Preparing your property

You can consider that the health and safety of your customers is of paramount importance. There are several essentials you should always observe before you consider renting a property. It goes without saying that you must take out adequate insurance to cover mishaps to the property or to your customers. You should also make yourself aware of any legislation applicable in that country which may differ from your own country.

Having bought the property, you will need to make security checks on all services – gas, water, electricity as well as making sure there are no safety issues within the property itself, such as sharp edges or broken windows.

With the number of older, well-traveled people increasing around the world, it may make sense to market your vacation property to individuals with disabilities. While disabilities come in different forms and levels of severity, many existing vacation homes can be designated as being handicap accessible.

You will also need to make some more enjoyable decisions about the type of décor, the furnishings and the impression you wish to create. Do you decorate to your personal tastes or should you opt for something more neutral?

Assuming you have now prepared your holiday let for the start of the season, how do you go about maintaining it? We recommend you have a plan for cleaning the property in between rentals.You will also need a contingency plan for any necessary maintenance issues that crop up during the season. When you are several hundred miles away, it isn’t always easy to mend that leaking shower.

Before you accept a new holidaymaker here are some of the specific areas that you will need to examine in your property. Does everything work properly? This includes faucets, showers, tubs, toilets, and any other fixtures. Make sure that the fixtures do not leak and that they consistently operate correctly. Address any leaks or other problems before you rent out your property. If a fixture is consistently causing problems, it may be easier to replace it to avoid future problems.

Mold, mildew, and pet stains are considered health hazards, and such problems should be completely resolved before you rent out your property. Proper cleaning of your carpets will ensure that that your holidaymakers will have a healthy environment.

Any existing holes should be fixed before you rent out the property. If you do not plan to repaint, examine the condition of the walls carefully and make notes so you do not hold your new rentals liable for damage caused by someone else. At a minimum, you should patch any obvious holes.

Old appliances waste lots of energy, which is a consideration for landlords providing free utilities to their rentals. Replacing old appliances with new models will save you money on energy and repairs and maintenance. Your holidaymakers will appreciate the newer appliances, and your electric or gas bills should be lower as well.

Check all of the doors and windows of your property to make sure that they open and close properly and that they are in good working order. This includes cabinetry, patio doors, and windows.

It is important you to follow an easy plan to avoid any troubles while renting your property. Install a keyless lock on your front door to avoid keys all together. Keys are a pain - we lose them and they can be easily copied. Switch your doors to a keyless lock system and change your combination at regular intervals.

Keep your rental clean by providing sensible outdoor storage facilities. An outside heated locker is a must for all ski vacation rentals. Avoid getting melting snow in the house by building an outside ski locker, this will visually remind guests that their skis have a home outside. It is also a good idea to have secure exterior storage for other outdoor recreational equipment relevant to your vacation rental area such as mountain bikes or hiking equipment.

Consider adding a low-cost luxurious amenity. A carefully placed outdoor shower or sauna will add tremendous allure to your vacation rental.

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