| iv id="body"> | | | | potential vacationers. |
| Make Money From Your Home! | | | | And of course there's always Craigslist. It's free, |
| No, this isn't a paper sign posted on the side of a | | | | it's accessible, and anyone can use it. If you |
| highway. I'm referring to a strategy for savvy | | | | connect with vacationers this way, you'll need to |
| homeowners to turn their home into extra | | | | set up your own payment method--PayPal or a |
| money, nice vacations, and new friends . As you | | | | simple check usually work just fine. |
| read, keep in mind that this is just one approach; | | | | Preparing for your vacationers: Declutter your |
| the key is to find what jibes with your | | | | space (a good practice anyway), and make your |
| personality, lifestyle, and your home. | | | | home as "livable" as possible. Put lighting where |
| You may know people who shun hotels when | | | | lighting is needed; be sure there's somewhere for |
| they travel. "We like to live like the locals," they | | | | vacationers to put their stuff. If you have any |
| say. People like this usually rent apartments in the | | | | priceless antiques or super personal items, put |
| cities they visit. They're able to cook at home, | | | | them away. Put your toiletries away. Put fresh |
| make tea at any hour, and enjoy a more | | | | sheets on the bed and clean towels in the |
| residential (and tipping-free!) experience. | | | | bathroom. |
| Well, what if your home was the vacation | | | | Yes, it's a bit more work, but remember that |
| apartment these travelers stayed in? | | | | you're getting paid to do it! Plus, paring down your |
| The concept is this: whenever you know you're | | | | belongings and keeping your home immaculate are |
| going to be out of town, simply make your | | | | good practices to get used to anyway. |
| apartment available to travelers who are seeking | | | | Customer service: You are effectively running a |
| a place to stay. You'll make money while you're | | | | business, and don't forget it. You must be |
| gone, and if you do a good job screening people | | | | responsive to vacationers' questions and requests, |
| and setting house rules, your place will be | | | | even if it means going out of your way for them. |
| undisturbed when you return. | | | | Do everything you can to make their stay an |
| How to find vacationers: There are a few classic | | | | enjoyable one. Not only do you want to amass |
| vacation rental sites like HomeAway. While these | | | | good reviews (if you're using one of the listing |
| sites have tons of great listings, the user | | | | sites I mentioned), but you don't want to be the |
| interface leaves much to be desired. Plus, you | | | | reason someone's vacation is ruined--that's bad |
| have to pay to post your home (but not to rent | | | | karma. |
| one), so it's not a cost effective proposition if you | | | | Final words of advice: It can be fun and exciting |
| only rent your home out on weekends here and | | | | to meet new people and accept vacationers into |
| there. | | | | your home. While you prepare your home for |
| New startup AirBnB is a great alternative. It is | | | | vacationers, don't forget to prepare the less |
| more community-based, with profiles of owners | | | | visible stuff, too. Be sure that your vacation rental |
| and vacationers. AirBnB has listings for anything | | | | does not violate any HOA or zoning laws in your |
| from couches to full vacation homes all over the | | | | area. Check your homeowner's insurance policy to |
| world. SecondPorch, a Facebook application, offers | | | | ensure you're covered should anything happen |
| a similar, community-based service which | | | | while guests are staying with you. And finally, |
| connects to your Facebook profile. Some people | | | | keep track of your income through this method |
| love being able to see the Facebook profiles of | | | | because it's taxable. |