Why take this course?
Ever thought about starting and running your own Airbnb, or VRBO vacation rental? Do you have a vacation rental that is professionally managed and want to try and manage it yourself instead? Are you a vacation rental owner who wants to do things a little bit better, and make more money, on even less time? I have the course on how to do exactly that. I am James Dorgan, an attorney in Fairhope, Alabama. I am also an adjunct professor of twenty years at a local college, and a multistate vacation rental owner. I have put together a 90 module online training course, with over 300 pages of text, PDFs and templates on how to select, set up, self manage, and automate a vacation rental, all on less than an hour a week through the use of VRBO's phone app. Â
This student turned a dream into reality !
Jennifer Vestal always dreamed of owning and self-managing a vacation rental but simply did not know how to do it. After taking this course and reading our training guide, she founds her confidence and bought her first vacation rental at Escapes in Orange Beach, Alabama. See how things are going ! !
Where you will be after taking this course
Lindsey Milam was scared. Would the vacation rental make any money? Could she self manage it? With James Dorgan's guidance, she now owns and self manages her own penthouse vacation rental. The vacation rental has done so well that she was able to quit her full time job, and now, manages her VRBO vacation rental on less than an hour per week. Using the guidance from this course, you too can do what Lindsey did.
"These numbers speak for themselves."
-- Anita Smith
James Dorgan's Bookkeeper
Anita breaks down the approximately $300k in gross revenue.
This course will show you how to make 'mailbox money' on a vacation rental that you can not only use and enjoy, but also self manage on less than an hour a week.
-- James Dorgan
"Easy to understand and implement."
- WPMI News Anchor Andrea Ramey
James Dorgan walked us through how to rent our first investment property. Following his advice, we profited each year! From finding tenants to screening them, setting the rent and managing the property, James shares valuable insights and practical tips that are easy to understand and implement. James also provides strategies for effective communication that can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts down the line. His expertise and practical advice make it a must-read for landlords and property managers of all levels of experience. I highly recommend it!
Andrea Jackson
WPMI News Anchor
Mobile, Alabama
Meet the Dorgans
James Dorgan is an attorney from Fairhope, a small town located on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, Alabama. James is married to Lauren Dorgan, a well known local court reporter. They have two children, Noah and Nicholas. In addition to the full time practice of law, James is also an adjunct professor of Business Law at Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama. James and Lauren currently own four vacation rental properties in three states - Alabama, Florida and Tennessee. The family travels internationally every Summer, and often share their travel experiences on YouTube.
Dorgan's System Works !
After buying a 3/3 penthouse in Orange Beach, Alabama, we asked Mr. Dorgan to teach us how to start up and run a vacation rental. Using his proven techniques, our vacation rental has not only paid for itself, it has also allowed me to quit my full time job. I now manage the vacation rental on less than an hour a week. We also get to use it whenever we want !
--- Lindsey and Joe Milam
Distinguished Attorney
25+ years practicing law
Admitted to Alabama State Bar, The Florida Bar
Law Office located in historic Gaston Building,
downtown Fairhope, Alabama
Adjunct Professor of Law
25+ years teaching experience
Adjunct Professor of Law
Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama
Published Author
FREE COURSE BOOK INCLUDED WITH PURCHASE OF VACATION RENTAL VIDEO TRAINING COURSE (continental US customers only / delivery time varies).
351 pages / 89 chapters
The most comprehensive vacation rental training guide available today.
Available on Kindle, paperback, or hardback here:
Owner
Appalachian High
Vacation Rental
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Amazing views
Game room
Balcony hot tub
True log cabin experienceÂ
Sleeps up to 6 adults / 4 kids
Resort pool, jacuzzi, gym, sauna and steam room
Owner
Phoenix on the Bay
Vacation Rental
Orange Beach, Alabama
Amazing views
Longest lazy river in Alabama
Water slide
Multiple pools, hot tubs
Onsite boat launch, slips
Sleeps 7Â Â
Owner
Splash Resort 704 West
Vacation Rental
Panama City Beach, Florida
7th floor direct Gulf front view
Bunk beds
On-site kids waterpark
Hot tub
Gulf front gym
Free beach service
Sleeps 7
Owner
Splash Resort 902 West
Vacation Rental
Panama City Beach, Florida
9th floor direct Gulf front view
On-site kids water park
Lazy river
Free beach service
Sleeps 8
http://www.vrbo.com/873755Â
Course Curriculum
- Where should I buy a vacation rental? (6:05)
- How far away should my vacation rental be from my home? (6:13)
- Should I risk buying a vacation rental based on the MLS listing alone? (12:33)
- Bang for the Buck (11:32)
- Ask lots of questions (14:39)
- Critical lessons learned from our first vacation rental (28:55)
- How do I finance the purchase of my first vacation rental? (9:49)
- Can I buy a vacation rental through my IRA? (29:23)
- Should I use a real estate agent when buying a vacation rental? (12:04)
- How to beat the masses also wanting to buy in a hot a real estate market (22:19)
- What is the first thing I should do after my vacation rental goes under contract / is pending? (17:35)
- Should I get the vacation rental professionally inspected prior to closing? (14:26)
- What inexpensive things can I initially do to quickly improve marketability of the unit? (21:39)
- Who pays utilities, wifi,, cable TV etc? (7:39)
- What is an HOA and why you should work with them early and often? (18:58)
- What is the best way to handle parking passes? (23:04)
- Should I purchase additional complex amenities for guests to enjoy and include it with stay (20:08)
- Should I get pest control, and does standard pest control also include detection and treatment for bed bugs? (19:34)
- What type of casualty insurance do I need on my vacation rental? (19:27)
- Should I get homeowner's insurance or should I put the vacation rental in an LLC to avoid potential liability claims? (22:52)
- Should I self manage my vacation rental or hire a rental management company to handle it for me? (18:57)
- Should I go with VRBO, or Airbnb for my vacation rental listing? (39:41)
- What critical things should I watch for at closing? (32:34)
- When should I start building my VRBO or Airbnb listing? (10:38)
- What are the first steps in building my VRBO listing? (45:33)
- THE BIG THREE - Listing Photo, Title, Description (54:53)
- How to take great photos and sequence them in your listing for success (72:00)
- How do I set rates? (60:44)
- Should I approve each booking or allow 'Instant Booking'? (17:53)
- What should be my minimum night stay? (20:16)
- What should I set as the minimum age to rent my vacation rental? (18:05)
- Should I require payment in full, or payments? What's the best cancellation policy to choose? (14:25)
- How should I handle taxes? (9:39)
- Should I require a damage deposit and if so how much? (13:48)
- Should my vacation rental be 'pet friendly'? Can I bring my own pets to my vacation rental? (24:14)
- Should I allow smoking in my vacation rental? (15:50)
- Should I paint the vacation rental? (11:39)
- Should I replace light fixtures and ceiling fans? (10:06)
- Choose your decor and or theme for your vacation rental that fits the area (18:49)
- Should I update all appliances and or the washer and dryer? (11:51)
- Should I replace all light bulbs and if so which kind? (8:34)
- Should I replace the HVAC? (10:26)
- Should I get a Nest thermostat? (6:49)
- Should I get the Coastal Green Air system? (18:18)
- Should I install security cameras and or an alarm? (22:44)
- Should I get a Ring doorbell? (18:51)
- Should I keep knick knacks and or place personal items in the vacation rental? (15:14)
- Should I use carpet or solid surface flooring for my vacation rental? (21:15)
- Should I buy leather or cloth furnishings for my vacation rental? (11:47)
- Throw out the silverware, pots, pans, dishes and glassware and start with new (8:50)
- Throw out all smaller appliances, and start with new, including a standard drip and Keurig coffee makers (2:58)
- Smart TV or old school TV? Should I provide a DVD player? How to get a guest to not call the owner when there is a TV issue.. Do I refund if the guest can't figure out how to operate the TV? (43:14)
- Who provides Wi-Fi? If the HOA doesn't provide it, should I provide it? (7:44)
- Tips on sleep comfort - mattress quality, encasements, and bed protectors (14:07)
- Interviewing both large and small cleaning services - which one is better? (36:14)
- What are the clues to successfully hiring the perfect cleaning person or team? (26:54)
- Should I provide linens and starter supplies or my cleaning team? What about using bamboo sheets or specialty linens? (18:00)
- What is Resort Cleaning and why should I use it? (26:40)
- What is the best type of bedding, bedspreads and or blankets to use? (27:21)
- What are the key things to watch for when hiring the perfect maintenance person? (13:58)
- What door lock should I install on my vacation rental? (29:24)
- Should I get a deep clean? (9:15)
- Can I transfer the selling owner's positive review history to my new VRBO listing? What about transferring reservations? (25:02)
- Should I add a video to my VRBO listing? If so, what is the easiest way to do it? (36:00)
- Should I add a virtual tour to my listing? If so, how do I do it? (15:55)
- After finishing all improvements, should I hire a professional photographer, take the photos myself, or a combo of both? (24:59)
- How to set up an email response template to a guest inquiry and what should it include? (43:05)
- A template to handle the bargain hunter looking for a last minute discount (25:57)
- A template designed to delicately handle discount requests from first responders, veterans, teachers and other special groups (17:55)
- How to set up access instructions, and what to include (44:33)
- What should I include in my rules of stay / rental policy agreement? What attachments should be included with the access instructions? (34:44)
- The amazing conclusion of stay template email that consistently results in five star reviews (28:10)
- How to add 10-20% in gross rental revenue with this simple trick (33:12)
- Testing the system (9:42)
- Top ten most common guest issues or complaints and how best to handle them (44:40)
- Bed bugs - what to do if it happens (23:51)
- Should I refund a guest if a resort amenity becomes unavailable? (8:30)
- Should I refund a guest if an appliance breaks down? (5:29)
- How to handle hurricanes (5:18)
- How to handle Winter storms (8:30)
- How do I seize all or a portion of a guest's damage deposit? (28:34)
- Refresher - adding the foregoing guest correspondence and owner policies to your templates (7:39)
- Ten essential steps to follow to create the perfect response to a negative review (39:30)
- How to handle friends and family, 'Off the Books' requests, and last minute 'free' stays (42:05)
- Whether to rent to snowbirds (21:26)
- Conduct a periodic safety review - identify the danger, eliminate the danger, mitigate the danger, and warn of the danger (28:07)
Additional Training Options
Whether it is a full course, or help with individual topics, we can help you with your vacation rental management needs.
Affiliates
Please simply email the instructor for terms and conditions of our affiliate program.
We are so grateful for our affiliates !
James Dorgan, Esq.
Law Office James Dorgan, P.C.
338 Fairhope Avenue
Fairhope AL 36532
Phone: 251-928-0192
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorganlaw/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jamesdorgan