How to prepare your home for renters
The vacation rental industry has changed rapidly in the last several years, and it’s now easier than ever to rent out your home or condo on a long or short-term basis. Whether you’d like to permanently convert your home , or just rent out your apartment for a few weeks while you’re on vacation, there are people out there who want to rent it, and websites and services that will help make it happen. With a little bit of planning and hard work, you can put your home to work for you, and create a new revenue stream in no time.
Start Outdoors
Whether you’re leasing a five-bedroom house on 12 acres of land or a single room in a sixth-floor walk-up, the outside of your home will be the first thing your guests see. Make it presentable before they arrive. Mow the lawn if you have one, weed the flower beds, and put a welcome mat in front of the threshold. Adding a few potted plants to your front porch or giving your door a fresh coat of paint go a long way toward enhancing curb appeal.
Scrub the House
Grab a bucket full of cleaning supplies and tackle every corner of your home. You might not notice the line of dirt along your baseboards or the moldy spot behind the toilet, but your guests will. Additionally, make sure the beds are made with fresh linens and you’ve supplied clean towels in the bathroom. Hate to clean? I highly suggest you set up a cleaner to come in and make the place spotless before every single renter…you’ll make your money back with positive reviews!
Create a Safe Space
Poor lighting over the stairway or a loose floorboard in the living room could lead to an accident. While your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance might cover your financial liability for injuries your guests sustain, bad reviews could diminish your chances of earning an income going forward.
If your home is equipped with a security system, change the code so you don’t give your guests the one you use while you’re home. Furthermore, leave a note that advises your guests about any security or safety issues they might encounter, such as the rules for using your pool.
Protect Your Privacy
If your guests decide to snoop in your closet or if you unwittingly rent your home to someone with sticky fingers, you might kick yourself later. To prevent problems, remove valuable items from the home and secure your private documents and items in a secure place.
A fireproof safe in an out-of-the-way part of your home works well for this. Alternatively, you might ask a trusted friend or family member to temporarily store those items for you.
Consider Technology
No matter where you live or the ages of your guests, anyone who rents your home will bring at least one tech gadget with them. Consider this in advance and make sure there are at least one or two available outlets in every room. If necessary, install power strips to create additional receptacles. Additionally, many travelers will be from out of the country and they don’t purchase phone plans so WiFi is also important.
Prepare a Tourist Guide
You might not have visited the tourist traps in your town recently, but guests will probably want to know where to go. Stop by a local supermarket or other store and stock up on brochures for local attractions. Leave a personalized list of destinations you think are particularly important or entertaining.
Move Your Amenities
You might prefer to keep your coffee filters in an out-of-the-way drawer in your kitchen or store your towels in an obscure closet in the hallway. If you don’t want your guests to have to search through every nook and cranny, relocate items they might need to accessible, intuitive places.
Alternatively, create a list of items they might need and note their locations in the home. Post the list in an obvious place, such as on the refrigerator or by the front door.