Why VRBO.com?
Why Use VRBO.com?
Why use VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner) as a renter or a property owner? The answer is quite simple: The variety of choices, user-friendly searches with large photos and descriptions, along with increased revenue potential for property owners is making this "do it yourself" vacation rental portal a more attractive option for both renters and property owners alike.
It appears that renters like the format that the VRBO.com system offers. It’s sort of a “catch all” for a variety of different properties in all areas, shapes, sizes, and price ranges. People tend to be visual creatures, and like browsing through the wide variety of property choices displayed with the easy to use format on VRBO.com (property list results with large photo on the left, clear marketing title of the property, and price range).
The growing popularity of VRBO.com is becoming somewhat of the “Google” for vacation rentals. I’m finding that more and more clients, who are looking to buy property in Mammoth, tend to use VRBO to find a vacation rental when planning an upcoming trip. When I’ve asked clients in the past why they like VRBO vs. other traditional rental agencies in Mammoth, they explain that “it’s easy – they go to one place and can find any type of property they are looking for dealing directly with the property owner.” It becomes more of a personal experience, which people seem to prefer. Read More...
Currently, there are 1,289 available properties listed on VRBO.com in “Mammoth Lakes”, when not indicating a date range. The “Private Homes” rentals are usually the first ones to get booked during the busy times of the year/ski season. There is a huge demand for nightly rentals of homes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Presidents, and peak season winter weeks, and summer as well. Renters are willing to pay a premium to have a mountain retreat home they can rent and share with family and friends over the holidays. I usually begin getting several calls right before Thanksgiving from website visitors asking me if I have any clients who want to rent their home for the holidays or during ski season for a week or a few nights. There are only a handful of homes, which are zoned “resort”, and can legally be rented nightly. All other areas that are zoned “residential” do not legally allow for nightly rentals – only 30- days or longer. This is why you will see that the “private homes” in Mammoth Lakes on VRBO are mostly advertised as monthly rentals. The Crooked Pines subdivision on Lodestar Drive is zoned “resort” and these homes can be rented nightly, as well as the Graystone residences currently under construction, and Juniper Ridge ski in, ski out residential subdivision. There are a few others that are zoned “resort” however, the CC&Rs do not allow for nightly rentals, such as Starwood, Snowcreek Ranch, etc. This may change in the near future as the Town is currently debating whether to allow single family homes to be rented nightly. This would increase the much needed town revenues from the T.O.T. (Town occupancy tax or “bed tax”) generated. 
Townhomes and condos that have resort character/appeal to the Mammoth visitor will also be in high demand all year-round. Some of the buzz words, which renters are looking for first (when there is ample selection of properties available by booking far in advance) are: “Views, highly upgraded, high-speed Internet and WIFI, flat screens, Cable TV with movie channels, washer & dryer in unit, close to the Village at Mammoth, or walk to ski slopes.” As a property owner, it is imperative to get your condo “rental ready” in order to maximize your potential rental income. Taking high quality marketing photos, upgrading appliances to stainless steel, upgrading the kitchen and baths, flooring, adding flat screen TVs and, most importantly, having lightning-fast WIFI will all contribute to your property begin selected as a rental vs. the competition lacking in these areas. 
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