Homeowner FAQs

Why should I list my property on TexasVacationRentalsyByOwner.com?

At TexasVacationRentalsyByOwner.com, we understand the importance of maximizing rental income while empowering property owners. Unlike other major listing sites that have transitioned to a bookings model, we recognize that some owners still prefer the traditional approach. That's why we offer subscription listings with numerous advantages: no funds held, no traveler contact information blocked, no mandatory cancellation policies, and no booking or services fees.

What does TexasVacationRentalsyByOwner.com do for advertising? How will you get me more bookings?

Every day, we receive a high volume of visitors who are actively seeking Texas rentals. Our extensive reach spans across multiple channels, including organic and paid search, email marketing, social media promotion, and referrals from other websites. The true advantage, however, lies in the fact that these travelers, who are specifically interested in your city, will have the opportunity to discover your property without having to sift through an overwhelming number of other listings.

What is the cost to list a vacation rental?

We offer four subscription based packages for you to list and manage your vacation rentals. See pricing for annual subscriptions .   There are no additional fees or commissions charged on any bookings generated from the website.

Do you offer any discounts?

Yes, we offer a discount based on spending over the last 12 months.  Please contact us for more details.

Can I have a link to my personal website?

Yes.

Are you able to import an external calendar so I'm not updating multiple websites?

Yes, we can sync your availability with any calendar using the iCal format (which is most of them).

How does the “Refer-a-Friend” program work?

For each owner you refer to us, we will gratefully add two months of "Featured listing" service to your listing. It’s that simple. Be sure to tell friends to mention your name during the sign up process.

How will an interested renter contact me?

Renters will contact you directly by telephone or email through your listing. All rental advertisements provide the owner's contact information, however, your email address will be hidden from visitors. You may opt not to post your telephone number, which will leave any contacts going through the website inquiry form to you.

How do I add photos to my listing?

If you would like photos posted with your listing, simply login, got to edit your listing, then click on Manage Photos. There you can select the photos from your local computer you wish to upload and store with your listing. You can change the photos any time you wish, as often as you wish.

What size do my photos need to be?

Potential guests want to see large, high-quality photos. It helps them trust the property description and greatly improves the performance of the listing. The uploaded images should be at least 600 pixels wide and 400 pixels high .

I'm having difficulty uploading my photos?

If you are currently trying to upload your photos, this is where you select photos that reside on your computer to be transferred to our web site. This part should NOT be filled in with a web address.

Once you are on the Photos tab for your listing, click on the Browse button for a dialog box and navigate until you find the image file you want to upload. Click on the file, then click Open. This will set the path to your image file in the text box. Next, click Upload Photo and wait while the file is uploaded from your computer to our web site. The screen will not change until the transfer is complete. If the file is large or your connection is slow, this step could take several minutes.

What if my photos are already somewhere out on the Internet?

If you have no photos on your local computer, but have some on the Internet you will have to go fetch them first. You can download them to your local computer and then upload them to our site. To download photos, use your browser to view the photos, and place the mouse pointer over the photo itself. Click the right mouse button. A menu will appear. Select "Save Picture As" on the menu. This will bring up a dialog box that will give you a choice of where to save the photo and under what name. The original name of the photo will appear. You should change it to something simple using only letters, numbers and dashes. This can be done by clicking in the area with the filename and changing it. Photos should be saved somewhere on your computer that you will remember, like on your desktop. Click the "Save" button to transfer the photo. Once downloaded to your local computer you can upload them to our site using the instructions above.

Important note about thumbnail photos: Often when viewing a web site that contains your photos, a smaller photo will be displayed and when you click it, a larger copy of the photo will be displayed. The smaller photo is called a thumbnail. When taking photos from the internet, make sure you do not save the thumbnail. Click the thumbnail and save the larger photo, as described above. If you submit the thumbnail to us, it will show up as small and/or blurry on your listing.

How do I modify my listing?

You have full access to your listing 24 hours a day. You can modify any portion of your listing at any time, including the pictures. To make changes simply click on the "Member Login" link. Once logged in, click "Edit Listing" and then use the tabs on top to navigate to the appropriate section of your listing.

How do I change my email address, password and contact information?

Go to the "Member Login" link. Once logged in, click on "My Profile"- you can make all changes from a single page. If necessary, each listing can have separate contact information by clicking on "Edit Listing".

How do I request a new city or location be added?

 If you are posting your property and do not see your city or location, just contact us. We will research your request and get back to you. Until a decision is made, we suggest you place your listing in the closest listed region.

Why am I getting plenty of visits/inquiries but no bookings?

1. Perhaps your rental rate is too high. Compare it with other owners in your area, bedroom size, amenities, location, design, etc... just as vacationers do. The main determinant? Price versus quality ratio.
2. Professional photos do make a difference! Travelers are dreaming about vacations and want to book properties that are bright and clean, with great amenities.
3. Think about uploading photos of the area because the traveler is investing not only in accommodations but the local experience as well.
4. Is your availability calendar up to date? Don't put off travelers who spend up to 8 hours searching for a property be leaving a calendar open. Having an accurate up to date calendar not only helps the traveler but helps us market your vacation home to travelers contacting us for help.
5. Have you correctly categorized your listing? Review your listing description and enter the correct property type, vacation type, and add a great title description. Putting some effort into your listing description and formatting it so it's easily read help travelers quickly skim through and pick out the most important items to them to help them make the right choice.
6. Do you have reviews listed on your property? Reviews are the Number #1 indicator to a traveler of your hosting style as well as what they can expect from a visit to your home.
7. Do you have a host photo on your profile? A great, friendly profile photo helps gain traveler trust.

Do you process payments for reservations?

No. We do not have payment processing in place for reservations. We feel it is best to leave it up to the individual homeowner to determine the best way to accept payments for reservations.

Options for accepting payments for reservations include checks, of course. For accepting payments online, some options include using any of the following:

• PayPal: There is a 2.5% - 2.9% Credit Card Transaction Fee. We recommend having a Business Standard Account to enable refunding deposits. Personal PayPal accounts only allow full refunds, not partial refunds. There is no monthly fee with a Business Standard Account. You can easily send invoices for payments and you can transfer money to your bank account free. With the Business Standard account you can also get a credit card reader that works on tablets and smart phones.
• Square: There is a 2.9% Credit Card Transaction Fee. There is currently no online option for invoicing or paying online. All transactions require one of their credit card readers that works on tablets and smart phones.

Of course, you are free to use whatever payment processing option you wish. We do not restrict you ability to choose whatever works best for you.

Can you list or modify my home for me?

Unfortunately, we cannot list or modify your home for you. Please use the "Member Login" link to modify your listing. If you require help with changes or photos, please see other questions in this FAQ.

Can I include a second or third rental unit on my property listing?

Yes. Homeowners can list multiple properties on Texas Vacation Rentals by Owner.

I received a suspicious email, what do I do?

Usually emails with poor grammar, spelling, odd use of capital letters and/or asking you to wire money or participate in an unusual bank transaction is a scam. The sender is usually attempting to obtain money, personal information or your email address. We recommend that you let us know you received this through our service and delete the message without responding. For further information about internet fraud and fake check scams, see fraud.org

How can I protect myself from potential fraud?

Be sure to provide a property lease/legal agreement, and insist on exact payment. One popular scam is the "Renter Overpayment Scam" where a renter will send you an inquiry which may seem legitimate and suggest he sends you more than your rental fees and ask you wire back the difference. The check that he will send is fake (the bank takes several weeks to catch it) and by then you have sent the difference back and will be unable to recover it. We suggest you insist on exact payment or if you do accept an overpayment wait at least 30 days before returning any funds. See fraud.org for more information.

What should I know about vacation rental sales tax?

Start by contacting the Texas state, county and local government about requirements specific to your location. Ask about registering your property. Which governmental entities require registration for your area? Ask how much sales/resort tax you should collect and how often these payments are due to the authorities. Generally, these taxes range from 5% to 15% tax on the total rent charges. It is the owner's responsibility to collect and remit all required taxes.