In many ways, renting out a space short-term requires more prep work and forethought than renting a similar space out on a monthly basis. The reason: you're dealing with guests, not tenants.
These guests aren't bringing cookware, furniture, or the usual personal belongings toted along by longer-term tenants. Whether you're renting out cottages, cabins, or a vacation home, these "rental essentials" for short-term rentals will make things much better for both you and your guests.
1. Kitchen essentials
If your unit has any semblance of a kitchen, it should also contain everything a guest needs to prepare and eat meals. The following should be in each unit:
- A full set of utensils
- Drink ware
- Dinnerware
- Cookware
- Refrigerator: even an apartment-sized version will do. Think of those multi-night stays in a hotel room, wishing you had a way to store restaurant leftovers.
- Clean dishtowels
- Dish soap
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- Coffeemaker: include mugs and everything needed to brew a fresh cup, including the coffee. Note: While it's not essential to provide the coffee, guests appreciate it, as many hotels offer in-room coffeemakers with pre-measured coffee packs or pods for quick and mess-free brewing.
2. Keyless entry considerations
A keyless entry system is a great option. It allows guests the convenience of entering when they arrive in town, without waiting for someone to deliver keys or otherwise let them into the unit. The other great thing about keyless locks: There's no dealing with lost keys. One of the most convenient of the keyless options is the type with a numbered keypad. This allows you to set a fresh combination after each rental. Just text or email the renter with the info on check-in day and you're all set.
The downside: Even the simplest of the keyless locks requires a functioning battery. While that itself isn't an issue, it is a problem if the battery dies and your guest can't enter the unit.
This happened to me recently, as a guest checking into a vacation high-rise. The concierge gave me an electronic key fob that should have unlocked the door with a simple tap, but the battery inside the lock didn't work. I had to wait a couple of hours in a stuffy building for the unit's management to let me in. Needless to say, I was not thrilled, given I had just flown in and wanted to rest.
If you use a keyless entry system, make sure to replace the batteries every few months to avoid inconveniencing your guests.
3. Bathroom supply basics
The bathroom should have certain supplies:
- Toilet paper: keep extra stocked
- Shampoo
- Shower gel
- Hand soap
- Lotion
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Bath mat or rug
In some cases, such as rental cabins specializing in weekly or monthly options, you may not want to provide bath linens. If you opt not to, make sure your guests are aware of this up front. You might want to have some on hand anyway, just in case.
4. A welcome guide
A small booklet or printed handout with unit and neighborhood information comes in handy for guests. Go the extra mile and list nearby points of interest, such as cafes and restaurants within walking distance, nearby parks, and destinations of potential interest to the average guest.
This guidebook should also include your contact info and any special rules pertaining to the unit, such as where to put bags of trash or recyclables. Include check-in and checkout times to ensure ample cleaning time after checkout.
5. An efficient cleaning crew
Like hotel rooms, short-term rentals sometimes have a short window of cleaning time between one guest and the next. You or your hired cleaning crew should be prepared to clean up shortly after checkout time. This also means the team knows the checkout time and day for each scheduled rental. The cleanup crew should also be available, or at least on call, for special situations.
In my recent stay, the housekeeping team was supposed to bring fresh bed linens and clean the mess left by the previous guest. Nearly two days later, they finally came through. (Thankfully, the unit had its own washer and dryer, so I ended up washing the bed linens myself. If I didn't have a way to clean the sheets, I would have left immediately, renting a hotel room instead.)
6. An on-call attendant
Your short-term rental needs an on-call attendant who will be available in the event of lockouts, major maintenance issues, and the like. This person might be you, your cleaning team, or even a local management rep, if you live more than a short drive away. For longer stays (think weeks or months), make sure your renters have an easy way to submit maintenance requests. You may want to receive maintenance notifications by phone or email. If you are managing multiple rentals, however, the most efficient way is to utilize an online maintenance platform, like Apartments.com. You will be notified when a tenant submits a request, and you can update them as repairs progress.
With my family's rental cottages on an island, the same person handles pretty much everything, living on-site during the rental season. This ensures that help is never far away. It also results in lots of walk-up business during the tourist season. This on-call person should live nearby.
7. Parking: a huge plus
Chances are, your guests are from out of town and at least somewhat unfamiliar with the area. Parking spaces are essential, even if many of your guests don't need them. If your property has its own parking area, provide this information to guests ahead of time. This is especially important if the parking area is in a side lot or accessed from a street other than a main roadway. If you don't offer guest parking, list nearby lots and parking prices. Guests need this information.
The more details provided on your website or in rental confirmation emails, the less you'll have to deal with follow-up questions. Mention whether your rental is along a public transportation route. This is a big selling feature for someone's trip, since your guests can potentially save loads on transportation within the city.
Extra touches, extra memorable
As with hotel stays, the little extras provided in the rental end up being things the guests remember favorably when planning future visits to the area.
- An ironing board and iron: this comes in handy in metropolitan areas but is perhaps unnecessary for a summer vacation hot spot.
- A quality hair dryer
- A welcome basket including fruit, a few local treats, or coupons for nearby businesses
Bottom Line
The key to a successful short-term rental is to offer things you would expect if you were staying there. The better you prepare for each rental, the less time you'll have to spend running around during each guest's stay. The more seamless your rental operation, the better the experience for both you and your guests. This is winning.
