10 Ways to Boost Business for Your Vacation Rental -- Without Spending More on Amenities

If you own a vacation rental, your goal, no doubt, is to secure as much revenue as possible. Now, you'll often hear that investing in the right amenities could result in more bookings. But what if you don't have a lot of money to invest in amenities right now? You're not doomed -- here are some steps you can take instead.

5 Stocks Under $49

Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor

We hear it over and over from investors, "I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I'd be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of "5 Growth Stocks Under $49" for FREE for a limited time only.

Does your listing include blurry photos or minimal details about your rental? Beefing it up could result in more business. It pays to post quality pictures and thorough descriptions of your property. Also, while you may not want to add more amenities, you should definitely talk up the ones your home already offers.

ALSO READ: Air Travel's Recovery Gives a Big Boost to Vacation Rentals

Having week- or month-long guests is a great way to generate revenue. It pays to entice guests to stay longer by offering discounts to those who book a number of nights in a row. That said, you may want to offer those discounts outside your peak season.

If you own a beach or lake house, it can be tricky to entice guests to stay during the winter. That's where discounts come into play. If you make it worth their while financially, you may find travelers are willing to take a wintertime beach stroll.

ALSO READ: Want a Home With View? 10 Markets Where a View Costs More

Have guests who enjoyed a stay at your rental? Make it worth their while to recommend your home. If you set up a referral program, you may find that your bookings increase nicely. Word-of-mouth recommendations go a long way when someone is taking a chance on renting a private home.

You don't just want previous guests to recommend your rental to others. You should also want them to return for a second, third, or ninth stay. Offering special discounts for repeat bookings could really help drum up business.

5 Stocks Under $49

Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor

We hear it over and over from investors, "I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I'd be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of "5 Growth Stocks Under $49" for FREE for a limited time only.

You may have people who are interested in booking your rental but don't know how they'll keep busy once they arrive. A good idea is to offer your services as a local tour guide or team up with local businesses that provide different types of entertainment. Having that guidance could be what guests need to convince them to book another stay at your home.

It's important to price your vacation home in a manner that lets you make money but also comes off as competitive. Spend some time seeing what rates other rentals in your area command. You may even want to consult other local short-term rental investors for guidance.

ALSO READ: 15 Ways to Make Your Short-Term Rental More Appealing

Some vacation homes impose minimum stays, and that makes sense. You have to pay to clean your home between guests, and you want to make sure you aren't bearing that expense every two or three days. But if you need a boost in bookings, you may want to lower your minimum stay requirement -- especially if it currently sits at seven days or longer.

Hotels tend to be very flexible with guests, often allowing them to cancel just 48 or 72 hours before their stay without penalty. You may not be able to be as flexible. But if you can loosen up your cancellation policy a bit, you may find more guests feel comfortable booking with you.

ALSO READ: Americans Want to Travel -- Here Are 2 Great Hotel Stocks to Buy

There's something about freebies that people tend to love. If you want more bookings at your rental, try offering free nights. You may get more takers if guests think they're getting a deal.

5 Stocks Under $49

Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor

We hear it over and over from investors, "I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I'd be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of "5 Growth Stocks Under $49" for FREE for a limited time only.

Your vacation rental should be the revenue source you want it to be. If you're not booking stays as often as you'd like, use these tips to drum up more business. They're all effective ways to get more guests without having to sink money into added amenities for your home.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.