Making Your Home Vacation Rental Ready: Invest in Your Investment
Long gone are the days where the only place to stay while traveling is a questionable hostel or a hotel that you have to book for an entire day. With the advances of the internet, communication has never been easier or more accessible. Technology has created instant connections, revolutionized travel, and opened doors for people to make income from renting their homes through a click of a button. If you’re considering making some extra cash and renting out your home as a vacation rental, this article will help set you up for success.
Presentation Is Everything
Like most things in the world, first impressions are key to finding vacation renters. Whether you choose to self-market your home or use a third party, you will need to have an online presence. If you want to invest in your home as a potential income source, then now is the time to make improvements. Make all the necessary repairs and then invest in comfy beds, bedding, furniture, art, appliances, high-speed internet, cable, and fluffy towels.
Once your home is in tip-top shape, hire a professional photographer to capture its beauty. Look for a photographer who can tell the full story of your home and highlight its best features. You want them to catch the lighting just right, have an eye for space and shadows, and present your space just like it is. Your goal here is to have photos that highlight the positive aspects of the property and realistically show what your home offers (i.e. don’t have photos that make the room look like a palace when it is no more than the size of a shoebox). Investing in good photos will yield a return and ultimately pay for itself.
Stay Smart
Being able to market your home as a safe smart home will help your guests feel secure and welcomed. Update your home to include keyless locks that won’t require your guests to keep track of a key and that provide you with the flexibility of changing the code. Add some outdoor security cameras to keep intruders at bay and allow you to know when your guests have arrived. Install smart thermostats to save on electricity bills. Invest in a safe that provides your guests with a place to secure their valuables. A smart home is an added selling point.
Spot Check
Two things can land you a terrible review: misrepresenting what someone will be renting and failing to keep your house tidy. Cleanliness is essential to ensuring you have repeat visitors and make money off your home. The goal is not to be clean enough to get by but to amaze your guests. If you will be cleaning your home prior to your guests’ arrival and after their departure, you’ll become very familiar with your vacuum. Spend some time on the front end learning about common issues with vacuum cleaners and how to fix them, so that when the brush doesn’t spin or the vacuum overheats, you can quickly resolve the problem and move on.
Amenities, Amenities
The reviews are everything. You want your renters to love their stay so much that not only do they come back, but they also leave a raving review about your home and the services you provide. In addition to providing a beautiful and clean space, invest in the small added touches. Stock your home with books, DVDs, and games for those nights your guests choose to stay in for some R&R. Purchase maps and guidebooks of the area to help your guests find their way around. Provide a list of your favorite local eateries and destinations. Put the icing on the cake with complimentary toiletries, water, and maybe some cookies for that late-night sweet tooth.Making your home vacation rental-ready will result in a positive return on your investment. Spend time and money on presentation, and consider investing in smart technology. Ensure your home is immaculately clean, and save yourself time by familiarizing yourself with your cleaning tools. Finally, ensure your home is filled with all the amenities that will be sure to make your rental stand out in the reviews.Photo Credit: Pexels
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
