All Forum Posts by: Michael Kugler

(God, slap me and slap me HARD if I ever complain about any of our customers here in Branson. Not that I ever do - we simply have the greatest of the greatest of the greatest guests in the world. But, should I ever feel froggy one night and get the urge to make a negative comment about any of our clients - slap me hard and remind me of the prima donna dirtbags that people like @Mike V. have to deal with)

Sorry you are dealing with this.

@Jen Faulkner, isn't that the exact case thought with ABB and VRBO as well? We have a very advanced platform that works with all iCal feeds and have seen that VRBO only outputs bookings made through their website. Same for ABB. This is why we always advise clients to work with a CRM (Take your pick of any 500 out there) and let the CRM do all of the work. Then you don't have the nonsense from VRBO and ABB to contend with.

Honestly - the best place for on the ground information you are going to get is through FB groups. Some of them have 1,000s of people in them and they would all be able to talk you through it.

From an investment angle, BP makes more sense because you can bounce ideas off of other people here for investing in different areas of the United States and get information that is useful.

But, let me say this - we have 12 condos and they rent extraordinarily well. But, the condos with the best lakeviews rent more often (30% or better) The ones closest to the amusement park rent better. The ones closest to the lake rent better. The ones with the biggest TVs rent better. 

Travelers pay attention to the details and will rent what gives them the most bang for the buck. So make sure to consider theses angles when buying as well.

Best of luck, Mike

Oh then it absolutely buttresses my position earlier then. Since you have a lot of work to do, I would absolutely agree with you to hold off. It sounds like (from the way I am reading it) that you already know the answers - you are just looking for supporting opinions. 

You have mine from here.

Best of luck

Sorry to disagree with @Chai Xiong, but I think you are absolutely on the right track with your train of thought. Don't misrepresent your property. At least respect your clients enough to give them an accurately depicted place. They will appreciate you 10 times more in the end and you won't carry a scarlet letter for years with the OTAs

@Mike Neubauer - I can't tell you the site that doesn't charge you or your customers any fees, but if you look real hard you can figure out why 8 other people in Hawaii joined. ;)

From there you can get a free website complete with a booking calendar. 

My apologies - I didn't mean to be so abrupt and short with my answer but honestly, the email you received just hit a chord with me.

Imagine a gas station sending you an SMS telling you that they would no longer sell gas to you if you don't start driving more. Or a restaurant telling you that you were no longer welcome if they didn't see you more often in there eating.

All of these OTAs - theirs - mine - all of them depend on homeowners. Not the other way around. Some of them have become SO immune to criticism they feel justified in sending out some ridiculous email like the one you received. 

And I would still tell them to pound crap. :D

Mike

I would tell them to pound crap.

Why homeowners put up with being told how to run their property is beyond me. It is YOUR home, investment, hard work. 

I can guarantee you I would cancelled in 5 minutes or less had they sent me something like that. 

So, I would advise against anything PR. The HOA dues and the assessments have been pretty extreme in the past as I recall.

The "resorts on TRL" is too broad. That could mean Kimberling City, DD HWY, Indian Point, etc. 

Indian Point is a GREAT place to buy in as you have almost guaranteed traffic with SDC and TRL. It is 100% dead for January, February and March but, you will definitely see smashing success for the rest of the year.

Best of luck - hope you have a LOT of fun with your new purchase.

Lacey, where are you purchasing at in Branson? I live here and know the area very well.