Tips for Turning Your Home into a Profitable Vacation Rental

Before you rent out your home to short-term guests, there are several things you need to take care of. At the very least, you’ll need to provide essential comforts and safety features. But if you want to turn your home into a lucrative source of income, you’ll have to go the extra mile. This could mean making attractive home upgrades, adding luxury amenities, or providing special items to improve the guest experience. Here are some simple tips to get you started.

Start with Home Security

If you don’t live near your vacation home, you will need a security system to protect your belongings while it’s unoccupied. This will also help you monitor the guests that are coming and going from your home and ensure everything is as it should be. You have a variety of home security systems to choose from, including monitoring services and security cameras that you can access from your phone. Read this guide from High Security Home to find the perfect security system for your valuable vacation rental.

The security of your guests is also vital. Provide the following essential safety features to protect the wellbeing of your guests and avoid security disasters:

• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

• Fire extinguisher

• Deadbolt door lock

• First-aid kit

• Motion-sensor outdoor lighting

Optimize the Bedroom for Sleep

Next, pay special attention to your home’s bedroom setup. When guests are able to sleep really well in a rental, they rave about it in their reviews! Certain steps can help you turn the bedroom into a restful environment that facilitates quality sleep. For example, install blackout curtains to keep the room dark, and provide a white noise machine to eliminate sounds from outside. You may also want to repaint the room in a calming, peaceful color; for example, blue promotes relaxation and calmness, which makes it a great choice for the bedroom. And while you’re at it, consider upgrading to high-quality, breathable bedding.

Make a Cleaning Plan

Aside from a peaceful bedroom, guests also value cleanliness. According to Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals, lack of cleanliness is the most common guest complaint. Come up with a cleaning plan so you hit all the essential spots after each guest. If you’re hiring a cleaner to come in, consider hiring someone else to check their work, or do this yourself.

Before your very first guest arrives, tackle some often-overlooked areas — dusty curtains or ceiling fans, musty washing machines, grimy light switches, and dirty grout in the bathroom are easy spots to miss. While these details may not bother you in your own home, they can make a guest feel uncomfortable, and may even hurt your reviews over time.

Provide Supplies and Extras

To make your guests feel at home, provide some essential supplies. Even if your guests don’t use them, the thoughtful touch will make you appear professional. Providing extra fresh linens, soap, shampoo, and coffee is always a good idea. If you really want to wow your guests, consider leaving some breakfast items, snacks, or a small gift of chocolates for each visitor.

You could even equip your home with smart home devices to make life easier on your guests. For example, a smart lock can provide added security and improve the guest check-in process. A smart assistant, like a Google Home, can give you further edge over your competition.

Leave Instructions

Once your home is ready to welcome eager vacationers, create an organized welcome book. In it, include a welcome letter, a list of house rules, and some recommendations and tips for exploring the area. For bonus points, slip in some maps or local brochures. You can also include instructions — like how to operate the sound system, use the hot tub, or find extra supplies — so guests can make the most out of their stay. You will find many more tips for your welcome book in this article from Futerstay.

If you’re having trouble finding ways to improve your home for guests, think about the specific things you want when you’re away from home. Consider also which things have made you frustrated or uncomfortable about other people's homes so you can avoid these mistakes in your own. When you put time and money into your vacation rental, you’ll be rewarded with better reviews, more bookings, and a greater return on your investment.