Guides for vacation home owners
Free, plain-English guides for owners of a second home, cabin, condo or villa who want rental income to cover the costs while keeping time for themselves.
Start here
Plan & Buy
Choose the right home and market, run the numbers, and understand the rules and taxes before you commit.
- Plan & BuyBuying a Vacation Home to Rent OutHow to pick a vacation rental market, check short-term rental rules, compare second-home, investment and DSCR loans, and run the numbers before you buy.
- Plan & BuyVacation Rental Pricing: Estimate Revenue and Set RatesLearn ADR, occupancy and RevPAR, estimate your vacation home's income with comps, find your break-even rate, and compare dynamic pricing tools.
- Plan & BuyVacation Rental Rules, Taxes and Insurance: U.S. BasicsBefore you rent your vacation home: STR permits, HOA rules, lodging taxes, the IRS 14-day rule, personal-use limits, and short-term rental insurance.
- Plan & BuyVacation Rental Tax Deductions: The BasicsIRS basics for vacation rental owners: Schedule E vs. C, 27.5-year depreciation, splitting costs with personal use, and the 7-day rule.
Set Up
Furnish, photograph, write and publish a listing guests click on.
- Set UpFurnishing and Setting Up a Vacation RentalA room-by-room checklist for furnishing a vacation rental: durable choices, the amenities guests search for most, and the safety gear to install.
- Set UpVacation Rental Photos That BookA room-by-room shot list, lighting tips, Airbnb's photo size guidance, and when to hire a pro photographer for your vacation rental listing.
- Set UpHow to Write a Vacation Rental Listing That RanksWhat Airbnb and Vrbo say affects search ranking, plus how to write a title, description and amenity list that helps guests choose your home.
- Set UpHow to List Your Vacation Home on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.comCompare Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com fees for 2026, decide where to list, and write a title and photo set that gets your vacation home booked.
Run
Calendars, cleaning, reviews, house rules, the tools that keep it all running, and whether to hire a manager or do it yourself.
- RunVacation Rental Calendar Strategy: Owner Weeks vs. Rental NightsBalance owner use and rental nights: minimum stays, gap and orphan nights, seasonal and event pricing, lead time, and which peak weeks to keep.
- RunVacation Rental Cleaning and TurnoversA turnover checklist, how to hire and pay cleaners, linen systems that save time, and how scheduling apps like Turno fit in.
- RunGetting 5-Star Vacation Rental ReviewsHow to earn 5-star vacation rental reviews: set honest expectations, smooth check-in, a great welcome guide, quick messages, and calm problem handling.
- RunHouse Rules, Deposits and DamageSet clear house rules, screen guests, and learn how Airbnb AirCover for Hosts and Vrbo damage deposits work before anything breaks.
- RunVacation Rental Software and Management: What You NeedCompare channel managers and PMS tools (Hostaway, Guesty, OwnerRez, Lodgify, Hospitable), smart locks, Turno, and what property managers charge.
- RunProperty Manager or Do It Yourself? Running Your Vacation RentalShould you hire a vacation rental manager or self-manage? Real fee ranges, hidden fees, contract traps, licensing, a cost example and a decision checklist.
Grow
Cut fees with direct bookings and fill the slow season.
- GrowDirect Bookings for Vacation RentalsHow to win direct bookings with your own website, repeat guests and email, plus how Vrbo's new rate-parity terms from Oct. 29, 2026 affect discounts.
- GrowOff-Season Strategy for Vacation RentalsFill slow months with mid-term rentals of 30+ days, traveling nurses and remote workers, smarter winter pricing, and a check of the tax and legal effects.
- GrowRent More Than the House: Cars, Golf Carts, Boats, Planes and Other ExtrasCan you earn from the car, golf cart, boat, ATV, garage or gear at your vacation home? Platforms, insurance, waivers, state rules and what to skip.
Special situations
Timeshares and other ownership types that don’t work like a house.