Picture this. You can't wait to get away. You're looking for something quiet and private to get away from it all. You can't believe you found your perfect place and can't wait to book it. Your adrenalin is running and your impulse is telling you to book now. You quicky pick up the phone to call the owner and there is no answer, so you leave a message. You e-mail the owners hoping they will respond promptly, only you don't hear anything for a week.
During that time your sense of urgency to book a vacation has either diminished or gotten worse. If it's worse, you quickly get back online to find another vacation property. "Wow, this is great, I found the perfect place and was able to get a hold of the owner. I'm planning to leave in 2 weeks." You feel relieved finally.
Again, going back to real estate, there is a big sense of urgency to get the sale in writing while the hype is there. Time is of the essence. People can lose interest fast or will find another property if the other party is non-responsive.
Follow these tips to get the reservation and more bookings:
1. List more than one contact number and your preference of when it's easiest to reach you.
2. Make sure you check your e-mail and phone messages daily. Treat any inquiries you receive with urgency.
3. If you're unavailable, have a go to person to take the calls and e-mails.
4. Have all your rental information, availability, policies readily available to answer any questions.
5. It's reassuring to talk with the owner directly about a property, and not to mention, is a big selling point. Handling each inquiry with care and professionalism can make a great impression.
Because you offer a fast response time, you'll blow other competitors out of the water. This could mean more bookings for you. Why wouldn't anyone book with you when you're one of their top three choices and your the only person who responded promptly and professionally.