It's hard to know where to list your vacation rental when you are first starting out, but it's actually quite simple. When you ask where to list your vacation rental, the best answer is everywhere. Exposure is key, if you want to list your rental and have it rented out. The more people that see you have a property for rent, the more people will inquire, and the better your chances are of snagging not just one renter, but renters for the entire season.

So where do I list my vacation rental?

The honest answer is anywhere that will accept the listing. Of course, paying large sums to list your vacation rental in an area that you aren't sure will be lucrative to you would be silly, but on the Internet on many sites if possible, in the newspapers in your area and the areas surrounding you, and in local magazines and those of the communities around you. The more exposure your listing gets, the better you'll do.

To determine how much to pay to list your vacation rental, think about how much just one booking is worth to you. For an Internet listing that costs $150 per year, you can generally recoup this investment with a single, 1-week booking, in terms of your profit. And additional bookings improve the return on investment.

It is important to track which forms of advertising result in the most bookings (not the most inquiries). After a year or so, keep the best and drop the rest as long as your place is booked as much as you want. That will result in the most efficient use of your advertising dollar.

What do I do before I list my vacation rental?

You need to write an outstanding ad. If you have a vacation rental, it's almost guaranteed that many people around you have them as well. You need to have an ad that will stand out amongst the others, so that potential renters are drawn to your ad and not the ads of your neighboring competitors. Be very descriptive, don't lie about your property, but flatter it. Use words that make the property sound as exquisite as it is. Really become a salesperson for your property. Describe the rooms, furnishings, and most importantly, any extra features. Using bold type, if possible, for the descriptive pieces will really catch the eye of potential readers and turn them onto your property.

What else do I need when I list my vacation rental?

Pictures! Browse around the Internet and vacation rental web sites and you'll see that most of the properties have pictures with them. If the property doesn't have a picture with it, look and see how long it's been listed, do you want to wait that long to have renters? Pictures really sell a rental property because it allows people to get a sneak preview of what they'll be staying in, and that gets them excited, and more willing to buy into your rental for a night, a week, or even a couple weeks. Pictures are worth a million words, they say, so look for a site that offers unlimited pictures. That way you can include as many as a renter might want of the interior, exterior and surrounding area. We've found that more pictures mean more inquiries.

What price do I use when I list my vacation rental?

Your best bet is to do some market research on this point. Browse around the Internet, even call other property owners that rent in your area, and see what they list their rentals for. Look at properties that compare to yours in size and amenities and perhaps price yours a little bit less. When you have a cheaper price by even fifty dollars, you are more likely to rent out your property for the entire season. So, while it may seem like a loss of money to offer it for less, you actually make more money because it's occupied more.

As you can see, when you list your vacation rental, it's a straightforward process that will require just a bit of your time. Leave your rental ads up all year long if possible; remember more exposure is always better.