Managing your rental calendar ensures a smooth experience for you and your guests. Properly organizing your bookings and preventing double bookings is essential, especially when using an online vacation rental platform.
Blocking Out Dates
Start by blocking out dates when your property isn’t available to avoid confusion and potential issues with guests. Block out dates for maintenance, personal use, or any other unavailability. This will ensure your guests view only the accurate available dates when booking.
Synching Your Rental Calendars
Sync your rental calendars from different platforms like Lake, Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and your direct bookings. This prevents double bookings and ensures that your property’s availability is up-to-date across all channels. You can use channel manager software like Hostaway, OwnerRez, or Hostify to do this effectively.
Knowing Your Guests
Keep track of your guests and their bookings by using built-in tools on Lake or external property management software. This will help you manage check-ins, check-outs, and any specific requirements your guests might have. You can also use these tools to handle any necessary communication with guests.
Don’t forget to:
- Ensure your prices and booking rules are accurate on all channels.
- Regularly review and update your availability and pricing, especially during high-demand seasons or special events.
- Work closely with a management company if you choose to hire one, as they can help manage your calendar more effectively and assist you with any issues.
By following these calendar management tips, you’ll create a seamless booking process that encourages returning guests and ultimately makes hosting on an online vacation rental platform more enjoyable and profitable.