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by Gerry MacPherson
Vacation Rental Resolutions is the practical vacation rental management podcast for current and aspiring owners who want more bookings, stronger profits, happier guests and less day-to-day stress.Hosted by hospitality professional Gerry MacPherson, each episode answers a real question vacation rental owners face when starting, managing and growing their properties.You'll discover practical strategies for vacation rental management, Airbnb hosting, pricing, revenue management, direct bookings, vacation rental marketing, guest communication, cleaning and turnovers, maintenance, reviews, technology, AI, systems and profitability.Whether you're managing an established vacation rental, preparing to launch your first property, or looking for ways to improve your existing business, Vacation Rental Resolutions gives you straightforward ideas you can adapt and put to work.No unnecessary jargon. No get-rich-quick promises. Just practical hospitality advice designed to help independent vacati
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Vacation rental upsells work best when they answer a question a guest was already going to ask. Perhaps they want to arrive early, leave later or make their stay a little easier. But an extra charge only helps your business if you can explain it clearly, deliver it reliably and cover the time it takes.In this episode, Gerry MacPherson looks at the simplest places to find extra revenue within an existing booking. You’ll hear why early check-in can be a thoughtful free gesture on one day and a sensible paid option on another. You’ll also see how a late checkout can disrupt cleaning and the next arrival if you offer it without checking the calendar first.The practical starting point is your own guest messages. Look for requests that come up repeatedly, then choose one possible offer to test. Gerry walks through the guest’s need, your delivery rule, the real cost, and the price and wording guests will see. Before you put that offer in front of everyone, ask one final question: would you still be glad to sell it if five guests requested it next week? The aim is extra income that fits the way you want to run your rental.Four key takeaways• Start with requests your guests already make. • Offer early check-in only when the property can be ready. • Check the cleaning schedule before promising late checkout. • Test whether an offer still works when several guests accept it.One action to take: Read your recent guest messages and write down the request that appears most often. Decide whether you could meet it consistently.Free resource: The Welcome SOP Starter Pack includes guest-arrival guidance and scripts for late checkout and add-ons, helping you make a clear offer without writing every message from scratch. Get the resource here: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/free-resourses Direct download page: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/welcome-sop-starter-packThis week’s Revenue Opportunity Checklist is available through Vacation Rental Resolutions on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/vacationrentalresolutionsListen next• How to Build Your First Vacation Rental Pricing System in Under an Hour — set the nightly-rate foundation before adding optional extras: https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/episodes/how-to-build-your-first-vacation-rental-pricing-system-in-under-an-hour-132• How to Turn First-Time Guests Into Loyal Guests — explore how a good stay can lead to repeat bookings: https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/episodes/how-to-turn-first-time-guests-into-loyal-guests-134Find more episodes at https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/Explore Vacation Rental Resolutions and its toolkits:https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/
Vacation rental seasonal pricing can feel like a guessing game. Your summer weekends fill, an autumn event surprises you, and a quiet Tuesday sits open. Should you raise the rate, lower it, or wait? Charging one price all year overlooks the dates guests value most. Changing prices whenever you see an empty night can leave you wondering whether a booking was worth taking.In this episode, Gerry MacPherson walks you through a simpler way to plan your rates. You’ll learn how to spot the demand patterns that belong to your property, including local events and differences between weekdays and weekends. Gerry also explains why cleaning, laundry, and other turnover costs matter when you judge a low-priced booking. A full calendar is useful only when the bookings make sense for your business.The practical fix is a seasonal pricing calendar. Start with a baseline rate, group your dates into high, regular, and quiet demand, and mark the events that need special attention. Then review your booking pace and make changes you can explain. You don’t need a perfect price for every night today. You need a clear starting plan and a manageable way to improve it.Four key takeaways• Your property’s busy dates may not follow the weather seasons. • Local events and booking pace can reveal pricing opportunities. • Consider turnover costs before discounting an empty night. • A baseline rate and three demand groups give you a practical starting point.One action to take today: Open your calendar for the next 90 days. Mark one date likely to book, one uncertain date, and one difficult date. Write down whether the current rate fits each one.Free resource: The Vacation Rental Pricing Calculator helps you work through your base rate and seasonal pricing decisions. Get the resource here: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/free-resourses Direct calculator link: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/vacation-rental-pricing-calculatorThis week’s Seasonal Pricing Calendar is available to Vacation Rental Resolutions Patreon members: https://www.patreon.com/cw/vacationrentalresolutionsKeep listening: How to Understand Vacation Rental Seasonality Without Overcomplicating It: https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/episodes/how-to-understand-vacation-rental-seasonality-without-overcomplicating-it-131 How to Build Your First Vacation Rental Pricing System in Under an Hour: https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/episodes/how-to-build-your-first-vacation-rental-pricing-system-in-under-an-hour-132Explore the podcast: https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/ Visit Vacation Rental Resolutions and browse the toolkit
Your vacation rental pricing strategy can start to feel shaky after one empty weekend or one booking that arrives faster than expected. Should you lower your rate? Have you been charging too little? In this episode, Gerry MacPherson explains why neither event gives you the full answer — and how to make a calmer pricing decision.You’ll look at what a guest is actually comparing. A nearby rental may have a lower nightly rate but fewer amenities, a different location, or a higher total price once fees are included. Gerry also uses a simple revenue example to show why more booked nights do not always mean more accommodation revenue. The aim is to find a rate that makes sense to a suitable guest and works for your business after the costs of hosting.You’ll leave with four practical checks: the guest’s total price, a fair set of comparable rentals, your booking pace, and what remains after a stay. Together, they can help you spot signs that a rate may be too high, too low, or about right — without treating a single booking as a verdict.Four key takeawaysCompare the total price a guest pays, not just the nightly rate.Choose rentals that genuinely offer a similar stay.Look for booking patterns rather than reacting to one date.Check the money left after the costs of hosting.One practical action: Pick one upcoming set of dates and run those four checks before changing its price.Free resource: The 7-Day Vacation Rental Jumpstart helps you put pricing into a steadier routine alongside the other basics of running your rental. Get the resource here: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/free-resourses Direct Jumpstart link: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/the-7-day-vacation-rental-jumpstart-pdf-downloadFor this week’s Pricing Confidence Worksheet, visit Vacation Rental Resolutions on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/vacationrentalresolutionsListen next:How Guessing Your Vacation Rental Pricing Is Costing You Bookings (and What to Do Instead): https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/episodes/how-guessing-your-vacation-rental-pricing-is-costing-you-bookings-and-what-to-do-instead-128How Can Avoid the Pitfalls of Vacation Rental Pricing?: https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/episodes/how-can-avoid-the-pitfalls-of-vacation-rental-pricing-031Find more episodes at https://vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm/ and explore the free resources and paid toolkits
Practical vacation rental management advice for independent owners. Airbnb Automation: 5 Systems That Save Hosts Hours Without Losing HospitalityWhat if you could spend less time managing your vacation rental and actually have more time to be a better host?In this week's episode of Vacation Rental Resolutions, Gerry MacPherson looks at Airbnb automation, vacation rental systems, and guest experience to answer one important question:What systems save the most time without reducing hospitality?Because there's a big difference between automating your business and automating your personality.What You'll LearnVacation rental owners can lose hours every week to small repetitive jobs.Sending check-in information.Updating calendars.Coordinating cleaners.Following up on maintenance.Checking whether jobs have been completed.Answering the same Wi-Fi question for what feels like the 400th time.None of these tasks seems enormous.Together, they can take over your day.In this solo episode, Gerry explains how to move repetitive work out of your head and into simple systems, while protecting the human moments that make guests feel genuinely welcome.You'll discover five areas worth systemising first:• Guest communication triggers • Booking and calendar synchronisation • Turnover workflows • Maintenance reporting • A Daily Operations DashboardYou'll also hear the rule that ties the entire episode together:Automate information. Never automate empathy.Your Wi-Fi instructions don't require emotional intelligence.An upset guest does.That's the difference.The aim isn't to create a vacation rental that runs like a machine.It's to create one where the machine-like jobs don't consume the human being running it.This Episode Is For You If…You own or manage a vacation rental and feel as though you're constantly checking messages, calendars, cleaning schedules, maintenance jobs, and guest requests.It's also for aspiring vacation rental owners who want to build good operating habits before their business becomes a collection of spreadsheets, WhatsApp messages, sticky notes, and things they swear they'll remember later.If you care deeply about guest experience but worry that automation will make your hospitality feel impersonal, this episode will help you draw the line between what should be systemised and what should remain human.ABOUT VACATION RENTAL RESOLUTIONS Vacation Rental Resolutions is the practical podcast for current and aspiring vacation rental owners who want more bookings, stronger profits, happier guests and less day-to-day stress. Hosted by hospitality professional Gerry MacPherson, each episode shares straightforward advice on vacation rental management, pricing, direct bookings, marketing, guest experience and operations. Follow the podcast for practical ideas to help you build a better vacation rental business — without the chaos. FOLLOW THE PODCAST Follow Vacation Rental Resolutions in your favourite podcast app so you don't miss the next practical B&B management episode. And if you know another b&b owner who could use this episode, please share it with them. MORE PRACTICAL HOTEL HELP Visit Vacation Rental Resolutions for practical resources for current and aspiring vacation rental owners: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/ NEXT EPISODE Next episode, we'll talk about Pricing with Confidence and tackle one of the questions that can make even experienced vacation rental owners stare suspiciously at their booking calendar:How do I know if my prices are too high, too low, or just right?CHAPTERS
Practical vacation rental management advice for independent owners. Vacation Rental SOPs: The 5 Systems Every Host NeedsCould your vacation rental run properly for three days without you?If the answer involves your cleaner calling about towels, a guest asking for the door code, and somebody desperately trying to remember which plumber actually answers the phone, this episode is for you.This week, we're talking about vacation rental SOPs — Standard Operating Procedures — and the five systems that can make the biggest difference to an independent hospitality business.Vacation rental owners often carry a remarkable amount of operational knowledge in their heads.Cleaning standards.Guest messages.Access codes.Maintenance contacts.Check-in procedures.What happens if the heating stops at 10:00 at night.It works — until you're unavailable, hire someone, add another property, or simply become tired of being the human instruction manual.That's where SOPs earn their keep.In this solo episode, Gerry MacPherson explains how simple, practical operating procedures can help you create greater consistency without stripping away the personal hospitality that makes an independent vacation rental special.You'll discover why the first SOPs you create should protect the parts of your operation where mistakes have the greatest impact.We'll cover:Turnover and housekeepingGuest communicationArrival and departureMaintenance and issue escalationGuest recoveryYou'll also learn a straightforward way to create your first SOP.Start with the trigger.Decide who owns the task.Define the standard.Create an escalation path for things that go wrong.Then test the procedure with somebody who didn't write it.Because if your team keeps asking the same question, the answer shouldn't have to live permanently in your head.Your vacation rental should remember it for you.The bigger lesson?Systemise the predictable. Personalise the meaningful.Your systems should take care of repeatable work so you have more time and attention for the moments where genuine hospitality matters.That idea fits the challenges vacation rental owners regularly face: balancing personal guest experiences with the practical demands of bookings, turnovers, maintenance, communication, and growth. It also reflects the operating approach in Gerry's vacation-rental resources, which emphasise building a profitable business that runs smoothly instead of leaving the owner juggling tasks at all hours.ABOUT VACATION RENTAL RESOLUTIONS Vacation Rental Resolutions is the practical podcast for current and aspiring vacation rental owners who want more bookings, stronger profits, happier guests and less day-to-day stress. Hosted by hospitality professional Gerry MacPherson, each episode shares straightforward advice on vacation rental management, pricing, direct bookings, marketing, guest experience and operations. Follow the podcast for practical ideas to help you build a better vacation rental business — without the chaos. FOLLOW THE PODCAST Follow Vacation Rental Resolutions in your favourite podcast app so you don't miss the next practical B&B management episode. And if you know another b&b owner who could use this episode, please share it with them. MORE PRACTICAL HOTEL HELP Visit Vacation Rental Resolutions for practical resources for current and aspiring vacation rental owners: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/ NEXT EPISODE Next episode, we'll tackle Saving Time Through Systems and answer:What systems save the most time without reducing hospitality?CHAPTERS
Join us for free on Patreon.https://www.patreon.com/cw/VacationRentalResolutions(Members have full access to all weekly downloads)Practical vacation rental management advice for independent owners. Vacation Rental Maintenance Checklist: Prevent Guest Complaints & Costly Repairs What if you could catch your next guest complaint before your guest ever sees the problem? A simple vacation rental maintenance checklist can help you spot small faults before they turn into emergency repairs, unhappy guests, lost income, and those messages beginning with, “Hi. Sorry to bother you, but…” In this episode of Vacation Rental Resolutions, Gerry MacPherson looks at preventive maintenance from a vacation rental owner's point of view. Because preventive maintenance isn't really about fixing things. It's about finding small problems while you still control when, how, and how much you'll pay to fix them. What You'll Learn If you're constantly reacting to leaking taps, temperamental appliances, slow drains, troublesome locks, heating problems, or last-minute maintenance calls, this episode will help you create a calmer approach. Gerry explains: Why small faults become big guest complaintsHow cleaners can become an early-warning systemWhy vacation rental properties need regular inspectionsHow to create a four-part maintenance rhythmWhat to check between guest staysHow monthly checks catch hidden deteriorationWhy seasonal preparation mattersWhen professional servicing belongs on your calendarHow to organise every task around a date, owner, and recordWhy inspecting the guest journey can reveal problems a room-by-room checklist missesYou'll also learn why good preventive maintenance is largely invisible.The guest opens the door.The Wi-Fi connects.The shower works.The room feels comfortable.The coffee machine makes coffee.Nobody talks about maintenance because there's nothing to talk about.That's the goal. The Simple Maintenance Rhythm Instead of trying to remember one enormous maintenance list, organise your property around four checkpoints: TURNOVER → MONTHLY → SEASONAL → ANNUAL During turnovers, look for changes.Monthly, inspect the systems guests rely on.Seasonally, prepare before weather and demand change.Annually, schedule the professional servicing and larger inspections your property requires.You don't need to become a plumber, electrician, HVAC technician, and appliance engineer.You need a system that gets the right person there before you need them at midnight. ABOUT VACATION RENTAL RESOLUTIONS Vacation Rental Resolutions is the practical podcast for current and aspiring vacation rental owners who want more bookings, stronger profits, happier guests and less day-to-day stress. Hosted by hospitality professional Gerry MacPherson, each episode shares straightforward advice on vacation rental management, pricing, direct bookings, marketing, guest experience and operations. Follow the podcast for practical ideas to help you build a better vacation rental business — without the chaos. FOLLOW THE PODCAST Follow Vacation Rental Resolutions in your favourite podcast app so you don't miss the next practical B&B management episode. And if you know another b&b owner who could use this episode, please share it with them. MORE PRACTICAL HOTEL HELP Visit Vacation Rental Resolutions for practical resources for current and aspiring vacation rental owners: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/ NEXT EPISODE We'll talk about Standard Operating Procedures. Which SOPs create the biggest impact in an independent hospitality business? CHAPTERS
Practical vacation rental management advice for independent owners. Gerry walks you through a practical approach to building a housekeeping system your team can actually follow. You'll discover why clear standards beat memory, how reference photographs can show cleaners exactly what “finished” looks like, and the five questions every effective housekeeping process needs to answer. You'll also learn how to perform Gerry's simple five-minute guest-eye walkthrough. Instead of inspecting the property as its owner, you enter as if you're the guest who has just paid to stay there. What do you see? What do you smell? Does the entrance feel welcoming? Does the bedroom match the listing? Are the lamps working? Is the fridge ready? Then sit on the sofa. You'd be amazed what changes when you look at your rental from the guest's height. Apparently, biscuits under coffee tables are particularly fond of this blind spot. The aim isn't to create a gigantic checklist. It's to create a repeatable standard. One that helps your housekeeping team know what good looks like and gives you confidence that the property is ready without personally inspecting every turnover. That's particularly relevant for vacation rental owners trying to balance operational efficiency with the personal guest experience that makes an independent property memorable. Who Is This Episode For? This episode is for new and experienced vacation rental owners, Airbnb and short-term rental hosts, independent property managers, and anyone responsible for cleaning and turnovers. It's especially useful if you: Constantly chase cleaners for updatesWorry about missed turnover tasksPersonally inspect every cleaningStruggle with inconsistent housekeepingWant better guest reviewsNeed to delegate without lowering your standardsWant to grow without turning hosting into a 24-hour jobThat last point sits at the heart of Gerry's vacation rental approach: use practical systems to streamline repetitive operations while protecting the human touches guests value. YOUR NEXT STEP Download the Annual Maintenance Planner. It can be found for members on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/cw/VacationRentalResolutionsABOUT VACATION RENTAL RESOLUTIONSVacation Rental Resolutions is the practical podcast for current and aspiring vacation rental owners who want more bookings, stronger profits, happier guests and less day-to-day stress. Hosted by hospitality professional Gerry MacPherson, each episode shares straightforward advice on vacation rental management, pricing, direct bookings, marketing, guest experience and operations. Follow the podcast for practical ideas to help you build a better vacation rental business — without the chaos. FOLLOW THE PODCAST Follow Vacation Rental Resolutions in your favourite podcast app so you don't miss the next practical B&B management episode. And if you know another b&b owner who could use this episode, please share it with them. MORE PRACTICAL HOTEL HELP Visit Vacation Rental Resolutions for practical resources for current and aspiring vacation rental owners: https://vacationrentalresolutions.com/ NEXT EPISODE Gerry walks you through a practical approach to building a housekeeping system your team can actually follow. You'll discover why clear standards beat memory, how reference photographs can show cleaners exactly what “finished” looks like, and the five questions every effective housekeeping process needs to answer. CHAPTERS
Vacation Rental Guest Communication: How to Prevent Guest Complaints Vacation rental guest communication can prevent many complaints before a guest ever reaches your front door. A missing parking detail, unclear check-in instruction, unexpected 25-minute drive to the supermarket, or hard-to-find Wi-Fi password may seem small, but these gaps create uncertainty. And uncertainty can quickly become frustration. In this episode of Vacation Rental Resolutions, Gerry MacPherson explains why many guest complaints are really expectation problems. You'll hear how one vacation rental owner stopped a recurring complaint without changing anything about his property. He simply explained the experience more clearly before guests arrived. You'll also learn how recurring guest questions can expose weak spots in your communication system. Instead of repeatedly answering “Where do we park?” or “What's the Wi-Fi password?”, Gerry shows you how to ask a better question: what could you change so the next guest never needs to ask? The episode finishes with a simple four-question framework covering what guests need to know, when they need it, where they should find it, and how to make every message easier to understand. Four Key Takeaways 1. Expectations shape the guest experience. Guests compare the stay with the experience they imagined before arriving. 2. Repeated questions reveal communication gaps. If several guests ask the same thing, review the system before blaming the guest. 3. Timing matters as much as information. The right instruction delivered too early can be almost as unhelpful as no instruction. 4. Simpler communication works better. Short sentences, clear headings, photographs, and obvious locations reduce friction. One Practical Action Choose the guest question you answer most often. Then ask: What could I change today so the next guest doesn't need to ask it? Start there. One message. One photograph. One sign. One improvement. 📥 This Week's Free Resource The 7-Day Vacation Rental Jumpstart helps you strengthen guest communication, simplify your systems, and create a smoother five-star guest experience without adding unnecessary work. Get the free resource here You can also access the dedicated Jumpstart page here: Download The 7-Day Vacation Rental Jumpstart Keep Learning Visit the complete Vacation Rental Resolutions Podcast archive: Vacation Rental Resolutions on Transistor Two useful episodes to listen to next: Episode 135 What Guests Really Remember About Your Communication (Hint: It Isn't Your Property) Continue exploring how the way you communicate affects trust, confidence, and what guests remember about their stay. Episode 136 Before Guests Trust Your Property, They Need To Trust You A natural next step if you want to understand how communication builds confidence before the guest experience even begins. More Tools & Resources Explore practical Vacation Rental Resolutions toolkits, templates, guides, and resources for independent vacation rental owners: Visit Vacation Rental Resolutions Make sure to subscribe to Vacation Rental Resolutions so you don't miss the next weekly episode. The podcast feed describes Vacation Rental Resolutions as a weekly show built around concise, practical solutions for vacation rental owners, which makes those two communication-focused episodes particularly consistent follow-ons rather than generic recommendations. (vacationrentalresolutions.transistor.fm)
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Vacation Rental Resolutions is the practical vacation rental management podcast for current and aspiring owners who want more bookings, stronger profits, happier guests and less day-to-day stress.Hosted by hospitality professional Gerry MacPherson, each episode answers a real question vacation rental owners face when starting, managing and growing their properties.You'll discover practical strategies for vacation rental management, Airbnb hosting, pricing, revenue management, direct bookings, vacation rental marketing, guest communication, cleaning and turnovers, maintenance, reviews, technology, AI, systems and profitability.Whether you're managing an established vacation rental, preparing to launch your first property, or looking for ways to improve your existing business, Vacation Rental Resolutions gives you straightforward ideas you can adapt and put to work.No unnecessary jargon. No get-rich-quick promises. Just practical hospitality advice designed to help independent vacati
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