Creating a high-quality guest experience for everyone who stays at your vacation rental property begins with supplying the right appliances and amenities. For luxury vacation homes, it’s particularly important to create a space that predicts and caters directly to every potential wish that your guests have. Properly stocking your vacation home turns a four-star experience into a five-star experience and guarantees you’ll see an increase in new and returning bookings. For vacation rental properties in Arizona, California, and other competitive markets, you’ll need to create an unforgettable experience for your guests, which always begins with optimizing the home to make it as comfortable, relaxing, and convenient as possible.
If you’re marketing your property online, you’ll want to ensure that your listings include brief descriptions of the basic amenities and supplies. These descriptions don’t need to be the highlight of the listing, but you might be surprised how often they assist in converting a potential guest into a new booking. Even for a luxury vacation rental property, your guests still want to make sure that you have towels.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics of stocking your vacation rental property to ensure that everyone who stays with you experiences a level of comfort that goes well beyond their expectations. For many property owners, it’s easy to overlook the basics of stocking your vacation rental home. The glitzy features of your property, such as the new 4K TV you installed, or the spacious pool and outdoor lounge area, don’t mean anything to the guest unless you’ve got the basics covered.
Cooking Equipment and Supplies
Even if your property contains only a small kitchenette, you’ll want to make sure that your guests have everything they need to create and assemble meals. One of the reasons guests often opt for a full vacation rental home is the ability to have fun cooking their own meals rather than visiting a restaurant every night. To make sure your property’s kitchen is up to the task, you’ll want plenty of silverware, cups, plates, serving utensils, and cookware. You’ll also want to keep a collection of kitchen knives on hand and sharpen them with some regularity. Salt, pepper, a few other basic spices are often a must, as is butter. Wine and beer glasses, in addition to coffee and teacups, are also a must-have item.
In terms of kitchen appliances, you’ll want to keep a toaster, coffee maker, and microwave on hand regardless of the kitchen’s size. A blender, slow cooker, food processor, and coffee grinder are also handy options for more luxurious properties, though maintaining them can sometimes be tricky. A rice cooker, waffle maker, and tea kettle are also options that can make your property carry the kinds of comforts that make your guests feel right at home. Make sure to include instructions for using these appliances in the guest book or on hand in one of the kitchen drawers.
Clean Linens and Towels
Clean sheets and pillows are a must-have, but you’ll want to offer more than a simple backup sheet set if you’re going to further improve the guest experience. It’s usually best to provide a few extra pillows that vary in firmness, so the guest can customize the bed as they see fit. If your property is located in a colder region, you may also want to consider stocking flannel sheets. If your property is in a warmer area and has a pool or hot tub, you’ll likely want to stock a separate set of towels for the pool area. Opt for linens and towels that last- choosing the higher quality options for these items will pay you back over time, particularly considering how often you’ll need to wash them.
Bathroom Supplies
Most travelers are more likely to forget or travel without toiletries than any other item. Save your guests the extra trip to the store on their arrival, and surprise them with the variety of options available at your property. Toiletry kits, with a toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste, are only the start of what you should offer for your guests. Keep the options in an easy to access area- the worst-case scenario for vacation rental amenities is buying them only to have your guests not realize they’re available.
Entertainment Options & Internet
Upgrading your property’s wi-fi goes a long way towards boosting the entire guest experience. Slow or unstable internet is one of the most common complaints regarding vacation rentals, particularly when they’re outside of the standard cellular network. A TV, equipped with a few streaming services and channels, is also an essential item, regardless of the property’s cost or its other entertainment options. Even if your property is located in the heart of a tourist zone, where there’s plenty of sites and attractions within walking distance, your guests will still want to have these options available.
Cleaning Materials
Hand and dish soap, kitchen towels, and disinfectant wipes are all basic amenities that guests expect to have on hand in the event that there’s a spill. A dustpan, cleaning gloves, and spare trash bags are also important to keep on hand, as are dishwasher detergent, sponges, and glass cleaner. Keeping these items available for guests makes it significantly easier for both the guest and the property owner or manager.
Kid-Friendly Appliances
The best vacation rental homes are kid-friendly and offer features that help parents manage traveling with their entire family. Consider including a few sets of plastic plates, cups, and silverware for the kitchen. A high chair is also a handy feature for a vacation rental property, as are optional stair gates. Remove sharp edges and breakable items wherever possible, and you’ll succeed in making your property family-friendly.
Conclusion- How to Stock a Vacation Rental Property
Creating an outstanding guest experience for everyone who visits your vacation rental property begins with stocking your space with the right amenities. The goal is to create an experience that contains all the comforts of home and reduces any stress associated with traveling and packing. Properly stocking your vacation rental home keeps the property competitive and comfortable, so you’ll get plenty of five-star reviews and increase bookings.
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