When I was a kid, Labor Day signaled the end of summer. The end of freedom. The end of vacation season.

As an adult, Labor Day feels much different to me. The kids in our neighborhood attending year-round school have been in class for nearly a month, and families are looking forward to the three-week break that begins in mid-October. Some are planning time with their Grandparents at Walt Disney World, while others are perusing guidebooks for things to do in the mountains of Colorado.

In more and more parts of the country–from Wake County, North Carolina to Phoenix, Arizona–schools are moving to a mandatory year-round calendar. Year-round and home schooling mean a growing number of families with school-aged children can now enjoy vacations throughout the year without missing class.

While that may be bad news for individual travelers, honeymooners and couples who have always had more flexibility with their dates, it’s great news for vacation rental property managers and homeowners.

Property managers and owners likely keep records of the families that have rented their vacation homes. As a renter, I’m surprised that the property management companies that I use over and over again have never once pro-actively reached out to me.

Maybe they assume I’ll come back year after year or maybe they don’t need my business. I’m not sure, but what I am sure of is that if they reached out to me and asked, I’d tell them: “Yes, we vacation with small children during times of the year when other families might not.” Then, when they did have last-minute availability in what they considered their shoulder- and off-seasons, they might be able to entice me back with little effort.

Repeat business is all about connecting with customers and providing the best experience every time. If you have an unusual way of staying in touch with your customers so that you’re top of mind when they think of vacation rentals (especially during non-peak travel seasons), tell us about it in the comments below or email me.

In the meantime, welcome Labor Day! I look forward to planning our upcoming vacation, which we can sometimes take at half the price and definitely with half the crowds!