Posts Tagged ‘spring’
It’s spring time! Oh, what a wonderful time to experience flowers, Easter, warm sunshine, and for many, a long-awaited graduation!
There are two major colleges in the Phoenix area: Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. ASU will be holding Spring graduations in May, and GCU will also be holding several graduations for nearby high schools and community colleges. For those of you travelling to the Phoenix area this month here are some important dates and details you need to know…
ASU: Commencement 05/06/2019 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe at 7:30 p.m
Estrella Mountain Community College and Glendale CC and Phoenix College: Commencement 05/10/2019 at GCU
Gateway and South Mountain CC: Commencement 05/09/2019 at GCU
Grand Canyon University is located off the I-17 on Camelback Road and 35th Ave. So, if you plan on travelling this way during the graduation times, be prepared for some heavy traffic. Moxie Girl wishes you a great stay in Arizona at this most gorgeous time of year – and congratulations, graduates!
Almost everyone’s heard of Spring cleaning…but what about a Spring “refresh” for your vacation rental home? 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 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 owners – CLICK HERE for a free consultation and discover the benefits of having your own vacation rental specialist!
Moxie Girl saw our busiest spring season ever in 2018 and with the Phoenix area growing in popularity as a vacation destination, we expect 2019 to be HUGE!
Read on to find out how to better prepare yourself and your vacation rental home to maximize bookings and profitability for the coming spring.
Mark Your Calendars!
Events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament and the Cactus League spring training games draw thousands of visitors to the Phoenix area each year and 2019 should be no exception. The Phoenix Open runs from January 28th to February 3rd. Spring training dates for 2019 aren’t scheduled as of this writing, but if we have to “ballpark” it (see what we did there?) Moxie Girl says plan for the last week of February through the first few days in April, for now.
Also, the month of March – ALL of it – seems to be the most popular month for vacationing in Phoenix – and it’s no wonder since our weather is usually perfect!
Review your vacation rental home rates for all spring dates, NOW. Lodging rates during these high-traffic months can be 2 1/2 to 3 times higher than summer months, so do a little comparison shopping for vacation rental and hotel rates in your area to determine what you should be charging and update your rental calendar accordingly.
Accentuate Your Positives!
If your property listing could use a little punching up, spring is a great time for doing just that! Does your property boast a swimming pool or a spa? If so, be sure to highlight those features in your listings. Some updated photos may be in order, especially if you’ve made any improvements or decorative changes to your vacation rental home. Show it off!
Accurate and appealing descriptions are always a must – and don’t forget to stress the desirability of your vacation rental home(s) location! Many guests are willing to pay more to enjoy the convenience of being within walking distance or a short Uber ride to event venues.
Shut Up Liver, You’re Fine!
Vacation rental homeowners beware; alcohol is likely to play a huge part in guest activities in the first quarter of the year – it seems to be a tradition. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption has a bad habit of increasing the chance of mishaps during your guests stay. Now is the time to do a thorough walk-through of your vacation rental property, take care of any maintenance issues and remove any decorative items which may be easily broken or are not-so-easily cleaned.
Moxie Girl has walked in to ‘party aftermath’ on cleaning day enough times to know that you don’t want to waste any time checking the condition of your vacation rental home after your guests depart. It’s important to remember, too, that most vacation rental home platforms have a limited window for you to charge your guests for any damages that may have occurred, so time is certainly of the essence!
While there may be many reasons for unanticipated late checkouts, alcohol consumption will probably also be to blame for at least a few during the spring season. Be sure your policies regarding the use of your property as well as fees for damage and late checkouts are clearly stated and understood by your guests. You may also want to consider increasing the deposit you require on your vacation rental property during this time.
Bro Bashes
We’re not saying females can’t be messy – or unruly – but as the old saying goes, “Boys will be boys.” With spring weddings so popular in the Phoenix area, you may notice an increase in the booking of bachelor party stays, especially if you vacation rental home is in a prime nightlife spot (think Old Town Scottsdale, ASU Tempe, and downtown Phoenix.)
It’s been Moxie Girl’s experience that if anything is going to get broken or thrown up on, it’s like to happen during a “Bro Bash.” So plan to get in there quickly after checkout and schedule a little extra time for cleaning if possible, just in case!
Talking Trash
As you might imagine all this spring partying tends to create mountains of trash and even bigger mountains of recyclables. Expect a lot of empty bottles, cans, and cartons during this time. Clearly labeling your recycle bins – indoor and outdoor – with the specifics of your vacation rental homes recycling service will make it easier for your guests to properly dispose of their refuse and keep you out of trouble with your service provider. Know your scheduled pick-up days and make sure your bins are out on time!
So, try to ignore the heat for now and get busy with planning for a busy and profitable 2019 spring season! From set-up to clean-up, Moxie Girl is an expert in caring for vacation rental homes throughout the Phoenix area. Check out our other blogs for more great tips on preparing and maintaining your vacation rental property. If you’d rather enjoy more of your free time than be bothered with all these details, give us a call! Moxie Girl would love to be YOUR vacation rental home specialist, too!
