Ready or not, summer is on the way! If you’re a vacation rental home owner there are definitely more than a few things to think about. Summer in the Valley of the Sun does bring some special needs…
Dry or Not, It’s Still HOT!
First and foremost on everyone’s minds in summer here in the Phoenix area is air conditioning! Most people – especially those visiting from cooler climates – would find Phoenix absolutely uninhabitable at it’s natural temperature.
If you haven’t scheduled an annual maintenance service for your vacation rental home, it should be first on your to-do list today! There are oodles of heating and cooling service companies in the Valley, but even the biggest and the best of them are booked solid days – even weeks – in advance.
Regular maintenance of your cooling unit keeps it operating at its most efficient and can identify issues before they become emergencies, extending its life, overall. Extremely important, too, is changing the air return filters in your vacation rental home at least every month. A few crazy haboobs can really gunk up a filter!
For more tips on making your vacation rental home and systems safer and more efficient, check out our blog, “How to Prepare Your Phoenix Vacation Rental for Summer.”
Your Vacation Rental Home Oasis
If your vacation rental property boasts a private swimming pool and/or spa, you probably realize those features have their own set of challenges, year-round. But a vacation rental home with a pool is likely to be considered much more desirable by potential guests, especially in the Phoenix summer, so that’s a plus!
As a vacation rental home owner, hiring a professional pool maintenance service can reduce your headaches tremendously.
Moxie Girl has posted a plethora of tips regarding your vacation rental home pool! Check them out here:
5 Sizzling Summer Tips for Vacation Rental Home with Pools
Pool Perfection – Fireside Chat with Chad Nikkel of Aquaman Pools
Towel, Please
Summer laundry, believe it or not, can bring some special challenges as well – more so if your vacation rental home has a pool or spa, private or community property. As we’ve previously noted (see our blog, “Laundry 101 for Vacation Rental Homes”) if you’ve got a pool, you NEED pool towels! You’ll also need to make sure they are visible and convenient to your guests.
We’ve also mentioned previously that it’s a great idea to provide your vacation rental guests with disposable make-up removing wipes. Guests tend to take advantage of “amenities” and a few pennies spent making disposable wipes available can really save your linens in the long run.
Since it’s summer, you may also want to consider providing larger, disposable body wipes for your guests to remove self-tanning and bronzing products. If you think a little mascara on a pillowcaseis a problem, just wait until you see what a body or two covered with sparkly bronzer can do to a whole set of towels and sheets! I have and it’s devastating.
Summer Fresh
Changing out a few decorative items in and around your vacation rental home can really give it a fresh look for the season. Summer is also a great time to visit your own vacation rental property and see firsthand what may need updating or repair. Read our blogs for some Moxie Girl thoughts on these subjects. (Yes, we know it says refresh for spring, but you can refresh for any season!)
Visiting Your Own Vacation Rental Home?
Refresh Your Vacation Rental for Spring
Could Your Vacation Rental Property Use a Vacation Rental Specialist?
Moxie Girl has a stellar reputation in Phoenix area vacation rental home care! Find out how to make our caring team YOUR caring team – a FREE CONSULTATION is just a click away!
Almost everyone’s heard of Spring cleaning…but what about a Spring “refresh” for your vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo? It’s always important to keep your rental looking its best and now is the perfect time to make some updates that will let your guests know you care.
Spring in Phoenix is peak season for vacation rentals. Properties renting for $80/night during the summer can command 3-4 times that price during the Spring. This alone may raise the expectations of your guests, so you certainly want them to be happy they chose YOUR vacation rental home.
Competition is fierce – don’t let your rental look dingy! Almost everything in a busy vacation rental experiences significantly more use/abuse/laundering than it would in a normal residence and should be replaced/updated accordingly anyway. Read on to find out what you can (and should) do to get ready for Spring!
Soft Stuff
When thinking “fresh” we MUST think linens! No one wants to sleep on torn or stained sheets, or use “crunchy” towels – especially at $300/night.
Do a thorough inspection of all bedding and bath linens in your vacation rental home. You should definitely put yourself in your guest’s head for this task – would YOU be happy to be paying to use these items? Weed out anything that doesn’t look, feel or smell completely fresh and replace as necessary. (Psst…For ease of care and organization, Moxie Girl recommends white cotton everything for bed and bath!)
Check out all throw pillows and rugs throughout the home. Don’t forget the kitchen towels and potholders, too! Spring is an excellent time for a color change in these household goods – especially if replacements are necessary due to staining or wear. Discount department stores such as TJ Maxx, Ross and Big Lots generally have a ton of options in colors and designs at bargain prices.
Got shower curtains and liners? These items can get especially gross – and quickly – even with regular laundering, so it’s almost always time for new ones anyway. And new shower curtains are a great way to carry your “color change” into the bath, too! (Moxie’s advice: Splurge on a “wow!” machine-washable curtain and stock up on cheap vinyl liners.)
Other Touches
Look for decorative items in the home that may be easily swapped out for a more season-appropriate look. Colored vases, silk floral arrangements – even candles and coasters – may be good choices for Spring updates. (Check those discount stores we mentioned earlier!)
If you live in Phoenix, YOU’RE probably not in the pool yet, but chances are your out-of-town guests WILL be, so it’s not too early to put out the “summer goods” – pool towels, plastic drinkware for poolside, etc. (Read more about this topic in our blog, “5 Sizzling Summer Tips for Vacation Rental Homes with Pools”!)
How Moxie Girl Can Help
Having a professional vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo specialist you can count on makes a world of difference in the operation of your property. Communication being one of our core values, Moxie Girl vacation rental service includes immediately alerting our clients to any damages or theft of items in case emergency replacement is needed. This means that not only will the issue be resolved, but you’ll be well within the reporting window if you need to hold guests financially responsible for any mishaps!
Moxie Girl is happy to not only provide you with our expert recommendations on specific goods that perform well in a vacation rental situation, but many of our clients prefer to just have us shop for and stock their properties for them. Easy-peasy!
Moxie Girl can also help you to put your retired household items to good use by donating them to the Esperanza Preparatory Academy. Esperanza Preparatory Academy is a complete circle of care school in Tempe, Arizona. Visit their website HERE.
Phoenix area vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo owners – CLICK HERE for a free consultation and discover the benefits of having your own vacation rental specialist!
