Winter is the perfect time to get a jump start on getting your rental home ready and renter-friendly for the first weeks of the 2009 rental season, and there are a few inexpensive tips and tricks to be prepared for those first groups of guests.
- Have a spare comforter for every bed size in your home tucked away in the owners’ closet. It doesn’t have to be brand new, but when the inevitable stain happens, the comforter can be quickly replaced while the original comforter is being washed and then returned for the next week’s guests. Including a spare shower curtain is also a good idea, so that a tanning spray or hair dye stained shower curtain can be quickly replaced.
- Pillow shams can often “walk away” with rental guests’ laundry, as the guests often remove the pillow shams to put their own pillowcases on, and the shams can get mixed in with their suitcases and clothes. An easy way to ensure your shams stay where they are is to pick up a couple “sham stuffers.” These are overstuffed pillows, typically sold for about $5.00 a piece. Simply put your shams on these and leave the regular bed pillows plain for the guests’ sleeping comfort.
- Guests often comment that they expect oceanfront windows to be clean so they can fully enjoy the view. Surf or Sound Realty’s housekeeping staff consistently cleans the sliding doors on turnover days, but salt air build-up can accumulate quickly, particularly on high, hard to reach windows. Applying Rainex on exterior windows helps salt build-up to rinse away every time it rains, and keeps them looking great for your guests.
- Avoid septic tank problems by having your tank pumped at least every other year. If you can’t remember the last time you have had your tank pumped, chances are it’s time to get it pumped again.
Remember that the Surf or Sound Realty property management team is always on call to answer any questions on improvements or ideas for preparing your rental home. Together, we can ensure that the opening weeks of 2009 are an easy breezy vacation for your first rental guests.