If you own a property near Tampa, remember that Super Bowl XLIII happens on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. This is a great opportunity for Tampa homeowners to make some extra income and vacation rental owners to book an extra week or two at a premium price. Here's what to do after a potential renter has expressed interest in your home:
So You've Got a Renter...
The first thing to do upon receiving an inquiry from a potential renter is to contact that person. It's easiest to do this by email, but it's also a good idea to do it by phone. Whichever first-contact method you choose, you'll want to speak with potential renters over the phone before sending anyone a contract.
Once you screen your prospective guest to your satisfaction, go ahead and send them a short-term rental agreement. There are many sample forms available online that you can reference. Make sure the contract includes clauses about house rules, penalties for damages to the property, and details about how guests can place and get back their security deposit.
Security deposits for vacation rentals generally run 10% of the total cost of renting the home. After the renter puts down the money, you can start collecting the actual rental payment. There are two ways to make this process easier for both you and your future guest: installments and credit cards.
Sometimes paying in installments works better with people's budgets, especially if they are paying a pretty penny to stay in your home. However, you'll want to collect the full amount before their check-in day. In fact, the safest practice is to try to have the money in your bank account at least one month in advance. Credit cards make it possible for a renter to pay you immediately without the hassle of writing and mailing a check. It also confirms the booking right away. To accept credit card payments, you may need to set up a PayPal account. PayPal is an online service that facilitates credit card transactions.
Personal checks are fine to accept as methods of payment, but keep in mind that they can be slow. Renters will need to mail the check, you will have to cash it, and then it can take a while for the check to clear. For this reason, try to give checks a couple weeks of cushion. Remember, you should not give anyone access to your home before collecting the total payment in full.
No matter how much fun your guests have at the Super Bowl, they should leave on the checkout date specified in the rental contract. After inspecting your property for damages, you can return the security deposit. If you find damages, send your former guests copies of receipts for the cost of repairs. Keep the originals in case of legal action.
How to Advertise
Arranging a guest's stay may be all well and good, but you have to get their attention and their booking first. The good news is that marketing to football fans may not be as hard as making an 80 yard run:
Online advertising can be an effective way to reach prospective renters. However, free sites are not always the best option (no matter how tempting they may be) because they sometimes lack credibility. The best bet is to stick with genuine vacation rental portal sites. Although these sites come with a fee, the income you can earn from a potential booking easily covers the fee and should leave you with a profit. Even more importantly, this type of backing boosts your credibility and gives your whole operation an air of professionalism.
On the flip side, reputable sites have lots of rental listings so your property will likely have some competition. Someone wading through a list of available homes could make their decision based wholly on how well you present your home on your listing page. Here are some tips for designing a solid vacation rental listing page:
- Make your home stand out by including phrases in the title and description advertising your home as available for Super Bowl weekend.
- Consider offering specials to potential guests as a way to catch their eye.
- Use clear, attractive photos to show your home in the best possible light. Even people looking for the best deal appreciate comfortable lodging.
- Enhance your professionalism by being upfront about your rates, fees, and property location.
- Try to respond promptly to inquiries in a polite and forthcoming manner to make a good impression. Studies show that when a vacation rental owner responds to a traveler's inquiry within three hours, they are twice as likely to seal the booking.
Additional Considerations:
You can usually get a good idea of a pricing range for your home by checking out other Tampa area short-term rentals and hotels. Try to look at places similar to your home in size, amenities, and distance to the stadium. This will give you a rough estimate of what is normal for the area and then you can adjust the rates depending on perks you offer or lack.
If you have tickets to the game or want to attend the festivities too, you may consider renting out just one room of your house. Going this route would limit the amount you could charge, but you get to stay and enjoy Super Bowl weekend. Staying in town may be a good idea anyway because either you or someone you trust should be in the area during the Super Bowl in case of emergencies. It is also important to arrange for a housekeeper to clean up before and after your guests' stay. They may also be able to serve as your emergency contact if you decide to go out of town that weekend.
You may not own a home in Tampa, but that doesn't mean you can't get a piece of the Super Bowl pie. Even short-term rentals in the surrounding areas-- like St. Petersburg or Brandon-- will likely attract football fans. A word of caution: Don't forget to verify your local short-term rental restrictions and make sure you're playing by all the rules on game day. A little time and energy will garner trustworthy renters excited about football.
Anne Frugé is a staff writer for the HomeAway.com Owner Community, a great resource for vacation rental home owners featuring educational articles, vacation rental news, owner polls, monthly newsletters, and a weekly internet radio show by bestselling author Christine Karpinski. Or if you're looking for a vacation home to rent, browse Vacation Rentals on http://www.HomeAway.com.
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