Liven Up Your Vacation Rental Home

Liven Up Your Vacation Rental Home

For the current vacation rental home owner or those who will be fortunate enough to take advantage of a deal to buy one, this could be a very good year for your venture.  Early indicators seem to be pointing to a better vacationing year for the American public.  In addition, the United States is going to be receiving a lot of people from other countries this year, as the value of our currency makes it more attractive to vacation in the United States. In fact, a recent financial report on CNN had the value of the Canadian and U.S. dollar almost matching perfectly.  So get ready, the vacationers will be coming out of the woodwork.

While it will be a good year for the vacation rental industry, it may still be a poor year for those who are not prepared to lure in the vacation rental goers.  This year’s crowd will be smarter than ever, and they will be looking for bargains.  If you intend on competing in the industry, you need to stand out from your competition like never before. This seems to be the best advice being given right now, by entities like The Travel Industry Association.

If you asked the average person on the street, though, where to look for value in a place to stay, while on vacation, most would tell you to look for a vacation rental home. A couple of years ago, travel guru Ed Perkins correctly pointed to how this perception would develop in the minds of the general public.  At that time (2008) he was saying:

“Vacation rentals — especially budget locations — will continue to offer the best antidote to steadily climbing hotel rates. Fortunately, the Internet makes finding good rentals extremely easy, anywhere in the world,” Perkins says. “

So, how do you add value to your vacation rental home?  As Christine Karpinski of HomeAway.com pointed out

“when you sign on the dotted line for your vacation rental, it’s likely already furnished and decorated, but that doesn’t mean it’s quite ready to go.”

The secret is thinking from the other person’s point of view. What amenities do you like when you travel?  Can you find those items in your vacation rental home?  It may be necessary for you to add some items like a television, phone, stereo system, etc. It may not be your favorite thing, but it could help you keep your vacation rental home full.

Another thing to watch out for is how you personalize your vacation rental home. Remember: people may write and blog about your home.  Some personal items are fine. It may be a good idea, though, to remove valuables. Make one of the closets in the home into a lockable safe, and store your most personal items there.  Otherwise, clear all the clutter from the home. Your vacation rental should be cute, comfortable and not cluttered.

Then add items travelers expect to find in a vacation home, items that will give your guests the memories of convenience that will keep them coming back for more.  Make sure the kitchen is well stocked with dinnerware and cooking utensils. Have a dining room table big enough to seat the whole sleeping capacity of the home. A microwave and coffee pot should also be there.  A nice extra touch is having a fold away table and chairs for kids, so they can set by themselves.

Bedrooms should look plush.  Make sure your bed linens are top quality.  Have enough quality sheets available to make the bed two times (per every bed in the home.) Extra touches should include alarm clocks, a reading lamp, and bedside table. A television in each bedroom is also a value touch for many.

Vacation rental home renters expect the bathrooms to be spotless. They also demand quality towels. Provide at least 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, and 4 washcloths per guest. This kind of touch will really get your place noticed, and talked about. Even in the Internet age, people still talk friend to friend about quality places to stay on vacation.

Finally, let’s talk a moment about the WOW factor.  A washer and dryer can really be a life saver.  You may also want to consider high speed internet access.  Add an iron and ironing board, video gaming, or even a hair dryer to your vacation rental home. Imagine what a bottle of wine or sparkling water might do for attitude, when the refrigerator gets opened. Try leaving a list of your favorite eating spots in a variety of price ranges. Great ideas that will impress your guests do not have to cost you money.

All of these sorts of touches will help you win the battle for vacation rental home business this year. Just remember the golden rule of vacation rental homes:  think from the vacationer’s point of view. If you do that, it should be a good year.

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