Posts Tagged ‘summer vacation rentals’
Many Phoenix-area school districts start the school year as early as the beginning of August, but in other places across the country, classes don’t start until the day after Labor Day! This leaves August open for impromptu family vacations, and many of those families find it less expensive – and more convenient – to find a suitable vacation rental home for their family travels.
If you own a vacation rental in the Valley and have read up on the subject, you already know the benefits of keeping your property operating through our brutal summer – even though it might seem “easier” and “cheaper” to cease operations during these months.
If you AREN’T in-the-know, here are a couple of blogs full of good information on the topic!
Boosting Your Summer Vacation Rental Bookings
&
Summer Vacation Rentals- Moxie Girl Debunks The Myths
It’s true, staying in the summer vacation rental game not only helps offset the year-round expenses associated with your vacation rental property, but keeping your vacation rental home active during the “off” months – with good reviews – will also help boost your rental to the top of your vacation rental platform’s listings. And THAT can only increase your bookings during peak season!
Need some help avoiding complaints and bad reviews? Check out these Moxie blogs!
Avoiding Complaints From Your Vacation Rental Guests
&
Vacation Rental Review Killers
Late summer is famous for last-minute vacation rental home bookings, so stay in close communication with your vacation rental cleaning team. You’d never want to give your guests the feeling they’re receiving last-minute treatment!
Need Help With Your Vacation Rental Home?
Moxie Girl is the Valley’s vacation rental specialist, providing excellent service to 100+ vacation rental homes in the Phoenix Metro area. Find out if Moxie Girl is right for you – CLICK here for a free consultation!
Is Moxie Life for You?
Our Moxie Girl Vacation Rental Assistants enjoy flexible schedules, a supportive team environment, and opportunities for advancement. Tell us about yourself and we’ll be in touch soon!
APPLY TODAY!
Since traditional schools are on a three-month break, summer months are often the first choice in seasons for family vacations. Vacation rental homes are very popular for those traveling with children. Let’s face it, taking the whole family on the road can be expensive, especially when it comes to mealtimes. Staying in a vacation rental – with a KITCHEN – not only keeps the family unit together while providing everyone privacy but preparing family meals costs a fraction of the expense of dining out 2 or 3 times a day!
Moxie Girl is always enthusiastic about making your guests experience is great. On top of being certain your vacation rental home is well-maintained and sparkling clean upon their arrival, there are dozens of “little ways” to add to your guests comfort and make them feel cared for! Today, we’re focusing on kid-friendly items, but check out our blog “That’s a Nice Touch!” for adding general awesomeness all around your vacation rental home!
There’s Always Room Under a Bed
Unless you specifically market your vacation rental home to families with children, you may not want to have any ‘kid stuff’ visible on a regular basis and parents are generally going to pack up and bring whatever they deem necessary to care for the kids. But the good news is there are lots of small items that you can have on hand in your vacation rental home that can make a positive impression on the whole family.
And the GREAT news is that all these things can be corralled under a bed when not in use! Just be sure to let your guests know where to find this trove of treasures for their little ones. If you’re feeling really creative, you could even turn the experience into a treasure hunt game!
What’s in the Box?
A plastic ‘sweater storage’ box (these are usually large-ish and rectangular, about 6” deep) with a lid makes for a perfect fit under most beds and can hold a lot of kid-friendly fun! Most, if not all of these things are readily available at your favorite dollar store:
Coloring/Activity/Puzzle Books
Drawing Paper Pads
Crayons/Pencils
Board Games/Playing Cards
Small Inflatable Pool Toys (new in package, please!)
Soap Bubbles/Bubble-Blowing Tools
A Night-lite, if your vacation rental doesn’t already have them in the bedrooms
And let’s not forget about personal amenities. Yes, we did say parents are likely to bring whatever products they require for the kids but show us a 5-year-old who wouldn’t love an unexpected bubble bath using that little bottle of bubble bath liquid and rubber ducky they found in the box? There’s a kid-version of most things – tissues, lotions, shampoo, and soaps – that will make the little ones feel treated just as special as the adults!
These, Too, Shall Fit Under a Bed
Two small pieces of very helpful (and often left at home) equipment when it comes to dealing with kids are a booster seat and a step stool – and they’ll fit under the bed with your ‘kid box’, too! Parents are resourceful – do you WANT toddlers propped up on your fancy throw pillows
while eating tomato soup? Didn’t think so…but it could definitely happen “in a pinch.”)
A step stool for the kiddies can help in the bathroom for sure. It’s HARD not to make a mess brushing your teeth if you’re shorter than the sink! Young ones may also find a step stool to be a fun way to climb into the adult-sized bed they may be sleeping in while at your vacation rental.
Pool Time!
If your vacation rental home has a pool, Moxie Girl has posted a number of blogs that could be helpful to you. Be sure to check out our Moxie Blog, “5 Sizzling Summer Tips for Vacation Rental Homes with Pools”!
We mentioned perhaps providing some small, inflatable pool toys in the ‘kid box’. Providing these items, new in-the-packaging, is best. Not only is someone going to have to put them to their lips to blow them up, but there are also pre-printed consumer warnings already on the packaging…such as ‘This is not a life-saving device!”…in case there was ANY question about whether or not it’s safe to leave a 4 year old in the pool alone with this beach ball mom is about to inflate.
Don’t forget about the “No Glass Near the Pool” rule you SHOULD have posted at your vacation rental! The dollar store is again your friend here. There are dozens of choices for colorful, pool-safe drinkware for everyone – and some, especially for kids!
Don’t Forget!
Be sure your guests know where to find the kid-goods! The ‘kid-box’ effort is pointless if no one knows where it is. A card left with the box could contain a special welcome note to the kids as well as any simple ‘rules’ you may have regarding the contents of the box. You know, “please return all puzzle pieces, crayons, games pieces, etc. to the box for our next mini guests to enjoy!”
It should go without saying that this little box of treasures – and any kid-equipment – should be inspected, replenished and sanitized between guests, just as you would with any adult guest amenities. (Okay, maybe EXTRA sanitation on the kid stuff. Just sayin’.)
Moxie Girl is Your Phoenix-Area Vacation Rental Specialist!
Whether you own a vacation rental home or are looking to be a Vacation Rental Assistant, Moxie Girl may be the answer for you. We specialize in the care of over 100 vacation rental homes, Valley-wide!
For vacation rental homeowners, Moxie Girl takes the worry out of between-guest turns, giving them more time to spend in other areas of their lives! Our vast experience with vacation rentals and our reliable service can give you the peace of mind you crave while ensuring your guests are enjoying the best experience possible in your vacation rental. (Great experiences = great reviews = more bookings = more profit for you!) Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION!
Our Moxies (boys AND girls) stay in shape making our client’s vacation rentals fresh, clean and guest-ready while enjoying a flexible schedule and a supportive team environment! If Moxie life sounds like a fit for you, please CLICK HERE and tell us about yourself! We are always looking to welcome our newest team member!
Everyone knows there’s nothing more refreshing than a dip a cool, sparkling pool in the Phoenix summer! If your vacation rental home boasts one, no doubt your property will be in higher demand during the summer months than those that without a pool. Moxie Girl is ready with some tips to help prepare your vacation rental home for summer swimming fun!
1. First Things First
With your pool being a highlight of your summer vacation rental, you MUST make certain it’s properly maintained. To keep your pool looking its best, Moxie Girl recommends regularly scheduled professional service. Moxie Girl founder, Amanda Thomas, recently sat down with Chad Nikkel , owner of Aquaman Pools, to discuss caring for your vacation rental home pool. Chad shared some important points to remember:
A vacation rental home pool should be treated more like a public pool, both chemically and with regard to safety and liability issues.
Pool chemicals should be always be safely stored out of the sight of guests, and an automatic tab feeder is a much better and safer choice than floating chlorinator for a vacation rental home pool.
Reduce your liability by posting pool safety signs – No Diving, No Glass, No Running on Pool Deck! Sure, your guests may not always heed the warnings, but at least you (and your insurance company) will know you’ve done your part as a responsible vacation rental home owner to discourage mishaps!
2. About that Glass…
Broken glass in the pool will definitely ruin everyone’s day. Not only will the pool be unsafe for use, but glass shard removal from pools is time-consuming and costly!
Encourage your guests to follow the “No Glass” rule by hitting up your nearest dollar store and stocking your vacation rental home with pool-safe, colorful plastic drink ware! Shatter-proof tumblers, wine, beer and even margarita drink-ware is usually available in a rainbow of colors, and designs can range from solid colors to patterns and tiki and cactus themes. So have some fun and while you’re at it, a plastic pitcher for poolside pours is a great idea, as well as a supply of can koozies! Most of these plastics are completely dishwasher-safe, but always be sure to check the labels before purchasing.
3. Throwing in the Towel
Nothing will prematurely age your bath towels like using them out at the pool. Moxie Girl recommends stocking your vacation rental home with at least one beach towel per potential guest, plus a few extras – and make sure they’re placed in an obvious location so your guests see and use them. An appropriately-sized basket by the main door leading to the pool makes a tidy container for neatly rolled and attractively arranged pool towels.
If your towels (beach OR bath) have fallen victim to mildew, an unpleasant odor is usually the first clue…and that odor actually the smell of breeding bacteria – ewwwww! Take the steps below as soon as possible and chances are you can kill the bacteria and save your towels.
Place mildewed towels in washer, set water temperature to HOT, and add a cup of white vinegar (no detergent for this step). Manually stop the washer once it’s filled and let the towels soak for an hour. At the end of the hour, restart the washer and allow the cycle to complete.
Now, repeat the complete wash cycle, adding your regular laundry detergent and another cup of white vinegar. If the mildew odor is gone at the end of the cycle – hooray! High-five yourself and transfer those towels to the dryer and dry thoroughly. If you’ve read Moxie Girl’s “Laundry 101”, you already know to skip the dryer sheets as they reduce the absorbency of your towels!
4. Drip Dry
It doesn’t take long for mold and mildew to lay down roots in wet laundry! By providing a place for your guests to hang items wet from the pool, you’ll discourage mildew and prolong the life of your pool towels. Hooks or a retractable clothesline outside will discourage pool towels and other items from being brought into the house sopping wet.
Do be aware that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can quickly fade colorful towels, so keep that in mind when considering locations for your outdoor drip-dry area! Moxie Girl also recommends an absorbent floor mat outside all doors leading to the pool to help keep your interior floors safe and dry.
5. That’s a Nice Touch – Summer Update
If you’ve smartly stocked your vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo with a basic first-aid kit, consider updating it for the summer season to include high spf sunscreen, aloe vera gel and a topical spray for bug bites, in “trial” sizes. You may even consider bundling up these summer items in a vinyl mini tote bag to make a sweet little welcome gift for arriving guests.
Summer humidity tends to bring the mosquitoes, so consider some citronella candles in the pool area. Look for candles in non-glass containers only, of course – we’ve seen some cute metal and terra cotta versions for sale.
“Pool noodles” are colorful, inexpensive and give your guests a little something to float around with in the pool. You can pick them at the dollar store while you’re buying your fun plastic drink-ware. Be sure to check out Moxie Girls tips for adding a first-aid kit as well as other thoughtful touches your guests will appreciate, “That’s a Nice Touch”
Moxie Girl is your vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo specialist, all year round! We’re always sharing helpful hints to make your life easier and keep your guests happy, so check back often for more from Moxie!
