There are lots of ways to upgrade your existing vacation rental without having to spend a lot on an expensive remodel. In fact, it’s often the little details that help us fondly remember such stays. In this article we’ll talk about some of those details that can help you upgrade your STR and stand out in your guests’ minds for reviews and repeat business.
Easy on the Eyes
Guests don’t like to see bare walls or stains/marks on those walls. One way you can deal with this is by adding a fresh coat of paint. If you don’t want to go this route, you could choose wallpaper or a printed decal. Both of these options offer varieties that are more easily cleaned and customized and they can both be removed should you decide to refresh some years on.
Creature Comforts
Some of us can recall great stays because the bedding was so comfortable and helped us get that rest we really needed. A way for you to upgrade your guest experience without breaking the bank is to get some luxurious sheets that makes the sleeping/lounging experience that much better. The same thinking can be applied to pillows.
People are more and more accustomed to smart televisions (with streaming services) and smart speakers, so having those in the house can be a great convenience to guests.
Food
Guests often arrive just having traveled and they probably have not had time to stop by the store. If you have some snacks and water available for them or, even better, an amenity basket, they’ll remember and appreciate it.
It’s also nice to have appliances that no one expects but that everyone appreciates. This could be something as small as a blender or as large as a barbecue grill. Guests can make themselves feel even more at home when they get access to these appliances.
Unexpected Extras
As we said above, memorable stays can often come down to the little things. Three more little things that can help lead to stronger reviews and more frequent bookings include:
- Board games — have a few copies of old classics like Monopoly and Scrabble but some of the newer ones like Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan
- Workout equipment — you don’t need a full-on home gym, but some pieces of equipment will be welcome for any guest who can then get some exercises done at home instead of having to find a gym in the area
- Keyless entry — this is helpful for both you and the guest, because they can’t lose keys and you don’t have to replace them.
Just one of any of these upgrades we suggested will be appreciated (and remembered!) by grateful guests.
This content originally appeared in our twice-monthly Guest Book newsletter.
