Believe it or not, spring break begins next week for many states in the South. With an uptick in travel plans to Central Florida and beyond, now is the time to prepare your short-term rental property for guests.
In today’s blog post, let’s consider three tips to help you prepare your short-term rental property for spring and summer travelers.
1. Deep clean
It’s called “spring cleaning” for a reason! Take this opportunity to deep clean your property — including all indoor rooms and outdoors spaces. Focus on high-touch areas, like door knobs, light switches, and kitchen counters, and sanitize these surfaces. If time allows, consider decluttering and reorganizing too. If you’ve acquired unnecessary kitchen utensils or mismatched hangars, clear out space to allow your guests to unpack and relax.
Pay close attention to the yard, patio, and balcony areas. Remove any fallen leaves; clean outdoor furniture; and ensure the grill and furniture is all in working condition. Be sure to clean windows and glass doors too!
Before welcoming guests for the upcoming spring and summer seasons, consider refreshing your bed linens, duvet covers, and pillows as well as all bathroom and kitchen towels. They should be in good shape (no holes or fraying edges!) and freshly cleaned.
It’s important to test all appliances too. Confirm that the refrigerator, oven, stove, washer and dryer, air conditioning (especially important for Florida homes!), and heating systems are all in working order. This small step can help prevent unexpected problems during the busy season too.
2. Safety check
The safety of your guests is always a top priority. First, make sure all doors and windows are secure. Install smoke detectors as needed and make fire extinguishers and first aid kits accessible. If you have a pool or own a waterfront property, ensure that fencing and gates are working properly. You may even consider posting “water safety rules” to encourage safe behavior.
To protect both yourself and your guests, verify that you have proper homeowners insurance coverage for a short-term rental property. You also want to ensure that your home meets all local regulations, including tax declarations, registration with local authorities, and environmental protection laws.
3. Decor refresh
Small touches of spring — think fresh flowers, a spring-scented candle, or a lighter comforter! — can go a long way. Swap out your winter-themed pillows and throws for brighter colors. Consider adding touches of raffia or linen as accents to your existing decor.
You can also think through the layout of your furniture. Adding a rug to the living room, extra seating to your patio, or even a hammock to your backyard may be simple changes that make a lasting impact. Ultimately, you want the space to be functional, comfortable, and aesthetically-appealing.
To attract guests to your home, it’s imperative that your short-term rental property is well-maintained and meets their expectations.
We hope these tips help to ensure the comfort of your visitors and ultimately boost your rental income!
Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs. Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.