Blue Ridge is slowly becoming one of the tourist hotspots in northern Georgia, with nearly 8,000 visitors checking into our downtown visitors center last year.
If you're a Blue Ridge homeowner, it's time to take notice of this newfound tourist interest. People love coming to Blue Ridge for the amazing scenery, hiking, and peaceful atmosphere. You could benefit from this interest by renting out your home to visitors.
In today's post, we'll give you some home sharing tips. Knowing how to rent out your home to vacationers can help you establish a lucrative vacation rental in the area. Keep reading and you'll know exactly what you need to do to get started.
Follow Local Laws
Before you list your property, read up on local laws. In Blue Ridge, you need a license to operate a short-term rental and the property must be zoned for commercial use. You'll also have to remain cognizant of the extra taxes you'll need to pay as a rental owner.
Marketing Your Home
When you're starting as a short-term rental owner, you need to put more resources into marketing the home. There are going to be far more established rentals available with more ratings. These are the ones people will look to first if you don't have a marketing plan in place.
To generate interest in your home, you need a great rental listing. Take plenty of professional-quality real estate photos of the unit and write a detailed description of the property, as well as the surrounding area. The more descriptive you are, the easier it'll be to attract new guests.
When you have a great listing, post it on the vacation rental platforms of your choosing. If need be, you can implement digital marketing tactics, like SEO and paid social media ads to put the listing in front of as many vacationers as possible.
Pricing the Rental
Pricing the rental can be tricky. If you're a less established property owner, you need to price the unit competitively to stand out. You also need to think about seasonal pricing.
Research prices by looking at other property listings in Blue Ridge. Set your prices a little bit lower than other rentals and utilize a sliding scale. When it's busier, bring the rental prices up, and in the slower months, bring it back down.
The Guest Experience
Once you get guests into your rental, it's your job to make sure they're having the best possible time.
Your guests should know that you're available to answer any questions or concerns, but you shouldn't be present. While they're renting your property, they should feel as though it's their private residence.
When happy guests leave, encourage them to leave positive reviews. Having lots of good reviews will help you secure future bookings without investing too much more in marketing.
Home Sharing Tips From Property Managers
These are just a few home sharing tips to get you started as a short-term rental owner. The more successful you are with vacation properties, the busier you'll become. At a certain point, you may need to hire property management.
PMI North GA Mountains is Blue Ridge's top short-term rental management service, offering help with everything from property marketing to guest services. Contact us today to learn how we can help your vacation rental thrive.
