| Business owners are constantly searching for new | | | | moments notice. |
| ways to earn a higher return on their business | | | | - Do be prepared to pay a refundable cash |
| investment. The smart vacation rental owner | | | | security deposit. |
| does this and more by utilizing a property in all | | | | Barter |
| ways to maximize value and profit. | | | | Like any owner of a business, the vacation rental |
| House Swap | | | | owner must decide which aspects of their |
| This new and fast-growing trend in travel | | | | business they can perform themselves and which |
| accommodations is an excellent form of gaining | | | | aspects are worth outsourcing. Vacation home |
| more value from a vacation rental property, or | | | | owners with skills in technical services like web |
| even from an often un-used second home. | | | | and blog design have excellent barter |
| Homeowners and vacation rental owners can | | | | opportunities. By offering to create a personal |
| connect around the world using an online home | | | | web presence for other owners in exchange for |
| swapping directory. Similar to a vacation rental | | | | time in their vacation rental home provides a |
| directory, users search for other homes with | | | | cost-effective business solution along with |
| which to swap and can create a listing by which | | | | establishing solid and long-lasting relationships. |
| others can search for them. A successful match | | | | Making the best of a barter: |
| occurs when two homeowners agree to | | | | - Do advertise your services and your wish to |
| exchange houses for a specific amount of time | | | | barter for vacation accommodations via online |
| and over a specific set of consecutive days. | | | | classified ad sites like Craigslist and Kajiji. |
| Making the best of a house swap: | | | | - Do post your wish to barter services for |
| - Do search a variety of home exchange | | | | accommodations at vacation owner forums and |
| websites and options, including online classified ad | | | | community message boards. |
| sites like Craigslist and Kajiji. | | | | - Do share the fact that you are a vacation rental |
| - Don't sign up with a site or service until verifying | | | | owner yourself and whether you are also open to |
| that the website and its inventory of | | | | "home swap" (see above). |
| exchangeable homes meet your accommodation | | | | - Do treat the barter in the same manner you |
| requirements and that the owners are aligned | | | | would any other rental transaction. One example |
| with your own business model and practices. | | | | is to prepare a tailored "Barter Agreement" similar |
| - Do treat the swap in the same manner you | | | | to a Rental Agreement. Replace the payment |
| would any other rental transaction. This means | | | | section with "Services Provided in Liu of |
| signing a contract or Rental Agreement, providing | | | | Payment". Be specific in detailing exactly what |
| policies and check-in and check-out procedures, | | | | services will be provided. |
| plus being certain someone is available to attend | | | | - Do be prepared to pay a refundable cash |
| to maintenance issues or what have you at a | | | | security deposit. |