by Erin Reynolds
•
9 July 2019
Many vacation rental owners get into the short-term rental business only to realize it’s more work than they expected. Between furnishing a property, communicating with guests, and cleaning between each stay, there’s a lot that goes into running a successful vacation rental. That doesn’t mean you should call it quits — owning a vacation rental can be a highly profitable business, especially in a desirable destination like Aspen. If you’re feeling burdened by your vacation rental upkeep, here are a few things you can do to lighten the load Add Smart Security Features Are you tired of guests who don’t let you know when they’ve arrived? Instead of calling and texting back-and-forth, install a smart keypad lock that automatically notifies you when guests come and go. Smart locks also let you send virtual keys to guests, so there’s no need to meet for a hand-off or worry about locked-out guests. With costs under $250 for the leading smart locks , this is an upgrade that pays for itself quickly. Smart locks aren’t the only security feature worth investing in. Burglars know that vacation homes are prime targets for break-ins because owners live out of town and properties sit vacant between guests. Install a security system to protect your property from intruders. A basic smart security system with self-monitoring costs as little as $250 , so don’t let price be a deterrent. If you don’t want the responsibility of monitoring your vacation rental yourself, pay a little more for a monitoring service. Schedule Auto-Delivery for Supplies A well-stocked property equals happy guests, but constantly running to the store to replenish supplies is time-consuming. You know your property needs a steady supply of toilet paper, coffee and tea, and other amenities, so why not set up auto-delivery instead? Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program lets you schedule deliveries on a frequency of your choosing and even offers savings for repeat shipments. That way, your supplies are waiting for you when you arrive. However, you may want to put a package locker on your porch or enlist a neighbor to put packages inside so they’re not vulnerable to theft or damage or buy an Amazon smart lock kit that is compatible with the Amazon in-home delivery . Air filters are another supply worth buying via auto-delivery. Air filters must be changed regularly to keep your property’s indoor air quality high, but this maintenance task is easily overlooked, especially when you have a million other items on your to-do list. If you sign up for a service that delivers new filters to your door, there’s no risk of forgetting. Use a Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist You’ve got the air filter covered, but what about all the other maintenance your short-term rental needs? It’s easy to overlook important cleaning and upkeep tasks when you’re rushing to flip a rental between guests, but one missed detail could make the difference between a glowing review and a not-so-great one. If you don’t want a beeping smoke detector or a missing amenity to lead to unhappy guests, you need a cleaning and maintenance checklist. (Even if you hire these jobs out, checklists are a great way to keep you and your contractors on the same page.) This resource covers the cleaning you’ll need to do between guests, while this one lists all the necessary maintenance tasks. Be sure to schedule a deep cleaning every few months to keep your property truly sparkling; maid services typically cost $110 to $228 in Rancho Cucamonga. Also hire professionals to handle seasonal maintenance projects like tuning up the HVAC system and cleaning the gutters. If you don’t regularly clean your gutters, they could get clogged, which may lead you to spending up to $500 to get them cleaned. These three measures save vacation rental owners time and stress without the high cost of professional property management and cleaning services. However, if you’ve taken these steps and are still spending too much time managing your short-term rental, hiring jobs out can be a great call! When you enlist an experienced local company to oversee your vacation rental property, you can enjoy the profits of a short-term rental without all the work.