Your Vacation Rental Name – Avoid the Pitfalls

Realtors have long known the value of a name when selling a property. Apparently, named properties attract more attention and they can sell for more by virtue of simply having a name. But it must be the right name…

The founders of the web search engine Google must be glad that they had second thoughts about the name of their first enterprise BackRub and changed it to what is now a household name. And when it comes to finding a vacation rental name for your property you’d be well advised to steer clear of such little gems as ‘Swampside’, ‘Peasant’s Rest’ and ‘Crumbledown’ which are all, allegedly, house names people have given to their properties! Having said that, an old friend lives quite happily at ‘Slack Top’ (a very grand, hilltop barn conversion) which is only a marginal improvement namewise on his previous home: ‘Slack Bottom’ (a modest weaver’s cottage built in a hollow). Fortunately, he’s not planning to rent out his home.

Naming is essential to your branding

How do you go about choosing your vacation rental name? Remember it will be a vital ingredient of your branding. You want it to be memorable for the right reasons, of course, so ask yourself the following questions: Do I want unique?  Do I want it to appear cool? Is there a local feature, historical or natural, that I can latch onto? Or something that reflects the location – a harbor, mountain, valley or river – that could be referred to? Perhaps something humorous? Remember though, that humor is a very personal thing and you may put off more than you attract with a quirky vacation rental name.  That’s not to say you shouldn’t have fun with a name. If you have any personal favorites out there, please share them with us!

Choosing a vacation rental name – the golden rule

The golden rule is to always avoid cliché (‘Dunroamin’ is surely off the radar!) and never overpromise. If you do choose ‘Mountain View’, make sure you can back it up with a mountainside location rather than a distant bump on the horizon. Fictional places from novels and children’s books often conjure up a warm feeling, though make sure that your property can take it. ‘Mandalay’, ‘Rivendell’ and ‘Neverland’ may sound magical but they also hint at a certain grandness that would be out of place on a smaller property. If your rental is not so large and you’re still struggling to find a warm and cuddly handle for it, you could summon up the image of that famous bear with the predilection for honey, by naming it ‘Pooh Corner’. Or not…. When casting around, it’s always good to have a few lists to start you off on your vacation rental name. Try this website to get your ideas flowing.

Check out your rights

But whatever you choose, check it out first to ensure that no one else is using it or has exclusive rights to it. Before choosing a vacation rental name out of the ordinary, check with a lawyer. Also, if you have a catchy name that you’re happy with and it’s been legally ok’d, why not consider using that vacation rental name as your business name and, if possible, as the name of your website? It’s a great way to reinforce your brand.