When you have a major attraction like the Golden Gate National Recreation Area almost on your doorstep, you have no shortage of people wanting to book vacation homes nearby. The trick is to get them to see past the competition so they book your accommodation first.
One way to highlight your San Francisco vacation rental is by listing it with one of the popular online travel agencies. After all, almost 70% of travelers make their bookings online nowadays.
These are the factors to consider when comparing vacation rental platforms.
Traffic and Listings
The sheer volume of daily visitors sets the major OTAs apart from all other travel websites. These booking platforms are well-known globally and are often the first port of call for travelers planning their trips.
Everyone wants their vacation property featured on these high-traffic booking websites. That means more competition for your listing to stand out against.
Airbnb is the best-known of all vacation listing websites. It attracts millions of visitors every month, but you'll have to compete with over 7 million other listings when you advertise your property on Airbnb.
Expedia and Booking.com are the next most visited websites. If you want to limit the competition for views, VRBO is your best bet, as this website lists only private houses and apartments.
Vacation Rental Platforms' Pricing Methods
One of the benefits of listing your property on a site with many other listings is that it's easier to compare prices.
Some of these online platforms also offer handy pricing tools. These make it easy to price your accommodation competitively and adjust your rates during quiet periods.
You have complete control over how much you charge for your rental properties. You can also add cleaning fees, pet fees, and deposits if preferred.
Costs and Commissions
Cost-effective advertising is a major part of every listing strategy, and vacation listing websites vary widely in how much you'll pay for their services. In most cases, you can list your property for free, but you pay a commission for every booking you receive.
Airbnb charges a 3% service fee for every booking; VRBO's charges run between 8% and 10% of your booking costs; and Booking.com's charges are sometimes as high as 25%.
Most other listing sites charge a commission of around 5% to 8% for every booking.
Host Protection
Airbnb stands out for its generous $1 million cover against any damage guests may cause to your property. VRBO offers $1 million in liability insurance for hosts.
None of the other vacation rental listing sites offer any protection beyond mandatory security deposits. Rental property owners must have insurance coverage for loss of income, liability, and damages to their property.
Making the Most of Vacation Rental Platforms
Listing your San Francisco short-term rental on these popular vacation rental platforms can only help you reduce vacancy rates. They're an affordable option and a great way to create visibility for your vacation rental property.
All you'll need to take care of is professional property photography and an appealing description of your rental home.
When you sign up with PMI SG Peninsula, we can assist you with all these aspects and also offer expert guidance on the best advertising platforms for your property.
Speak to us today about how we can help you maximize your San Francisco, CA, vacation rental property.
