Profiting from Vacation Rentals: 10 Tips to Wow Your Guests and Boost Your Ratings

For owners of investment properties, the rise of the vacation rental has created a wealth of new opportunities. Landlords and property owners are no longer stuck with traditional month-to-month leases; they turn their properties into vacation rentals and make a healthy profit in the process.

It helps to be located in or near a major tourist destination, but vacation rentals can be profitable no matter where you live. If you want to join the vacation rental revolution and know how to succeed, you should know that the most important thing to focus on should be giving your guests a wonderful place to stay and providing great property management services. It’s one of the most important aspects of operating a successful rental business and growing your company for months and years to come, because it will lead to more positive reviews and bookings.

The peer review system is at the heart of the vacation rentals industry, and a single glowing review could boost the attractiveness of your property and help you get more guests. Here are 10 simple steps you can take to wow your guests and boost your ratings.

1. Stock the kitchen with the essentials. Make sure guests have a variety of pots and pans, as well as potholders, serving spoons and utensils. You will also want to provide an assortment of commonly used spices as well as salt and pepper shakers.

2. Bring out your fluffiest towels. The linens you provide will set the tone for the entire stay, so do not skimp on the towels and other bathroom supplies. Outfitting the bathroom with fancy soaps, high-end shampoos, and other luxuries is a great way to welcome your guests in style.

3. Offer brochures to area attractions, including some hidden gems. Guests coming to your vacation rental will probably have their trip mapped out, so uncover hidden gems they may have missed. Gather brochures for local attractions and leave them waiting by the door or on the kitchen table.

4. Provide a variety of takeout menus. After a long day of touring, your guests will want something good to eat. Putting a binder of takeout menus and delivery options by the phone is a nice touch, and one hungry guests are sure to appreciate.

5. Post a channel listing near the TV. A channel listing posted on or near the TV is another small touch that vacation rental guests will love. You can also highlight movie channels, local news stations and anything else you think might be of interest.

6. Place the remote controls in a visible spot. Busy travelers do not have time to hunt for the remote, so make sure it is easy to find.  

7. Invest in top quality bedding. If there is one indulgence hosts should splurge on, it is quality bedding. Those sheets, pillowcases, and comforters will get a workout, so paying extra is an investment. Those quality bedding supplies will last longer, making them a great value.

8. Leave an emergency number for lockouts and other unforeseen issues. Emergencies happen, so make sure guests know how to reach you and what to do. Place emergency instructions near the front door, where they will be visible to arriving guests. You can also post an emergency phone number by the front door.

9. Provide instructions for appliances, home security systems and the like. You have a lot of gadgets in your home, and your guests may not know how to use them all. A small binder with relevant instructions is a nice touch, and one your guests are sure to appreciate.

10.Give your guests a memory book where they can record their adventures and paste in their photographs. A quality notebook, blank book or small photo album are all perfect for recording memories of a wonderful stay. 

Whether you are an experienced landlord or new to the investment property game, turning your home into a vacation rental is a great way to make extra money all while building a winning property management business. But if you want to succeed in the crowded field of vacation rentals, you need to do more than just meet the expectations of your guests. If you want your foray into vacation rentals to be profitable, you need to routinely exceed the expectations of every guest who walks through your front door. This list is a great place to get you started.