Making Money with VRBO

Course details

Boost your income by renting out a spare room—or transitioning a second home to a short-term rental—with HomeAway's VRBO. This detailed course will help new hosts succeed on VRBO, the rental site with more than 1 million listings worldwide.

Christopher Matthew Spencer, a successful VRBO host, first acquaints viewers with VRBO and the requirements—both in terms of mindset and property—needed to venture into the VRBO world. Then you'll learn how to prep a property, stock it with amenities that will garner 5-star reviews, and craft an attention-getting listing that covers everything from the listing headline to property descriptions and guides. The course also explores how to manage guest interactions, deal with housekeeping and maintenance, and promote listings outside of VRBO. Start watching to learn how you can profit from this great sharing economy platform.

Learning objectives
Evaluating whether VRBO is right for you
Writing about and photographing the property
Establishing a price for your VRBO rental
Planning for ongoing maintenance
Preparing the kitchen, bedroom(s), and other spaces
Stocking your rental with amenities
Scouting the competition
Managing guest interactions, including check-in and checkout
Working with guest feedback
Promoting your VRBO rental

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching this course
03 - Using the exercise files

1. An Overview of VRBO

04 - The different types of spaces you can rent
05 - How to evaluate VRBO as a business opportunity
06 - Determining your readiness for VRBO

2. Preparing Your Property

07 - General considerations and tips
08 - Clearing personal items out of the space
09 - Planning for ongoing maintenance and wear and tear
10 - Making your rental guest-friendly
11 - Kitchen tips
12 - Living room tips
13 - Bedroom tips
14 - Bathroom tips
15 - Themed spaces
16 - Converting a closet into a housekeeping pantry
17 - Lighting considerations

3. Amenities

18 - Amenities that tantalize
19 - Stocking the kitchen
20 - Evaluating and buying textiles
21 - Using decor as an amenity
22 - Entertainment amenities
23 - Keeping everything up to date
24 - Small touches that improve guest experience
25 - Preparing a house manual

4. Ready, Set, Go Getting Up and Running on VRBO

26 - Getting registered
27 - Scouting your competition
28 - The listing headline
29 - Developing the property summary
30 - Photography
31 - Banking setup and getting paid
32 - Establishing prices
33 - Completing the property description details
34 - Determining reasonable check-in and check-out policies
35 - Safety, trust, and setting up your profile

5. Service Is Your Brand - Managing Guest Interactions

36 - Managing booking requests
37 - Course corrections when managing guests
38 - Communication prior to guest arrival
39 - Guest arrival protocol
40 - Reaching out during the stay
41 - Managing checkout

6. Housekeeping and Maintenance

42 - Hiring and managing housekeepers
43 - Handling maintenance and damage

7. Working with Guest Feedback

44 - Coping with an unhappy guest
45 - Reviews
46 - Post-stay followup

8. Tips for Success

47 - Setting up a domain to promote your VRBO listing
48 - Promoting your VRBO rental
49 - Making more money through staycations

Conclusion

50 - Next steps