Vacation Rentals Essentials

What you need to know to start off right.

When you are starting out it’s important that you make a good first impression with your first renters and then maintain it.  They will decide your fate through your reviews.  Through years we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a Vacation Rental enjoyable through our own experiences renting and through feedback from our renters.  The following is a list beyond just the basics, it’s the essentials to get you started…

A WELCOME GIFT

Nothing says we are so happy you’re here like an actual note that says “We are so happy you are here!” Add a bottle of wine and chocolate or a basket of snacks with that and it’s essentially a welcoming committee!  We rented a home in Utah where they left all the ingredients in a pan in the fridge to make buttermilk pancakes with instructions, adorable. One of our neighbors makes a small basket of dollar store toothbrushes & toothpaste. Sounds silly, but it’s cute and it works too.

The point is make them feel welcome.

Shopping List:

• Thank You notes
• Wine & Chocolate
• Candy & Snacks
• Whatever creative things you want to offer

A GOOD HOUSE BOOK

Make it easy for guests to get around by offering a great Welcome/Instruction House Book packed with information.  Gather the following information and put it all together in an attractive binder.  Your guests will appreciate it.  If you need more help just Google Vacation Rental Instruction Book and you will find many other resources and templates out their.  Below are some of the pages included in ours:

Create & Gather List:

• A Welcome Page
• WiFi instructions
• Important Phone numbers
• Local maps to Market, Stores & Banks
• Recommendations for restaurants 
• Pamphlets & tours
• Take out & delivery menus
• Pool & Spa Instructions
• House Rules
• Pool Rules
• TV & Remote Instructions
• TV Channel List (if you have cable)
• Nearest Redbox for movie rentals
• When to expect:  trash pick-up, gardener and pool man
• Who to contact in case of an emergency
• Local Mobile & Local Spa info
• Local Golf & Tennis Clubs
• Check-out instructions
• Personal Chef Info
• Chauffeur services
• Sightseeing tours
• Large & Small Appliance instructions in a file box

MODERN CONVENIENCES

Charge station, Smart TV, universal adapters.  These are nice surprises that guests will not expect but will put a smile on their face and make their life easier during their stay.  We saw these Power Cubes in a small boutique hotel on each nightstand.  They are brilliant and convenient!  I ordered several on Amazon before we checked out!

Shopping List:

• Free and fast Wi-Fi
• Charging station
• Smart TVs (so they sign in to their Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, Hulu, etc. accounts)
• Cable (If you don’t have Smart TVs)
• Blu-ray Player

FULLY STOCKED KITCHEN

Never underestimate the importance of a well stock kitchen in a vacation rental.  My husband and I like to cook and entertain regularly so it just made sense to have our Vacation Rental stocked with the accessories, tools and small appliances we use most in our primary home.  Never did I realize how much our guest would enjoy it too.  It’s one of the subjects brought up in our reviews.  I created a list of everything stocked in our kitchen and added to our description on our site.  This way future guests knew ahead what to expect and could plan their meals if they were cooking.

When you begin staging your home for rental, it is difficult to remember everything, but here is the basics minimum of what you should provide.

Shopping List:

• Good Knives
• Colander
• Cutting Board
• Tongs
• Cooking and serving Bowls
• Tray/Platter
• Pitcher
• Salt & Pepper
• Non-stick set of pot & pans
• Lasagna dish (9×13″ Baking Pan)
• Cookie sheet pan
• Kitchen Utensil set& Wooden spoon
• Measuring Cup and spoons
• Spatula
• Wine Opener
• Can Opener
• Kitchen towels & potholders
• Storage containers
• Napkins
• Ice Trays  (if your fridge does not make ice)
• Tableware  (2 Per person you sleep, 2.5 is better)
• Dishes
• Bowls
• Glassware  (2 Per person you sleep, 2.5 is better)
• Wine Glasses
• Silverware  (2 Per person you sleep, 2.5 is better)
• Mugs (1.5 Per person you sleep)

Small appliances:

• Coffee Pot
• Tea Kettle
• Blender
• Toaster
• Hand mixer

Food Essentials:

• Coffee
• Tea Bags
• Sugar
• Salt
• Pepper
• Powdered Creamer

CLEANING AND HANDY SUPPLIES

Shopping List:

• Washer and dryer
• Iron
• Ironing Board
• Portable Hampers (1 per bedroom)
• Small trash cans (1 per room, 1 per bath, 1 for washer/dryer area)
• Kitchen sized trash can
• Garbage Bags
• Dish drying rack
• Kitchen Towels
• Fire Extinguisher
• Flashlight
• First Aid Kit
• Tool Kit

    Cleaning Supplies for guest use:

• Cleaning Caddy that will fit under kitchen sink
• Windex
• 409, Lysol or other all-purpose cleaner spray
• Clorox Wipes (love these!)
• Dish-washing Soap
• Dishwasher Pellets
•  Toilet bowl cleaner
• Paper Towels

   Small Office Supplies:

• Paper Pad
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Tape
• Extra Batteries  (for Remotes and Flashlight)

BEDROOM MUST HAVES

Closet for hanging clothes with plenty of hangers

It’s important to have somewhere for guests to hang their clothes.  If one of your rooms does not have one or you are converting an office or den into a bedroom then a wardrobe purchase is a must.  Ikea has some great ones to fit any budget.

Dresser for folded clothes

Your guests will need somewhere to lay their folded clothes and loose items.  If you are short on space consider providing one of these alternatives:

Media chest with large drawers     

Captains bed with drawers underneath 

Two large night stands rather than one big dresser 

Quality bedding & comfy pillows

Looking at past reviews, one thing that is frequently commented on is the comfortable beds.  Happy sleepers equal happy guests.  Consider Beds that are in the comfort middle, not hard and not soft.  Also as a rule, provide 2 sets of sheets per bed.  Not only will your guest appreciate it if they have to change the sheets but it will save you in cleaning cost during high turnover seasons.  Always wrap your mattresses with bed bug covers.

BONUS: Down Comforter & Pillows:

I like to provide Down and Down-alternatives bedding.   Providing Down pillows and Comforters wrapped in a zipped protector in the closets for people who are not allergic.

Attractive Bedding:

Look at the beds in pictures from two major hotel chains, where would you rather stay?  Quality neutral bedding from this decade please.

Nightstand Essentials

I thought everyone used their phone as an alarm these days, but a renter taught me differently.  We had an Amazon Prime deliver one overnight.  Better to spend $25 and have an alarm clock than leave a bad taste in our 6 week guest’s mouth every morning.  Its a basic, we should have had it, my bad.

Also we notice that although our plugs our 15” from the nightstand, guests were moving the bed to plug their phones in behind the bed.  So, be prepared and supply a discreet power strip on your nightstands.

Shopping List:

• Wardrobe (if you don’t have a closet)
• Hangers (all uniform, not leftovers from home)
• Furniture with drawers
• White bedding (you’ll thank me when it comes time to get stains out)
• 300 count minimum, 600 count best.  (You want them soft and very washable)
• 2 sets per bed (no skimping)
• Quality Pillows (at least 2 Per Person you sleep)
• White bedding (you’ll thank me when it comes time to get stains out)
• 300 count minimum, 600 count best.  (You want them soft and very washable)
• Quality Bedding / Comforter
• Bed Bug  Mattress (wrapped, zippered & sealed)
• Extra Blankets for cooler weather
• Alarm Clock
•  A lamp for each night stand
• Easy access to a plug (again, power cube – brilliant)

BATHROOM MUST HAVES:

Hotel Quality Towels

Just like we discussed in linens, the same rule applies here.   As a rule, provide 2.5 per person you sleep of each a Bath Towel, Hand Towel and wash clothes.  If you sleep 4 for example, 4 x 2.5 = 10 of each, sleep 6 x 2.5 = 15 of each towel, sleep 8 x 2.5 = 20 of each, etc.  We all know ladies need at least two towels and if one falls on the floor you need a backup.  Again, your guests will appreciate it and it will save you in cleaning cost during high turnover seasons.  If you want to go over and above, supply hospitality robes.

Hotel Quality Pool Towels

If you have a pool, lake or beach you should offer pool towels.  NO Drug Store Quality pool towels please!  Get quality pool towels and they will last longer, keep from fading and absorb more so they can use less.  Make sure they are washable and dyes won’t run (yep, lived it).  Pool towels give you a nice decorating opportunity too.  You can display them creatively to add to your motif or lay them on chaise lounges for a spa feel.

 Amenities & Toiletries

I’ve discussed this with other Vacation Rental owners and no one can agree.  Travel size Shampoo Conditioner, soaps, etc. or full size?   Personally, I like full size because I am nitpicky and have never like the quality of hotel toiletries.  They always seem to dry out my skin and hair.  But you have to pick one! Hospitality sized toiletries are readily available online at sites like HotelItems.com, AccentAmenities.com and Amazon.

I read a review once where traveler complained “they didn’t even supply a bar of soap to wash our hands” – not worth a bad review or being so mean to your lovely guests!

If you have a bath tub, offer bath salts or bubble bath.  Set pretty containers of cotton balls and Q-tips, it’s another lovely opportunity to decorate at minimal cost that guest will appreciate.  Our home is in the desert so we supply inexpensive sunblock for renters who forget.  When its 117° outside, guests are very grateful.

Hair Equipment

I’ve heard discussions about providing Curling irons and flat irons, I totally disagree.  A blow dryer that does not actually have to touch someone’s hair is great.  Anything else is unhygienic.  What if the cleaning crew accidentally forgets to clean the flat iron after each use?  God forbid, what if a guests finds tangled or burnt hair on a curling iron?  UGH!   That is one less star for you on your review.

Shopping List:

• White Towels (again, you’ll thank me when it comes time to get stains out)
• 2.5 Per person you sleep
• Bonus:  Hospitality Robes
• Quality Pool towels
• 2 Per person you sleep
• Blowdryer
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Liquid Bath Soap
• Cotton Balls
• Q-tips
• Bath Salts/Bubble Bath
• Sun Block
• Lotion                            
• Bath mat
• Toilet brush
• Toilet plunger
• Toilet paper
• Squeegee for shower doors
• Small trash can
• In Shower no slip mat (for those who like them)
• Lysol spray         

BOARD GAMES, BOOK, MUSIC & DVD LIBRARY

At Christmas time everything listed is at its lowest price.  Head to Target or Walmart and stock up.

Shopping List:

• Board Games
• Cards, several decks
• Dice
• Books & Magazines
• Music CDs (If you have a player)
• DVDs & Blu-ray player
• DVDs & Blu-ray Movies

POOL & OUTDOOR SUPPLIES

We inherit so many pool floaties every year, including an 8 foot pool octopus.  I think people don’t read the list of amenities we supply, but we certainly hear about how much people like them.  Purchasing a new supply of good quality pool floats every year is good policy and creates fun for our guests.

 Shopping List:

•  Pool Skimmer
• Pool Towels
• Pool Toys & Floaties
• Pool Rules
• Pool Lifesaver
• Bar BQ
• Propane Tank
• Long Neck lighter
• Bar BQ Utensils

If you spend a little time in your house you will find more things that will make your homes essentials list.  As you listen to what they like or never mention, your list might change.  Likewise, put yourself in a vacationing family, couple, group of men or women’s position and anticipate what would make their time in your home wonderful – then do that!

I’ve attached a printable Vacation Rental Basic List to make it easier.  Vacation Rental Basic Checklist

Thanks for stopping by,

Deisi Vazquez
www.DVIdecor.com
[email protected]