The Holiday Season Is Coming | Four Ways To Prepare Your Rental For The Season

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

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The Holiday season has arrived and one of the busiest times of the year is right around the corner here in South Florida!  This is a hectic time for everyone including retailers, restaurants and also the travel industry, putting vacation rentals in high demand. With bookings picking up it is easy to feel overwhelmed, so help yourself out by preparing early, and making sure you and your rental are ready for the Holidays. Here are four ways you can prepare your rental:

1. Inventory Check
2. Get all renovations and projects out of the way
3. Create a Holiday gift basket
4. Create a Local Guide

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1. Inventory Check/Stock Up On Supplies
Reminder, it is incredibly important to do a full inventory check before the season starts! Be sure you have everything stocked that is included in your listings to avoid any guest complaints. Make note of what you have, and how much you have of it, and purchase items as needed. Set yourself up for a great season with these important supplies; toiletries, spices, coffee supplies, an extra propane tank, a fresh first aid kit, beach equipment like extra towels, umbrella, floaties and chairs etc..


2. Renovate/Fix Up The Home
Are there a few tiny projects around your rental that you’ve been putting off? Now is the time to pull out the hammer or hire a handyman to get these projects done. The last thing you want during peak season is for that tiny project you’ve been putting off to be the one thing that gives your guest a bad experience. Squeaky doors? Fix it! An old shower head? Time to Replace! Is that one drawer closing weird? Fix it! You get the idea, make sure your rental is in tip-top shape for your guests! 


3. Offer Guests a Holiday Gift Basket
One of the best ways to make your rental stand out during the holiday season is to provide a welcome gift/gift basket for your guests. Gift baskets can include, a bottle of wine/champagne, chocolates or some snacks! If this is something you already include for your guests, consider sprucing it up or adding extra goodies for the holiday season. Great guest experiences lead to great reviews, which are crucial to a successfull rental. A thoughtful gift basket is the perfect place to show your guests you care!


4. Create A Local Guide
Consider making a local guidebook for your guests. This guidebook gives you the opportunity to share local tips and tell your guests about the area. We all plan trips to new places without fully knowing the local scoop. No better way to lend a helping hand then to speak from experience of what you and your loved ones enjoy doing in the area. When creating this guide, be sure to think about the information you would want/things you would want to do if you were the one traveling. 
Things to include:

• Best Restaurants and Bars in the area
• Best daytime/evening activities in the area
• Family-friendly activities in the area - (water activities, hiking trails, etc..)
• Your favorite things to do in the area 
• Unique shops and local gems
• Sightseeing spots - (where are those picture perfect places)

With the busy season upon us, make sure you set yourself up for success and think about the details. The small stuff matters, and that extra bit of care goes a long way. Not only do you enhance your guest experience, but you save yourself a few headaches along the way!