VRMA Arrival > Property Services

Using Property Reviews to Improve Quality

By Shelia McCracken | 7/10/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: Now more than ever, our businesses are dictated by customer reviews, and those reviews help gauge your brand trustworthiness to the world. In the past, people only took the time to post a review if they had a negative experience, if for no other reason than to bash the business. In today’s world, consumers rely on both negative and positive reviews in almost everything they do, including renting specific properties at specific locations. In fact, research shows that nine out of 10 customers read online reviews before making a purchase.

Top 5 Guest Complaints About Housekeeping

By Dave Roberts | 7/10/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: For many vacation rental managers, the halfway point in the season starts generating several recurring themes of guest housekeeping complaints. In a survey of VRHP members, a top five list of those complaints was compiled. As you might suspect, the lines get blurred between housekeeping, property condition, and outside uncontrollable forces. While we tend to focus on the immediate concern and take corrective action, it is also important to determine if there are some preventable actions that can reduce the opportunities for reoccurrence with a future guest.

Hospitality Starts with Your Team

7/10/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: Peak season has a way of exposing every weakness in an operation. A maintenance issue delays a check-in, housekeepers are racing against the clock, guest messages pile up faster than they’re answered, and managers spend the day putting out fires, only to realize they’ve skipped lunch and haven’t spoken to their teams beyond assigning the next task. Stress is inevitable in vacation rentals. Burnout doesn’t have to be.

A Beginner’s Guide to Bed Bugs

By Betsy Taylor | 6/5/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: It is important to understand the life cycle of bed bugs and what steps you can take to eradicate them. There are seven stages of their life cycle, from egg to a full adult that can breed, which takes about five weeks. It takes two weeks to hatch, and at this point they begin to bite a host and feed on blood.

The Art of Vacation Rental Pool Maintenance

By Brian Butler | 6/5/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: The weather’s hot, your guests have arrived, and they’re looking forward to cooling off in the sparkling blue water of the pool. Does that instill in you confidence or anxiety? Hopefully you’re not flipping a coin at this juncture! The answer to that question lies in the surety of your pool maintenance program.

The Touch-Up Clean: A Simple Step That Can Prevent Guest Complaints

By VRMA Staff | 6/5/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: A property can be spotless when the cleaning team leaves and still feel less than guest-ready by the time the next arrival walks through the door.

How the Best Vacation Rental Operators Master the Chaos of Dispatch

By Hal Conick | 6/1/2026

At $200 to $800 in potential refunds for each missed turnover, the cost of getting dispatch wrong can be high. These vacation rental operators have figured out how to balance housekeeping, maintenance, operations, and inspections at scale, and they have some takeaways for the companies that haven't.

Are Your Teams Running on Empty? Managing Fatigue in Vacation Rentals

By Shelia McCracken | 5/11/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: Yawning on the job? Feeling tired? The answer is probably “yes.” In the vacation rental industry, slowing down is rarely an option. Guests are arriving, properties need to be cleaned, and the work keeps moving, whether your team is fully staffed or not. So, how do we push through the stress, recognize fatigue, and come out on the other side stronger, more energized, and more resilient?

Preparing for Human Trafficking Training Requirements: Lessons from North Carolina

By VRMA Staff | 5/11/2026

Brought to you by VRHP: As more states adopt human trafficking awareness training requirements for lodging operators, vacation rental managers may be wondering what compliance looks like in practice. After North Carolina implemented its requirements in 2025, Carolina Designs Realty built training into onboarding, updated internal policies, and created systems for tracking compliance.

Standards Are the Competitive Advantage Vacation Rental Managers Are Missing

By Ashley Ching | 5/4/2026

Hotels and airlines rely on established standards to signal reliability, but vacation rentals face a credibility gap rooted in inconsistent quality. Adopting tiered quality frameworks that span service staffing levels and essential comforts offers a clear path forward. By standardizing critical elements like linens and operations, property managers can deliver predictable experiences, strengthen trust, improve efficiency, and elevate the entire industry toward professional maturity.