Preparation of your Home for the Vacation Rental Business

Preparation Steps:

So, you have made the leap and are entering the vacation rental business. Having a properly prepared home will help make your experience better in everyway; less hassles, more income, and satisfied guests.

Preparing a vacation home involves several steps to ensure it’s secure and well-maintained while you’re away. As a bonus, you will get to take care of many tasks that you might have put off. This is similar to planning a party and then having to do a thorough cleaning of your home.

Here are some essential tasks:

Household Tasks:

• Deep clean your home and provide a blank slate for your tenant.
• Evaluate any furnishings and appliances and repair or replace.
• Properly prepare your home by decluttering and removing any valuables. Decluttering is also essential for property photos.
• Clean out the refrigerator completely except for some bottled water and perhaps a nice bottle of Rose.
• Remove any liquor
• Run a mixture of vinegar and water through the garbage disposal to prevent odors.
• Empty and wash all trash cans. If they are bad, replace them. Buy trash bags that fit them.
• Set the thermostat to Heating to 70 and Cooling to 72). Put a neat sign saying "Please do not lower temp below 69 degrees"
• Remove all personal items from closets and dresser drawers. Store in marked boxes for ease in reoccupying your home.
• In the Kitchen, leave one of each Salt, Pepper, some spices, oil, Vinegar and some condiments and sauces. Leave something but not a clutter.
• Clear out several cabinets and drawers so that guests will have a place for their groceries.
• Remove excess utensils, pans, and bowls. No one needs three spatulas. Sharpen knives if needed.
• Provide a starter of coffee and coffee filters
• In the kitchen, provide dishwashing detergent for hand and machine, new scrubby sponge, and pump hand soap.
• For laundry provide detergent and bleach (can already be open)
• Provide shampoo, conditioner, a new bar of soap in it's wrapper, plenty of paper towels and toilet paper.
• Make sure you have a good set of grill tools and a newish grill cleaning brush.
• Make sure you have occupants + 2 place settings. Silverware should match. Glasses and cups. Neat and simple
• Make sure all appliances are clean and all items listed on your website are present and in good repair, otherwise replace them.
• Now is the time to use pest repellents to deter rodents and insecticides. Hire Terminex or use their techniques to eliminate spiders and ants.
• Make sure your bedding, towels, linens and kitchen towels are neat, clean and organized. Provide spares in a closet.
• Provide plenty of pillow. Use a pillow case and then a pillow slip
• Make sure your mattress pads are in good condition. Consider a mattress slip on case but make sure it feels natural and not plastic

Business Tasks:

• Contact your insurance companies. Get a letter stating that they are aware of your plans to rent your home. The term of art is "rented to others". You may need to purchase separate home renting insurance.
• Provide us and your guests with the name of a person who will be responsible for your property while it is rented
• Provide the names and phone numbers of Electrician, Plumber, handyman, and cleaner.
• What is the schedule for trash removal and what is the name and number of the company?

Home Safety Measures:

• Install a motion-activated floodlight outside. Set the duration to 5 minutes
• Make sure outside walks and stairs are well-lit - install solar walkway lights
• Make sure you have a first aid kit - store under kitchen sink or note location in manual
• Ensure smoke detectors are working. Make sure batteries are fresh
• Check all faucets to make sure they are not dripping or hard to operate.
• Check the shower and make sure it is not slippery. If so but a shower mat or stick on flowers

Final Touches:

• Put out fresh flowers on your kitchen island
• Select a nice bottle of wine
• Write a personal note welcoming your guest
• Use a guest book
• If you know that guests will arrive late, turn on interior and exterior lights.
• Put out this week's newspapers and some tourist publications. No real estate ads.

Leaving the home empty for long periods:

• Consider a whole-house generator to prevent issues during power outages.
• Arrange for someone to keep an eye on your home.
• Make your home appear lived-in (timed lights, etc.).
• Have the post office hold your mail or forward it
• Turn off water to the interior of the house to prevent leaks.
• Save on utility bills by adjusting settings.
• If you live in a cold climate and your house is empty, leave cabinet doors open under sinks to prevent pipes from freezing.
• In a hot climate leave doors and drawers open and a ceiling fan on low or set your AC to auto circulate every hour
• Place the water heater on Pilot or “vacation mode.”
• Consider putting a trickle charge on any car or motorcycle batteries for long trips or disconnect completely
• Use ultrasonic pest repellents in the garage, sheds and attic to deter rodents.
• Empty the dishwasher and leave it cracked open (if possible) to allow standing water to evaporate.
• Turn off icemakers
• If fridge is empty, place two gallons of water in it to stabilize the temperature swings.
• Have the post office hold your mail or set up forwarding if you will be away for a long time.
• Save on utility bills by adjusting settings.