So with the property management company I would like to go for business cards. Of course there is so much buzz about Vistaprint. It has been around for a while and they have an agressive marketing strategy including free business cards for the cost of shipping, currently $7.50. I applied for the affiliate program so I could try it, test their system and make recommendations… Now it is wait and see how long it will take them to respond my application…

Most people looking to offer their property for vacation rental quickly realise that VRBO, Homeaway and VacaitionRentals.com are now all the same company. I guess they keep the website properties separate to keep the established traffic sources in place… after all the traffic is probably the main reason why the company bought the businesses…

Well it still seems worthwhile to promote my condo on VRBO.comas well as HomeAway so I will - I just wonder how many of HomeAway’s 85 million visitors are part of VRBO’s 80 million?

If you join now you can sign up for a 12-month listing at VRBO.com and get your 13th month free with code CJQ4 thru April 30th (new listings only)

So while I am readying my Panama City Beach condo for the coming summer rental season I thought I would try to place a few affiliate links on the page. Who knows? I may make a little “internet hosting money…” (sad isnt it that not so long ago the money would be refered to as ‘beer money!’) So I used the link to sign up and a friend who is going into the rental property management business also used the links to sign up for new accounts at HomeAway.com with code G307. (Expires April 30, 2010) ALthough this coupon code did not work for me??? It said it was already expired??? And of course the links did not track one click! Now impressions are tracking and the link is working so I know we are reaching the server…

So at this point I was really getting annoyed. Add to this the whole Mcafee virus (oops the unwanted files that inadvertently were installed…) I am now getting cranky and ready to toss this old computer!! Why cant it be as easy as they make it sound?

So 1 hour and 50 minutes on hold with Mcafee and no customer service rep but i did have lovely music with the quality of a scratchy, slightly off station radio! I got online to their tech support via chat online. ‘Tony John’ said he sent me a file via email and was looking for me to restart the computer and that would take care of the ‘unwanted files’. I am a little more skeptical and waited for the email to arrive before closing out the chat sesison. Thank goodness I did as the email i received was ERROR: According to our records, you have no registered McAfee products. The tech then took remote control of the computer and downloaded whatever to fix it and 30 mins later the computer issue was resolved. Note to self: NEVER let the tech off the hook until you are satisfied with the result…perhaps a restart in this situation would have made it difficult… but hang on to them while you can for as long as you can so that you dont have to get back in line!

So then I go back and look at the CJ report and the setting is only for a time period of ‘yesterday!’ Well…feeling a little chargrinned I set run a report for the current month and just like a magic… the stats come up that they have recorded all the clicks and impressions and even a commission! Amazing, just like it is supposed to work! I think it is just as easy as they make it sound…as with most computer issues, they are usually ‘user error!’

So I am deep into looking how to promote my 2 bedroom vacation property at Panama City Beach and have lots of decisions to mkae. HomeAway.com offers the following benefits:

You will receive a listing on three leading US sites: HomeAway, CyberRentals, and GreatRentals.com. These sites receive over 85 million visits a year combined.
A basic listing on 10 leading European sites: FeWo-Direkt (German), Holiday-Rentals (UK),HomeAway (Spain), HomeAway (Netherlands), HomeAway (Portugal), HomeAway.it ( Italy), HomeAway.dk ( Denmark), HomeAway.no (Norway). HomeAway.se (Sweden), HomeAway.fi (finland)
12 photo slots to showcase your property to travelers

Again, what is with the 85 million visitors? VRBO boasts 65 million (or 80 million depending on if you read the whole area) for their one site and now Homeaway states about the same figure for traffic over three sites…

And we all know it is the same parent company??? I guess it doesn’t matter how I get from here to there provided I rent the condo.

Second choice is HomeAway.com Save $25 on 12-month listings at HomeAway.com with code G307 if you get listed before April 30, 2010. So I lucked into that coupon…

I started a sign up and realised I needed way more info than I had! I actually had to look up the address, well if you have read any of my posts on geography you would know why! I know how to get there and that is usually enough. So last night I got a couple of pages into setting up the account listing to rent the condo but baulked at having to make up details to complete the account. I mean I want to rent it, but really, they wanted to know rental rates, amenities, seasonal rates, etc like it should cost more to sleep at some times of the year than others??? … just too many details for after midnight!

Today a lovely lady called me and offered me an incentive to complete my sign up - a book on promoting vacation rental properties… I don’t need something else to read…I need someone to complete all the answers for me! A photo or two would also be great! So evening number two and I have more information than i could care for but still not input into the account for listing! Maybe tomorrow…

So far I am impressed with their service…now VRBO…they are another story! Still have no response from them…

I consider the USA not the “lucky country” (that is Australia!) but the land of “choice”. There are so many companies offering to promote our 2 bedroom beach condo that i am not so sure where to start…perhaps i will try a couple of companies and see how they provide? They say “it takes money to make money!”

First choice is VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) because I have previously heard of them. Already I am concerned…one part of an ad says “Annual property listings for $279 at VRBO.com. Reach 80 million vacationers looking for your vacation home!” But further down it says “Annual property listings for $279 at VRBO.com. Reach 65 million vacationers looking for your vacation home!” I guess the missing 15 million went on vacation!!

So the epic journey to invest in a property on the beach has been such an amazing set of twists and turns! Will we buy? When will we buy? We initially signed a contract to purchase a beautiful 2 bedroom condo at Panama City Beach jsut a mile down the road from the new Pier Park. We had stars in our eyes and thought we had money in our pockets! Then we didn’t!

So we canceled our contract to purchase. Then we changed our minds again… who needs furniture anyway! So we have a fantastic time just enjoying the views, access to the beach amenities, indoor pool and tub in the winter…paradise! We planned to spend as much time enjoying our investment as possible - weekend stays for baseball tournaments, just a great family getaway! Who knew….

Flash forward 4 months and we are scrounging to get the condo ready for rental! We are moving from Florida to Texas! No more sleeping bags on the floor but new beautiful king size bed, lovely sleeper sofa, queen bed and bunks! Fresh paint, all new linens etc - wow - I loved being there before but now I never want to leave!! And all for others to enjoy…

So this is my journey into the vacation rental market! Dont want to do it, don’t want to leave and not sure about it all… Deep breath - Here goes!

Is software our helper or our dictator?

Its amazing what we take for granted! Because we have a flexible spending account through a Federal employer and the website is federal in name looking - but the clue should have been the “.com”. Once I established that they are a third party provider and NOT a federal agency, the willingness to help me out with informaiton was markedly cheerier!

I have been fighting with FSAFEDS.com for reimbursement off and on for the same amounts since October 2009. It is only March 22 2010 so I guess it is not as bad as it could be… But their argument is the same each time… you must provide this information in “THIS” format to qualify under the IRS guidelines… So I looked at the guidelines… http://www.irs.gov/publications/p969/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000204184 And of course there is no mention that the informaiton must be in THAT format, only that the information must be provided.

Three emails and two phone calls later, I finally get a customer service representative that understands my questions..

“Do you require that information in that format because it is the IRS Regulation and if so please provide the reference…?”

Me: ” No, i see your guidelines on your website, ….”
“Thanks, yes I see your rules on the claim form…”

What is the IRS regulation that requires you to demand that of me?

or please answer:

“Do you require the information in that format because that is the way your software is set up for data entry?”

Well, just so happens that finally she looked at the denied claims and saw that there was really no reason why the claims were not paid, and no reason why future claims should not be paid… and “We regret any inconvenience this may cause.”

At times like this, you have to love unlimited cell phone plans…..

Living in a small town you get the good with the bad, the small town feel, knowing the shop owners or at least the cashiers, people say hi in the street and let you know what your children are doing. but try and get a signature notorized after 5pm and you are all out of luck! The reliable UPS store, notary ill and not back until about Tuesday; Kellys supermarket, notary left at 5pm; Library, not allowed to notorize financial papers. So i headed to the Post Office and saw the FexEx truck pull out of the parking lot - so it is all over for tonight and the quest will begin again in the morning! This time I will begin my quest at the post office!

The Bus Ride

Two bowling teams, one of all Blondes and one of all Brunettes, charter a double-Decker bus for a weekend trip to Louisiana . The Brunette team rode on the bottom of the bus, and the Blonde team rode on the top level.

The Brunette team down below really whooped it up, having a great time, when one of them realized she hadn’t heard anything from the Blondes upstairs. She decided to go up and investigate.

When the Brunette reached the top, she found all the Blondes in fear, staring straight ahead at the road, clutching the seats in front of them with white knuckles. the brunette asked, “What the heck’s going on up here? We’re having a great time downstairs!”

One of the Blondes looked up at her, swallowed hard and whispered… “YEAH, BUT YOU’VE GOT A DRIVER!”

Smile, it will make your day go faster.

Author unknown as I received this as one of many emails…