Welcome to the Vacation Home Design and Maintenance Seminar

Hosting guests for short stays in a home requires much more than a listing on a popular reservation website (like Vrbo or Airbnb). This seminar explains best practices for design features, housekeeping routines, maintenance protocols, policies, security concerns, differences between LTC versus vacation home/short-term rental (STR), amenities, and other practices that create top-rated guest experiences and STR profitability. The Vacation Home Design and Maintenance Seminar is divided into three modules:

This section provides essential introductory information and then,

• Module 1 focuses on policies, procedures, safety and security protocols, as well as helpful tools and resources for STR hosts and managers.
• Module 2 focuses on the STR design elements, applicable code requirements for STR units, amenities, and experiences.
• Module 3 focuses on STR housekeeping and maintenance best practices, and then provides instructions for accessing the seminar exam (and certificate).

Modules 1-3 include a short introduction, a video lecture, and a short quiz. The quizzes are designed to enhance learning and prepare students for the seminar exam. Students can complete the course in a few hours of intense study, or the online course allows students the flexibility to take several days to complete the coursework at their own pace and location. The course window will be open for 14 days from the time of registration, providing students with ample time to complete the seminar.

Seminar rules and tips include:

• Watch the entire video lecture. The lectures are designed to give you vital information and examples that will help you with your STR business (and pass the quizzes and exam).
• There are page numbers in the corner of specific slides to help students locate additional information they may find in the textbook, Vacation Rental Management 411. Students who registered for Part 1 will have received a copy of the e-textbook. The paperback book version or the e-textbook can be obtained by visiting www.strcertification.com or online book sellers. A seminar doesn't require a textbook, but students report that it is a helpful resource in class and as they apply concepts to their STR businesses.
• The video slides and other course content materials are copyright-protected, and the photos are used within limited license agreements. You cannot print, download, share, publish, or otherwise use any of the course content without the written permission of the instructor. If you would like a copy of something you see, please email us, and if we can share it, we will. Otherwise, we will take action to protect the intellectual property of the authors, lecturers, photographers, and graphic designers who contributed to this seminar.
• The seminar content is presented to establish a stronger foundation for future STR education and as a starting point for students to make informed and well-researched business decisions. The seminar does not contain any legal advice or product-specific recommendations (any mention of a particular brand is as an example of a category or variety of products or services someone may choose to use). Students must conduct additional research before making their own business decisions.
• This is a one-person seminar registration (as if you were coming to a classroom by yourself to attend a seminar). The tuition has been significantly discounted to accommodate students in cities that require STR education. In coaching packages or boot camps, this course would be priced considerably higher. It's inexpensive. If someone else wants to view the video lectures, they can register for the course.
• To qualify to take the Seminar Quiz, students must earn a score of at least 60% on the module quizzes. If you receive a score lower than 60%, please get in touch with us at strcertification@gmail.com.
• Students who qualify to take the Seminar Exam can use the link at the end of the course to take the proctored seminar exam. We need to check your identity (that is why we ask you to send a copy of your government-issued ID to strcertification@gmail.com).
• If you have questions, please email us at strcertification@gmail.com.

Students who pass the Vacation Home Design and Maintenance Seminar will receive a Certificate of Seminar Completion. Some students register for it as a stand-alone seminar (less than 4 hours) or as the second segment (Part 2) of the more comprehensive STR Certification Course (12-14 hours in total, as a live in-person course or divided into live or online options, using it as part 2 of 4 seminars).

This highly rated and popular course is ranked among national and international "Top Ten" training course lists for STR and property management. The seminar curriculum is part of a longer course that has been reviewed and approved by the Higher Education Divisions and Real Estate Commissions in several states. No sponsorships, endorsements, or advertisements are accepted or allowed. Certain brands or locations may be mentioned in discussions or used as examples for instructional purposes. Students must complete their own research before making business decisions.

This seminar is also part of the approved education requirement for applicants seeking to obtain an STR/STVR/VH business license, registration, or permit in several cities. The curriculum contains the core information that government officials want STR owners, hosts, property managers, realtors, and vendors to know and understand. A student who provides a certificate of seminar completion during the application process indicates to the officials that they understand core STR practices.

For many people, Vacation Home/Short-Term Rental (STR) management appears to be as simple as listing a home for rent to guests for short stays on a reservation site like Airbnb or Vrbo. But STR is much more complicated. It isn't "passive income" or a business that can be remotely managed. STR owners and managers are responsible for the safety of guests. And poorly managed STRs are negatively affecting other STR hosts, sister industries, and local communities. STR requires planning, sound business management, regulatory compliance, clear communication, and appropriate monitoring of each guest's stay. In this seminar, we review resources, laws, practical tools, systems, and best practices that can help hosts manage code-compliant, safe, enjoyable, and profitable STR businesses.

We'll now begin Module 1

Module 1: Policies, Procedures, Tools, and Security Best Practices

When hosting STR guests in a furnished residential unit for short stays, safety and security considerations extend beyond what might be considered necessary for standard owner-occupant concerns or long-term rental tenants. However, these standards are not just about guest safety. They also protect your home and business. We want our guests to be safe and to behave appropriately in our STR home.

When we work with employees and contractors, it's essential to establish clearly defined procedures. We review vital issues and answers found in Chapters 6 and 7 in the e-textbook, Vacation Rental Management 411, as well as information from other chapters, as it relates to implementing policies and safety protocols for your STR. 

The short quizzes after each module are designed to review module content and prepare you to take the seminar exam. The quizzes are "open book," and they allow for 15 minutes to answer five questions. There is only one chance to complete the quiz, so it's best to take the time to ensure you select the correct answers.

When you finish this module, you should be able to:

• Review the safety and security needs, as well as the safety-related responsibilities, of both hosts and guests.
• Discuss how compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and building codes can support policies and house rules, thereby better ensuring guest adherence to these rules.
• Define and document the possible procedures, protocols, and tools that hosts can use to enhance the safety of guests, employees, contractors, and hosts.
• Identify laws and guidelines related to record-keeping and retention.
• Identify behaviors of team members and guests that may affect an STR business.
• Name ways hosts can work within the community to prepare for natural and man-made disasters and incidents.
• Understand the importance of documenting details regarding incidents and potential concerns.

Complete the video lecture and then the quiz.