When entering a restaurant, would you rather see cockroaches or flowers? First Impressions are everything!

It is true for your vacation rental as well. The hard truth is that you can lose bookings, or even worse, some customers may take you to court demanding their money back if they walk into a rental that is not what was promised. We know of these stories - that is why we chose this topic. No matter the price range of your condo or home, upscale or budget-friendly, first impressions mean absolutely everything! Bad impressions are hard to recover from and at the very least, will result in poor reviews posted online for everyone out there in cyber world to see.

Here's how to prevent that:

• Communication is key - From beginning to end, make sure your customer can readily reach you via email or telephone for questions. Prior to arrival, make sure they are crystal clear on how to enter your rental. A sure bet is by using Internet Locks such. Internet locks allow you to give access codes to guests remotely.

• Cleanliness - It goes without saying that your rental should be absolutely spotless. Don't take for granted that a sweep here and there constitutes a good cleaning. Here is an unfortunate example: Recently, an unhappy renter entered a high-end property and found broken blinds, bad sheets, rodent droppings and traps. Needless to say - the renter is demanding the money back and booked elsewhere. You can imagine the fallout that will ensue with reviews.

• No Surprises - If there is something your renter needs to know about your property, tell them. For example, if by chance your rental has a bit of water damage on the ceilings due to a condo above it, but the stains are scheduled for cleaning and maintenance after their stay, tell your renter. If there is no central a/c but there are ceiling fans and lots of windows that can be opened, tell your renter. The more your renter knows, the better!

• Guest Manual - This is a wonderful way to add that extra special touch for your renters. The manual can include menus from local restaurants, information on the house such as how to adjust the thermostat, what to do and not to do when it comes to cleaning, etc. Any community information is great too. Also include contact info for area emergency systems and any other important numbers. Be sure to prominently display the WiFi Code if there is one.

• Everything in Working Order - Make sure everything is functioning properly such as the Washer/Dryer, Dishwasher, all of the bulbs in the lights are still good, fans, garbage disposal, pool pumps, etc. If they are not, please refer to Tip #3.

• Courtesy Toiletries - This is another special touch that will go a long way! Providing even sample sizes of toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners, soaps, etc. will mean a lot to your renters.

• Gift Basket - We recently stayed at a beautiful house in Orlando by manager Christina Price. It was not only an amazing house, but Christina also provided some surprise treats for us in the refrigerator. What an amazing and thoughtful gesture!!!!!

"This has been a tough year in the vacation rental business and the only way to survive is to find something that makes you stand out from the crowd," said Christina. "By concentrating our efforts in providing the small touches that are comparatively low in cost, we have been able to leave a lasting and positive impression on our guests, which has worked to our advantage. Not only do we have more inquiries as a result, we also have guests singing our praises to other homeowners in the area which has led to new homes coming under our management."

• City Guides - We think that renters would love finding more information about the city they are planning to visit. So, provide a city guide or a link to a city guide. RentExpert has created a city guide for over 350 cities and you are welcome to link to it for free.

So the lesson is: Dont take for granted that customers expect the very best. That means, maintain open, honest communication with no surprises, create a clean and comfortable home for your guests, and the extra touches make a big difference too.

So remember, no cockroaches! But flowers are great!