How To Prepare Your Property As A Vacation Rental!

With summer just around the corner, if you own a rental property designed for short-term stays, then now is the perfect time to get it prepared! We’ve got all things covered here, from your initial clean to the final touches that really make a difference to how your guests feel about their experience with you. 

Declutter and Deep Clean

The first step might seem like a simple one but it’s the most important, so we had to mention it! Decluttering your vacation rental is essential if you have been living in it, or if you’re just giving it a refresh, as the last thing guests will want is random bits and pieces all over the place. Although they might mean something to you, when you’re renting it out, pack them up and put them into a storage box and lock them away. This will help everything to feel so nice, clean and fresh, so it is really important. Plus, it protects your things from getting broken. 

Now that you have a clear space, it’s time to make it clean. If you don’t have the time to give everything a real deep clean, it’s important you hire someone to do it professionally, as cleanliness is probably top of every holiday-makers list when it comes to what they look for when they’re stopping somewhere. So, having a super clean place to start the rental season is key. 

Focus On Soft Furnishings

Now that you have a really clean and clear space, it’s time to make it feel slightly more homely, without it being cluttered. One of the best ways to do this, apart from understated artwork throughout which helps to bring things to life, is with soft furnishings. 

Plain beds and sofas might be practical, but it’s the small touches that make a huge difference when your guests arrive, as well as when they’re making the decision to book. So, you might choose simple white duvet cover sets (we’d always advise this, as your main bedding should be white), but then make sure you choose decorative throws and pillows to warm up the space. You could also have a matching rug to really tie everything together. The same goes for the sofa, you might have a darker-colored main sofa for practicality, but then you should add unique cushions and throws to brighten everything up. 

Along with soft furnishings, things like reed diffusers to make everything smell nice and some plants (good artificial plants will do and are much more practical), also make all the difference when it comes to first impressions. 

Maximise Outdoor Spaces

Next up, if your vacation rental property has outdoor spaces, then this should be a priority. When people are visiting somewhere in the summer months, the likelihood is they will want to make the most of the outdoor space and weather. So, for example, if you have a terrace, give the walls a fresh lick of paint, jet wash the floor to get rid of any build-up, and give the furniture a really good clean (and paint if applicable). Consider things like sunbeds and parasols to make the space more comfortable, along with things like comfortable cushions for the garden furniture and a BBQ that the guests can utilize. 

For many guests, a great outdoor space makes all the difference, so make this a priority and get some great photos taken of it then watch how much of a difference it makes, both in terms of bookings and guest satisfaction. 

Update Your Local Guide

Lastly, something that makes a huge amount of difference to your guests’ satisfaction is a great local guide. You will likely have a booklet already of how everything works, such as wifi, washing machines, air conditioning, etc. However, if you don’t already have some information that guests can utilize about the local area, you definitely should. Or, if you haven’t updated it in a while, now is the perfect time. 

When someone is brand new to an area, having recommendations about where to eat, drink, the best ice cream, water sports, the most beautiful beaches, local supermarkets, doctors, and everything in between can transform their trip. When you put time and effort into this, your reviews will be much better, and as a result, more people will commit to booking in the future. This might take you a couple of hours but can make a huge difference. 

Final Thoughts 

Take the time to make the above changes to your vacation rental this summer and we’re confident that it will make all the difference to how many bookings you receive and/or the satisfaction of your guests!