Our thanks to everyone who has submitted their ideas, suggestions, questions, and advice. We hope we have captured everyone's input in compiling this list of FAQ's. Please continue with the correspondence, your feedback is invaluable.
Q: Your website looks terrific, but how do you plan to draw traffic to this site and improve your search engine success?
A: After launching more than a year ago, ChautauquaRentalsbyOwner.com can consistently be found in the top 5 on Yahoo. To that end, we continue to monitor the best websites to post our link so that our search engine success improves even more. Currently, we can be found on such websites as www.newyorkvisitorsnetwork.com and www.chautco.com.
Q: Why should I list my property with you instead of with a large "by owner" website?
A: There are many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons to list with us is advertising. Large vacation rental "by owner" websites typically do not advertise, even though you often pay more to list with them. However, your dollar works twice as hard when you list with us because when you advertise on our website, we in turn pay to advertise our website in other places. This year we have placed an ad in the 2007 Chautauqua County Travel Guide, and as our database of rental property grows, we will again lauch classified ads in parts of NY, OH, and PA because we know that Chautauqua Lake is a popular destination for people from these areas.
Q: Even though I pay alot in commission, the rental agency manages my property because I live miles away from it. How can I manage my own property?
A: Manage your own property by hiring a maintenance contractor, professional housekeeping, and lawn/garden care on your own. If you have a telephone at your property, then you should also have a current telephone directory where you can find any of the these services, and usually at a fraction of the cost charged by rental agencies. Therefore, by managing your own property, not only do you eliminate paying high commissions, but you also save money by hiring your own property management services. By contacting us, we can offer some assistance with your search, should you need it.
Q: What about handling things like keys to the property, or writing rental contracts?
A: One of the best ways to handle keys is to hang a lock box on the door of your rental unit. Combination lock boxes work well because you can provide your renter with the combination before they check in. It also helps to have emergency keys stashed somewhere else, or with a neighbor, or with your maintenance contractor. For more tips on managing your own property, check out the book How to Rent Vacation Properties By Owner by Christine Hrib Karpinski. Included in her book is a sample rental contract that you can use to customize for your own use. Also included are tips on writing reservation confirmation letters, security deposit return letters, and other forms. Once you create this documentation, all you need to do is change the name and rental dates every time you take a reservation.
Q: What about sales tax?
A: We suggest that you check with the NY State Sales Tax office to determine if sales tax needs to by collected for your particular property. You can go to tax.state.ny.us/ for sales tax forms and information. In general, you only need to collect sales tax on short term vacation rentals of less than seven days for privately owned "bungalow" type rental homes or cottages. No sales tax is required for stays of 7 or more nights for such aforementioned rental units. However, Chautauqua County does require that you collect a 3% occupancy tax on ALL vacation rentals. Forms and information can be obtained at the Chautauqua County Finance Dept. at 3 N. Erie St., Mayville, NY 14757; phone (716)753-4223.
Q: How do I add my property to ChautauquaRentalsbyOwner.com?
A: Click on the link "Add/Edit your property" and follow the instructions. Listings will only be processed after payment has been received. Obviously, if you are paying by check or money order, your listing will be processed after your check/money order has been received and cleared.
Q: When will my listing appear on ChautauquaRentalsbyOwner.com?
A: Your listing will generally appear within 24-48 hours after payment and photos have been received. We may process your listing before we have your photos, should you decide to include photos at all.
Q: Can I edit my lisiting at a later time?
A: You may edit any portion of the text at any time after you have created your listing. This may be done as often as you'd like, and at no additional charge, using the Add/Edit Your Property link. Simply Copy the text from your listing, and Paste it into the desired field of the Add/Edit link. Revise the text as desired and hit Send, it is that simple. Please note that text revisions may take up to 24 hours to show up on your listing. IMPORTANT: YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THE ADD/EDIT LINK TO ADD OR REPLACE PHOTOS AT A LATER TIME. Simply send us an email at CustomerCare@ChautauquaRentalsByOwner.com that you would like to add or replace photos, and send us your photos by one of the methods described below.
Q: How many photos do I get to put on my web page listing?
A: Your listing includes up to 4 photos on your listing at no extra cost. You may add up to 4 additional photos, at the cost of $10 per photo, for a total of 8 photos. To pay for additional photos, simply click on "Add/Edit Your Property", click the method of payment, and follow the instructions.
Q: Can I add additional photos at a later time?
A: You may add up to 4 additional photos to your lisitng at any time at the rate of $10 per photo. However, all photos added after your listing is created will expire when your listing expires. For example, if you create a listing in January, and add 2 photos in March, these 2 added photos will expire when your listing expires the following January. If you renew your listing the following year, all additional photos will need to be renewed as well.
Q: Can I replace any of my photos after I create my listing?
A: You may replace any photos at any time after you create your listing. However, any changes made will be charged at $10 per photo, even if you are replacing one of your 4 original photos included in the listing price, unless such photo replacement is being done at the time of your yearly renewal.
Q: How do I send photos to be included on my listing?
A: After you create your listing using the Add/Edit Your Property link, you may email us your photos at CustomerCare@chautauquarentalsbyowner.com. Jpeg formats are preferred. Photos may also be sent via mail on a CD picture disc. We also accept original glossy photos (see address below):
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding sending your photographs. NO MATTER HOW PHOTOS ARE SENT, PLEASE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LABELED IN SOME FASHION WITH THE VACATION PROPERTY ADDRESS!
Q: Can you return my photo CD or glossy photos when you are done with them?
A: If you include a self addressed stamped envelope, we will return any photo CD's or negatives that you send us. Pleae make sure that your return envelope includes the proper amount of postage. We will not be responsible for any return mail that is undelivered because it lacks the proper amount of postage.
Q: Can I include a link to my personal website that provides more info. about my rental property from the listing that I create on chautauquarentalsbyowner.com?
You do have the option to create a link to your individual website if you create a listing with us. We understand the importance of providing the option to include such links for vacation property owners who list with us. You will find a spot to identify your link when filling out our online form after clicking "Add/Edit Your Property".
Q: How does the availability calendar work?
A: If you are interested in an availability calendar for your property, you can go to Rentors.org and sign up for their free calendar program. Then email the url to us and we will add it to your web page. Please make sure that you change [your property id here] with your unique property id. number.
http://www.rentors.org/calendar.aspx?propertyid=[your property id here]
Q: Do you accept Credit Card payment?
A: Yes we accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover. Please go to the add/edit page and click "Pay by Credit Card".
Q: Do you have a phone number where we can contact you?
A: At this time we do not have a contact phone number available for incoming calls. For questions or comments, please contact us by email. Should you need to speak to someone directly, you may email us with a phone number where we can reach you and the best time to call. Thank you.
