10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

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It’s an exciting and profitable venture to invest in a vacation rental property. Owning an investment property somewhere with high occupancy rates like Tampa, Florida can be a lucrative opportunity. Beach towns like this have a thriving tourism industry. Whether you’re planning to rent to long term tenants or short term vacation guests, you need to prepare the house properly. Good hospitality practices attract guests, ensure their satisfaction, and earn your rental five stars. You should also make sure that it is properly promoted, and the right website design can be the perfect starting point.

Don’t forget, you can also use this house for you, your family, and friends to vacation in during the year. The fun part about this is that when you’re enjoying your beach house, you get to imagine the guests who rent it through the year experiencing the same enjoyment you do. As a vacation rental host in Tampa, you want to make sure that your property stands out in a competitive rental market. So, here’s how you can prepare your vacation rental property for guests and maximize your investment.

person pointing a location on the map 10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

1. Clean and Declutter the House

The very first step to prepare your investment property is to make sure that it’s clean and clutter free. Your guests expect to have a high standard of cleanliness when they are renting a vacation home. They want a home away from home which is why they’ve chosen your house and not a hotel. Would you want to walk into a vacation rental or even a hotel room and find that it’s messy or dirty?

Take the time to deep clean every room. Pay a professional cleaning company to come in and manage this for you. Guests should be able to envision themselves in the space without being distracted by anyone else’s personal belongings. Rooms should be clean and minimalistic, with neutral décor that compliments the home’s architecture.

10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

2. Invest in High Quality Furniture

When it comes to guest satisfaction, furniture plays a big part. It doesn’t matter whether you have a cozy one bedroom condo or a spacious 4 bedroom home with a pool, your guests want to feel relaxed and comfortable.

Investing your money in high quality, durable furniture is wise. Choose pieces that are stylish and practical so your rental gets more visits than the competition. Think comfortable beds and plush sofas! Opt for comfortable mattresses and high thread count sheets. Nothing prompts a bad review like a bad night’s sleep. Invest in leather sofas and deep clean upholstered pieces with the carpet every year.

The property management company I use, Evolve Vacations, has a furniture program for vacation rental owners. This is especially useful when you’re juggling the set up of multiple properties in different locations. I love Evolve’s industry low 10% management fee and toolbox of smart technology. Email me for more information on how I manage my investment properties with Evolve. I would love to connect you with my international referral network of real estate agents.

3. Upgrade Kitchen Appliances and Vacation Rental Amenities

One of the most important areas in any rental property is the kitchen. People often choose a vacation rental because they want to to self cater and cook their own food. If your property’s kitchen is outdated or inefficiently stocked, people won’t be coming back and your reviews will suffer.

Stainless steel appliances, including a refrigerator, oven, microwave and dishwasher, will help. You should also equip the kitchen with the basic and essential cooking utensils and cookware. You’ll need these for yourself too when you’re staying in the house.

woman in green tube top sitting on white ceramic bathtub 10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

4. Update the Bathrooms to Feel Like a Spa

Bathrooms might be small, but small rooms can have the biggest impact. Keep the bathroom is spotless and well maintained. There should be freshly grouted tiles and good caulking. Replace any outdated fixtures or worn out shower heads and update light fixtures.

The linens that you keep in the bathroom should be high quality. They will see a lot of wear and tear. From the bath towels to the washcloths, the bathrobes to the rugs, everything should be clean and ready for the next guests. Hiring a cleaning company can significantly enhance the cleanliness of the space. It can also improve the reviews that you get in return.

swimming pool near villas 10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

5. Create an Outdoor Oasis

Tampa has warm and sunny weather which makes it the perfect place for outdoor living. Your guests will appreciate an inviting outdoor space, especially if you have a waterfront property. Consider upgrades like a grill, a fire pit, or even a hot tub in lieu of a pool. An outdoor pizza oven is a memorable feature that will have your guests raving on social media.

If you are sunset facing, make sure that you have a comfortable and elevated space for guests to enjoy the view. This will be a huge selling point.

6. Focus on Mood Lighting

From the exterior to the inside of the home, lighting can significantly affect the mood and atmosphere. Your guests won’t have a great overall experience in harsh, overexposed lighting. On the flip side, guest’s social media photos won’t give your property free advertising if it’s too dark to see anything.

Replace standard light fixtures with more stylish options, and be sure to use a variety of light sources. Not everybody wants to use the big glaring light in the living room ceiling. Give options with accent and lamp lighting to create custom effects at different times of day.

7. Install Smart Home Technology

If you want to impress your guests, keyless entry systems, smart thermostats, and labeled smart lighting controls are an expectation. Install voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home to offer guests a modern and exciting experience.

If you do have the funds to update the bathroom, include smart options like lighting and jets in the bath. These little additions can have a significant impact on guest experience and build your equity at the same time. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy them when you’re staying at the house.

8. Provide Entertainment for All Ages

From an in-home theater to a stack of board games and books, outfit your house with entertainment for all ages. You want people to have entertainment options during their downtime.

For added convenience, you should offer free Wi-Fi through the property, as guests will expect high speed Internet access. This can be used to power your smart TV’s so guests can smartcast their streaming services.

aerial photography of waves crashing to the sandy shore of a beach 10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

9. Stay On Top of Maintenance

All appliances, fixtures, and alarm systems should be in working order before you rent it out.

Having someone inspect your home in between guests is a great idea. The cleaners keep it clean but don’t always offer the additional services vacation rental owners need. A local maintenance person or professional organizer can help you to stay on top of the regular upkeep.

rustic french picnic basket with bread and wine 10 Ways to Prep Your Vacation Rental Property for Guests

10. Add Local Spice

Incorporating local delights in the interior design will welcome your guests and make them feel special. Take guests on a food journey with a basket of local extras and make a great first impression. Include local snacks, bottled water, and a bottle of wine from the local wineries. These personal touches demonstrate that you make an extra effort to be an accommodating host. Make you guests smile after they’ve been traveling all day.

Preparing your investment property prepared for rent requires so much more than just listing it online. You need to furnish the space correctly, clean it, and keep it updated. Once you’ve checked these items off your todo list, a property manager can help you to keep it looking good.

As a vacation rental host, it’s not just about creating a passive income for yourself. The point is to create a getaway where people can escape their everyday life. Continue evaluating and upgrading your investment property by reinvesting profits. This way, guests will enjoy it and leave rave reviews!

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Real Estate Investing Tools

Evolve Vacations

Receive a $250 management fee credit when you sign up for professional property management with Evolve Vacations through my agent link!

I love Evolve’s industry low 10% management fee and toolbox of smart technology for vacation rental owners. Email me for more information on how I manage my investment properties with Evolve.

Deal Check

Deal Check is an amazing tool I use to analyze potential real estate investments. Before purchasing a new vacation rental property, I always run numbers through this app to verify the investment potential. Use my special discount code BESTDEAL for 20% off your subscription.

VRBO

VRBO is the world’s leading online marketplace for the vacation rental industry representing over 2 million vacation rentals in 190 countries. VRBO is a part of the Expedia, Inc. family of brands.