by Paris Achen | Nov 17, 2022 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Nuisance Prevention, Property Care, Responsible Renting, Safety
Can vacation rentals have surveillance cameras? This is a frequently asked question that plagues the minds of hosts who want to protect their property and guests who want to protect their privacy. The answer is more than a simple yes or no, and the decision whether to...
by Paris Achen | Aug 31, 2022 | Accessibility, Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Property Care, Responsible Renting, Rules and Regulations, Safety
This article is now available inside the Rent Responsibly Network! Join or log in now to get the answers to: Am I legally required to allow service dogs in my vacation rental? What are the service animal policies on Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms? What exactly is a...
by Paris Achen | Aug 17, 2022 | Hosting and Management, Responsible Renting, Sustainability
All man-made development is inextricably a part of our natural world, and short-term rentals are no exception. Many short-term rentals even provide lodging for visitors to some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes, pristine protected wilderness, and...
by Paris Achen | Aug 15, 2022 | Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Safety
When Victoria O’Connell’s London home was robbed and vandalized by a guest who had booked her home through a popular vacation rental platform in 2017, she was understandably terrified. “I got a call at three in the morning from the police and the counselor [at law]...
by Paris Achen | Jun 9, 2022 | Hosting and Management, Marketing, Property Care, Responsible Renting, Sustainability
Making your short-term rental more eco-friendly is not only a contribution to the future of our planet; it’s a responsible hosting practice that gives your business more credibility and appeals to guests. About 71% of global travelers said they want to travel more...
by Paris Achen | Feb 18, 2022 | Accessibility, Hosting and Management, Property Care, Responsible Renting, Safety
Making your short-term rental more accessible isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. Small changes – that cost $100 or less – can literally open your doors to a whole new pool of potential guests. Increasing the accessibility of your home isn’t just the right thing to...
by Paris Achen | Feb 12, 2022 | Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Property Care, Responsible Renting
For Lorraine Woodward, the barrier to taking a family vacation was finding a wheelchair accessible vacation rental. “I remember a trip to New York City,” Lorraine Woodward said. “The boys each were in their scooters, and I was in my wheelchair, and we were crossing...
by Alexa Nota | Jan 7, 2022 | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Marketing, Responsible Renting, Safety
Today, LGBTQ+ travel platform FabStayz announced the opening of pre-registration for its upcoming FabUniversity, an education and certification program for vacation rental operators to make their properties and hosting practices safe, inclusive, and welcoming to...
by Paris Achen | Dec 24, 2021 | Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, News, Rent Responsibly News, Responsible Renting, STR Advocacy 101
Covid-19 vaccinations ushered in a year of travel rebounds and burgeoning growth in the number of stays at short-term rentals in 2021. With the industry’s unparalleled boom, came regulatory disputes on how to best manage the growth in certain jurisdictions, such as...
by Paris Achen | Aug 3, 2021 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Nuisance Prevention, Responsible Renting
Setting house rules is crucial to responsibly operating any vacation rental. Effectively communicating those rules holds equal importance but requires a little more social finesse. How do you come across as hospitable even as you tell your guests what they may and may...