A How-To Guide for Your Owners
Owners who are new to the vacation rental industry have a lot of questions. Some of them have to do with how to furnish their homes to best attract and retain loyal guests.
This can be a tricky question for some rental managers. They don’t want to offend a new owner by telling them to get rid of all the tacky cast-off furniture and invest in sturdy well-made new furniture (preferably in neutral colors).
How do you say that no two dishes match and all the non-stick pots and pans have no teflon left on them?
If they ask about the beds, it’s hard to tell them to get rid of most of the twin beds and invest in some good quality mattresses and high-thread count cotton sheets.
But it’s not hard for me. :-)
So, use this post as a reprint for your new owners. Just copy and paste from the next title on and you’ve got the perfect “How to Furnish Your Vacation Rental” guide.
You’re welcome. ;)
How to Furnish Your Vacation Rental Guide
#1. Invest in Good Quality. Matching Furniture in Neutral Colors
Your furniture is going to get a significant amount of wear and tear as a vacation rental.
By purchasing well-made quality furnishings, you’re ensuring that: a.) it will hold up better than inexpensive furniture, which means b.) you won’t have to replace it as often and c.) you’ll score some points with your guests.
Keep in mind the number of people your home accommodates as you’re furnishing both living and dining spaces. You don’t have to accommodate every person in the living space at the same time.
However, you do have to accommodate everyone in the dining space at the same time. If your home accommodates 12, make sure that all 12 can sit together between dining tables and breakfast bars.
It doesn’t have to be top-of-the-line ultra-expensive. A good middle of the road living/dining room set from a chain furniture store is fine.
Don’t forget coffee tables, end tables and lamps.
You’ll make a great first impression when guests walk into a nicely-furnished and well put-together vacation property.
#2. Put Up Wall Hangings
Even though your property is a business, it should still be warm and inviting. By renting a vacation home instead of a hotel room or suite, your guests are looking for a more personalized experience. Walking into a vacation property with no decorations on the walls is stark and unappealing.
Another word on this: make sure the size of the wall hanging is appropriate for the space. Don’t put two tiny picture on one big wall.
It should go without saying to not put up anything that could be offensive to your guests. If you’re not sure, ask your property manager.
As both a new or a more seasoned owner, the goal is always to gain a loyal clientele. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see your reservation calendar full for next year by the end of the current season? Also, guests that return to your home year after year tend to take better care of it.
#3. Deck/patio furniture
Please, no $5 plastic Walmart chairs on your deck. They are a major turn-off to your guests.
You certainly don’t have to put out expensive wooden Adirondack chairs, but please at least buy the heavier duty plastic chairs. Even better, an outdoor sofa and/or loveseat.
Have some sort of outdoor dining available for your guests. A picnic table is fine (as long as it’s not old and weather-beaten). If you can swing a table with backed chairs, that’s better. Make sure it has an umbrella; people don’t want to eat with the sun beating down on them.
Invest in some sun loungers! Guests love being able to lay out in the sun in the privacy of their own decks. This goes double if you have a pool.
A grill is also a great feature. A word of warning - don’t expect it to last more than two seasons at the most.
One last thing - make sure there’s enough outdoor furniture for most of the party. If your home accommodates 12, make sure at least 8-10 can gather together outside at one time.
#4. Bedding
I cannot stress this enough. DON’T skimp on bedding. If there’s one place in your home to spend money, this is it.
If you read guest reviews for any vacation rental property, they will talk about the beds. If they’re great, they’ll sing their praises. If they’re bad, they’re certainly not afraid to make that point. Think about how this could affect your bookings.
Purchase the very best quality beds you can afford - and possibly better than that. And follow that up with very high-thread count cotton sheets. Then purchase soft, luxurious throws, comforters and blankets. Have an assortment of pillows available for different needs.
Every bed in your house should be a haven for its occupant. Every occupant should want to sleep late and go to bed early every night and morning just to spend more time in that bed.
Got it? Good. You’re welcome.
#5. Entertainment/Electronics
A couple of things go without saying - fast WIFi and flat screen HDTV. Please, please, no old-style boxy TVs.
I am continually surprised at the number of people who put a 32” or 40” TV in their vacation property living rooms. Why? Would you be happy with that if you were renting a vacation home?
Don’t put anything less than a 46” Smart HDTV in the living room. On Walmart.com, you can purchase a 55” Class 4K Ultra HD for less than $300.
Even in the bedrooms, don’t go below 32”. They’re so inexpensive now, there’s really no reason to have a tiny TV in any room.
If you want to put in a DVD or BluRay, that’s fine, but I don’t see it as a must-have anymore. Streaming services have become so popular that they have basically edged out DVDs.
Whatever you do, get rid of your old VCR. Quite honestly, it’s hard to believe that anyone still has one of these in their homes. Having one makes your home appear out-of-date and out-of-touch.
#6. Safety
This is always a concern and there are some wonderful services that provide that extra layer of protection.
Since this is not an area of expertise, I’m going to make a few suggestions and let you use that to start a conversation with your property manager.
Smart home systems provide features such as thermostats, smoke detectors, and security systems including smart doorbells and smart locks.
Many of these products are programmable, self-learning, sensor-driven, and Wi-Fi-enabled.
Other systems to consider are exterior lights and security cameras.
Don’t overlook the most basic security feature of all - a list of all the features and functions of your home and how to address each of them.
#7. Kitchenware
So many times, I’ve opened the cabinets in a vacation rental property and seen mismatched dishware, not enough glassware and flatware or worn pots and pans.
Along with not enough bakeware or large bowls or various utensils.
It makes a bad impression.
To make a good impression, make sure you have matching dinnerware, glassware and flatware for at least the number of people your home accommodates, preferably 1.5 times.
Supplement that with the following (always at least enough for the number of people your home accommodates, preferably 1.5 times):
Coffee mugs
Beer glasses
Wine glasses
Corkscrew
At least one full set of cookware in good condition (in a larger home, have two sets)
Cookie sheets
Plastic patioware (plates, glasses)
Pyrex dishes
Mixing bowls
Pot holders
Cooking implements (wooden spoons, spatulas, pizza cutter, vegetable peeler, cheese grater, etc.)
Basic spices, including sugar
Coffee filters
#8. Appliances
They don’t have to be brand-new and they don’t have to follow the latest trend.
However, they do have to be clean and in good working order. They should also match in color, as long as they’re not brown, avocado green or harvest gold.
Best to stick to black, white or stainless steel.
#9. Miscellaneous
Avoid carpet if you can. It’s way too hard to keep clean. If you do have it, make sure it’s professionally cleaned at least once per quarter.
If you’ve got wood or vinyl floors, put down a few throw rugs. They offer a homey, welcoming touch.
Don’t forget your guest book! Even with online reviews, it’s still a great way to capture guests comments and suggestions.
Be sure to create a notebook for your guests of all the attractions, restaurants and other points of interest in your area. If you can, visit your Visitor’s Bureau office and grab a bunch of brochures to share. Be sure to jot down a couple of your personal favorites as suggestions.
For some reason, people absolutely love books, games and puzzles (and DVD libraries, as long as you provide a DVD player). Outfit your property with a few of each to make your guests happy, especially on the occasional rainy day.
A snack or fruit basket or bottle of wine always makes a great welcome gift. Absolutely not necessary, but It’s a way to stand out from your competition. It could be stored in your locked owner’s closet (except in the case of the fresh fruit) and the housekeeping crew can set out a fresh one for each new guest.
Or even a gift certificate to a local restaurant or attraction. Again, absolutely not necessary, but a lovely gesture.
Summary
The fact is, you’ll get out of your property what you put into it. Invest some funds in the above suggestions and you’ll see a big return in the form of good reviews and repeat guests.
And that’s how you’ll build a successful vacation rental business.
Property Managers: Are you in need of additional owner guides like the above? Click here to send me an email. Let’s talk!