Posts Tagged ‘vacation rental cleaning phoenix’
Review Killers – Vacation Rental Home Cleaning “Misses”
When guests book your vacation rental home, they’ve seen photos of it online looking it’s very best, so you’ve already given them a great (virtual) first impression. And now that their expectations have been set, it’s up to you to make sure your guests aren’t disappointed during their stay! As fantastic and fresh as it may look at first glance, a guest discovering a cleaning “miss” – or worse, multiple “misses” – during their visit can really diminish their overall perception of your vacation rental home.
We all hope that a great experience will translate to a great guest review, but we know a negative experience, even if it’s due to one or more seemingly minor issues such as cleaning “misses” will nearly ALWAYS translate to a less than positive guest review. Moxie Girl, your vacation rental specialist, is here to alert you to some common cleaning misses to avoid – all of which can be huge turn-offs to guests.
It’s Okay to be “Hairanoid” – Especially in the Bathroom
You know, like paranoid…about HAIR. Nothing will ruin the appearance of an otherwise spotless bathroom than a hair – even one – missed during cleaning. If Moxie Girl happens upon an extra-hairy bathroom, we often use our vacuum attachment tool to get the bulk of it out of the way before we even start cleaning! Vacuuming any DRY sink, tub or shower, in addition to the floors, will make quick work of hair disposal and keep it out of your cleaning cloths, so you won’t be spreading it around. (Caution – Never vacuum a wet surface!)
Check those bathroom drains! Hairy drains are completely unappealing and if left unchecked, will leave you with slow-running or completely clogged drains.
Fabric surfaces throughout your vacation rental home – seat cushions, throw pillows, duvet covers – can all collect hair, dust and other debris. Moxie Girl recommends rolling all these surfaces with an adhesive lint roller, which can be purchased at your nearest dollar store.
And finally, double check bathrooms after you complete the rest of the home. Hair can float around for a while, landing in the most inconvenient spots. Double check that no “strays” made it back on to your clean surfaces.
The Kitchen – So Many Places to Hide!
The kitchen, with all its appliances, drawers and cupboards is a potential landmine of cleaning misses! For example, if you’ve followed the guidelines in Moxie Girl’s How to Set Up a Vacation Rental Home Kitchen, you furnished your kitchen with some type of coffee maker and a toaster or toaster oven. Guests will definitely expect those things to be clean and ready-to-use. This means clean, inside AND out! No soggy, spent coffee filter and grounds or used K-cups left in the Keurig, and certainly no toast crumbs littering the counter the second the toaster is touched.
Bigger appliances should be thoroughly checked out during the cleaning process, too. The majority of your vacation rental home guests may never use the oven or even the microwave, but still, take a peek! Moxie Girl has found food left in ovens (and microwaves) – even gooey evidence of an indoor marshmallow roast – more than once after guests have departed. And if we hadn’t checked, it could have been the next guest finding that mess – yikes!
Dishwashers and refrigerators should be empty, clean and fresh-smelling. Double check that all dishes, utensils and cookware are sparkling clean and dry – and neatly put away in clean drawers and cupboards! Don’t forget to check the inside of the trash bin to make sure there aren’t any messes lurking in there, either.
Handle(s) with Care!
Ensure your guests’ hands will come in contact with “nothing but clean” by thoroughly wiping down any and all handles in your vacation rental home – door knobs, drawer pulls, appliance handles and faucets. Sticky and/or greasy messes find it easy to hide here – especially on the back sides – only to be discovered the next time the knob is turned or the handle is pulled.
Moxie Girl recommends using your own clean, bare hands after cleaning your vacation rental home, to make sure all of these items throughout the home are clean and smooth. Don’t forget door knobs and handles on exterior doors – that front door handle is likely the very first thing your guests will touch upon their arrival!
Behind the Curtains – Insect Graveyards and Cobweb Farms
Pull open the curtains, blinds and shutters on all windows within reach. Not only will this give you some natural additional light while cleaning the room, but you’ll also be aware of anything hiding on window sills. This area seems to attract dead bugs and cobwebs more than most places in the home! Your vacuum attachment tool is useful for hands-free pick-up of any unpleasantness you may find here.
Shut the Front Door!
Actually, open and shut ALL the doors of your vacation rental home during cleaning. Dust and debris tend to gather in the corners behind the doors, so you’ll want to get in there with your vacuum attachment tool as well. Ignore it, and chances are the dust bunnies will scamper out of hiding the minute your guests get comfortable.
Monsters Under the Bed
With so much to do in preparation of your next vacation rental home guests, it’s all too easy to forget to check for “monsters” – trash, forgotten socks, dust bunnies and, well…just trust us when we tell you that you MUST check -under the beds! And in the drawers and closets – after every guest departure. Whatever you may find, you don’t want your next guests making that discovery!
Guests in a hurry to check out on time will often overlook personal items when they are packing, and sometimes jewelry and clothing items can get lost in bedding, or dropped on the floor and go unnoticed until cleaning. Your guests will appreciate being contacted immediately if you find something they mistakenly left behind!
Yes, we know that’s a lot to remember – but we also know that exceptional maintenance and cleaning of your vacation rental home is essential for success! If you’d rather not DIY, Moxie Girl can handle all those details for you. Visit www.moxie-girl.com and click on the big pink “FREE CONSULTATION” button. You are 2 minutes away from a stress-free vacation rental home!
You’ve probably heard – and may even believe – many myths about summer vacation rentals in Arizona. With our extensive vacation rental home experience, Moxie Girl has seen first-hand that vacation rentals in the Phoenix area are more popular than ever! Read on as we debunk a few of these myths and find out how to maximize your vacation rental home this summer.
Myth #1 – No One Comes to Arizona in the Summer
Wrong! While it’s true that the volume of summer visitors is less than the rest of the year, there are still plenty of people coming to Arizona in the summer – consider these three examples…
- California IS a popular summer destination and many travelers use the I-10, through Arizona, to get there and many will need to places to stay on the way.
- Business travel happens year-round. Vacation rental homes can be a superior choice for employee lodging, especially for businesses sending teams of employees.
- The Phoenix Metro area is one of the fastest growing in the U.S. This means people are relocating to Arizona at a rapid rate. With the kids out of school, summer is often the preferred time to move. Whether seeking a short-term “check-out-the-area” stay, or a longer-term “waiting for escrow to close” stay, a vacation rental home can be the perfect solution for new arrivals.
Myth #2 – Summer Renters are “Lower Quality” Renters
As hotels and resorts slash their rates for summer, vacation rental owners must follow suit. The reality is that guests who paid $500/night in our cooler months are the SAME people paying $125-$175/night during the summer.
At Moxie Girl, we actually see the most damage done to vacation rental properties outside the summer months. Golf tournament weekend is always at the top of the list. March seems to be full of “boy’s weekends.” And May is very popular for bachelor party weekends before June weddings. End-of-semester parties with groups of students celebrating their freedom…things like that. Also, guests enjoying longer stays during any time of the year seem to get really comfortable around the 3rd week of their stay, becoming a little less careful and a little more messy.
Myth #3 – Keeping My Vacation Rental Home Available in Summer is Too Expensive
Really? Even if you ‘close’ your vacation rental for the summer, your mortgage, HOA dues, and utility fees don’t go on vacation. You’ll also have at least a minimum electric bill, even if the home is empty!
So, let’s do the math…using a “baseline” electric bill of $100, here’s what your fixed monthly expenses look like:
$1,500 Mortgage Payment
$75 HOA Dues
$100 Utility Fee
$100 Electric Bill
$1,775 TOTAL
$1,775 out of pocket, every month…on a property sitting empty? But what if you booked 20 nights in a month? Even at a summer rate of $89/night, you’d have $1,780 cash incoming. Granted, your electric bill is going to increase, because people LOVE air-conditioning! But even if your electric cost increases from $100 to $350, bringing your monthly expense to $2,202, your net cash outlay goes from a whopping $1,775 to just $245 a month – and you’re showing activity and collecting reviews on your property!
Well, those myths certainly appear to be debunked, don’t they? That math should be plenty of incentive for you to keep your Arizona vacation rental home up and running, year-round. Understanding your potential summer guests and keeping your price-point in line with summer hotel rates will definitely work to your advantage! Discover more ways to make your life as a vacation rental homeowner easier, safer and more profitable by checking out our other Moxie Girl blogs.
For more great info on this subject, please visit the STRM website and check out these helpful blogs!
Moxie Girl is always looking for ways to make your life as a Phoenix vacation rental home owner easier, more efficient and cost-effective! The kitchen is one area that can be rampant with inefficiencies, if you’re not experienced. Read on as Moxie Girl guides you through setting up your vacation rental home kitchen in a way that gives your guests all the comforts they’ll need during their stay – and keeps it simple for YOU!
1.First Impressions
Your guests will expect to walk into a sparkling clean, fresh-smelling kitchen, with appliances in good working order, so don’t disappoint! Moxie Girl recommends an empty fridge, with the exception of bottled water and perhaps a few squeezable condiments. We also recommend a lined trash can with a lid for the kitchen, to keep any odors on lockdown during your guests’ stay.
Opened cabinets and drawers should reveal clean surfaces and neatly organized gear. Check the corners – especially in drawers – dust and debris like to gravitate there.
Keep any decorative items limited to things that can be easily cleaned and dusted. Decorations that are porous or include fibrous materials will only collect grease and dust, and who needs that?
2. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (and the Toast)!
Even if they don’t plan to prepare any meals during their stay, a cup of coffee and/or a slice of toast are often how your guests get started in the morning. If you choose a traditional coffee maker, a reusable filter is a great idea. Although a bit pricier, Keurig coffee makers are very popular choice too. Whichever you choose, regular and decaf coffee, sugar and powdered creamer are welcome amenities your guests will appreciate!
When choosing a toaster for your vacation rental home kitchen, be sure to find a model that’s easy to clean and de-crumb! If you’ve got a lot of counter space, a toaster oven may be an even better choice since they are more versatile and may deter the heat and mess of using the big oven for a small dish.
3. Honey, Where’s the…?
For most vacation rental home needs, the “basics” are enough. Don’t clutter your kitchen cabinets, drawers and countertops with single-purpose gadgets. One or two items, especially if related to other features of the home are okay– maybe a fancy hydraulic wine opener if your vacation rental boasts a wine fridge – but it’s always best to concentrate on the essentials.
Guests will tend to use whatever is made available to them. So, while it’s important to cover the basics, you will only complicate your life (and your guest’s) by providing too many things. Here’s a list of what your vacation rental home needs as far as general kitchen equipment:
Corkscrew/Bottle Opener
Can Opener
Spatula and Large Spoons for Cooking (2 of each is plenty – and make sure they are compatible with your pots and pans!)
Set of Measuring Spoons and a 1C Measuring Cup
A Pitcher with a Lid
A Set of Mixing/Serving Bowls
Set of Serving Utensils
Baking Sheet and Cake Pan
Set of Kitchen Knives
Cutting Board
Hot Pads
Salt and Pepper
Set of Pots and Pans with Lids (this should include a decent-sized skillet!
4. Let’s Eat (and Drink)!
When stocking your vacation rental home kitchen with dishes and silverware, consider how many guests the home accommodates. For most, a complete service for eight is sufficient. So that’s eight each of drinking glasses, coffee mugs, bowls, salad plates, dinner plates and silverware settings. (Fun fact: a service of eight = approximately one full load in the dishwasher, and will encourage guests to wash the dishes!) If your vacation rental home accommodates 12 people, of course you’ll want 2 complete sets of eight.
Don’t forget to stock wine glasses and beer mugs or pint glasses, too – enough to cover the number of potential guests, plus a few extras. Wine glasses tend to get broken more than anything else in the kitchen, so it never hurts to have an extra set of eight stored away for quick replacement between guests.
5. Clean-up and Supplies
Again, we’re covering the essentials here. By stocking these simple supplies, you cover their needs while encouraging guests to clean-up after themselves, keeping your vacation rental home tidy during their stay! Your guests should be able to easily locate these items, so choose logical placement, even if items are stored in a cabinet or drawer.
Small rolls of tin foil and plastic wrap
Trash liners to fit your lidded kitchen trash bin
Dishwashing liquid-this should be placed by the sink
Liquid handsoap-also placed by the sink
Dishwasher detergent or pods-this can be stored in a lower cabinet, near the dishwasher. If you use detergent pods, those may be attractively placed with other “countertop” items like dishwashing liquid and handsoap. Also, think about posting some easy operating instructions for your dishwasher. This will make your guests feel more comfortable in actually using it!
Small kitchen sponge-We like a non-scratch scrubby side on our sponge, too, just in case. Replace after each guest!
Paper towels -Moxie Girl recommends a mounted hanging paper towel roll or a countertop stand to keep towels clean and dry. An extra roll under the sink is also a good idea!
Paper Napkins- Your guests could use paper towels, but actual paper napkins can be more cost-effective, so it’s something to consider.
Clean, empty plastic grocery bags-A grocery bag is always handy to contain wet or messy kitchen trash, wet clothing or “just some things” your guests may need to carry or wrap. And they’re FREE, so let’s make them available. You could even purchase a “bag-bag” – a neat way to store and dispense them!
Moxie Girl is chock full of excellent advice when it comes to stocking, cleaning and operating your vacation rental home! Check our blog frequently for more tips – we know you’ll find them helpful. And of course, Moxie Girl would be happy to take full charge of these tasks for you.
If you have a vacation rental that you’d like some help with, we need just a few details about your vacation rental to get you a quote for our vacation rental cleaning services.
If you own a vacation rental home in the Phoenix area, you may be thinking “the season” is over…but summer vacation rentals are actually a lot more popular than most people know. While summer bookings are undoubtedly fewer than the rest of the year, you can still make this season a success! Here are a few tips that will help you have a “no sweat” summer vacation rental season.
Know Your Summer Bookings!
Summer guests fall largely into three categories:
- Last-Minute Bookings – Often work-related or emergency travel, but summer is also the time for spontaneous road trips!
- Stay-cations – These will usually be weekend visits. A requirement for many stay-cationers is a swimming pool, so ALWAYS make your sparkling pool a highlight in your summer listings!
- Longer-term Renters – With the kids out of school, summer is a popular time to move and some find it necessary to secure a temporary home while their new one is being made ready, or while waiting for escrow to close. Especially if your rental doesn’t have a pool, consider monthly pricing to attract the longer-term bookings.
The Price is Right! Or is it?
If your vacation rental is empty in the summer, you’re doing it wrong! Check out hotel pricing in the area. What was a $300/night room in March is easily $99/night during the summer months. Even local resorts offer $99 rooms in the summer.
We often see vacation rental homeowners catch on to “summer pricing” in their second year. So if this is your first year, don’t waste these months! Remember, the more activity on your listing, the more attractive your vacation rental home becomes – both to prospective guests and site algorithms.
Protect Your Vacation Rental Home!
No one wants a sky-high electric bill, or worse, to have to replace a $10k A/C system prematurely. A lockable thermostat is a worthwhile investment. Just lock it at 72 degrees and you can relax knowing your system is safely operating at maximum efficiency.
If you have long breaks between guests, consider having Moxie Girl check on your vacation rental home just to make sure everything is safe and in order. That’s considerable peace of mind for only $35!
Communication is Key!
Summer is notorious for last-minute bookings and changes. You may notice more guests extending their
stays because summer in Phoenix is actually pretty nice when you have time to relax by a pool! Always communicate with Moxie Girl regarding any scheduling changes within 24 hours.
No one likes unpleasant surprises – especially guests. Be sure your guests are aware of any fees for extending their stay, late check-outs, damages, etc. Also, it never hurts to prepare guests – especially those not familiar with the desert – for things such the occasional scorpion and our crazy monsoon storms.
Don’t ignore it for the summer when you can keep your vacation rental home working for you, year-round! Moxie Girl is always here to help – from setting up your vacation rental home to ensuring on-time, quality cleaning between guests! Check our other Moxie blogs for more information to make the most of your summer vacation rental bookings.
As a vacation rental home owner in the Phoenix area, Moxie Girl knows you face a lot of competition for bookings. With hundreds of choices, potential guests are not only looking at pricing and availability – they are also looking for a great experience. We’ve all heard the saying “Little things mean a lot,” and it’s true – those “little things” can really enhance a vacation stay. With minor effort and little to no extra expense, here are some things you can do to let your guests know you have them in mind!
1. Welcome!
A nice and concise printed welcome letter with vital information is always useful. The property WI-FI password should always be prominent. Other points to include: Property address (in case of emergency), door/lockbox codes and instructions, any info needed to operate cable or satellite television/entertainment systems and check- in/check-out times. Consider laminating your letter or placing it in a tabletop display stand to protect it for re-use, and don’t forget to update information as necessary!
Especially if they are new to the area, your vacation rental home guests may also appreciate a small, orderly display of promo material from nearby restaurants or attractions. Moxie Girl has clients who also place bottled water and/or a bottle of wine, and packaged snacks to welcome guests.
2.Pillows, Bedding and Towels…Oh, My!
Attractive placement of decorative pillows and throws in your vacation rental home help to make a great first impression, but be sure to check ALL fabric surfaces for lint, hair and other debris! A lint roller from the dollar store will make quick work of this task.
Bedding and decorative pillow arrangement options are nearly endless! Here are pics of a few looks we love here at Moxie Girl:
There are also a variety of ways to fold (and hang) your bathroom linens – different folds may just “fit better” on the towel rack or in the cabinet. It’s important that you pick a fold that looks nice and works with your space, and it’s even more important to BE CONSISTENT to maintain an orderly and attractive appearance.
3.Tissue Flowers and Paper Points
To give your bathrooms a crisp and professional finish, fold the end square of your spindled toilet tissue into a point. Also, a full (or at least almost full) roll of toilet tissue on the spindle makes a considerably nicer presentation than a half-empty (or less) roll. You can always take partial rolls home for your personal use. Take this idea into the kitchen and use a nice, clean fold-over on your paper towel roll, too!
If you provide tissues for your guests – which is already a nice touch – add an even nicer touch by using 3-5 tissues layered together to make a flower to tuck into the top each box. Fancy!
4.Houston, We Have a Problem!
Your guest’s “emergency” may be your opportunity to shine. Think how thankful you’d be as a guest, if you needed any of the following items and actually found it, easily, in the vacation home you’ve rented!
A basic first-aid kit is ALWAYS a good idea – store it where it will be easily found if needed. A bathroom cabinet that holds extra rolls of toilet paper may be a good choice.
On one trip or another, we’ve all experienced the realization that we forgot to pack a true necessity. Often it’s a toothbrush, toothpaste or tampons – so why not have a (very) small supply tucked away to tide your guests over until they can get to the store? A mini sewing kit could save the day for the guest who just lost a button while getting ready to go out on the town.
Always check these items between guests to ensure they are clean and complete for your next arrival.
5.Extra, Extra!
Implementing any or all of the ideas we’ve suggested so far will help impress your guests and let them know you care. If you’re willing to go a little bit further, you might consider placing mints on bed pillows for your guests’ first night. How about providing hotel-style bath amenities to make your guests feel special? Shampoo, conditioner and body wash may be purchased by the case, and sets of product can be attractively arranged between guest stays to provide a more hotel-like experience. Individually packaged make-up remover wipes are popular with the ladies and can certainly help you avoid laundry problems!
If you haven’t already, get busy adding the little things that will let your guests know you care! At Moxie Girl, we are experts in the vacation rental home field. We want your guests not only to return, but also recommend your vacation rental home to others.
Keep an eye on our Moxie blog for more helpful tips about setting up, cleaning and operating your vacation rental home and give us a call if you’d rather let Moxie handle the job for you! If you have a vacation rental that you’d like some help with, contact us today to get a quote for vacation rental cleaning services in Phoenix and the surrounding areas.
Whether you are already operating a vacation rental home or just in the “thinking about it” stage, laundry is likely on your mind! Moxie Girl has experienced a wide range of vacation rental homes here in the Phoenix area – we’ve seen what “works” and what doesn’t.
Today let’s delve into what is usually considered the biggest chore in getting your vacation rental home guest-ready…LAUNDRY! Here are five helpful hints to make this task easier!
1. Don’t Over-Supply Your Guests!
Be aware that guests tend to use whatever is made available to them, so don’t open yourself up to excessive and unnecessary loads of laundry. One full set of bath linens (bath towel, hand towel and 2 washcloths) per potential guest should be plenty for short stays. One or two extra sets, stored in an accessible bathroom cabinet, should accommodate any “emergencies” that may arise.
We highly advise locking away an extra set (or two!) of all linens for your cleaning crew. If you have a same day turn, it will be a huge help for them to be able to make beds and reset the bathrooms, without having to wait on the washer and dryer.
2. Got Pool?
Who doesn’t love a pool in the Phoenix summer? You can protect your bath linens by providing beach towels (one per potential guest, plus a few extras.) Place your rolled and attractively arranged beach towels in a basket or bin near the main door to the pool to be sure they are seen and used!
3. Be Proactive in Avoiding Stains
At first glance, it may seem like “another @#$% expense,” but Moxie Girl has noticed that vacation rental home owners who provide disposable make-up wipes to their guests tend to keep their linens looking fresh and new much longer than those who don’t. Individually packaged, hypo-allergenic make-up wipes can be purchased by the case and are much less expensive in the long run than replacing stained linens! (Bonus – Your guests will see this as a thoughtful amenity, and as we mentioned in item #1, they DO tend to use what is made available!)
4. No-Hassle Bedding
For the sake of simplicity and ease of care, Moxie Girl always recommends white cotton linens in vacation rental homes. If your home has beds of different sizes, find the label on each sheet, both flat and fitted, and mark the size with a Sharpie. No more guessing which sheet is a queen (Q) and which is a full (F)!
Also keep in mind that comforters are too large to wash in most residential washers and dryers. If you are using comforters on your beds, Moxie Girl recommends duvet covers, which are easily removed and laundered between guests.
5. Supplies
Be sure to keep necessary laundry supplies stocked at all times. If guests have access to a washer and dryer in your vacation rental home, it’s nice to leave enough detergent out for a load or two but keep the bulk of your supplies in a locked cabinet or area that is not guest-accessible.
Laundry Soap – Always have enough detergent stocked to handle the ‘between-guest” laundering to be done. Laundry pods are convenient and pre-measured, making it easy to keep an eye on the supply. You may also want to consider dye and fragrance-free detergent, just to be on the safe side of any potential guest allergies.
Bleach – Just a small amount of this very inexpensive product added to the wash cycle helps remove stains and keeps your linens looking fresh and crisp!
Spot Treatment – Especially if you are not stocking make-up wipes for your guests, a spot treatment product is a must for removing tough stains. Always be sure to follow the directions found on your product of choice!
Dryer Sheets – Actually, we don’t find them necessary, but Moxie Girl recommends that if you DO use dryer sheets, to use them only when drying bed linens, as they can negatively affect the absorbency of bath linens and pool towels!
If your vacation rental home is already up-and-running, do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to make sure you are following these time and money-saving tips. If you are in the set-up phase, following these guidelines when purchasing and stocking your vacation rental home will ensure you are “doing it right” from the get-go!
Moxie Girl will be sharing more ways to make your life as a vacation rental home owner easier than ever, so be sure to check our blogs frequently for updates! And, of course, if you’d rather just “put the pros in charge” of setting up your property, just give us a call. Moxie Girl is always here to help you make the most of your vacation rental home with our vacation rental cleaning services too!
There’s something about summer. The temperature rises, and when it’s in the triple digits for weeks—and months—at a time, tempers can rise as well. As a Phoenix vacation rental owner, you need to know what’s different about summertime. Sometimes, summer vacation rental guests get frustrated about things winter guests don’t even notice. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help your guests have an amazing experience, no matter what time of the year they visit.
Prepare Your Summer Vacation Rental Guests
Many summer visitors are not prepared for what to expect in Arizona. After all, it’s hot here and they may not be ready for that. Summer vacation rental guests can be uncomfortable and cranky, but you can offset that with some simple preparations.
- Ensure guests know how to get into the house. Start with a keypad on the door, and back that up with a code at the garage and a lockbox with a key. Always have alternative ways to enter the home
- If you are out of town, give your guests access to your local support team, perhaps your vacation rental cleaning service
- Keep your housecleaning fee the same year round and let guests know to plan for it. They may balk at the fee when they know the house isn’t booked as often, but when you keep it the same, it’s easier to explain
- Increase amenities and nice touches, which will go a long way to make guests feel more welcome and comfortable
Plan for Guests Who Stay Longer than Expected
When vacation rental homes don’t turn over as quickly, guests may assume they have carte blanche to stay as long as they’d like. And while you may welcome the extra income when guests stay and cover times that would otherwise be empty, changes can disrupt schedules.
- Have a clear policy about extended stays, including clear communication on check-ins, checkouts, and fees associated with staying past checkout
- Include a deadline for notifying you or your housecleaning team about extending their scheduled checkout time
- Create a method for letting your housecleaning team know about changes in scheduling. If they are unaware, they may not have enough lead-time to notify employees—leaving you to absorb extra fees
Follow Up with Guests During and After Their Stay
Knowing that summer vacation rental guests tend to be higher maintenance, it’s smart to follow up with them.
- Reach out following check-in to make sure guest made it in the home. Do they need anything? Is everything available for them?
- Touch base after visitors have left the rental. Did they enjoy their stay? Definitely let them know you look forward to welcoming them back
Moxie Girl Household Assistants specializes in cleaning vacation rentals in Phoenix and surrounding areas. We understand the higher expectations that your summer vacation rental guests have, and we work hard to give them a great experience. Contact us to learn more about how we can become part of your team.
Refresh Your Phoenix Vacation Rental for Summer
Summer is prime vacation time. In the Phoenix area, while we still see our fair share of visitors, they’re not the same visitors that arrive in the Valley of the Sun during cooler months. Summer guests are often hot and crabby from driving across the desert, and they are less experienced with using vacation rentals. That’s why it’s important to prepare your home for summer guests and be ready for the quirks they may present.
Use the inevitable breaks in your home’s bookings to do some preventative maintenance and routine improvements.
1 – Do a Thorough Walk Through of Your Vacation Rental:
- Look for chips, dents, scuffs, and scrapes that need attention
- Conduct an inventory of all essentials, especially in the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms
- Use some of the profits from spring guests to restock and upgrade where needed. New towels and bed sheets, for instance, can be a very welcome sight to the out-of-towner
- Ensure guests have adequate necessities, including towels, sheets, paper products, dishes, and utensils
- Check and replace air filters, batteries in remotes and smoke detectors, and propane in outdoor grills (or ask Moxie Girl or your cleaning team to address these areas)
- Store away patio umbrellas. They’ll can blow away and cause major damage during monsoon season
2 – Schedule Professional Maintenance
The hot Phoenix sun can wreak havoc on a home, and proper upkeep is imperative. However,
there are plenty of areas where you’ll need to seek professional help to ensure your summer
vacation rental is in tip-top shape.
- Schedule regular pest control to reduce the number of desert critters trying to enter the home
- Communicate with your cleaning team about what you would like completed and how
often guests are turning
- Ask your A/C company to conduct an inspection of the HVAC system; you don’t want your guests to have any issues with cooling when it’s 110 outside!
- Have your landscape/maintenance professionals adjust the irrigation system and plant summer grass, if necessary
- If you have a pool or spa, ensure that chemicals are correct and debris is minimized, especially as we enter monsoon season
3 – Keep Information Handy for Your Guests
While you likely have a book of dos and don’ts for your guests, make sure it’s updated for the
summer. Some things you may want to add to your information include:
- Let them know what service providers will be visiting the home and when they’ll arrive
- Educate visitors on pests in the desert and to let you or your team know immediately if any critters are on premises
- Warn guests about what to expect during monsoons, such as power outages, high winds, and the danger of driving through flooded streets
With proper preparation, your summer vacation rental home will be ready to welcome guests during the next few months. And be sure to contact Moxie Girl with any questions or concerns as we help make your visitors feel comfortable now and all year round.
