Once the weather starts to get warm, you know it’s that time of the year to prepare your vacation rental near Cape Cod for the summer season. You want your home rental to look its best and appeal to the summer renters. Here are a few tips.
It’s Cleaning Time
The first thing that gets the potential renter’s attention is how clean the place is. You can have stunning decor with fanciful furniture and top-notch amenities. But if the place is not clean and looking neat and tidy, you won’t get many clients. And those you will get aren’t the type that will take care of your property. So give the place a deep cleaning. Or better yet, hire a cleaning service to handle it for you. They can find all the dust in the corners and chase away all stuffiness and lurking smells from the previous season.
No Blank Walls
One way to help you market your rental home better is to pretend you’re a renter looking at the place for the first time. Ask yourself, does this place look and feel like a home? Does it feel impersonal like one of those non-descript hotels one crashes into sometimes? One way to make your place feel cozy and welcoming are to make sure no walls are left blank. Could this spot here use a new window or a replacement to bring in more light? A small painting or picture will make a big difference. Decor also plays a major role in convincing the prospective customer to stay. A framed photo won’t cost much but it will go a long way into giving the place the right atmosphere.
Indoor Entertainment
While all vacationers come prepared with a long list of family friendly activities on Cape Cod, many would still prefer to have entertainment at home. Plans go wrong or the guest might just decide to stay home one evening. Naturally, they would prefer to have board games, books, DVDs around to pass the time. You don’t have to go overboard and install a foosball table or a pool table (although it would be a wonderful idea). Simple games like cards and darts are good enough. And while you’re there, make sure your internet connection and WiFi are set up and working flawlessly.
Out With The Old
If you have been dragging your feet about replacing that old fridge, fixing the leaking washer, or getting a new TV set, this is the time to do it. Your place can have the best location with the most stunning views, but a shabby-looking kitchen can chase away customers. So go through the place with a critical eye and make a list of everything that needs to be replaced or fixed. Look at also winterizing your home to prepare it for the off-season.
Have a Clear Goal
As a landlord, renting your property seasonally to tourists is a dynamic process. You need to know what to expect, how many weeks or months you expect to have the place rented, how much money you hope to make. It’s important to have realistic goals. These goals will help you decide on how much you will spend on fixing and renovating the place. By the end of the season, you make a quick audit and see how you have done. It’s a business and you need to treat it like one.
Whether your property is in Chatham, Dennis, Harwich, or Brewster, you can give it the love and attention it deserves.
Getting your vacation rental near Cape Cod ready for the summer season is your best way to guarantee you will have a successful season.
