| The Internet has proven to be a natural tool for | | | | simply provide referrals and the rental arrangements |
| potential real estate buyers. You can check out homes | | | | are negotiated between property owner and |
| now through MLS listings that provide multiple | | | | vacationing tenant. |
| photographs, room sizes, heating and cooling features, | | | | An example of such a listed rental property is Moose |
| landscaping and more. Gone are the days of getting in | | | | Back Lodge, which maintains listing on HomeAway and |
| a car and driving to home after home with a real | | | | other major rental sites, as well as its own website: |
| estate agent who is guessing at your tastes. | | | | Many owners maintain their own websites in addition |
| The same is proving true with vacation rentals. | | | | to securing listings on rental directory sites, allowing |
| Resorts have long marketed their facilities online, but | | | | them to provide a kind of online "business card" for the |
| the use of the web for individual seasonal rentals is | | | | propriety that isn't tied to a particular directory's |
| just hitting its stride. It has proven to be sufficiently | | | | formatting. Direct, owner operated websites provide |
| successful that venture capital has entered the arena | | | | opportunities to allow the personality of the property to |
| and a number of homegrown websites for vacation | | | | show through in the design and information presented |
| rentals are being acquired and consolidated. | | | | on the site, as well as the ability to better control the |
| The biggest player in the consolidation market thus far | | | | content. |
| is HomeAway, a two year old company that is | | | | There are also real estate agencies that provide |
| backed by $160 million in VC dollars and has engaged | | | | regional rentals in popular vacation areas. States like |
| in a number of acquisitions, quickly building critical mass | | | | Maine, North Carolina, Florida and many others will |
| in the online seasonal rental business. Homeaway's | | | | have realty companies that handle vacation rentals as |
| most recent and biggest purchase has been VRBO, or | | | | a sideline - managing properties for absentee landlords. |
| Vacation Rental By Owner. | | | | These websites usually have excellent photo and text |
| VRBO claims 60,000 individual listings and more than | | | | descriptions of their properties, along with a calendar of |
| 20 million site visits per year. Other acquisitions that | | | | available dates. In many of these cases, rental |
| created the HomeAway business structure include in | | | | arrangements are made through the agent. |
| the United Kingdom and FeWo-direkt.de in Germany. | | | | Then there are facilities in tourist areas that handle their |
| These and other properties give HomeAway a | | | | own marketing. These include major and minor resorts |
| catalogue of 60,000 rentals in 90 countries. In two | | | | and B&Bs. Often a small facility such as a B&B will link |
| years, they have grown very quickly. | | | | to a regional B&B marketing web site or a local |
| Vacation Home Rentals remains a web presence with | | | | chamber of commerce. There are also large |
| over 14,000 listings, principally in the sun-n-fun states of | | | | developments built around recreational facilities such as |
| California, Arizona, Hawaii and Florida. Vacation Rentals | | | | lakes or skiing facilities that handle seasonal rentals for |
| also remains a strong web presence, with a hefty | | | | the people who buy the condos and houses built as |
| investment in search engine marketing. Their home | | | | part of the development. |
| page lists virtually every state and several continents | | | | Planned developments in recreational areas are often |
| with countries listed beneath them. | | | | second homes for their owners, but also income |
| On all of these sites, seasonal rental property owners | | | | properties. In the larger ones, the developer will often |
| pay a fee to list their property and post photographs, | | | | have a permanent office for both sales and seasonal |
| floor plans, fees, etc. On HomeAway, the cost is $300 | | | | rentals. In these cases also, the rental agency acts as |
| to list your property for one year. There is no charge | | | | property manager and handles both rentals and |
| to customers who wish to rent. Generally, the sites | | | | maintenance for the owners. |