We asked RVshare employees and owners this simple question: “What advice would you give to other owners who are renting through RVshare, and renting an RV in general?” Provided below are their top pieces of advice:

Tips From Owners

Create a binder or manual with pertinent information on the RV itself and contact information in an easily accessed area in the motor home. You can also leverage the RVshare Renter Handbook template as a resource to get you started.

  • I post a sheet of paper in a sheet protector on the wall of our motor home with mine and my co-owner’s cell phone numbers. We also include RVshare’s number for quick reference (888) 482-0234. 
  • We cite the gas tank capacity with how much gasoline it holds, and how it uses unleaded gasoline. We stress “do not forget the gas cap, please!” 
  • I do the same with the propane tanks, and of course, the freshwater tank capacity. I have a typed list with other specifics such as the height of the vehicle. This is helpful for renters to know when they are on the road so they can judge whether or not they can safely go under a bridge. 
  • Provide a Checklist that summarizes all of the Setup/Tear-down steps and instructions.

Create RVshare business cards for quick reference and place them in an easy-to-find spot in the RV.

  • I made a small RV logo that looks like ours, and included RVshare’s toll free number and information to create a business card.

Provide a manila folder for your renters with the renter’s name, the dates the renter is on the road, and the recommended documents for on the road.

Offer free parking as a courtesy.

  • We offer parking in our rear secured yard while they have the motorhome out on their trip. This seems to be a well-received gesture.

Include helpful free items to include in the RV. 

  • Lots of paper towels, small vacuum, broom/dust pan, basic tool kit, flashlight, dental floss, rubber bands, bandaids, antibiotic sprays, first aid kit, super glue, scissors, sewing straight pins, small electric table light, pencils, pad of paper, wine opener, non-electric can opener, paper maps, and atlas.
  • If they are dry camping and are without the Internet or electricity, think of the things you would want or may need on a trip like this.

Make sure you understand exactly how your RV works.

  • Being able to answer basic questions and explain how certain areas work is key.

Learn the actual sleeping numbers.

  • Separate actual beds from converting the dinette. Renters do not prefer dinette beds unless they are saving space or weight.

Don’t try to compete with other RV Owners.

  • Some RV Owners will drop pricing, offer unlimited miles, and do other things because they feel as if they have to compete with other owners. We have found we are priced above 50% of other owners in our RV Class, but we still stay very busy from May – November.
  • We also get glowing reviews and compliments. While other Owners drop their prices low, they book for the summer very quickly. We have fewer, but much better quality rentals, and our bottom line at the end of the year is better.

Don’t charge too many fees.

  • Many years ago I wanted to rent an RV from a Dealership. It sounded great at first, but after I found out about all of the fees it was a raw deal. People are drawn to peer-to-peer rentals because we are not big box retailers. Don’t think of yourself as Hertz Rental Company, but think of yourself as an approachable down to earth RV Enthusiast that likes to share their RV with others. 
  • We choose not to charge a cleaning fee (unless our RV comes back trashed). We don’t charge for kitchen essentials, linens, soap, trash bags, etc. Too many fees can scare off a renter. 
  • We DO charge a Dump Fee, Refuel Fee (if they don’t do it themselves), and Miles and Generator overages. We even provide a BBQ grill, toilet paper, DVD’s and many other amenities at no additional cost. Our Reviews reflect it too. I tell our renters that all they really need is themselves, clothes, food and a good time.

Go the extra mile.

  • Communicate often and provide a way for your renter to contact you day or night.
  • Have your RV clean inside and out.
  • Offer a small gift basket and hand-sign a personal letter. 
  • Check on your renters a day or so after they leave to ask if everything is working well.
  • Ask the renter to send pictures of them in front of your RV having fun. 
  • Share your RV stories, and what you would recommend. We always respond to rental requests getting excited with them about their trip. If we have been to their destination, we share that with them as well. You will have great reviews and if something does go wrong, it can make the situation a little better to deal with.

Be firm.

  • Be professional if an issue does come up, and take problems with a grain of salt. 
  • We have it listed; “We will make best efforts to ensure all items are functioning. However given that items can fail, we make no guarantee of their availability. Especially during busy seasons where there is limited maintenance time for repair. We will inform you if something may not be working prior to pick-up/delivery.”
  • Sometimes the entire trip will seem to be going just fine, then a day or two before they return they give you a laundry list of complaints and failures, sometimes at return. They may start off by telling you unless you want a bad review you need to give them half of their money back. Don’t give in. You can’t be responsible for RV systems breaking down.
  • If the renter is past their refund date and they are seeking a refund, again stand firm. If you truly feel bad for their situation offer them a future rental credit. If they are in a bad situation, they will be very grateful for the offer.

Get a GPS unit.

  • Sometimes renters can be less than honest about their destination, plans or why they may be late returning your RV. A GPS can alleviate many fears. 
  • We have a Sprint Drive GPS. It also gives us the Health Information of the RV Motor, and can be used as a Wifi HotSpot as a value-added bonus. 
  • Make sure to check your state laws regarding disclosure rights about having this. 
  • You don’t want to be waiting at the return location and the renter is saying they are several hours away, when they are at home trying to fix something they broke. (All of this has been learned the hard-way)

A few tips from RVshare:

  • Provide a welcome gift basket full of essentials for an RV trip, or snacks and drinks. Renters love to feel welcomed!
  • Keep your calendar up to date – If you are renting on several platforms, sync your calendars to reflect each. OR make sure to block off dates the unit is booked on another site so bookings do not overlap.
  • Keep track of your login information. There are a few sites you need to use to keep track of everything on the platform.