How To Rent Vacation Properties By Owner Podcast

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.

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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.

[Download in iTunes]

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.

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Beyond "Virtual Tours": How to Make a YouTube Video for Your Vacation Rental that Actually Gets Heads in Beds

Christine Karpinski — 2009-11-09T18:20:00Z

Owner Scott McGuire has been renting his Sun River, Oregon vacation rental (VRBO#19056) for seven years, but since adding what he calls a “narrated montage” to his listing, he says he has seen his business revenue jump 15%. Pleased with the results, Scott started a company called Vacation Rental Videos Now to make videos for other owners. In this podcast, Scott explains how his professional photo montage slideshows differ from other types of promotional videos for vacation rentals, and provides some tips for owners interested in creating a YouTube video that provides results.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #46: Why Do I Keep Getting Inquiries For Weeks When My Calendar is Already Booked?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-11-02T23:48:00Z

An owner asks: "Why do I get inquiries asking if my property is available when the week is booked on my calendar. Don't renters look at the calendars?"

Christine explains this common frustration.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Designing a Wheelchair-Friendly Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2009-10-26T19:16:00Z

Christine speaks with owner Dave Vaughn about how he designed and markets his ADA-compliant, wheelchair-accessible lake cottage in Greenville, Maine.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #45: Is Pay-Per-View a Worthwhile Vacation Rental Amenity?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-10-19T20:18:00Z

An owner asks, “We are debating whether or not to have the cable company display Pay-Per-View channels on the television in our vacation rental and then bill our renters for any charges incurred during their stay at a later date. Is this a valuable amenity or is it too much trouble?”

Christine provides suggestions for how to manage these charges, opinions on whether it is worth your time, and alternatives to Pay-Per-View movies.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Booking Weddings & Events at Your Vacation Home

Christine Karpinski — 2009-10-12T16:43:00Z

Las Vegas vacation homeowner Jay Reese shares his experience in booking events at his property and promoting his vacation rental as a wedding venue - complete with an on-site wedding parlor!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #44: How to Quote Rates When Taking a Booking a Year in Advance

Christine Karpinski — 2009-10-05T19:57:00Z

An owner asks, “I just received an inquiry from a potential renter who would like to book a full year in advance. I was considering raising my rates to cover potential future expenses, but I don’t know how to quote my rates for this renter.”

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Buying & Renovating a "Fixer-Upper" Vacation Property in Mexico (Part 2)

Christine Karpinski — 2009-09-28T19:19:00Z

Holly Hunter, a financial planner by day, also owns several vacation rental properties – one in Maine, and two in Mexico. In this episode, she continues her discussion with Christine about the process of buying a “pile of rubble” in Guanajuato, Mexico and transforming it into a spectacular luxury rental.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Buying & Renovating a "Fixer-Upper" Vacation Property in Mexico (Part 1)

Christine Karpinski — 2009-09-21T19:35:00Z

Holly Hunter, a financial planner by day, also owns several vacation rental properties – one in Maine, and two in Mexico. In this episode, she talks with Christine about the process of buying a “pile of rubble” in Guanajuato, Mexico and transforming it into a spectacular luxury rental.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #43: Should vacation rentals have landline phones?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-09-14T17:18:00Z

An owner asks: "We would like to know whether or not homeowners are legally required to provide a landline phone in their vacation rental. Having a young child and elderly parents, we would never consider renting a house without telephone service. We would like to know whether or not this is something homeowners are legally obligated to provide for their guests."

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Buying & Managing an International Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2009-09-10T15:15:00Z

Judy Steinfeld, an English-speaking American, isthe owner of three vacation properties in Chile- one in the mountains, one by the beach, and one in the heart of Santiago. Judy describes the unique aspects of buying and managing an international property...which in many ways, she says, is easier than renting in the United States!

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Inside the Mind of a Vacation Rental Traveler

Christine Karpinski — 2009-08-31T15:04:00Z

Owner Shelley Hesse has been renting her vacation property on Okaloosa Island, Florida for the past four and a half years. Hesse recently rented another VRBO property for her family's recent summer trip to Wilmington, North Carolina, an experience she says brought her a wealth of new insights about her own vacation rental business practices.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Attracting Repeat Guests to Your Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2009-08-24T15:10:00Z

Owner Stacey Scott discusses how she has built up a loyal base of repeat guests to her vacation rental home in New Braunfels, Texas.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #42: How to Disclose Possibly Discouraging Details About Your Vacation Home

Christine Karpinski — 2009-08-17T23:10:00Z

An owner asks, "My home is located near a railroad track where trains come by all hours of the night. I'm wondering how to disclose this information to my renters." Christine explains how and when to disclose some of the less favorable aspects of your vacation home.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Marketing your Vacation Rental to Couples & Honeymooners

Christine Karpinski — 2009-08-10T18:43:00Z

Owner Lisa Frost discusses how she markets her one-bedroom cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee as a romantic getaway.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #41: Running Specials for Your Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2009-08-04T15:57:00Z

An owner asks, "What if I run a special and a guest who has already booked at a higher rate comes back to my site and notices the discount?" Christine shares some suggestions for appeasing the already-booked guest.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

The Art of the Off-Season: An Owner's Innovative Solution to Boosting Off-Season Revenue at Her Vacation Rental Home

Christine Karpinski — 2009-07-27T20:36:00Z

Vacation rental owner Kirsten Apple has developed an innovative way to boost off-season revenues at her vacation home in the South of France: all-inclusive art workshops.

Kirsten, a U.S. resident, explains how she runs her workshops from afar -- and how she ended up buying a house in France to begin with.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Ask Christine #40: Accepting a Far-in-Advance Booking for a Special Event

Christine Karpinski — 2009-07-20T22:07:00Z

An owner asks: “I own a property in Whistler, B.C. and I received an inquiry for a booking for the 2010 Olympics. This is much earlier than I typically confirm bookings. How should I handle the payments?” Christine explains the best way to handle far-in-advance bookings for special events.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Decorating Tips for Vacation Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2009-07-13T22:16:00Z

Christine speaks with decorator Kerry Ann Dame of Posh Living, LLC, a full-service design firm in Surfside Beach, South Carolina that specializes in custom slipcovers.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #39: How to Set Rental Rates for Your Vacation Home

Christine Karpinski — 2009-07-06T21:12:00Z

An owner asks: "I have a fairly unique vacation property. How can I set appropriate rates when I don't have any other properties to compare it to?"

Christine offers guidance about setting rental rates for your vacation home.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes] [Read the transcript]

Dealing with Newbie Anxiety: Getting Started Renting your Vacation Home by Owner

Christine Karpinski — 2009-06-29T16:50:00Z

Louise Owenby and her husband have owned their vacation home in Bend, Oregon since April 2004, but they only recently decided to convert it to a vacation rental. Louise speaks with Christine about the challenges and rewards of launching a vacation rental business.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #38: How and When to Follow Up on Inquiries

Christine Karpinski — 2009-06-22T20:29:00Z

Christine suggests some guidelines for responding to inquiries by phone and email and following up with prospective renters.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes] [Read the transcript]

Two Fridges? Renting Your Primary Home as a Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2009-06-15T20:20:00Z

Christine chats one-on-One with Sandra Myklebust, an owner in Pasadena, California who rents her primary home as a vacation rental.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #37: What is a Monthly Rental?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-06-09T14:51:00Z

Christine explains how to determine whether a monthly rental is 30 days, 31 days or 4 weeks.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes] [Read the transcript]

Ask Christine #36: What if I Quoted the Wrong Rate?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-06-09T14:49:00Z

An owner asks: "What do I do if I quoted a potential renter the wrong rate?" Christine explains various ways to handle this sticky situation.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes] [Read the transcript]

One-on-One with Emilie Spaulding, a Vacation Rental Owner on New Hampshire's Six Mile Island

Christine Karpinski — 2009-06-01T22:10:00Z

Christine and Emilie discuss the unique aspects of renting a vacation home on an island only accessible by boat.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Ask Christine #35: When to Mark Your Calendar as Booked

Christine Karpinski — 2009-05-18T23:06:00Z

At what point during the booking process should an owner mark their calendar as "booked"? When a renter says, "yes, I want to book," or when you've received their check? And how do you answer inquiries you receive in the interim?

Christine advises the best way to handle this situation.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes] [Read the transcript]

Ask Christine #34: What to Do if Damages Exceed Deposit

Christine Karpinski — 2009-05-11T22:38:00Z

What to do if a renter damages an expensive item during their stay and the amount to repair it costs more than the amount of the security deposit? Christine provides several suggestions for how to handle this difficult situation.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Hiring a Housekeeper for Your Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2009-05-04T21:27:00Z

Christine speaks with Traci Stevens of Classic Home Care about the benefits of working with a housekeeper who understands the vacation rental business.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Handling Maintenance Disasters at Your Vacation Home from Afar

Christine Karpinski — 2009-04-27T21:19:00Z

Florida condo owner Marti Swift shares her experience dealing with a maintenance disaster on New Year's Day and talks with Christine about how she now handles preventative maintenance.

[Download in iTunes]

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

Buying a Condo vs. a Single Family Home as Vacation Rental Property

Christine Karpinski — 2009-04-21T01:18:00Z

Christine talks with real estate agent Meredith McKenzie about the benefits of buying condos vs. single family homes for use as a vacation rental.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

In Your Own Backyard: The Challenges of Living Near Your Rental Home

Christine Karpinski — 2009-04-13T22:16:00Z

Manhattan Beach, CA Vacation Rental Owner Michele McGarry talks with Christine about the unique challenges of living in the same duplex where your vacation rental is located.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

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Baby Gear and Vacation Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2009-04-07T00:50:00Z

Jill Lepow, owner of a baby gear rental service in Maine, discusses the benefits of offering crib and highchair rentals to accommodate families with young children at your vacation home.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

One-on-One with Fernandina Beach, Florida Vacation Rental Owner Bob Moore

Christine Karpinski — 2009-03-30T23:18:00Z

Christine speaks to Bob Moore about his experience as a long-distance vacation rental owner and learns his perspectives on selecting vacation rental websites and responding to inquiries.

Ask Christine #33: What Should I Do Before I Allow Pets?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-03-23T23:16:00Z

An owner asks: "I'm considering allowing pets in my vacation rental. What steps do I need to take before I allow guests to bring their pets?" Christine explains the steps involved in a comprehensive pet policy.

[Read the transcript]

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes]

Filing Taxes for Vacation Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2009-03-16T21:02:00Z

Stephen Fishman, author of Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide, shares tips on how to file your vacation rental income taxes, deduct for depreciation, and address the hobby loss rule.

Personal Websites for Vacation Rental Marketing

Christine Karpinski — 2009-03-09T21:44:00Z

Christine interviews vacation rental owner and web designer Robin Clapp of Web-Design-By-Robin.com about how owners could use a personal website to market their vacation rental properties.

Legal Advice on Renting Your Vacation Home

Christine Karpinski — 2009-03-02T23:49:00Z

Author and attorney Janet Portman answers Christine's questions about screening vacation rental guests under the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Impact of Turning Your Vacation Rental Business into an LLC

Christine Karpinski — 2009-02-23T21:38:00Z

Christine interviews Janet Portman, an attorney specializing in landlord/tenant law, on the subject of Limited Liability Corporations and why they may create a false sense of security for vacation rental owners.

Ask Christine #32: Should I Accept Credit Cards?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-02-17T00:18:00Z

Christine explains why accepting credit cards could increase bookings for your vacation rental.

[Download in iTunes]

[Read the transcript]

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

Ask Christine #31: Minor vs. Major Damage

Christine Karpinski — 2009-02-09T18:49:00Z

Christine shares some guidelines for when to charge guests for damage and when to consider it a cost of doing business.

One-on-One with Riviera Maya, Mexico Vacation Rental Owner Marino Tomacelli

Christine Karpinski — 2009-02-09T16:34:00Z

Christine talks to owner Marino Tomacelli about his unique vacation home, "Taninah" (as featured on HGTV's Most Extreme Homes) and about his partnerships with local tour operators.

Ask Christine #30: Filing Taxes for Housekeepers

Christine Karpinski — 2009-01-27T00:54:00Z

How to file a 1099 form for your vacation rental housekeeper with the IRS.

One-on-One with McCall, ID Vacation Rental Owner Jeannie Laird

Christine Karpinski — 2009-01-20T16:20:00Z

Jeannie Laird, Photo Department Manager for VRBO.com, shares her strategies for managing vacation rentals from afar and working with a property management company, and also discusses her recent experience with break-ins.

Ask Christine #29: How to Screen Renters

Christine Karpinski — 2009-01-12T18:38:00Z

Christine provides tips on screening renters, including some potential red flags.

Ask Christine #28: How Often Should I Update My Listing?

Christine Karpinski — 2009-01-05T19:49:00Z

Christine explains the benefits of updating your vacation rental listing regularly.

Ask Christine #27: Should I Accept Pets?

Christine Karpinski — 2008-12-29T19:13:00Z

An owner asks: "I would like to allow pets in my vacation home. However, I'm a little concerned about alienating people who might have allergies to pets."

Christine discusses the benefits of accepting pets at your vacation rental and addresses an owner's concern about potential guests with pet allergies.

To submit a question for a future installment of "Ask Christine," please leave a message at (512) 493-4340.

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

[Download in iTunes] [Read the transcript]

One-on-One with Big Sky, MT Vacation Rental Owner Tim Hart

Christine Karpinski — 2008-12-22T19:53:00Z

Christine interviews Tim Hart about his experience as a vacation rental owner and real estate agent in Big Sky, Montana.

Ask Christine #26: Describing Your Vacation Rental's Location

Christine Karpinski — 2008-12-16T00:23:00Z

Christine explains the importance of detailed location information in your vacation rental listing and what specifics you should highlight.

Buying an Investment Property in Minnesota

Christine Karpinski — 2008-12-08T22:24:00Z

Christine interviews real estate agent and vacation rental owner Brenda Schiemo-Smith about the real estate market in Minnesota and about her own lake-shore rentals.

One-on-One with Kona, Hawaii Vacation Rental Owner, David Michael

Christine Karpinski — 2008-12-05T19:22:00Z

Christine chats with Kona, Hawaii vacation rental owner David Michael about his experience as an owner of a large vacation home.

Ask Christine #25: Is It Okay to Leave a Family Photo?

Christine Karpinski — 2008-11-25T18:51:00Z

Christine addresses the balance between personalizing your vacation home and making sure guests feel comfortable in it.

Ask Christine #24: Should You Hire Models for Property Photos?

Christine Karpinski — 2008-11-17T19:49:00Z

Christine discusses whether it's appropriate to feature people in photos of your vacation property.

Ask Christine #23: Examples of Listings

Christine Karpinski — 2008-11-10T22:25:00Z

Christine tells owners how they can learn what makes a good vacation rental listing by visiting Listings 101 on the Owner Community.

Mortgaging and Refinancing Vacation Homes, Part 2

Christine Karpinski — 2008-11-03T22:46:40Z

In her second interview with David Motley, president of Colonial Savings, Christine and David discuss the current mortgage situation, tips for buying vacation homes, and options for refinancing.

Ask Christine #22: Beachfront or Not?

Christine Karpinski — 2008-10-27T19:59:00Z

Is it okay to advertise your condo as "beachfront" if your complex is beachfront but your unit doesn't face the beach?

[Read the transcript]

Find more tips and advice at the HomeAway Owner Community.

Ask Christine #21: How the Economy is Affecting the Vacation Rental Industry

Christine Karpinski — 2008-10-24T17:42:00Z

Christine addresses how an uncertain economy and high gas prices could affect vacation rentals.

Buying an Investment Property in Taos, New Mexico

Christine Karpinski — 2008-10-13T22:15:00Z

Christine chats with real estate agent Peter Lora about the real estate and vacation rental market in Taos, New Mexico.

One-on-One with La Jolla, California Vacation Rental Owner Mireya Schmidt

Christine Karpinski — 2008-10-09T22:12:00Z

Christine talks with Mireya Schmidt about her background as both a real estate agent and vacation rental owner of multiple properties.

Renting a Luxury Property

Christine Karpinski — 2008-09-22T14:52:00Z

Christine talks with Palm Springs, California owner Gregg Rapp about the excitement and challenges of renting a high-end vacation home that has attracted celebrity guests.

One-on-One with Vacation Rental Owner and HomeAway CFO Lynn Atchison

Christine Karpinski — 2008-09-16T23:50:00Z

Christine talks with Lynn Atchison, the CFO of HomeAway, about her initial hesitation in renting her Rockport, Texas vacation home and why she eventually changed her mind.

Furnishing and Decorating Your Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2008-09-08T22:49:00Z

Christine speaks with Mary Byerly of Furniture Land South about decorating tips for your vacation home and the benefits of using a design consultant.

Buying an Investment Property in St. Croix

Christine Karpinski — 2008-08-25T20:27:00Z

Christine speaks to real estate agent and broker Kim Lucas about purchasing island property on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ask Christine #20: The Benefits of Short-Term Rentals

Christine Karpinski — 2008-08-18T16:21:00Z

Christine discusses the benefits of renting your vacation home for short-term versus long-term rentals.

Ask Christine #19: What are the Most Marketable Amenities?

Christine Karpinski — 2008-08-11T17:20:00Z

What amenities are renters looking for in a vacation rental?

[Read the transcript]

Mortgaging and Refinancing Vacation Homes

Christine Karpinski — 2008-08-05T19:11:00Z

Christine talks with David Motley, president of Colonial National Mortgage and a vacation home owner, about mortgaging and refinancing options for vacation homes.

Ask Christine #18: Preventing Chargebacks

Christine Karpinski — 2008-07-28T20:40:00Z

Christine discusses credit card "chargebacks" and how to prevent them.

Ask Christine #17: How to Detect a Scam Inquiry

Christine Karpinski — 2008-07-21T19:32:00Z

Christine explains the tell-tale signs of a typical vacation rental scam inquiry.

[Read the transcript]

Building an Airport in Panama City, Part 2

Christine Karpinski — 2008-07-21T19:30:00Z

Christine continues her discussion with Jerry Ray about the benefits of building an international airport in Panama City, Florida.

Building an International Airport in Panama City, FL

Christine Karpinski — 2008-07-14T21:25:00Z

Christine talks to Jerry Ray about the potential benefits of an international airport for vacation rental owners in Panama City, Florida.

Ask Christine #16: Renters Asking for Reduced Rates

Christine Karpinski — 2008-07-08T14:32:00Z

"I constantly have renters asking me for reduced rates or telling me that their budget is 'x'. How can I respond to them and still possibly keep them interested?" Christine explains how to respond to renters asking for lower rates.

[Read the transcript]

The Resort and Second-Home Market

Christine Karpinski — 2008-06-30T17:46:00Z

Christine interviews real estate broker Jim Dague about the resort and second home industry.

Buying an Investment Property near Walt Disney World Florida

Christine Karpinski — 2008-06-23T20:47:00Z

Christine discusses the Kissimmee and Orlando, Florida markets with vacation home real estate broker Raymond Butterfield.

One-on-One with Canmore, AB Vacation Rental Owner Richard Colwell, Part 2

Christine Karpinski — 2008-06-16T20:09:00Z

Christine continues her discussion on the challenges of renting and maintaining a vacation property from abroad.

For transcripts of the podcasts, as well as, tips and advice for second home owners, visit http://ownercommunity.homeaway.com/.

One-on-One with Canmore, AB Vacation Rental Owner Richard Colwell, Part 1

Christine Karpinski — 2008-06-10T15:42:00Z

Christine discusses the challenges of owning and renting a vacation home in Canada while living in the UK.

For transcripts of the podcasts, as well as, tips and advice for second home owners, visit http://ownercommunity.homeaway.com/.

Buying an Investment Property in Stowe, Vermont

Christine Karpinski — 2008-06-02T22:33:00Z

Christine chats with real estate agent Ken Libby about the current market conditions in the ski haven of Stowe, Vermont.

One-on-One with Richland Chambers Lake, TX Vacation Rental Owner, Michelle Helterbran

Christine Karpinski — 2008-05-27T19:52:00Z

Christine interviews lakehouse owner, Michelle Helterbran, who had the first vacation rental on Richland Chambers Lake, TX.

For transcripts of the podcasts, as well as, tips and advice for second home owners, visit http://ownercommunity.homeaway.com/.

Going Green at Your Vacation Rental

Christine Karpinski — 2008-05-19T21:47:00Z

Christine speaks with expert Leslie Garrett about ways owners can make their vacation homes more eco-conscious and save money at the same time.

Buying an Investment Property in Muskoka, Ontario

Christine Karpinski — 2008-05-12T19:22:00Z

Real estate agent John Jarvis discusses the vacation home market in Muskoka, Ontario.

Ask Christine #15: How to Convert Inquiries to Bookings

Christine Karpinski — 2008-05-05T21:13:00Z

Christine advises a homeowner on how to convert her inquiries into actual bookings.

[Read the transcript]

Foreclosures and Short Sales in the Destin, Florida Vacation Rental Market

Christine Karpinski — 2008-04-29T23:29:00Z

Real estate agent Shannyn Stevenson returns to foreclosures and short sales in the Destin, Florida real estate market.

Buying an Investment Property in Naples, FL: Part 2

Christine Karpinski — 2008-04-21T19:55:00Z

Second part of Christine's talk with Naples real estate agent, Lynn Wilber.

For transcripts of the podcasts, as well as, tips and advice for second home owners, visit http://ownercommunity.homeaway.com/.

Buying an Investment Property in Naples, FL: Part 1

Christine Karpinski — 2008-04-21T19:49:00Z

Christine and real estate agent, Lynn Wilber, discuss the vacation home market in Naples, FL.

For transcripts of the podcasts, as well as, tips and advice for second home owners, visit http://ownercommunity.homeaway.com/.