With experience hosting over 30 million guests and managing nearly 40,000 vacation properties, we’ve seen how profitable a well-managed second home can be.
In this guide, our revenue and analytics experts share proven strategies to help you boost your rental earnings — whether you’ve been renting out your cozy getaway for years or are just beginning your journey into vacation home ownership.
Getting Started
1. Choose the Right Vacation Property
If you’re still in the process of buying a vacation home, take time to research before making your investment. Based on our experience, successful rental owners usually focus on a few key factors:
- Location: Homes situated close to popular attractions—such as beaches, mountains, theme parks, or city centers—tend to attract more bookings and deliver higher returns.
- Year-Round Demand: Select an area that remains appealing throughout the year. Destinations with pleasant weather or diverse seasonal activities—like Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, or the Gulf Coast—are strong performers in every season.
- Property Size: Generally, the more bedrooms and bathrooms your home offers, the higher the nightly rate you can command.
- Amenities: Features like pools, hot tubs, fireplaces, or outdoor firepits often encourage guests to pay more and book longer stays.
- Local Laws: Always review city, county, or HOA (Homeowner Association) rules about short-term rentals. Some locations have guest limits or parking restrictions, while others prohibit short-term stays entirely. Staying compliant helps you build a positive reputation and ensures your property operates legally.
2. Design and Furnish with Purpose
A well-designed home doesn’t just impress your guests—it helps you earn more. A welcoming, photogenic space can lead to better reviews and even free promotion when guests share their experiences online.
Here’s how to make your space stand out:
- Reflect Local Vibes: Incorporate décor that celebrates the local culture or environment.
- Stick to a Theme: Use a cohesive color palette and design style throughout your property for a polished, inviting look.
- Invest in Quality: Avoid flimsy or cheap furniture. Durable, high-quality pieces last longer and make a better impression.
- Fresh Bedding: Start with crisp white sheets and add personality through colorful or patterned pillows and throws.
- Prioritize Key Items: Spend more on furniture guests use often—like sofas, beds, and coffee tables—and save on less-used pieces like TV stands.
3. Optimize Your Property Listing
Your online listing is your first impression—make it count. High-quality visuals and a clear description can significantly impact your booking rate.
- Hire a Professional Photographer: Stunning, well-lit photos are essential. Ensure spaces look tidy and welcoming—hide cords, open curtains, and fluff pillows to showcase the best angles.
- Add a Virtual Tour: Allow guests to explore your home before booking. Virtual walkthroughs can increase trust and boost reservations.
- Craft a Clear Description: Keep your property description short, accurate, and easy to scan. Highlight what makes your home special without overwhelming potential guests with too much text.
See what goes into the perfect vacation rental listing >
4. Upgrade Your Vacation Home Amenities
Certain amenities consistently attract more guests—and more income. Here are two upgrades that can make a noticeable difference:
- Make It Pet-Friendly: Travelers love bringing their furry companions along. Data shows that listings marked as “pet-friendly” are roughly 14% more likely to get booked than those that aren’t.
- Install a Hot Tub: Especially popular in mountain cabins or cooler regions, a hot tub can boost your property’s appeal and raise your earnings by 15–20%. Guests love the experience, and with proper maintenance support, it’s an easy win for your rental.
5. Set Smart, Flexible Rates
Gone are the days of fixed nightly prices. Modern vacation rental success depends on dynamic pricing—rates that shift with market demand, events, and seasonality.
Here’s how a data-driven pricing approach works:
- Smart Algorithms: Advanced systems analyze billions of data points to recommend the most competitive nightly rate.
- Automatic Adjustments: Prices are fine-tuned throughout the day based on local demand, ensuring your property stays competitively priced—never too high or too low.
- Local Market Insight: Technology works best when combined with human expertise. Local revenue specialists track trends like weather changes or event schedules and make real-time rate adjustments to keep bookings strong.
If you’re managing pricing yourself, be prepared to monitor your market frequently and update rates regularly to stay competitive.
6. Keep Your Booking Calendar Flexible
Your calendar directly affects how often—and how profitably—your home gets booked. To make the most of it, keep these strategies in mind:
- Avoid Long Minimum Stays: While setting long stay requirements might seem profitable, it often deters guests. For example, if you require a five-night stay during a holiday weekend when most travelers only want three nights, your listing might not even appear in their search results—leading to lost revenue.
- Adjust Minimum Rates Seasonally: A high minimum nightly rate (like $400) might work in peak season but discourage bookings in slower months. Adapting your pricing during off-seasons or shoulder periods helps keep your property consistently occupied and boosts your total yearly income.
7. Market Your Vacation Rental Effectively
If you’re handling marketing yourself, choosing the right listing platforms is the first big step. Each property performs differently depending on its location and audience, so selecting the right mix of websites is crucial.
Partnering with professionals can give your property a stronger online presence and boost your earnings by reaching a wider audience. Here’s how expert marketers typically do it:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Using relevant keywords and metadata ensures your property ranks well in online searches, increasing visibility.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Paid ads appear at the top of search results when travelers look for specific destinations or property types.
- Display Campaigns: Eye-catching banner ads help keep your vacation home visible to travelers browsing the web.
- Social Media Ads: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram showcase your property through beautiful visuals targeted to potential guests in your area.
- Organic Social Reach: Share high-quality photos and engaging posts on social media to attract organic attention and build your property’s following.
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💡 Pro Tip: A well-marketed vacation rental doesn’t just fill the calendar—it builds a lasting reputation for your home.
8. Focus on Great Guest Reviews
Positive reviews are the backbone of any successful vacation rental business. They help future guests trust your property and encourage repeat bookings.
Here’s how to keep your reviews glowing:
- Be Honest: Describe your home accurately in your listings—no surprises means happy guests.
- Keep It Spotless: Cleanliness plays a huge role in guest satisfaction. A pristine property is more likely to earn five stars.
- Add Thoughtful Touches: Small gestures like complimentary snacks, local guidebooks, or personalized notes can leave a lasting impression and earn rave reviews.
9. Turn Negative Feedback Into Opportunity
Bad reviews aren’t the end—they’re a chance to improve. How you handle them shows professionalism and care.
- Learn and Adapt: Pay attention to recurring feedback and make small upgrades regularly.
- Respond Professionally: A polite and solution-focused reply builds credibility and can even convince disappointed guests to give your property another try.
- Show Commitment: When potential guests see that you take action based on feedback, it builds trust and confidence in booking your home.
10. Consider a Vacation Rental Management Partner
Managing every detail of your rental can be time-consuming—but you don’t have to do it all alone. A full-service vacation rental management company can handle day-to-day operations while you enjoy the income.
Here’s what a professional management service typically provides:
- Local property managers, cleaning staff, and maintenance experts
- 24/7 guest support and booking assistance
- Data-driven pricing to maximize earnings
- High-quality marketing and professional photography
- 3D virtual tours for better guest engagement
- Listings on top travel platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo
- Help with taxes, permits, and regulatory requirements
- Emergency support and property readiness for natural events
With the right tools and a reliable management team, your vacation home can become a steady and rewarding source of income—without feeling like a second job.
