Owner University

Industry Trends & Owner Resources

Preventing & Handling Vacation Rental Neighbor Complaints

Reservations are coming in left and right, guests are happy, and business is good…then a neighbor enlightens you on a string of unwanted disturbances in the community coming from your

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Cabin Rental Rules for Guests

Your short-term vacation rental property is ready for guests, from the beautiful decor you’ve painstakingly chosen and the comfortable furniture you’ve purchased to the extra games and amenities you’ve added

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Turning Fixer-Uppers Into Vacation Rentals — Challenge Accepted!

Feeling inspired by Chip and Joanna Gaines' HGTV hit show Fixer Upper? Want to dip your toes in the vacation rental industry? Hmm, it sounds like you could be the

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Add Streaming TVs to YOUR Rental Property Now!

Thinking about adding streaming TVs to your rental property? Not sure where to start or if it’s even a good idea? You’ve come to the right place. At Cabins for

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What to Ask YOUR Property Management Company Before Signing a Contract

Interviewing vacation rental property managers can be exhausting…especially when you’re not always sure what to ask. If you find yourself wishing you had asked something sooner or regretting the last

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Managing Guest Reviews: the Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Reading reviews before buying something is becoming second nature in the modern world. We want to know if someone else has had a good or bad experience with a product

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Are Short-Term Vacation Rentals a Good Investment?

We’re frequently asked this question, and the answer we always give is, “Yes...and No.” There are a lot of variables to consider to ascertain if this kind of investment is

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The Importance of Cleaning Your Fireplace and Wood-Burning Stove

One of the great joys of vacationing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in the colder months is in enjoying a beautiful roaring fire in a wood-burning fireplace, or in

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Septic Tank Pumping

Disclaimer: We are not licensed plumbers or septic system experts. The article serves as a basic guide for vacation rental property owners in understanding the need to service and pump

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Potential Cabin Rental Owners in the Smokies - FAQs

Each day we receive calls from people who love the Smoky Mountain area, for honeymoons, anniversaries, family vacations, and group getaways. Some love the experience so much that they envision

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Should I Title My Vacation Rental Under An LLC?

DISCLAIMER: This business planning process takes into account many variables and can be both a simple and complex issue - depending on your personal situation. This article is offered only

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What is your time worth?

DISCLAIMER: If you’re retired with a lot of spare time on your hands and find managing your property “fun,” manage SEVERAL rental properties as a primary business and source of

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Who’s responsible for what?

The Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee is blessed with a HUGE variety of flora, fauna, and TREES! Some say we’re a community inside a forest, and that’s entirely true! But

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Landscape Lighting for Beauty AND Safety

We all know the benefits of “curb appeal” for our residential properties – especially when it comes time to sell. But you may not realize the importance of curb appeal

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Cabins for YOU Stays Competitive with Strategic Vacation Rental Pricing

Staying competitive in an ever-changing vacation rental market means constant research and plenty of hard work to develop a highly effective pricing strategy that attracts guests and maximizes revenue. Cabins

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How Bedroom Count Influences Booking Windows for YOUR Vacation Rentals

Why is their vacation rental already booked for summer and mine isn’t yet? What’s the secret behind my 6-bedroom property booking faster than my 2-bedroom rental? When will my guests

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CFY Advantage Plan

Quality care for your vacation rental means fewer issues and happier guests, leading to more bookings and increased revenue. Owned and operated by family, Cabins for YOU — a leader

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How to Protect YOUR Vacation Rental from Mold

Mold…even the word is off-putting. It grows quickly, spreads easily, and can cause respiratory issues. If you’ve ever dealt with a mold issue in your home, you know how stressful

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10 Ways to Increase Earnings on Vacation Rentals

Thinking of ways to maximize profit from your vacation rental? We at Cabins for YOU want that for you too! It’s important to understand that increasing your vacation rental earnings

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High Quality Photography for Vacation Rentals

If a picture says a 1,000 words, surely your current marketing photographs say a lot about your vacation rental. Do they spark imagination and inspire click-throughs…or are they a little

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How CFY Maximizes Guest Loyalty

What is guest loyalty? Simply put — it’s what you get when you create an environment that strongly appeals to guests and keeps them coming back for more. In other

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Vacation Rental Property Improvement Project

Do you need a contract for your next home improvement remodeling project? The short answer is, yes. With the exception of emergencies, when the scope of the work is clearly

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Should You Have a Pet Friendly Vacation Property?

So you’ve been thinking about turning your vacation rental property into one that’s pet friendly? Well, we’re here to help! As a prominent management company in the vacation rental business,

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Estate Planning Considerations

A vacation rental property is a substantial asset for anyone’s estate. And like all assets, care must be taken when planning when the owner(s) passes away or becomes incapacitated due

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Regular Updates for Your Vacation Property

How wonderful would it be if vacation rental properties never needed upgrades? The linens and pillows would remain soft and fluffy, the mattresses would never sink or discolor, the kitchen

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Stand Out Amenities for Your Vacation Rental Property

With popularity growing fast in the vacation rental industry, properties are starting to look and feel quite similar…almost eerily so. When guests type in their must-haves and preferred accommodations, their

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7 Ways CFY Advertises your property

When considering a vacation rental management company, it’s important to know the ins and outs of their advertising methods to ensure your properties get the attention they deserve. Plus, proper

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Expected Amenities at CFY Properties

No matter the size, price, or quality, vacation rental properties are expected to have certain amenities nowadays. Who expects them? Well, your management company (or nosey neighbor) may offer suggestions,

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What Does the Vacation Property Management Commission Cover?

What do seasoned and inexperienced rental property owners have in common? Besides being fully dedicated to providing a memorable guest experience at clean and comfortable rentals, it’s not uncommon for

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1031 Exchange

USING A 1031 EXCHANGE TO BUY A VACATION RENTAL PROPERTY NOTE: an IRS 1031 Exchange is a complex transaction that may require a local, experienced, and competent attorney and accountant!

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Top 10 Reasons to Partner with Cabins for YOU

In the business since 2001 Not many property managers here can say that. The vacation rental industry in the Smokies has changed a lot over the past 18 years, and

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Identifying Liability Issues

Unfortunately, we live in a litigious society. Ads for lawyers bombard TV and radio for everything from auto accidents to medical malpractice, but one of the fastest growing areas of

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Using your IRA to buy a Vacation Rental Property

There are thousands of places you can invest your pre-tax (and Roth type) retirement savings – from bank CDs and mutual funds to stock/bond-managed portfolios and insurance company annuities. These

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Is Your Property Competitive?

There are well over 25,000 overnight accommodations for vacationers in the Smoky Mountain region of East Tennessee. There are hotels and motels, resorts, condos and time-shares, campgrounds, and of course...short-term

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Sizzle SELLS!

Vacationers in the Smoky Mountains have a lot of options when it comes to overnight accommodations. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are packed with thousands of: condos timeshares cabins and chalets

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