How to decorate and equip your vacation rental

Vacation rentals compete for bookings

The short-term rental market is booming – especially in the Branson, Missouri, area.

AirDNA reports increased competition – especially in rural areas and small towns where there are now 30% more listings than before the pandemic. Listings in mountain/lake areas are up 18.5%!

There are Airbnb’s all over the place. So there are more property owners fighting to grab the attention of vacation goers. This is why you must pay attention to the details to stand out from the crowd. 

Prepare your short-term rental for its purpose

Short-term rentals are used in a different manner than regular homes. Therefore the way you decorate and furnish a house for a vacation rental is different than how you set up a house for full-time living. You may be very good at decorating your personal home, but this does not always translate to preparing a short-term rental.

When you buy a property, you have to transition it from one style of living to another.

Vacation rentals are often rented by families or even multiple families at once. If the house wasn’t previously a vacation rental, the space isn’t going to be maximized to fit a larger number of people comfortably. This is where an expert in layout and design can come in handy.

Even if you buy a house that was already a short-term rental property, it is wise to evaluate whether or not it is optimized for the most bookings at the best rate. If this was previously a failed rental venture, it may not have been set up correctly by the previous owners, so you have to do something different.

Ask a professional interior designer with specialized training in short-term rental styling for a second opinion to make sure the rental is properly equipped, updated, and ready to meet your ideal renter’s expectations.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and specialized certifications as an Expert Psychological Stager and a Short-Term Rental Stylist. I help both local and out-of-state property investors prepare their vacation rentals for success.

Furnishings matter

In addition to decorating, you must properly equip your short-term rental before listing it. If customers show up and they don’t have everything they need, they are going to be upset.

For example, are there enough towels to accommodate the maximum amount of guests? A good rule of thumb is “You need to multiply the number of essential items by 2.5 times the maximum number of guests.” So if the max guest count is ten, your rental unit should have 25 bath towels, 25 plates, 25 cups, etc. 

If they want to use the kitchen (that may be why they didn’t choose a hotel) but the kitchen doesn’t have a can opener or proper pots and pans to cook with, your guests will feel as though they are not getting what they paid for. 

Bad experiences lead to bad reviews, which leads to lower rental frequency and lower daily rental rates. Equipping your vacation rental with all the essentials is key to guest satisfaction.

Think about the customer's needs and desires

In order to properly equip your vacation rental, you must put yourself in your guests' shoes. Think about who your ideal client is. Why are they traveling? What are their specific needs? What amenities would enhance their experience at your rental?

Let’s say you own a three-story condo, with a separate unit on each level. The ground-level unit may be more attractive to older clients who don’t want to climb stairs. So you might cater to older people in that space. It could be things as simple as a chair near the door, so they can sit to put on their shoes, handrails in the shower, or beds that aren’t too high off the ground.

Young families, on the other hand, have different needs. They might want games young children can play or bicycles in the garage. Offering a pack-n-play, highchair, or children’s DVDs for the TV would also be appreciated by young families.

Is your rental located in a remote location geared toward nature lovers? You could enhance your space with bird feeders in the backyard, a pair of binoculars by the back window, and complimentary hiking sticks for your guests to use while visiting.

Value-adding amenities greatly enhance your edge on the market. Hiring a professional to help you hone in on your target market, and what amenities they would appreciate, could be a worthwhile investment.

Call in a professional

Most property investors are not experts in all the subjects related to owning a successful short-term rental: business management, interior design, remodeling, and buyer psychology. Oftentimes investors have a hard time separating their personal tastes and styles from the needs and desires of renters.

A professional will help you:

• Choose colors that appeal to the largest number of people.
• Arrange the furniture with the ideal placement to maximize the functionality of the space and make each room feel larger, as well as accommodate maximum occupancy.
• Stage your property with little “scenes” to convey the experiences people can have at your rental.
• Identify value-adding amenities such games, books, and location-specific items your guests would appreciate – beyond the basics hotels provide such as beds, towels, and TVs.

That’s where a professional can help. A professional stylist can alleviate some of the mental pressure of setting up a short-term rental business. They can act as a guide, an outside resource, or a second opinion. Before you dive in headfirst and list your newly purchased vacation rental property, contact a short-term rental stylist to help maximize your investment.