We have managed 10s of thousands of nights over the years, and although we’ve had some bizarre asks from guests, (we may do another post on that later…) there have been 12 items that guests consider to be necessities:
- A hair dryer – Many guests don’t feel like stuffing a hair dryer in their suitcase. Plus, since many hotels provide hair dryers, they might expect it in vacation homes too. You can easily buy one for the master bathroom for as little as $10.
- Ironing board – You might already have an iron, but we don’t recommend the mini dorm-sized ironing boards. After everything gets wrinkled in their suitcases, your guests will probably appreciate not having to sit on the floor to iron.
- Starter pack of coffee, creamer and sugar – This is especially helpful if you live in a market where many of your guests arrive at night. You don’t have to provide coffee for their entire stay, but it helps to keep them less grumpy on the first morning.
- Potholders – Your guests probably don’t want to fold up one of their souvenir T-shirts just to pick up the teapot. Keep potholders near the oven or cooking gear.
- Salt and pepper – Providing an array of spices is helpful for the renters who plan to do some serious cooking, but at the very least, be sure to leave some salt and pepper in the cupboard.
- Pillow protectors and mattress pads – These items will help your pillows and mattresses last longer and will add to the appearance of cleanliness at your home. And in some markets, it might even be required by your local regulations and ordinances.
- Liners in trash cans – Keeping trash bags in all of your garbage cans simply appears cleaner. Don’t forget the small bathroom trash cans, too.
- Fans – If you don’t have air conditioning or ceiling fans, it’s easy to place a couple of tabletop fans in the closet so your guests can stay cool and comfortable.
- Tissues – In the event of an allergy attack, don’t make your guests use toilet paper every time they need to blow their noses.
- A full-length mirror – Forcing your renters to stand on a chair to see their outfits in the medicine cabinet mirror is neither convenient nor safe. A simple full-length mirror is inexpensive and can be hung on the back of the bedroom doors.
- A deck of cards – Keep your guests entertained during the evenings and rainy days. A variety of games is optimal, but you can’t go wrong with a simple deck of cards.
- Emergency supplies – You should always prepare for the worst with a battery-powered radio, flashlights and a first-aid kit, especially if you’re located in an area prone to hurricanes or other natural disasters.
Unless you actually stay in your vacation home periodically, you may not realize these things are even missing. It may not be a deal breaker for future bookings, but it’s best to make your guests’ stay as convenient as possible.
Are we missing anything? Feel free to share your vacation rental ideas below —>
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Through hundreds of hosts and thousands of nights, MyVRHost has become a preferred partner for vacation and short-term rental management. How do we do it? We maximize your income by hosting great guests, remove the headaches associated with renting out your home, and combine high-touch customer service with the most advanced technology and pricing algorithms. Simply put, enjoy your life and let guests enjoy your home.
My most requested guest item has been a plug converter (so they can power up their phones which have European plugs) I have just added USP ports to the outlets so maybe not anymore