Updated July 2024
Looking to extend your booking season beyond the high summer season? If priced appropriately and marketed well, your home can provide you with some additional revenue with very little added effort.
The word is out!
Most of us who own homes on the Cape and Islands are very aware of what an ideal time of year fall is to be here: the crowds and traffic have finally diminished, the water is still warm, and the air is cool and dry at night and often sunny and mild during the day.
But as attractive as the fall might be, families with school-age children can’t take advantage of the opportunity of a fall vacation, which results in an increase in inventory and a decrease in demand.
Tips to market your home for fall rentals
- Add information to your listing to promote the advantages of visiting in the fall (and spring). Modify your property description, temporarily change the title, and add some pictures of fall events, for example. (Just be sure to remember to restore them to summer-appropriate renting after the fall booking season ends). Read more about Marketing Your Home for Fall Rentals.
- If your minimum stay requirement is currently 7 nights, consider shortening it to 2 or 3 nights – but charge enough on a nightly basis to make the shorter stays worthwhile to you.
- Small homes rent more easily during the off season than large ones, so if you have a large home, shut off some of the bedrooms, or simply advertise it as a smaller home.
- Suggest a Fall Getaway, a Girls Weekend, or a Guys Fishing Trip – reminding vacationers of the warm, sunny days and cool nights, diminished crowds at beaches and restaurants, warm waters, and lower rates.
- Appeal to wedding guests. There are many spring and fall weddings on the Cape and Islands, so you might suggest your home as a more affordable alternative to hotels and inns. Offer flexible arrival and departure days to accommodate their schedule.
Appeal to golfers. The Cape and Islands abound with public courses, especially in the off season. Offer a gift certificate to one near you for a round of golf. Include a picture of the nearest public golf course.- Appeal to kayakers and bicycle enthusiasts. It’s such a great time of year for both. Are there launching spots for kayaks near you? Find out where your guests can rent kayaks and if they can be delivered. How far is the nearest bike path?
- Promote local activities and events. Check our Events Calendar to find fishing tournaments, flower shows, road races, harvest festivals, seafood fests, and craft shows near your home.
- Offer a gift certificate to a local restaurant or tickets to a whale watch.
Boosting your fall marketing efforts
A couple of features on our site will help your listing stand out from others and entice vacationers:
- Set up a free Owner Special promoting either a specific price reduction or an incentive of some kind (like a gift certificate or an extra night free).
- As soon as the available weeks are within the next month, boost your free Owner Special with a Last-minute Availability Alert.
I allow dogs off season and I have multiple bookings every month of the year. 90% of my fall bookings have dogs. There have been two very minor problems over five years of doing this, both were easily remediated by the security deposit and no big deal, I have had more problems than that with humans. I have realized that the math works way in favor of allowing dogs, especially off season when you usually have time to do extra vacuuming of the furniture, etc. I have experienced more and more fall and spring bookings, every year there are more than the last. I also believe in leaving everything accessible to the renters, I do not lock up one thing in the house or cellar. If they need a sewing kit, there is one available. So for wedding groups and such they always like that. I also provide all household products, cosmetic items you would expect in a hotel, and great linens – with restrictions on baggage weight these days they can’t bring much anyway. In five years of renting I haven’t missed one fork, so “more is better” works for me!
Those are some smart practices you have there, Martha! I like your observations about pets being ideal for the off-season – how you are able to expand your market and extend your booking season while still taking care of your home fully between rentals. And it sounds like your guests get the royal treatment and that it’s paying off for you! Isn’t it wonderful when guests appreciate all we do? Best, Shannon
Great tips! Now is the time for vacation rental owners to start thinking about adapting marketing efforts to attract guests in fall.
I like your idea of offering a gift certificate for a local restaurant, partnering with local businesses is in an excellent way to increase booking chances. It is importnat to partner with businesses that are complentative to your vacation rental so that both businesses will benefit. We wrote an article on the different ways you can partner with local businesses to boost bookings here: http://kigo.net/blog/five-ways-to-partner-with-local-businesses-to-boost-bookings.html Good luck!
Another great reference article, Chloe. Thank you!
Fall rentals tend to be more of a last minute thing – especially for long weekends. We seem very slow this year for the fall – especially since we had a very strong summer season.
I wish I could figure out how to target the people I view as the primary potential tenants for off-season – couples who are not on a school schedule – families with small kids or empty-nesters, and gay couples, who may be less likely to have kids. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I might advertise, in addition, of course, to We Need? I’m thinking more of the flyers in a pediatrician’s office sort of thing…..
The wedding guest pool is a likely audience. Has anyone tried the wedding planners? I’ve thought of sending them cards or a discount. Thanks.
I have ‘owned’ my listing title for many years. If I change the title for Fall attraction, what if someone else uses my original title? Hummm…I guess while I’m asking- can two properties have the exact same tile?