If you've got the vacation house to rent, we've got the Facebook app
Filed under: Real Estate, Technology, Travel, Relationships
Finally, a Facebook application that makes sense. A new online travel portal is trying to alleviate the biggest obstacle people have in renting out their second homes: their fear of renting to strangers. Portland-based SecondPorch.com has launched a Facebook app called "Rent & Trade Vacation Homes," which, it says, is the first "socially enabled" vacation home site that allows vacationers and vacation home owners to connect.
The site integrates with Facebook's wall stream messaging and allows "friends" to discover who on their Facebook account has a home they are willing to rent out. Vacation home rentals is the fastest-growing segment of the lodging industry -- a $50 billion a year industry at that.
Second Porch users can search for homes based on budget, location, amenities, recommendations and -- most importantly -- relationship to the owner.
In what is clearly a sign of the economic times, 45% of the Second Porch home owners have opted in for trading their homes with others. The site's founder, Brent Hieggelke, knows first-hand about rental horror stories. His father rented out his vacation home to a group that used it to host a bachelor party. Damage tally: $4,000.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-22-2009 @ 6:49PM
Sylvia Guarino said...
I am a vacation rental owner, a vacation rental user, a home exchanger and I have a Facebook/Second Porch profile for my condo on Sanibel Island, Florida.
In truth, I have not had much damage from rental guests or home exchangers at either the condo or vacation rental house we own on Sanibel.
So this is not a horror story.
But, and this applies to this last year in particular, I have spent an enormous amount of time communicating with vacation rental guests and vacation rental owners. The guests, quite naturally, want to be sure I am who I say I am and that my properties are fairly and honestly represented. Those are my concerns as well when I am looking for a place to stay.
Facebook/Second Porch offer an open method of communication where many questions posed from owner and guest have already been answered. The process of social media application to vacation rentals and home swaps takes out much of the guess and detective work.
It's easy to see how this new means to renting and exchanging vacation properties will some day soon dominate this market.
http://.sanibel-rentals.net
Reply
10-12-2009 @ 4:27AM
Interhouse said...
it's nice to see how technology evolve.
Before i was using e-mail as my means of communications with my clients and potential clients. Now, i think, 'am gonna go for faceboook. LOL
Anyway, if you're looking for house for rent philippines you could just visit interhouse. if you want to rent office space we also have one. :)
Reply
10-12-2009 @ 4:27AM
Interhouse said...
it's nice to see how technology evolve.
Before i was using e-mail as my means of communications with my clients and potential clients. Now, i think, 'am gonna go for faceboook. LOL
Anyway, if you're looking for house for rent philippines you could just visit interhouse. if you want to rent office space we also have one. :)
http://interhouse.com.ph
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 9:56AM
Hillcrest Guest House, St. John, US Virgin Islands said...
I also rental for vacationers. I answer e-mails all day long. Most are regarding the Hillcrest Guest House, but there are general questions regarding St. John.
Most recent was requesting a helicopter tour, while stay at Hillcrest. www.vinow.com, provides alot of such information.
Reply