Tips for Getting More Renters for Your Vacation Property in the Outer Banks
As a vacation rental owner, you are running a business. For your business to be successful, you need to have customers. In this case, those customers are guests. When you start to think of your property as a business, and less as a side project where sometimes people come to stay, you will find that it has the potential to be far more successful. Of course, running a business takes work. If you want to succeed, you will be willing to put in that work.
A Good Property and the Right Amenities
It sounds simple, and it is. You need to have a property that people want to visit if you hope to get plenty of renters. One of the biggest factors in this is the amenities that you have available for the guests. Having all of the cooking utensils they will need, a coffeemaker, cleaning supplies in case of spills, towels, bedding, and all of the other “normal” amenities that you would find in a home is important. Without these essentials, you will be doomed from the start. However, you can go above and beyond by adding other amenities.
If you have a hot tub, for example, it can give you quite an advantage over the other homes in the area. Perhaps you could have a couple of bikes available so the guests can ride around the area. Think of all the potential items and amenities that you feel would be a good addition if you were staying as a renter. You do not have to go overboard and spend a fortune on these items right now. Add to them over time if you do not have it in your budget currently.
Another fantastic way to help your guests feel more welcome when they come to your vacation rental in the Outer Banks is to provide them with a nice gift basket. It could include any types of items that you feel might be appreciated, such as snacks, some little toys for the children, or some sunscreen for the beach. Add a personalized note to the basket for that added touch that helps to separate you from other properties.
Why are you going to all this trouble for your guests? You want them to be happy so they tell others about their visit and your property. This will increase the chance of getting more people visiting.
You Need Good Reviews
When people are buying anything online today, one of the first things they do is look at the various reviews to get a better sense of what they are buying. This is true when it comes to your vacation property, as well. If you are a brand-new property, you can be forgiven for not having reviews. However, when you have had your property available and you have had guests come and stay at the property, you need to start getting reviews.
How does this happen? Sometimes, when the guests are pleased with their stay and their experience at your property, they will leave good reviews without any prompting from you at all. However, that’s not always the case. Never be afraid to ask for reviews from guests that you know have had a good time. Most of them will be happy to drop a couple of lines about their experience.
Of course, on the opposite end of the spectrum, those guests who have had a bad time for one reason or another are often more than willing to share their views. They can be quite vicious, as well. That is why it is always so important to make sure you do whatever you can to make your guests have a good overall experience. You might not be able to do anything about the weather or what happens outside of the property, but you can make sure that the vacation rental is a welcoming and warm place for them to stay while they are on vacation.
Do Not Forget About the Off Season
Too many vacation property owners concentrate on the times of the year that have the most visitors. Naturally, this is the best time to have your home filled up with guests. However, that does not mean you should sit back and relax the rest of the year. In fact, you will want to work even harder and smarter in the off season so you can get more people to come to your property.
You can often do this by getting in touch with previous guests who stayed with you. Let them know that you are offering a discount for them when they stay during that off-peak season. Even if they are not interested, you will find that they might have friends or family who would be interested.
Consider Reworking Your Listing
If you find that you aren’t getting the number of guests that you believe you should, it might be time that you headed back to your listing. Look at it through a renter’s eyes to see whether it grabs you or not. Also, check out some other vacation rentals to see what they are doing with their listing and what you might be able to do better. Rewrite your listing if needed, and make sure to add any of the new amenities that you have added to the home.
You should also check the pictures to make sure they are representative of what a great property you have. If the pictures are old and if you took them with your phone, they probably are not doing your property any favors. Instead, you will want to use a better camera and stage the rental properly to make it as appealing and interesting as possible. You might even want to hire a professional photographer to do it for you.
With these easy tips, you can make your property more appealing and make it easier to market. Before long, you will start to have more guests booking at your home, which means more profits for you.