Well, it is THAT time of the year…the Masters Golf Tournament is just around the corner.
For a designer like me, that means I get very little to no sleep in January, February and March as I assist clients in getting their homes ready for their renters coming to town for the event.
For those that don’t rent for Masters, but maybe own a VRBO or AIRBNB; the rental process is pretty much the same.
To get repeat renters coming back it is important to put much thought and effort into your planning.
A renter doesn’t want to feel like they are in someone’s home.
It is somewhat important to keep the decor less personal. I recommend that clients put away as many family photos and personal items they can. You certainly don’t see these sorts of items in a hotel room.
To make guests comfortable, may mean you have to swap out some art or picture frames that are more of a local flavor during the times you rent.
The Masters brings in all sorts of people, but primarily men.
Grown men don’t feel comfortable sleeping in a little girl’s room with pastel colors or baby dolls sitting on a shelf. While it is important to allow your child to express themselves in their own bedroom, sometimes more work is needed to “neutralize” these spaces.
Many homes are rented to a business who are entertaining their CEO’s and high up officials.
These people are used to a certain level of living. High thread count bed sheets, high end bath towels and better quality sleeping pillows are a must in this case. The first time you rent, you usually have to spend ALL of your rental earnings to upgrade some aspects of your home.
I have learned by experience that your renters will be touching EVERYTHING they see. If you have anything you don’t want touched, opened, broken or moved, then lock it away!
You should leave some drawer space in your dresser and hanging space in your closet for your guests. All other dresser drawers and closet spaces should be orderly and tidy.
To get the best out of your rental, it is important that every bedroom has its own private bathroom. If a shared bathroom is the case, you do get less money.
As I work with clients who are building a home in our area, I always discuss this.
Even if they don’t want to rent, a future buyer of the home might want to. This can go a long way when and if your home might go on the market to sell.
If you are in a desirable neighborhood, a renter might take note of your home and check its availability for the following year. That has actually happened to me!
Landscaping is just as important as the interior.
Patio spaces for outdoor entertaining are almost always a must. The first full week of April can offer great weather and the renters can sometimes be coming from parts of the country where Spring has not yet sprung!
Some of my clients leave treats or gifts for their renters. If you are renting directly to the renter, I think that is a great idea. If you are working through a third-party company the renters will probably think that entity supplied the goods, so I wouldn’t waste your time or money.
Maid service is almost always required. Sometimes the renters will swap out mid-week for a new person coming to town, so a change of sheets is necessary.
Sometimes the renter requires a TV in every bedroom. This used to be a given, but has become more relaxed as people use their smartphones for tournament updates.
Usually the homeowner is not allowed into the home during the rental period, so a housekeeper is needed. It is nice to know your housekeeper so that they have your best interest and will inform you of anything they feel you need to know.
Many people will take a vacation while they rent their home.
In that case, it is important to have a friend in the area that is available during the week should any important decisions need to be made. It never fails that your HVAC, TV or something will falter during the week! To have a friend on your side to rectify these issues will save you money and peace of mind!
Always have your utilities serviced before your rental period. Have your HVAC checked out specifically. Make sure your filters have been changed.
If you have a pool, have it serviced and ready to go. Make sure all windows have been cleaned and are spotless.
If you have pets, of course deeper cleaning is needed. There are some companies that offer pet boarding should you need to do so with your fur babies.
Make a checklist and enjoy your vacation!
