There are some things that never change when it comes to your vacation rental, however, managing and marketing it is isn't one of them. What you did last year to drive traffic to your property listing my not work again this year. And by not adapting some simple, new managing tactics, you might find that those guests aren’t writing the glowing guest reviews or returning to your home the following summer. The lodging tax definitely put an added wrinkle into the plans for many. In this episode, Elizabeth Weedon and Tyler Pyburn explain why it’s so important for your managing and marketing strategies to evolve.

It has been an interesting season as it relates to the lodging tax. Here is an update on how things went and how it could be changing in the future.

The vacation rental industry on the Cape and Islands have seen some interesting trends as of late. Jim Reese of WeNeedaVacation.com breaks them down.

Here at WeNeedaVacation.com, we have always thought of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard as a refuge. That's why we encourage others to Get Back here whenever they can. In recent years, we have felt the urge more and more not only to "get back," but to give back, so that these cherished places can be experienced not only by the present generation, but by countless generations to come. To that end, we've initiated a green program here at WeNeedaVacation.com where homeowners and vacationers concerned about the future of the Cape and Islands can take some achievable steps to lessen their impacts. Those steps include stocking homes with eco-friendly cleaning products and providing water filters and reusable grocery totes. To empower vacationers to find such homes, we are now including these amenities in our property listings.

It's easy to think that if something worked last year, its going to work again. But as we've seen time and time again, the vacation rental market changes about as much as the tides do on the Cape and Islands. However, one thing is for sure, there is more competition than ever and you have to continue to evolve as an owner.

It seems as if every other day there is a new story of either a homeowner or vacationer being scammed somehow. While there's no perfect solution, here are a few things you can do to help keep you home, listing, and money safe!

As most of you are aware, the new MA short-term rental tax for occupancy beginning on or after July 1, 2019, went into effect on January 1. Any contract you enter into with renters for this summer (7/1/19) and beyond must require the tax – unless the lease was signed prior to January 1, 2019. Here's what you need to know.

As you might know, the lodging tax has officially been passed. With it, comes some interesting things you need to know in regards to insurance. You'll need to review your insurance policy or contact your insurance agent to make sure you are adequately covered, including the new requirement of at least $1 million liability coverage. Unfortunately, if you are insured by the MA Fair Plan, it limits its coverage to only $½ million.

Not too sure about pricing for the upcoming year or what needs updating in your home? Becky Fischer explains the homeowner consultation process and breaks down the things she looks for and why it benefits a homeowner.

Whether your home is booked or not, there is a right way and a wrong way to respond to inquiries. In this podcast, Joan Talmadge and Tyler Pyburn discuss how quickly you should respond and the best way to do it,

Keeping track of your bookings can be a daunting challenge: recording the dates and rates of the booking, when deposits and leases are due, information about the guests, etc. And it’s critically important to get it right! That's why having a booking management software in place will help make your life 10X easier.