VACATION RENTAL SERVICES
· A vacation rental management contract is a one-year minimum renewing annually after the initial one-year period.
Healdsburg Property Management will:
· Advertise on the Internet (included in $200 setup fee are multiple sites other than HPM) free of charge on HPM site --www.sonomacountyvacations.com.
· Aggressively campaign on the internet using keyword and click through campaigns, national web sites, call handling tracking, and software analytics.
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Develop the brochures, which include:
A Brochure is placed in sales office for clients and walk-in customers and placement with various public agencies including but not limited to Chamber of Commerce, Wineries, County Tourism, etc.
· Handle Occupant check in
· Handle Occupant check out
· Perform Inventory summation annually and “fantastic five” each check out.
· Coordinate Maintenance calls as necessary
· Cleaning arrangements for occupancy turnover
- Handle miscellaneous guest services requests including shopping, specific needs, handling packages, et cetera
· Lock down property upon check out – windows, doors, lights, heating, a/c, etc.
· Facilitate laundry program
· Occupancy tax reporting to Sonoma County (11% County) -- fee collected in addition to rent amount—not paid for by owner)—N/A with 30+ days stay
· Provide welcome binder, welcome packet and welcome card , gift bag, hand made soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion program
· Collection of Rent, security deposits, and any remaining contract papers, including release of liability by each adult overnight guest
· Income and Expense statements to owner monthly with year-to-date summation
· 1099 to owner at year end
· 1099’s to vendors at year’s end
· Affiliate with and join Chamber of Commerces in Sonoma County and other professional trade organizations for the mutual benefit of the property owner and Healdsburg Property Management, including meetings, participation on boards, et cetera
Vacation rental owners, ask yourself
When considering a vacation rental company, or whether to do it yourself, consider:
* Meeting people will be fun in the beginning, styling my home, bringing flowers, greeting people and all that, but what happens when the midnight call comes? Do I really want to get out of bed and let the guest back in that locked themselves out, or can't plunge a toilet, or doesn't think you've done a good enough job cleaning?
* Back to back reservations often occur in the summer -- what if you're not available on turnaround? Are you sure the cleaner will prepare the home like you want it?
* What laws affect me?
* How do I develop a program of vendor loyalty so that they will respond to me as quickly as a large company who refers multiple properties to them?
* Do I need a permit/license? (Healdsburg Property Management takes care of it)
* What about occupancy tax? Who pays it? (Healdsburg Property Management takes care of it)
ASK THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY:
1. How long have you been in business?
2. How many properties in your portfolio?
3. Where do guests check in -- At a home office or at the residence, or at a professional office with staff available during all business hours? (Remember that guests often like to check in at a business to give them comfort and assurance there is someone there for them 24/7.)
4. What are your goals in growing? (You may love a small company, but perhaps they want to get 100, 200 or 300 homes, which will then lose the personal touch you loved so much!)
5. What is their program like? Besides fees and charges, how do they make themselves unique? What is their niche? There's a lot more to a marketing and promotional program than just who does it the cheapest and how will quote you the highest nightly price. Can they really deliver?
6. If the company or agent is more than 20 minutes from your home, ask 'how will you respond promptly to guest requests?" [It's generally not possible -- the guest will be left waiting, or the vendor is out of the area and can't get there for hours.]
7. How much staff do they have in the office? Is my property assigned so that a back up person is always available?
8. Are their phones answered during business hours or does your call go to voice mail? When do you get a return call? Within minutes? Within hours? Within days?
9. How does the company keep up on education? What classes or conferences do they attent? How do they participate in their industry?
10. What kind of organizations do they belong to that promotes tourism and vacation rentals?
11. Ask for a sample of their agreement.
12. Ask for an accounting statement.
13. Ask them if they have online reservations and after hours service. How are those weekend and night calls handled? Do they let the call go to voice mail? Almost no one will leave a message, you've just lost that customer.
14. Ask when checks are cut, and if they have a bookkeeper, or do they do it themselves? (when it gets busy, there can be lots of delays)
15. Ask how they fit a person to your home, what are questions they would ask?
Healdsburg Property Mgmt. Business Description
* Vacation Rentals * Property Management
Owned and operated by Pamela Taeuffer, she has lived in SonomaCounty since 1975, and worked in management since 1988. The Taeuffer Family has been in Healdsburg for over 100 years. Her husband, Claude was born in Healdsburg and attended Healdsburg Schools and works in the field, showing property, performing maintenance and checking for move in quality. Her son Aaron graduated from HealdsburgHigh School and is now attending real estate and hospitality classes, as well as working in the family business as vacation rental manager. Her grandson Dustin is the property manager assistant handling the long term apartments and housing side of the business.
Pam is a member of several prestigious organizations including The National Association of Residential Property Managers (and past-president of her local chapter), Northern California Rental Housing Association (with significant representation in Sacramento), the Sonoma County Lodging Association, and the National Vacation Rental Managers Association. These organizations provide continuing education and legislative updates for the industry. In addition, Healdsburg Property Management is a member of the Healdsburg, and Santa Rosa Chambers of Commerce.
Healdsburg Property Management regularly donates to Healdsburg High School, Easter Seals, March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club, the Animal Shelter and other local organizations.
Healdsburg Property Management does property placement/ management and vacation rental management full time. We do not handle sales -- only rentals -- ensuring you have our full attention and knowledge which specifically targets the property management industry. HPM has a staff of five, is open 6 days a week during season, has 24 hr emergency phone access for our existing customers/guests/tenants, and has many independent contractor service professionals such as housekeepers, gardeners, interior designers which are a part of our team.
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