Managing a vacation rental property comes down to the guest experience. From their first inquiry to their departure, you need to be present and willing to provide exceptional customer service that leaves them feeling like they’d never want to stay anywhere else.
Your job, when mastering the optimal rental performance for your property, is providing a welcoming atmosphere, keeping the property in good condition, and responding to any issues quickly. If you’re planning to manage a vacation rental property on your own, you also need an airtight system for booking, marketing, and payment collections.
At Anchor Down Real Estate & Rentals, we have been expertly managing vacation homes in Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, and across the local Gulf Coast areas of Florida. We want to share some tips with you to help you have a great experience with your vacation rental.
Here are some vacation management secrets and insider tips you can use to have a better – and more profitable – rental experience.
Precise Calendars and Booking Systems
Organization is perhaps the most important quality that’s required if you’re going to rent out a vacation property. You could have three or four different guests over the course of a single week, so make sure your calendar can be trusted and you know who is coming and going. Double-booking is a huge error that’s going to cause a big mess for you and your guests.
Invest in a system that keeps your calendar and pricing up to date. Always ensure that your availability is current, so that guests know when they can book your property. Set clear pricing that is competitive with other rentals in your area, taking into account seasonal fluctuations. Update prices when necessary, to attract more bookings.
Monitor those booking requests, too. If someone gets in touch to inquire about dates or prices, don’t leave them hanging for several days. Respond right away so they know you’re accessible and helpful.
Keep Communication Personal
There’s certainly a place for automated responses. This approach allows you to work with different messaging strategies. Even while sending automated confirmations and requests for payment, you can refine your communication tone and message based on guest responses. When you can send automated emails and thank-yous without your guests knowing that you didn’t write it word-for-word, you know you’ve achieved something.
However, there is also a time and a place for personalized communication.
Make your guests feel genuinely welcomed and leave a positive impression by getting to know who they are and why they’re coming to the area and potentially staying in your property. Ask what their favorite snacks are, and have a welcome basket of them waiting. If they’re celebrating a special event like a birthday or an anniversary, leave a bottle of wine or make some special restaurant recommendations.
A handwritten note on their arrival can really make an impression.
More important than personalization is promptness. Respond to the inquiries and requests that come in from your guests right away, whether they’re currently staying in your property or in the process of booking it. If you want to provide an exceptional experience for your guests, you need to be quick to respond to their questions and concerns. Set up a system that alerts you whenever a new inquiry or request comes in, so you can respond within a few hours.
Focus on Your Marketing
Vacation rental property owners must always be marketing their properties. It’s the best way to keep your investment booked for most of the year.
Make sure your rental property stands out and attracts attention. Upload fantastic photos. Write descriptive text that explains why your property is the best property to stay in for a vacation. Be detailed about the amenities, the furniture, and the attractions located nearby.
Create Clear and Consistent House Rules
Your guests will have a better experience when they understand your expectations.
They shouldn’t be wondering whether they’re allowed to change the setting on the air conditioner; tell them. You don’t want to leave them wondering what to do with their trash, or whether those bicycles outside are available for their enjoyment.
Set some clear and direct rules and guidelines and invitations.
Clear house rules help guests understand what’s expected of them during their stay, so they can avoid any behavior that might offend others or damage the property. Make sure they are specific and enforceable, and include details about things like parking, smoking, and noise restrictions.
It’s always a good idea to let your guests know what you do and don’t allow at your property. In fact, it’s necessary. When you’re clear from the start, you won’t run into any confusion or misunderstandings. You’ll make your guests more comfortable, too.
Keep Cleaning Services On Point
You want your guests to feel like they’re staying at a five-star resort. That’s going to require some serious attention to detail when it comes to cleaning. Hire a professional cleaning service. Professional cleaning is essential to keep your property in top shape and attract repeat renters. A professional cleaning service can ensure that your rental is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, so it meets your guests’ expectations.
Most owners find it easier to provide a consistently high standard of cleanliness and maintenance when there are schedules and checklists in place. Layout tasks that need to be completed on a nightly, weekly, monthly, and even annual basis. Some things will be seasonal, such as hurricane prep. You may want to decide how often to tackle:
- Laundry
- Carpet cleaning
- Pest control
- Window washing
- Dusting of ceiling fans and appliances
- Re-caulking tubs and tiles
- Checking smoke and carbon detectors
- Switching out light bulbs and air filters
- Painting and power washing
- Landscaping
- HVAC inspections and services
Attention to detail is key when managing a vacation rental property. Guests will note your bedding, your furniture, and whether the dishes in the kitchen are clean. Make sure you’re providing enough toilet paper, trash bags, and paper towels for their stay.
Cleaning is one of the tasks that can and should be automated. You can use automated and online tools to manage schedules and inventory as well as create cleaning checklists and identify problems. Streamline your cleaning operations so you don’t have to create more work for yourself and your cleaning crew.
Prioritizing Guest Reviews and Feedback
It’s no secret that customer reviews are important. When you’re running a vacation rental, they’re critical. Future guests will read what former guests have had to say before booking your rental home. What do you want them to read?
Regularly checking guests’ reviews will help you understand things that guests love and what they don’t. Responding to feedback is a critical part of any vacation rental management strategy. Addressing guest concerns, complaints, or any issues quickly and professionally can go a long way in building a positive reputation for your rental.
Work for that five-star review even before your guests arrive. A good review often starts with your marketing process. Maintaining excellent communication with your guests will inspire them to write great reviews. Maintaining a meticulous standard of cleaning and customer service, offering modern and personalized amenities, and ensuring that everything is as comfortable and pleasant as they expect will help you get those great and glowing reviews.
Always invite input and feedback from guests and respond promptly to their questions, needs, and concerns. Creating memorable experiences keeps them wanting to share their experience with others, and those reviews will help you attract future guests.
Make sure you reciprocate when you have great guests. If you’re renting out a vacation home through a platform like Airbnb, you’ll have an opportunity to review your guests, and you should do that even before they review you. This shows them that you appreciate their business and you’re willing to tell other hosts that they’re good renters.
You’re always looking for repeat business from every guest you host. You want them to recommend your property to their friends who may be traveling. This will contribute to ensuring additional great reviews. Be willing to establish strong relationships with guests and provide exceptional experiences. This will ensure they come back.
Effective vacation rental property management involves keeping your calendar and pricing up to date, responding to guests’ inquiries and requests promptly, providing clear and detailed house rules, hiring a professional cleaning service, and monitoring guests’ reviews and feedback.
These are our most basic secret tips and suggestions, which will ensure excellent rental experiences that will keep your property booked and your guests coming back year after year. Remember that successful rental property management is all about delivering a high-quality experience and being available when guests need you.
It’s also a lot of work. If you know that you’ll be more successful as a vacation rental property owner by handing these details over to an experienced professional, we’re here to help. Contact us at Anchor Down Real Estate & Rentals, and we’ll evaluate your vacation property and share some additional suggestions on how to improve your rental experience and your earnings.
