“My husband and I have a vacation property – we love being there but we aren’t up there all of the time since we both still work full time.  We will be renting it out to vacationers but there is a lot of competition in our area – how can we set ourselves apart?”

Great question!  Vacations are what we all dream of …so your property needs to be that dream.  Regardless of the location of your rental (mountain getaway or beach escape) your rental needs to look it’s best!  If you are hoping to rent it for top dollar to make some extra income you will want to spend some money and effort up front to make it that dream vacation spot.

So ‘staging’ your vacation property for photos and for when your guests arrive is a great way to set yourself apart for the competition – the up front costs will be worth it in the end – you will be able to rent easily, you will get top dollar and you will get repeat renters. Want to be that hot rental spot that people pay top dollar for and book in advance?

Follow our tips:

Start by keeping it simple –

keep the colours fresh, patterns to a minimum and opt for decor that makes sense for the space.  Stay with simple palettes and some pattern, stay away from wall paper and fussy details

A mountain home with some deer head silhouettes and ‘log’ inspired pieces makes sense plus natural materials like stone, wool, fur and wood – people will be paying for the mountain ambiance.  Warm colour and lots of layered textures give that luxurious and cozy cabin feel.

For a beach house think coastal colours, soft light and airy. Light colours and organic elements really set the tone for the ‘beach house’ look and feel that vacationers will be looking for.  Drift wood, cotton, canvas and sea shells work beautifully

Art pieces and accessories-

can really add to the cozy factor but don’t over do it – don’t get too many as it will appear cluttered and don’t purchase anything too expensive. Stay away from heavy and/or fussy drapery – especially if you have a view

Add some cute details that vacationers will remember – if they feel like they are welcomed, they really connect with the property and will want to return year after year

For bedding and bathrooms, keep it clean like you would see at a chic hotel.  You can’t go wrong with white bedding and bath linens.

And pay for professional photos…..

the lighting and the quality are so much better.   Photos are key here, so some staging techniques will really help. Most (if not all) of your inquiries will come from the Internet so your presence needs to be there and you really, really, really need to have spot-on photos. We know from looking at vacation rentals online how important photos are. Because of the distance your ‘renters’ will only see your property online, you don’t have the luxury of ‘maybe it looks better in person’.

Other great ideas:

– Be helpful:

-keep a binder with area hot spot – restaurants, movie theaters, shops, maps and more.  Great local hot spots and fun areas for couples and/or couples to check out. Also think about laundry facilities – this is a big help to families especially.  Also leave numbers in case of emergencies

– Amenities and comforts of home:

maybe when you are on vacation you want to be ‘unplugged’ but for some they may need to work a bit so having TVs, WiFi and more are also attractive.Maybe decks of cards and some basic board games, too

– Equipment:

stock the kitchen with crockery, cutlery, cooking tools and more are helpful.  Near the beach – maybe have some sand toys for kids.  First aid kits are also a good idea

– Research:

find out from a local vacation property manager what vacationers are requesting – hot tub? canoe? kayak? and try to offer those most requested items.  Also get in touch with a rental equipment company since some guests may require special items like cribs or wheel chairs

– Maintenance:

make sure the property is clean inside and out!  Grass cut and gardens maintained

– Decor:

it doesn’t need to be full of expensive pieces but find items that set the scene and the tone.  Choose soft and light colours if by the beach, think nautical tones if lake side and richer and warmer tones for a mountain home.  If you furniture is dated – cover it with slip covers (also easy to clean), old dining table – try paint or adding new chairs.

Some of my most memorable family vacations were when we could just relax and feel like we were at home.  By creating the vacation property that vacationers dream of you will always have renters, you will be able to charge top dollar and you will be in high demand.