his wife navigated in order to purchase and restore an historic 800-year-old Tuscan apartment (VRBO #253555).

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #47: What If I Discover Damages or Theft After Refunding a Guest’s Security Deposit?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-11-16T21:30:00Z

An owner describes a situation in which his housekeeper didn’t notice damaged patio furniture in her post-check-out inspection. Christine explains best practices for inspecting for damages and returning security deposits.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]