"It's late Fall and I'm sitting out here in my shorts. Do I need another reason?" he asked. "How are you doing up there?"

"Uh...let me just go get a sweater," was all I could respond.

To give you some idea of how important it for a vacation rental property owner to fall in love with location, here are just two samples of what some villa owners told me:

"When we are driving back to airport in Florida we never want to leave," says Michelle Prince, owner of Secret Key Villa in Kissimmee, Florida ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/166/ ), adding "It was something we have always wanted to do since taking a Christmas break in Florida every year."

"I believe that to feel that you wish to buy property in Florida you must think further than 'Profit'," says Dave Gordon, owner of Lindisfarne Villa in Orlando ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/89/ ). "I sincerely believe that most foreign villa owners have 'feel good' factor themselves and buy because they want to return time and again…if they make a profit…what heck!"

Of course, no business venture should be run on off-chance of making a profit, but every business venture should be a labour of love, and few require as much love as tender nurturing of vacation rental homes.

Make sure whoever is checking your home while you're away knows how to work your alarm system and who to call in case of a problem or emergency. Additionally be sure to leave contact numbers on how you can be reached as well. Unless you have a house sitter, stop your mail and any newspaper or other delivery. Nothing announces an empty home better than a stack of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox. Ask a nearby neighbor to pick up any packages delivered while you're gone.

If you have a garden or plants on your balcony like many apartment complexes do, make sure someone is watering plants regularly or put plants where they can't be seen. Plants slowly dying due to lack of water may announce your absence. If you live in an apartment, check your lease. Many landlords require that you notify them if your apartment is going to be left empty for any period of time (this is so they can enter in case of emergency even if they can't reach you). If you've got a house sitter this normally isn't necessary.

Above is just some common sense tips, maybe they can help you jog you mind and you will think of a few others. There is nothing worse than coming home from a wonderful time on vacation to find that your home has been violated.