Vacation Rental Start Up?
Bad news for AirBnB and other vacation rental owners: You are literally competing with your neighbors. When everyone turns their properties, garages, sheds, barns, treehouses and even old buses into vacation stays, the result is an oversaturated market where rentals often sit empty. After a series of short-to-long stays for vacation and remote work, I’ve experienced secret wins and total fails. Here’s a list of necessities to make the competitive cut and help your rental stand out:
1) Security. Install motion lighting and video surveillance for all sides of your home and rental. Poorly lit streets are a disadvantage. Timer lights are helpful. In areas where many homes have tall fences, be sure that to install one as well. In some countries, finer homes may have high fences topped with concertina or electrified wire. Perhaps even security guards, or a guard station on each block. Yes, really. Are locks strange or quirky? A tourist spending extra time at your gate is a mark for robbery or worse.
2) Curb appeal. Is paint, siding, or roofing cracked? Landscaping, however minimal, should not look miserable. Choose attractive plantings that are low maintenance. Fix loose stones or broken outdoor tiles. Gravel is economical. Create a seating area outside for your guest(s). If it’s a busier area, add some form of privacy, such as plantings, vines, trellis, lattice, screening, or divider panels to shield your guest(s) from solicitors. That said, be kind but firm to solicitors because they do talk to one another. Outdoor walls, fences, awnings, tables, chairs, and cushions need to be cleaned or power washed regularly to remove grime and insect nests.
3) Openings. Windows should be able to open to enable a cross breeze. Make sure they can also be secured. Some regions have door and window gates. In tropical countries, your rental will be more valuable if you have window screens to deter mosquitoes and other insects from entry. In regions known for mosquito-borne illnesses, install approved safety netting over beds.
4) Check your seals. Everywhere, inside and outside of your rental. If your front door has a rubber sweep at the bottom, make sure it’s in top shape or all kinds of bugs or reptiles will crawl inside. Check around all windows for damage, cracks, leakage, or evidence of seeping. Check the perimeter of your floors. Tap moulding with your foot. Adhesive moulding should not be loose. Any moulding, floor or ceiling, should not have gaps (termites). All sink areas and tile, whether it’s floor, kitchen, or bathroom tile should be fully sealed and caulking refreshed. Wood counters need extra maintenance to prevent water damage. Water will also damage cheap tile or pressboard walls in bathrooms. Avoiding these materials will save more money over time. Stone or tile all the way up to the shower ceiling.
5) Choose semi-gloss over matte paint. This is a no brainer. It’s easier to wipe clean. Your tenant should not find fingerprints, hand marks or footprints on walls. There should not be paint cracks or paint bubbling. Cinderblock or brick walls need to be power washed outside, or steam blasted inside to remove dirt and dust.
6) Furnishings. Choose a quality mattress that won’t pit easily. Cheap is not good sleep. Mattresses need to be steam cleaned or treated between guests. All linens must be washed in hot water to kill whatever and neutralize allergens (between 130 degrees and water that’s 5–10 minutes after being taken off of boiling). Speaking of allergens, avoid carpeting at all costs. Throw rugs and curtains should be washable. Do-it-yourself furniture (such as wood and pallets), and high places should be cleaned to prevent dirt and dust buildup from falling on guests. Cushions and pillows need to have a zipper so they too can be washed. Keep decor light, well-coordinated, and inexpensive.
7) Small problems don’t disappear. If you see bugs, assume there are more. Ants, roaches, palmetto bugs, spiders that bite, and evidence of vermin are not things to ignore. Plaster bagworms and household casebearers have a grayish “canoe” looking cocoon and dine on organics like cobwebs — and also wool and other types of fabrics. Your guest should not be sweeping piles of termite wings or sawdust detritus multiple times a day. Termites and carpenter ants are particularly harmful to structural integrity and will bring cabinetry down. Professional application of nematodes are a natural combatant for termites.
8) Power. Be mindful of how many electrical outlets you have, where they are, whether they run on the same circuit, and where they are missing. What essentials take up key outlet space? This is a real issue for people converting garages and other small spaces. Avoid lighting fixtures where bulbs cannot be accessed or changed. Save money by installing LED or energy saver bulbs. A smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher are needed in each rental. Test them regularly.
9) TV and Wi-Fi. I cannot stress this enough. Business travelers are constant revenue. Make sure your internet Wi-Fi is stable and strong enough to take streaming calls. Is your router behind a cinderblock wall? Is is shared? Do your kids stream and game all day? You may need a separate router for your rental. Please don’t wait until guests are without service. This is a deal breaker for digital nomads. TV connections and service should also be clear. Periodically test TV remotes and check on device batteries before they leak.
10) Live in your rental for 1–2 weeks. This test will reveal insufficiencies. Everything I’ve mentioned above is listed for a reason. How is the lighting? What’s leaking? How is the shower? Does it dry out efficiently? Is the bathroom ventilated? Clean toilets should not emanate foul smells. Gurgling or water trickling sounds are not a good sign. Is too much dirt tracking in? How often do you have to sweep? Is there enough space for guests to hang or place their things? Check drawers and inner shelving. A can of WD40 works wonders for locks and hinges that are tight or squeaky. Wall shelves need to be secured to a beam, not just drywall. Don’t forget key details such as a coffeemaker, a method for hot tea, a microwave, and a hot plate or crock pot. Are dishes and mugs cracked? If you stock pots and pans, check whether handles are hollow as these may hold moisture and bacteria. Choose a medium-size refrigerator since tiny ones tend to not keep food as well. How difficult is it to defrost the freezer? Inventory all stock items. Have a binder or folder of your top picks for local eateries, attractions, budget picks, markets or convenience items, laundry access, pharmacies, urgent care, and emergency response numbers.
Please listen to your customer or tenant when they tell you something needs to be checked. A gracious guest is not going to rudely complain, so if they’re reaching out to you, chances are the situation needs attention or is a real hazard. Reply when you receive their message, then go and see the issue with your own eyes. If you cannot do this, or do not have a professional that’s on call to check, then honestly the travel rental business may not be for you.
Lastly, if your short-term rental is in an area packed with other short-term rentals, chances are it may still sit empty for a while. In this situation, consider allowing well-trained pets and set your limitations. People will pay premium for a vacation rental that allows pets, but be prepared that might make for additional maintenance in between stays. It may also be of greater value, peace of mind, and less wear and tear on your property to find longer-stay customers — such as business travelers, remote workers, humanitarian or development volunteers, and retirees.
