There are two main questions people normally have when they plan to rent their vacation home. The first thing is who do I rent to? The second is how much do I charge them? It seems obvious that no one is going to pay an unfair amount for anything they wish to purchase. If your rental cost is so high that a person cannot enjoy your vacation then obviously they will be renting from someone else.

So let’s tackle the first question on the list. Who should you rent to? You want someone that is honest and trustworthy. You want someone you can trust with your home because it is your home. It’s also your investment and you want to know that it will be safe in the hands of others. The best thing you can do is consider what you want out of your renter. You want someone responsible so you must be responsible as well.

Some things you could consider may be:

• An age limit
• A credit check
• A deposit
• References
• A contract
• A list of rules and expectations that must be upheld

None of these things are asking too much. In fact you have every right in the world to say who and who cannot rent your home. If you don’t want a bunch of college kids renting your home because you have had bad experiences then that is your right. However, whenever you rule someone out you exclude business of all types. It may be wise to have a stricter application process for certain people as opposed to others but don’t exclude a whole class based on a few choice individuals because there are careless individuals in every bunch.

You may be aware of the fair housing act but that covers discrimination about races, handicaps of all kinds, and similar things. Age is not included in this. If a family wishes to rent from you then you cannot exclude them on the basis that they are a family – however if someone 18 wants to rent your home on his own you can say no to this. The same goes for someone 25, 40, or 102. Age restrictions are up to you. However, for anything other than age it would be wise to check with your local agencies for up to date laws in that area as they are different depending on the state and area you are in.

Now when it comes to pricing chances are different people will recommend different things. It all comes down to two main factors, your competitive pricing and being honest. Never try and hide your pricing. For starters it will be the first thing a person looks for. If your prices are not in their budget there is no point in them falling in love with your home.

The prices that you display are going to effect how many people decide to contact you. Consider doing some homework in this area by speaking with local real estate agents and by doing some homework of your own. Check Yahoo for the area of your vacation home and look at other rentals. What are there prices? Are they popular? If they do well and are for similar homes as yours then go a few dollars cheaper or more expensive permitting your home is better. Use the best pictures you have and a well written description that makes them visualize the sheer comfort and beauty of your home and you will have no problem getting renters in your home left and right.