Frequently Asked Questions - Owners
The questions listed here are those we encounter most frequently from property owners/managers using CHBO.
1.What procedures do I follow to list my corporate rental property?
2.If I lose Internet connection while adding my property, do I need to start over again?
3.I have multiple properties. Do I need to establish a separate account for each property?
4.How much does it cost to list my property on CHBO?
5.When I list multiple properties on your site, do I get a discount?
6. How many photos can I add to my listing?
7.How can I move my property higher in the list?
8.How do I add photos to my property listing?
9.What size and format of photo is required for posting?
10.Do you charge a fee or commission on reservations or leases?
11.Why doesn't my email show on my listing?
12.How can I measure my listing's activity?
13.What percentage of your properties get rented and for how long?
14.How do I e-mail my property?
15.What are the benefits of having a Virtual Tour and adding it to my listing?
16.How do I add a virtual tour or a link to another website with details about my property to my listing?
17.What tax laws pertain to my unit?
18.Why does CHBO charge an annual fee?
19.If I market my property on CHBO does it restrict me from advertising my property elsewhere?
20.Is CHBO a property management company?
21.Why do I need to have an availability calendar?
22.Should I buy a home or condo for my corporate housing rental?
23.What is the definition of Short-Term Housing?
24.How do I edit my property listing details?
25.How do I change my password?
26.How do I inactivate/hide my property listing?
27.What is Corporate Housing?
28.What is Corporate Housing by Owner?
29.How do I mark my property as available now or move in now. What are the benefits?
30.How do I mark my property as CHBO complete?
31.How do I update my availability calendar?
32.I am logged into my CHBO account and get a message that, 'You can only manage your own property listing', what can I do?
33.How do I activate text notifications for listing inquiries?
34.How do I email a CHBO listing to someone?
35.I got my property rented now what do I do?
36.How do I get a credit report and is it needed?
37.Do I need to collect a security deposit?
38.Do you have a rental agreement or lease contract?
39.My property is marked CHBO Complete but I don't know what that means.
40.How do I take credit cards?
41.I have an international client - What can I do to check them out?
42.How do I inactivate my property to CHBO feed partners?
43.Does marking my property inactive make it hidden from users searches?
1.What procedures do I follow to list my corporate rental property?
To create a new property listing
and follow the steps as follows. If you are having problems please or call us at 1.877.333.2426.
2.If I lose Internet connection while adding my property, do I need to start over again?
No, if you have finished entering your account information, you do not have to start over again. You will be able to log in to the Owners area and finish entering information about your property. This will depend on what step you were at.
3. I have multiple properties. Do I need to establish a separate account for each property?
You may add all your properties to the same owner account. This feature makes it quicker and easier to manage all your properties. Please contact us about a discount for posting multiple properties.
4.How much does it cost to list my property on CHBO?
You can purchase a one-year basic listing and take advantage of all the sites resources for just $279.00. Special rates and coupons may apply to your basic listing cost. Listing upgrades increase your cost, but also dramatically increase your properties exposure to qualified potential renters. For your convenience, we accept Visa and MasterCard. To list your property, start here.
5. When I list multiple properties on your site, do I get a discount?
Yes, property owners who have multiple listings with CHBO will receive a discount based on the current special at the time they post their property. Please contact us for details on a rate
6. How many photos can I add to my listing?
Each basic listing you purchase allows you to display three photos. You can add up to 15 additional photos (a total of up to 18) for a one-time fee of $60 that covers the cost for the life of your CHBO listing. Photos are your best way to attract renters, so it is wise to add as many appealing views as you can. You can add additional photos under current listing by selecting upgrades. to upgrade now
7. How can I move my property higher in the list?
Properties that have sponsored listings are displayed higher in the list when a prospective renter searches. You can purchase a sponsored listing and select the upgrade button.
8.How do I add photos to my property listing?
There are four easy ways to add photos to your listing:
1.Upload photos from your computer when you originally list your property.
2. If you want to add photos later, and select
your property under current listings and choose edit property. This will take you to the Manage Property page. Scroll down and choose the edit property
button. This page will allow you to upload photos with
just a click. From this page, you can also replace, delete photos and add captions to the pictures.
3. If you are having difficulty uploading photos yourself, simply email your photos to CHBO, and mention in the email subject line the listing id for the
property to which you want the photos added.
4. If you feel uncomfortable uploading your own photos to the site, you can mail them to CHBO and we will scan them and upload them as to your listing on your behalf. If you choose this option, it is important to:
1) Be sure to provide the listing id of the property to which the photos should be added
2) Send high quality photographs. Please mail your photos to:
Corporate Housing By Owner
9249 South Broadway #200-416
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
9.What size and format of photo is required for posting?
If you are uploading photos from your computer:
For best results, use photos that are at least 350 x 350 pixels. Our site will automatically resize and crop the image so it fits the display area. There are two requirements:
1) Photos must be in JPEG format (saved as filename.jpg or filename.jpeg).
2) File size cannot exceed 1 MB per image.
Be patient, uploading can take a few minutes. When the process is complete, the system will forward you on to the next step.
If you are mailing photos to CHBO:
For best results, send only high quality photos with no shadows in the images. Pack them securely. Remember, the cleaner the photo surface, the clearer your image will scan and the better impression they will give of your property.
10.Do you charge a fee or commission on reservations or leases?
NO
11.Why doesn't my email show on my listing?
Your email address is not displayed on your listing to prevent unsolicited email (ie. spam). A email dialog box is displayed on your listing and this program will send tenant request directly to you. We do NOT monitor your request.
12.How can I measure my listing's activity?
Each listing keeps a record of each time your property is seen (ie. hit). You can see these hits by
• Logging in to your account
• Manage My CHBO Listings
• View Stats of your current listings
13.What percentage of your properties get rented and for how long?
This depends on the individual owners listing price and their response time in getting back to potential leads. CHBO is a resource for owners to list their properties to attract corporations who relocate; assign temporary projects and much more. Typically it takes about 30 days to get a property rented, but it is not uncommon for owners to get the right contacts right away.
14.How do I e-mail my property?
Open your property details page and click on the 'Email Property' icon at the top of your listing. This page will allow you to send your property to multiple email addresses including a subject and comments.
15.What are the benefits of having a Virtual Tour and adding it to my listing?
Think of all of the money that you spend promoting your listings.
• The cost of your time?
• The cost of gas to travel to appointments?
Did you know that 81% of U.S. Renters use the Internet and Virtual Tours as a resource when they are searching for a rental, and only 15% attend tour the rentals? Why inconvenience yourself and your renter? Once you’ve spent an hour or less creating a virtual tour, you have essentially created a round-the-clock online open house that buyers can conveniently experience from their home or office computer. If a renter is interested in making an appointment, he or she can immediately click on your virtual tour button and instantly make a decision on your property!
You control the content:
While a Virtual Tour isn’t a substitute for an actual walk through, it is an important opportunity for you to display your property the way you’d like. Your abilities as a seller, and entice the online shopper to take the next step. With a Virtual Tours, you are in complete control from listing, and all of the features that will make your listing stand out from the other properties.
16.How do I add a virtual tour or a link to another website with details about my property to my listing?
• Log into your account
• From MyCHBO scroll down to review my current listings
• Click on edit property
• Click the edit button under property details
• Scroll down to Virtual Tour URL input
• Enter the Virtual tour URL or website URL where your property is located in the space provided
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click submit
A virtual tour icon will automatically appear on your listing below the photos for users to click
17.What tax laws pertain to my unit?
The general rule for renting your personal residence is that for a home rented for less than 15 days in a calendar year (assuming a calendar year taxpayer which includes practically all individuals), the owner cannot deduct any of the related rental expenses, but isn't taxed on any of the rental income (Code Section 280A(g)). This applies to the United States of America.
18.Why does CHBO charge an annual fee?
CHBO is a marketing resource for your furnished Corporate Housing rental not just a static web site. CHBO works hard to give private owners a direct connection with business travelers. Unlike other websites that are just a page on the web and have little or no fees to post a rental listing, CHBO works hard to develop relationships with businesses who normally would not rent directly from a private owner and who would never use a free listing service to find a rental. The Marketing Team at CHBO has spent years developing relationships with corporate users and developing a user portal that offers free project management tools for housing coordinators making their jobs easier and streamlining their ability to connect with you. The founders of CHBO have over 30 years of Corporate Housing experience and business contacts that gives CHBO property owners more business connections than any other furnished housing web site. The CHBO Team also works hard to develop additional business relationships through direct marketing to corporations, memberships in local and national trade organizations and exhibiting across the country at travel and housing related trade shows.
19.If I market my property on CHBO does it restrict me from advertising my property elsewhere?
CHBO a marketing resource and not an exclusive management program and as such does not restrict property owners from advertising and promoting their properties in other ways. CHBO is an on-line marketing resource that allows owners to increase their annual revenue by connecting them with a specific type of qualified tenant not found through other marketing resources.
Marketing Tip: Keep your Availability Calendars up to date with all current leases. This accurate information is essential for connecting with future tenants and housing managers (Human Resource Directors, Travel Managers and Relocation Managers) who need to plan ahead.
20.Is CHBO a property management company?
CHBO is a Corporate Housing resource, NOT a property management company. The founders of CHBO have extensive experience in property management and corporate housing and have incorporated their experience into all the educational resources provided at no cost through CHBO. Property Management companies must be licensed real estate brokerages in the state where your property is located. To find potential property management companies in your area review "Recommended Sites" listed in the "Resource" section of the CHBO Site. CHBO is a marketing/advertising resource allowing furnished property owners to advertise their properties directly to the tenants who comprise the $3 billion a year corporate housing industry.
21.Why do I need to have an availability calendar?
Corporate Housing tenants require accurate and up to date information. Build a good relationship with Corporate Housing tenants by giving them the information they need. Corporate Housing tenants don't want to waste their time contacting 10 property owners only to find all the properties are not available. Time is a valuable commodity and corporations are more likely to rent directly from private owners if the process is easy and efficient. Don't lose a future corporate tenant by wasting their time if your property is currently not available. By keeping your calendar current you increase your annual occupancy rate by marketing now for the future. There are Corporate Housing tenants that are able to plan ahead and would like to book a unit now for the future. For example an auditor may know he comes to your city at the same time every year and you may be able to capture his business now.
22.Should I buy a home or condo for my corporate housing rental?
This is the million dollar question in corporate housing: What makes a better corporate rental, a single family home or a condo? The answer isn't clear cut because there are needs for both. However, consider these factors when making your decision:
Upkeep:
Single family homes typically require extra upkeep and maintenance (especially if they're older). They require regular yard maintenance, exterior painting, roof repairs, etc. On the other hand, condos only require maintenance within the unit as the upkeep of the exterior and common areas are maintained by the HOA and are part of the monthly assessment. Condos create reserves from HOA fees to manage major exterior updates or repairs (ie, a new roof).
Maintenance Costs:
Single family homes come with monthly costs like trash, heating, water, lawn mowing, etc., each needing to be paid separately. The good part is that some of these costs (heat, water) will fluctuate depending on the season and occupant (vacant, one person vs. four people living in the home, etc). Condos require you to pay a monthly assessment regardless if someone is living in the unit, however, most condos include heat, exterior maintenance, trash, building insurance and water in their monthly fees.
Time/Commitment:
Single family homes, no doubt, take more time to manage and require a more active, hands-on investor because there are many more things that require upkeep and maintenance in a home than in a condo. For investors will little time to dedicate to the process, a condo can be a great, worry-free way to go.
Rental Rate:
Rental rates are generally determined by the area you live, however, if you live in a condo that is 30% investor-owned, your rate will be determined by the pack. A single family home can vary in price and cash-flow better, on average. And because there are probably more condos offered as corporate rentals, they may take more time to find a renter as compared to a single family home.
Resale Value:
While resale value depends on the location, single family homes typically are easier to resell and hold their value over the long-term. A condo building with 500 units may have 10+ units for sale at any given time, making it difficult to sell your home at a competitive price.
These are just some considerations to make when deciding the right type of corporate housing investment property for you. Obviously there are numerous other factors too - so be sure to do your homework and take a "gut" check to find out what kind of investor you are and what type of property would work best for you.
23.What is the definition of Short-Term Housing?
Anything less than one year.
24.How do I edit my property listing details?
Simply log into CHBO by entering your user name and password.
This will put you into your "MYCHBO" account (This is your property owner home page).
Click the "Edit Property" link
Click the "Edit" property detail link and from here you will be able to edit any of the property information right from.
25.How do I change my password?
1. Login to your account at the top right of the CHBO website. This will automatically direct you to your MyCHBO account.
2. Scroll down to "Edit My Account Preferences".
3. Click "Edit My Account Preferences".
4. Change the password and the confirm password fields to your new password.
5. Click update at the bottom of page to change your password.
6. Log out of the website and log back in using your new password.
26.How do I inactivate/hide my property listing?
1. Login to your account at the top right of the CHBO website. This will automatically direct you to your MyCHBO account.
2. Scroll down to "Review Current Listings".
3. Click the RED inactive check boxes under the listing and this will switch to from the GREEN check mark from the Active box to the RED inactive box. Your listing will now be not active to the public.
27.What is Corporate Housing?
Corporate Housing is a multi-billion dollar segment of the lodging industry offering furnished residential monthly rentals.
The industry is divided into 3 products: Serviced Apartments; Managed Private Residences and By Owner Rentals. Traditionally Corporate Housing was a lodging solution that was only utilized by business travelers but today as the need for furnished monthly housing grows corporate housing is expanding into a mainstream lodging segment serving everyone from business travelers, to traveling theater performers, traveling nurses, sports professionals, visiting professors, graduate students, relocating families, individuals on military assignments, extended leisure travelers, grandparents on extended visits, divorcees and homeowners displaced from fire, water, mold and other insurance losses.
28.What is Corporate Housing by Owner?
Corporate Housing by Owner (CHBO) is a marketing and educational web portal that connects individual property owners, property managers and corporate housing companies with highly desirable segments of the traveling public both domestically and internationally. CHBO is the most targeted website offering fully furnished private residences to the general public for monthly stays and has established the “by Owner” Corporate Housing lodging segment. Properties listed on CHBO have unique access to professional housing coordinators through CHBO’s “Corporate User” interface. Also exclusive to CHBO is the “CHBO Complete” property standards program giving tenants and owners an essential tool for getting properties rented by establishing common expectations. Launched in March of 2006 as the next generation of Corporate Housing options for corporate and individual travel, CHBO has reached millions of people through the site and exposure in feature articles in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, The Denver Post and The San Francisco Chronicle, in addition to numerous other publications, television news and radio coverage. CHBO also aggressively works to connect with business travelers not just through the CHBO site but also through other targeted marketing efforts like direct mail, trade expos and direct sales.
29.How do I mark my property as available now or move in now. What are the benefits?
How to mark your property as being available now or move in now:
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Select 'Yes' or 'No' to the question under the property listing that states, 'Move In Now status'. It will be activated immediately for 30 days.
or
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit property details
4. Scroll down to the question under 'Property Posting Information', "Is this property available NOW for immediate occupancy?"
5. Select, yes
6. Click submit at the bottom of the page to activate
The listing will stay set as "move in now" for 30 days. You can disable this feature at anytime.
What are the benefits to marking your property "Move in Now"
CHBO puts a red 'Move In now' logo on your listing on the search results page letting corporations know your property is available NOW.
We have added this feature, "Move In Now," to label properties that are available for immediate occupancy on CHBO. If your property is available for immediate occupancy, simply select 'yes' to the question, "Is your property available for immediate occupancy?" when logged into your CHBO account. This new tool replaces the "Available Now" feature.
What is "Move In Now"? "Move In Now" properties get the royal treatment! CHBO will categorize your move-in ready listing in the search tool on the website to show your status as a "Move In Now" property. Potential renters in need of immediate occupancy will see the "Move In Now" icon in their search results and they also will be able to search properties that feature the "Move In Now" icon.
How It Works When the "Move In Now" icon is checked, your listing will remain in this status for 30 days and then it will automatically be reverted back to normal status. If your property is still available after 30 days, you can repeat the above steps to activate the "Move In Now" feature. If your property needs to be removed from the "Move In Now" select 'No' anytime.
Why "Move In Now"? CHBO created this feature to help drive more immediate traffic to properties that need a tenant immediately, helping potential tenants find the properties they need the moment they need them. In turn, it also helps CHBO landlords to find tenants the moment they need them too - a win-win for both parties.
Why Did "Available Now" Go Away? Too often property owners left their property marked as "Available Now", even if they had a tenant. It created a lot of confusion and added work. "Move In Now" automatically shuts off after 30 days ensuring that properties marked as "Move In Now" truly are move in ready.
30.How do I mark my property as CHBO complete?
To mark your property as CHBO complete, follow these steps:
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit property details
4. Scroll down to the question "Is this property CHBO complete?"
5. Select yes
6. Submit at the bottom of the page
This will put the CHBO complete logo on your listing.
31.How do I update my availability calendar?
To update my availability calendar, follow these steps:
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit link under the 'Availability Calendar' section. The edit link will only show if the calendar is enabled. If it is disabled, click the enable link to activate the calendar. You will be able to edit after the page refreshes.
4. From the calendar view, you can Click on an individual date to toggle the availability of that date or Click on the title of the month (ex. March) to toggle the availability of the entire month. Click Update Availability at the bottom of the page to submit your changes.
After you submit your changes, it will show on your listing instantly. Please update your calendar as needed.
32.I am logged into my CHBO account and get a message that, 'You can only manage your own property listing', what can I do?
This is typically caused because users have been on the CHBO site for a while and because browsers use cookies to help page loading time we recommend clearing your internet cookies, cache and restart your browser. This should immediately clear up your problem. If this problem continues, please contact CHBO.
33.How do I activate text notifications for listing inquiries?
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit property details
4. Scroll down to the section, Contact Information and look for the question "Do you want receive text alerts for new messages? "
5. Select yes
6. Insert your cell phone number in the next field, Cell phone contact number
7. Then select the Cell phone carrier
8. Submit at the bottom of the page
You will now receive SMS text messages when an inquiry is submitted for your listing. Repeat these steps for each listing.
34.How do I email a CHBO listing to someone?
1. Go to the listing you want to email on the CHBO website.
2. At the top of the listing, click the 'Email Property' button.
3. The page that pulls up will ask for a few things
4. 'To' field is for the recipient(s) email addresses. You can add multiple email addresses, separate by commas.
5. 'From' is whatever email address you want the mail to come from.
6. 'Subject' will default with the property title, change if needed
7. 'Comment' is to send a comment to the recipient(s)
8. Click the 'Send Page' button at the bottom to send.
9. An email will be sent out to the recipient(s).
35.I got my property rented now what do I do?
Please read our blog post, “Congrats…. You have a renter, now what?”
36.How do I get a credit report and is it needed?
Please read our blog post, “How to Run a Credit Check on a Prospective Tenant”
37.Do I need to collect a security deposit?
Please read our blog post, “Security Deposit 101 for your Corporate Rental” to get insights on whether or not you should collect a deposit and how much. We even address pet security deposits as well and when you should return a refundable deposit to a tenant.
38.Do you have a rental agreement or lease contract?
We provide sample rental agreements in your Toolkit, which you can access by logging into your MyCHBO account. We recommend you use a template agreement that you find in the Toolkit or by visiting WhichDraft.com. Further, make sure you review your lease agreement/contract with a local lawyer to ensure you are following property local laws.
39.My property is marked CHBO Complete but I don't know what that means.
CHBO Complete means your property is fully furnished within generally accepted corporate housing guidelines. Please visit CHBO Complete for full details on how to become CHBO Complete. Once your property contains all the furnishings and equipment as outlined by the CHBO Complete guidelines, you can login to your MyCHBO account and activate the CHBO Complete icon. This will show potential tenants that your property is “CHBO Complete.”
40.How do I take credit cards?
Please read, “How Do I Take Credit Cards for my Corporate Rental” blog post, which details why and how you can accept credit cards for your corporate rental – highly recommended that you do so. Click here to start accepting credit cards.
41.I have an international client - What can I do to check them out?
1. Have the client fill out an application - checking and calling all of their references
2. Require full payment of rent prior to move in (keep in mind that money orders can bounce).
3. Collect a larger security deposit.
4. Google the company and individual's name.
5. Check social media sites like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
6. Check out www.beenverified.com.
Most importantly have a conversation with them and prepare a list of questions to follow. This will give you a comfort level about their situation therefore making an educated decision on their application of your property.
42.How do I inactivate my property to CHBO feed partners?
You can inactivate your property listing feed to other CHBO partner sites by:
-Log into your MyCHBO Dashboard
-Scroll down to Member information and settings
-Edit member information
-Click the "No" to the question, "Place my listing with all partner websites?" (4th option down)
It can take up to two weeks for your property listing to be removed from all of CHBO's partner websites.
43.Does marking my property inactive make it hidden from users searches?
Yes, when a advertisers/property owner makes their property inactive it will not appear on any searches on the CHBO website. This can be done by logging into the users MyCHBO dashboard. Users have the ability to activate or inactivate their own property listing(s) at anytime during their annual subscription.
We recommend updating the calendar if the property owner has a shorter term renter, however some owners get 6-12 month leases, so in that case they may want to inactivate their listing until their renter gives them notice to vacate. The owner can come back into their account and reactive their listing to let potential renters know of their upcoming availability.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, fill out this form and we will address your question as soon as possible. Thanks from the team at Corporate Housing by Owner.
1.What procedures do I follow to list my corporate rental property?
2.If I lose Internet connection while adding my property, do I need to start over again?
3.I have multiple properties. Do I need to establish a separate account for each property?
4.How much does it cost to list my property on CHBO?
5.When I list multiple properties on your site, do I get a discount?
6. How many photos can I add to my listing?
7.How can I move my property higher in the list?
8.How do I add photos to my property listing?
9.What size and format of photo is required for posting?
10.Do you charge a fee or commission on reservations or leases?
11.Why doesn't my email show on my listing?
12.How can I measure my listing's activity?
13.What percentage of your properties get rented and for how long?
14.How do I e-mail my property?
15.What are the benefits of having a Virtual Tour and adding it to my listing?
16.How do I add a virtual tour or a link to another website with details about my property to my listing?
17.What tax laws pertain to my unit?
18.Why does CHBO charge an annual fee?
19.If I market my property on CHBO does it restrict me from advertising my property elsewhere?
20.Is CHBO a property management company?
21.Why do I need to have an availability calendar?
22.Should I buy a home or condo for my corporate housing rental?
23.What is the definition of Short-Term Housing?
24.How do I edit my property listing details?
25.How do I change my password?
26.How do I inactivate/hide my property listing?
27.What is Corporate Housing?
28.What is Corporate Housing by Owner?
29.How do I mark my property as available now or move in now. What are the benefits?
30.How do I mark my property as CHBO complete?
31.How do I update my availability calendar?
32.I am logged into my CHBO account and get a message that, 'You can only manage your own property listing', what can I do?
33.How do I activate text notifications for listing inquiries?
34.How do I email a CHBO listing to someone?
35.I got my property rented now what do I do?
36.How do I get a credit report and is it needed?
37.Do I need to collect a security deposit?
38.Do you have a rental agreement or lease contract?
39.My property is marked CHBO Complete but I don't know what that means.
40.How do I take credit cards?
41.I have an international client - What can I do to check them out?
42.How do I inactivate my property to CHBO feed partners?
43.Does marking my property inactive make it hidden from users searches?
1.What procedures do I follow to list my corporate rental property?
To create a new property listing
and follow the steps as follows. If you are having problems please or call us at 1.877.333.2426.2.If I lose Internet connection while adding my property, do I need to start over again?
No, if you have finished entering your account information, you do not have to start over again. You will be able to log in to the Owners area and finish entering information about your property. This will depend on what step you were at.
3. I have multiple properties. Do I need to establish a separate account for each property?
You may add all your properties to the same owner account. This feature makes it quicker and easier to manage all your properties. Please contact us about a discount for posting multiple properties.
4.How much does it cost to list my property on CHBO?
You can purchase a one-year basic listing and take advantage of all the sites resources for just $279.00. Special rates and coupons may apply to your basic listing cost. Listing upgrades increase your cost, but also dramatically increase your properties exposure to qualified potential renters. For your convenience, we accept Visa and MasterCard. To list your property, start here.
5. When I list multiple properties on your site, do I get a discount?
Yes, property owners who have multiple listings with CHBO will receive a discount based on the current special at the time they post their property. Please contact us for details on a rate
6. How many photos can I add to my listing?
Each basic listing you purchase allows you to display three photos. You can add up to 15 additional photos (a total of up to 18) for a one-time fee of $60 that covers the cost for the life of your CHBO listing. Photos are your best way to attract renters, so it is wise to add as many appealing views as you can. You can add additional photos under current listing by selecting upgrades.
to upgrade now
7. How can I move my property higher in the list?
Properties that have sponsored listings are displayed higher in the list when a prospective renter searches. You can purchase a sponsored listing
and select the upgrade button.
8.How do I add photos to my property listing?
There are four easy ways to add photos to your listing:
1.Upload photos from your computer when you originally list your property.
2. If you want to add photos later,
and select
your property under current listings and choose edit property. This will take you to the Manage Property page. Scroll down and choose the edit property
button. This page will allow you to upload photos with
just a click. From this page, you can also replace, delete photos and add captions to the pictures.3. If you are having difficulty uploading photos yourself, simply email your photos to CHBO,
and mention in the email subject line the listing id for the
property to which you want the photos added. 4. If you feel uncomfortable uploading your own photos to the site, you can mail them to CHBO and we will scan them and upload them as to your listing on your behalf. If you choose this option, it is important to:
1) Be sure to provide the listing id of the property to which the photos should be added
2) Send high quality photographs. Please mail your photos to:
Corporate Housing By Owner
9249 South Broadway #200-416
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
9.What size and format of photo is required for posting?
If you are uploading photos from your computer:
For best results, use photos that are at least 350 x 350 pixels. Our site will automatically resize and crop the image so it fits the display area. There are two requirements:
1) Photos must be in JPEG format (saved as filename.jpg or filename.jpeg).
2) File size cannot exceed 1 MB per image.
Be patient, uploading can take a few minutes. When the process is complete, the system will forward you on to the next step.
If you are mailing photos to CHBO:
For best results, send only high quality photos with no shadows in the images. Pack them securely. Remember, the cleaner the photo surface, the clearer your image will scan and the better impression they will give of your property.
10.Do you charge a fee or commission on reservations or leases?
NO
11.Why doesn't my email show on my listing?
Your email address is not displayed on your listing to prevent unsolicited email (ie. spam). A email dialog box is displayed on your listing and this program will send tenant request directly to you. We do NOT monitor your request.
12.How can I measure my listing's activity?
Each listing keeps a record of each time your property is seen (ie. hit). You can see these hits by
• Logging in to your account
• Manage My CHBO Listings
• View Stats of your current listings
13.What percentage of your properties get rented and for how long?
This depends on the individual owners listing price and their response time in getting back to potential leads. CHBO is a resource for owners to list their properties to attract corporations who relocate; assign temporary projects and much more. Typically it takes about 30 days to get a property rented, but it is not uncommon for owners to get the right contacts right away.
14.How do I e-mail my property?
Open your property details page and click on the 'Email Property' icon at the top of your listing. This page will allow you to send your property to multiple email addresses including a subject and comments.
15.What are the benefits of having a Virtual Tour and adding it to my listing?
Think of all of the money that you spend promoting your listings.
• The cost of your time?
• The cost of gas to travel to appointments?
Did you know that 81% of U.S. Renters use the Internet and Virtual Tours as a resource when they are searching for a rental, and only 15% attend tour the rentals? Why inconvenience yourself and your renter? Once you’ve spent an hour or less creating a virtual tour, you have essentially created a round-the-clock online open house that buyers can conveniently experience from their home or office computer. If a renter is interested in making an appointment, he or she can immediately click on your virtual tour button and instantly make a decision on your property!
You control the content:
While a Virtual Tour isn’t a substitute for an actual walk through, it is an important opportunity for you to display your property the way you’d like. Your abilities as a seller, and entice the online shopper to take the next step. With a Virtual Tours, you are in complete control from listing, and all of the features that will make your listing stand out from the other properties.
16.How do I add a virtual tour or a link to another website with details about my property to my listing?
• Log into your account
• From MyCHBO scroll down to review my current listings
• Click on edit property
• Click the edit button under property details
• Scroll down to Virtual Tour URL input
• Enter the Virtual tour URL or website URL where your property is located in the space provided
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click submit
A virtual tour icon will automatically appear on your listing below the photos for users to click
17.What tax laws pertain to my unit?
The general rule for renting your personal residence is that for a home rented for less than 15 days in a calendar year (assuming a calendar year taxpayer which includes practically all individuals), the owner cannot deduct any of the related rental expenses, but isn't taxed on any of the rental income (Code Section 280A(g)). This applies to the United States of America.
18.Why does CHBO charge an annual fee?
CHBO is a marketing resource for your furnished Corporate Housing rental not just a static web site. CHBO works hard to give private owners a direct connection with business travelers. Unlike other websites that are just a page on the web and have little or no fees to post a rental listing, CHBO works hard to develop relationships with businesses who normally would not rent directly from a private owner and who would never use a free listing service to find a rental. The Marketing Team at CHBO has spent years developing relationships with corporate users and developing a user portal that offers free project management tools for housing coordinators making their jobs easier and streamlining their ability to connect with you. The founders of CHBO have over 30 years of Corporate Housing experience and business contacts that gives CHBO property owners more business connections than any other furnished housing web site. The CHBO Team also works hard to develop additional business relationships through direct marketing to corporations, memberships in local and national trade organizations and exhibiting across the country at travel and housing related trade shows.
19.If I market my property on CHBO does it restrict me from advertising my property elsewhere?
CHBO a marketing resource and not an exclusive management program and as such does not restrict property owners from advertising and promoting their properties in other ways. CHBO is an on-line marketing resource that allows owners to increase their annual revenue by connecting them with a specific type of qualified tenant not found through other marketing resources.
Marketing Tip: Keep your Availability Calendars up to date with all current leases. This accurate information is essential for connecting with future tenants and housing managers (Human Resource Directors, Travel Managers and Relocation Managers) who need to plan ahead.
20.Is CHBO a property management company?
CHBO is a Corporate Housing resource, NOT a property management company. The founders of CHBO have extensive experience in property management and corporate housing and have incorporated their experience into all the educational resources provided at no cost through CHBO. Property Management companies must be licensed real estate brokerages in the state where your property is located. To find potential property management companies in your area review "Recommended Sites" listed in the "Resource" section of the CHBO Site. CHBO is a marketing/advertising resource allowing furnished property owners to advertise their properties directly to the tenants who comprise the $3 billion a year corporate housing industry.
21.Why do I need to have an availability calendar?
Corporate Housing tenants require accurate and up to date information. Build a good relationship with Corporate Housing tenants by giving them the information they need. Corporate Housing tenants don't want to waste their time contacting 10 property owners only to find all the properties are not available. Time is a valuable commodity and corporations are more likely to rent directly from private owners if the process is easy and efficient. Don't lose a future corporate tenant by wasting their time if your property is currently not available. By keeping your calendar current you increase your annual occupancy rate by marketing now for the future. There are Corporate Housing tenants that are able to plan ahead and would like to book a unit now for the future. For example an auditor may know he comes to your city at the same time every year and you may be able to capture his business now.
22.Should I buy a home or condo for my corporate housing rental?
This is the million dollar question in corporate housing: What makes a better corporate rental, a single family home or a condo? The answer isn't clear cut because there are needs for both. However, consider these factors when making your decision:
Upkeep:
Single family homes typically require extra upkeep and maintenance (especially if they're older). They require regular yard maintenance, exterior painting, roof repairs, etc. On the other hand, condos only require maintenance within the unit as the upkeep of the exterior and common areas are maintained by the HOA and are part of the monthly assessment. Condos create reserves from HOA fees to manage major exterior updates or repairs (ie, a new roof).
Maintenance Costs:
Single family homes come with monthly costs like trash, heating, water, lawn mowing, etc., each needing to be paid separately. The good part is that some of these costs (heat, water) will fluctuate depending on the season and occupant (vacant, one person vs. four people living in the home, etc). Condos require you to pay a monthly assessment regardless if someone is living in the unit, however, most condos include heat, exterior maintenance, trash, building insurance and water in their monthly fees.
Time/Commitment:
Single family homes, no doubt, take more time to manage and require a more active, hands-on investor because there are many more things that require upkeep and maintenance in a home than in a condo. For investors will little time to dedicate to the process, a condo can be a great, worry-free way to go.
Rental Rate:
Rental rates are generally determined by the area you live, however, if you live in a condo that is 30% investor-owned, your rate will be determined by the pack. A single family home can vary in price and cash-flow better, on average. And because there are probably more condos offered as corporate rentals, they may take more time to find a renter as compared to a single family home.
Resale Value:
While resale value depends on the location, single family homes typically are easier to resell and hold their value over the long-term. A condo building with 500 units may have 10+ units for sale at any given time, making it difficult to sell your home at a competitive price.
These are just some considerations to make when deciding the right type of corporate housing investment property for you. Obviously there are numerous other factors too - so be sure to do your homework and take a "gut" check to find out what kind of investor you are and what type of property would work best for you.
23.What is the definition of Short-Term Housing?
Anything less than one year.
24.How do I edit my property listing details?
Simply log into CHBO by entering your user name and password.
This will put you into your "MYCHBO" account (This is your property owner home page).
Click the "Edit Property" link
Click the "Edit" property detail link and from here you will be able to edit any of the property information right from.
25.How do I change my password?
1. Login to your account at the top right of the CHBO website. This will automatically direct you to your MyCHBO account.
2. Scroll down to "Edit My Account Preferences".
3. Click "Edit My Account Preferences".
4. Change the password and the confirm password fields to your new password.
5. Click update at the bottom of page to change your password.
6. Log out of the website and log back in using your new password.
26.How do I inactivate/hide my property listing?
1. Login to your account at the top right of the CHBO website. This will automatically direct you to your MyCHBO account.
2. Scroll down to "Review Current Listings".
3. Click the RED inactive check boxes under the listing and this will switch to from the GREEN check mark from the Active box to the RED inactive box. Your listing will now be not active to the public.
27.What is Corporate Housing?
Corporate Housing is a multi-billion dollar segment of the lodging industry offering furnished residential monthly rentals.
The industry is divided into 3 products: Serviced Apartments; Managed Private Residences and By Owner Rentals. Traditionally Corporate Housing was a lodging solution that was only utilized by business travelers but today as the need for furnished monthly housing grows corporate housing is expanding into a mainstream lodging segment serving everyone from business travelers, to traveling theater performers, traveling nurses, sports professionals, visiting professors, graduate students, relocating families, individuals on military assignments, extended leisure travelers, grandparents on extended visits, divorcees and homeowners displaced from fire, water, mold and other insurance losses.
28.What is Corporate Housing by Owner?
Corporate Housing by Owner (CHBO) is a marketing and educational web portal that connects individual property owners, property managers and corporate housing companies with highly desirable segments of the traveling public both domestically and internationally. CHBO is the most targeted website offering fully furnished private residences to the general public for monthly stays and has established the “by Owner” Corporate Housing lodging segment. Properties listed on CHBO have unique access to professional housing coordinators through CHBO’s “Corporate User” interface. Also exclusive to CHBO is the “CHBO Complete” property standards program giving tenants and owners an essential tool for getting properties rented by establishing common expectations. Launched in March of 2006 as the next generation of Corporate Housing options for corporate and individual travel, CHBO has reached millions of people through the site and exposure in feature articles in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, The Denver Post and The San Francisco Chronicle, in addition to numerous other publications, television news and radio coverage. CHBO also aggressively works to connect with business travelers not just through the CHBO site but also through other targeted marketing efforts like direct mail, trade expos and direct sales.
29.How do I mark my property as available now or move in now. What are the benefits?
How to mark your property as being available now or move in now:
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Select 'Yes' or 'No' to the question under the property listing that states, 'Move In Now status'. It will be activated immediately for 30 days.
or
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit property details
4. Scroll down to the question under 'Property Posting Information', "Is this property available NOW for immediate occupancy?"
5. Select, yes
6. Click submit at the bottom of the page to activate
The listing will stay set as "move in now" for 30 days. You can disable this feature at anytime.
What are the benefits to marking your property "Move in Now"
CHBO puts a red 'Move In now' logo on your listing on the search results page letting corporations know your property is available NOW.
We have added this feature, "Move In Now," to label properties that are available for immediate occupancy on CHBO. If your property is available for immediate occupancy, simply select 'yes' to the question, "Is your property available for immediate occupancy?" when logged into your CHBO account. This new tool replaces the "Available Now" feature.
What is "Move In Now"? "Move In Now" properties get the royal treatment! CHBO will categorize your move-in ready listing in the search tool on the website to show your status as a "Move In Now" property. Potential renters in need of immediate occupancy will see the "Move In Now" icon in their search results and they also will be able to search properties that feature the "Move In Now" icon.
How It Works When the "Move In Now" icon is checked, your listing will remain in this status for 30 days and then it will automatically be reverted back to normal status. If your property is still available after 30 days, you can repeat the above steps to activate the "Move In Now" feature. If your property needs to be removed from the "Move In Now" select 'No' anytime.
Why "Move In Now"? CHBO created this feature to help drive more immediate traffic to properties that need a tenant immediately, helping potential tenants find the properties they need the moment they need them. In turn, it also helps CHBO landlords to find tenants the moment they need them too - a win-win for both parties.
Why Did "Available Now" Go Away? Too often property owners left their property marked as "Available Now", even if they had a tenant. It created a lot of confusion and added work. "Move In Now" automatically shuts off after 30 days ensuring that properties marked as "Move In Now" truly are move in ready.
30.How do I mark my property as CHBO complete?
To mark your property as CHBO complete, follow these steps:
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit property details
4. Scroll down to the question "Is this property CHBO complete?"
5. Select yes
6. Submit at the bottom of the page
This will put the CHBO complete logo on your listing.
31.How do I update my availability calendar?
To update my availability calendar, follow these steps:
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit link under the 'Availability Calendar' section. The edit link will only show if the calendar is enabled. If it is disabled, click the enable link to activate the calendar. You will be able to edit after the page refreshes.
4. From the calendar view, you can Click on an individual date to toggle the availability of that date or Click on the title of the month (ex. March) to toggle the availability of the entire month. Click Update Availability at the bottom of the page to submit your changes.
After you submit your changes, it will show on your listing instantly. Please update your calendar as needed.
32.I am logged into my CHBO account and get a message that, 'You can only manage your own property listing', what can I do?
This is typically caused because users have been on the CHBO site for a while and because browsers use cookies to help page loading time we recommend clearing your internet cookies, cache and restart your browser. This should immediately clear up your problem. If this problem continues, please contact CHBO.
33.How do I activate text notifications for listing inquiries?
1. Log into your MyCHBO account (owner's home page)
2. Click edit property under the listing
3. Click edit property details
4. Scroll down to the section, Contact Information and look for the question "Do you want receive text alerts for new messages? "
5. Select yes
6. Insert your cell phone number in the next field, Cell phone contact number
7. Then select the Cell phone carrier
8. Submit at the bottom of the page
You will now receive SMS text messages when an inquiry is submitted for your listing. Repeat these steps for each listing.
34.How do I email a CHBO listing to someone?
1. Go to the listing you want to email on the CHBO website.
2. At the top of the listing, click the 'Email Property' button.
3. The page that pulls up will ask for a few things
4. 'To' field is for the recipient(s) email addresses. You can add multiple email addresses, separate by commas.
5. 'From' is whatever email address you want the mail to come from.
6. 'Subject' will default with the property title, change if needed
7. 'Comment' is to send a comment to the recipient(s)
8. Click the 'Send Page' button at the bottom to send.
9. An email will be sent out to the recipient(s).
35.I got my property rented now what do I do?
Please read our blog post, “Congrats…. You have a renter, now what?”
36.How do I get a credit report and is it needed?
Please read our blog post, “How to Run a Credit Check on a Prospective Tenant”
37.Do I need to collect a security deposit?
Please read our blog post, “Security Deposit 101 for your Corporate Rental” to get insights on whether or not you should collect a deposit and how much. We even address pet security deposits as well and when you should return a refundable deposit to a tenant.
38.Do you have a rental agreement or lease contract?
We provide sample rental agreements in your Toolkit, which you can access by logging into your MyCHBO account. We recommend you use a template agreement that you find in the Toolkit or by visiting WhichDraft.com. Further, make sure you review your lease agreement/contract with a local lawyer to ensure you are following property local laws.
39.My property is marked CHBO Complete but I don't know what that means.
CHBO Complete means your property is fully furnished within generally accepted corporate housing guidelines. Please visit CHBO Complete for full details on how to become CHBO Complete. Once your property contains all the furnishings and equipment as outlined by the CHBO Complete guidelines, you can login to your MyCHBO account and activate the CHBO Complete icon. This will show potential tenants that your property is “CHBO Complete.”
40.How do I take credit cards?
Please read, “How Do I Take Credit Cards for my Corporate Rental” blog post, which details why and how you can accept credit cards for your corporate rental – highly recommended that you do so. Click here to start accepting credit cards.
41.I have an international client - What can I do to check them out?
1. Have the client fill out an application - checking and calling all of their references
2. Require full payment of rent prior to move in (keep in mind that money orders can bounce).
3. Collect a larger security deposit.
4. Google the company and individual's name.
5. Check social media sites like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
6. Check out www.beenverified.com.
Most importantly have a conversation with them and prepare a list of questions to follow. This will give you a comfort level about their situation therefore making an educated decision on their application of your property.
42.How do I inactivate my property to CHBO feed partners?
You can inactivate your property listing feed to other CHBO partner sites by:
-Log into your MyCHBO Dashboard
-Scroll down to Member information and settings
-Edit member information
-Click the "No" to the question, "Place my listing with all partner websites?" (4th option down)
It can take up to two weeks for your property listing to be removed from all of CHBO's partner websites.
43.Does marking my property inactive make it hidden from users searches?
Yes, when a advertisers/property owner makes their property inactive it will not appear on any searches on the CHBO website. This can be done by logging into the users MyCHBO dashboard. Users have the ability to activate or inactivate their own property listing(s) at anytime during their annual subscription.
We recommend updating the calendar if the property owner has a shorter term renter, however some owners get 6-12 month leases, so in that case they may want to inactivate their listing until their renter gives them notice to vacate. The owner can come back into their account and reactive their listing to let potential renters know of their upcoming availability.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, fill out this form and we will address your question as soon as possible. Thanks from the team at Corporate Housing by Owner.
