by admin | Aug 25, 2018 | Articles
Since this is an investment article, let’s start with some numbers: There are over 5 million Vacation Rental properties listed on both airbnb and booking.com, with HomeAway and TripAdvisor coming in at 2 million and 800,000 respectively. These numbers increase year-over-year, and even if you considered that there might be significant overlap (ie. all of the TripAdvisor properties listed on the other sites) you’re still looking at a huge amount of properties available for vacationing families and business travelers. As of December 2017, 35.6% of consumers booked directly from Vacation Rental property owners. This practice is however on the decline because consumers are finding it easier, more affordable and safer to book with the large listing site Vacation Rental providers. Among them, HomeAway had the biggest market share – an aspect attributed to the fact that it was the first to market. Over the last few years, Airbnb has had the biggest market growth. Although the market penetration of VR’s are still fairly low (2.3%), it is consistently on the rise and it is estimated to grow to 3.3% by the year 2020 where some industry experts expect them to overtake traditional hotels and accommodation. Another study done on VR’s showed that between 2011 and 2016, the year-on-year revenue growth in the VR industry averaged 3.6%. Studies have been done to find out why consumers are opting to stay in Vacation Rentals compared to hotels and traditional accommodation. 71% of consumers prefer VR’s because they present them with more space. 62% of consumers love the fact that VR’s usually have lower rates than hotels. 53% of...
by admin | Aug 23, 2018 | Articles
If you’ve done research on what draws potential renters to your vacation rental property, you already know that having the right photos is an important factor. Having a description that helps the person imagine themselves at your property, experiencing all the things that makes your home unique and special is equally important. When you’re listing your property for sale, many of the same rules apply, but there are also some key differences when the audience you’re attracting will have a much longer relationship with your property than a typical one to two week vacationer. Here are some key ideas about creating a description for your property sale page here on VRHFS.com Think of your description as a walkthrough of your property. If you were walking an interested investor through your home, what would you point out? What features or details would you highlight? What improvements or enhancements have you made to the house? What do your guests tell you are the most memorable or comfortable spots? Write it the way you would want to read it. Use short paragraphs to describe each key are of the home. If your property is a 3-bedroom condo or apartment, write a paragraph with one descriptive sentence per bedroom, then write a paragraph about the kitchen, another about the living area, another about the pool area, etc. If you already have a well-written description, use it! Did you hire someone to write the description for your rental listing? If not, you should consider it. A well-written description goes a long way – along with multiple, high-quality photos – to increasing interest in the...
by admin | Aug 21, 2018 | Articles
Are you planning a vacation – whether with the entire family or just yourself? If so, you might automatically consider staying in a big hotel or resort, right? It’s easy to think those are your only choices. But did you know that there is also another option that you can consider? That option is Vacation Rentals. In this article, let’s take a look at the appeal of each option in order to help you come to the best decision. Costs Whether you are traveling alone or with your family or a group, you will surely find that vacation rentals are a less expensive option – especially if you are on vacation for a couple of weeks. One of the reasons why vacation rentals are cheaper compared to hotels is that you can cook for yourself. In this way you are spared from the hefty price of hotel and restaurant foods, while still having the option to eat out. For a large group or large family, vacation rentals beat hotels hands-down as you can find properties with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms (spreading the cost of staying in the property over many people) and kitchens, which make eating in a real savings. Amenities Usually, vacation rentals offer a lot of amenities that are unique compared to most hotels out there. This is because vacation rentals are managed by folks who are “mom and pop” businesses rather than being a corporate-owned hotel. With that said, you can enjoy full kitchens, full bedrooms and full bathrooms with all the comforts of a home. Ambiance Do you want to be in the middle of...
by admin | Aug 14, 2018 | Articles
Are you planning to invest in overseas property? Like any property purchase, there are challenges that you need to be aware of and address in order to protect your investment, but these concerns are amplified if you purchase overseas property. With that being said, there are lots of factors that you need to consider before finally purchasing in real estate abroad. What’s your reason for buying real estate properties abroad? Obviously, this one of the most important considerations that you need to pay attention to if you are interested in investing in overseas property. Whether you are purchasing for your own personal use, or as an investment, or possibly both – if you use the property for your own vacations and at other times list it as a vacation rental – this can have a significant affect on your budget. You have to consider all the financial decisions in order to come up with a financial decision that makes sense for your life, and your estimated return on your investment. Financing and funding requirements. Securing financing may be a more challenging task since it entails international laws as well as local currency terms. As a stepping stone, you have to make sure that you obtain “Agreement in Principle” before you move forward with your purchase. Don’t forget about your tax liabilities as an investor. Taxes also vary with respect to diverse real estate markets. With that being said, each country adheres to its own tax rules and regulations. This may require you to pay several costs which include transfer fees, stamp duties as well as rental revenue tax. Apart...
by admin | Jul 27, 2018 | Articles
Whether you are a seasoned traveller or you are a newbie, going to places with the kids can be stressful. Because of this, family travel experts share their tips and advice. Pack light! You should only bring important items. Keep in mind that the more you bring, the heavier the bags are! Consider car rental services for child safety seats. Many vacation rentals and hotels that offer cribs or childproof rooms upon your request. Expect the Unexpected. Although bringing essential stuff is advisable, you should also anticipate unexpected possibilities. With that in mind, you can bring carry-on items such as wipes, diapers and other multi-purpose things. Remember your medication – and any needed for the kids. Consider entertainment. It is a good idea that you bring something that can entertain in case of delays. Bring kids toys, an iPad or small handheld game. If age appropriate, make sure that each child has his or her own backpack for toys. Remember to bring (or reserve) car seats. Don’t worry about costs of car seats on airline luggage checking. There are not charges for car seats. So, have durable and comfortable car seats for family travel. Get through security. Security screening can be one of the reasons of delayed travel especially if you are not completely prepared. Keep in mind that foods and baby formula, juices and breast milk with an amount more than the allowed amounts (check with your airline if you’re flying) will not be permitted. Save on your meal. Have time for breakfast where your kids split meals and eat free. This is one of the best ways...
