How do you turn your vacation rental into a popular and highly recommended home for prospective guests? The main factors that come to mind are proper advertising, impeccable housekeeping, constant communication, and standout amenities. That said, smaller details can be powerful, too, and they can really tie it all together for your vacation rental,  making guests come back again and again and setting your business up for long-term success. But what are some of these little things that will help your property stand out? Here are just a few examples that you can incorporate into your rental.

1. An Attention-Grabbing Vacation Rental Website

If your vacation rental can impress guests before they’ve even booked, you’re already a step ahead. Having a dedicated website for guest booking and for showcasing your property not only helps you build credibility but also gives you full control over the guest experience, from the first impression to the final reservation. 

When setting up your official website, make sure to include important information such as eye-catching photos of your rental units, a map of the general area, and a list of amenities that will draw people in. If you’re not experienced in creating a website, you don’t have to worry. You can leverage a vacation rental website builder that can help you easily create an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly site. These tools often come with customizable templates, built-in booking features, and other useful tools, making it simple to manage your listings and impress potential guests from the start.

2. Welcome Gifts

Welcome gifts are a small token of appreciation that will leave a good first impression, contributing to an overall pleasant and accommodating stay. Even small, inexpensive gifts like some chocolate or handmade soap can go a long way towards making your guests feel appreciated. But if you’re willing to splurge, especially on high-spending guests, you can also go the extra mile and welcome them with a bottle of wine or a collection of local souvenirs. You could also add a personalized note alongside the gift, welcoming them to the vacation home and wishing them a pleasant stay.

3. Indoor Plants

A touch of green makes a lot of difference in making a vacation home look more warm and welcoming to your guests. Plants also introduce fresh oxygen into interior spaces. You can add a variety of potted ornamental plants to make the place more aesthetically pleasing; place large pots in the corner of each room, smaller desk plants on tables and other surfaces, and fresh flowers on the dining table. You could also add some more personality to your vacation home’s interior design by adding air plants that you can hang up the wall or ceiling. Just make sure to water them properly during your regular housekeeping!

4. Pet-Friendly Spaces

Many guests, and especially those of younger demographics, adore their pets and would hate to leave them at a pet hotel or a pet sitter during their vacation. This is why pet-friendly properties are becoming more and more preferred, as it shows that the host cares about the comfort and safety of the guests’ comapnion animals. Pet amenities are always appreciated amongst this cohort, so consider setting up thoughtful touches like pet beds, food and water bowls (new and unused), a designated pet area, waste disposal bags, and even welcome treats. You can also add a map of pet-friendly establishments near the rental, showing your guests how much you value their pets’ presence during their stay.

5. Responsive Assistance

Requests and complaints are an everyday part of hosting a vacation rental. It’s crucial to be available and responsive at any time your guests need your assistance to ensure that their stay is perfect and accommodating. Make sure to keep your lines open to your guests 24/7, whether they’re calling to complain about a faucet leak or a noisy next-door neighbor. Going above and beyond will leave a lasting impression on your guests, which will improve your vacation rental’s reputation.

6. Flexible Lighting

Lighting plays a major role in setting a cozy mood for a vacation rental. One effective way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere is by employing multiple light sources throughout the space.  Add charming floor and table lamps, alcove lighting, and sconces to create a welcoming ambiance that your guests will truly appreciate. Incorporating adjustable lighting options, such as dimmable bulbs or smart lights, also allows guests to customize the brightness and color temperature of light sources to suit their mood and needs. This thoughtful flexibility not only enhances comfort but also leaves a lasting positive impression that guests may not even realize they’re experiencing.

Wow Your Vacation Rental’s Guests From Start to Finish

Accommodating your guest starts as soon as they discover your vacation rental and ends long after their stay. The entire process is important to ensure customer satisfaction, from creating a vacation rental website that balances aesthetics with intuitiveness to preparing amenities and welcome gifts that will make their stay memorable. If you continuously surpass people’s expectations, your rental is bound to succeed for years to come.