Tips for a Seamless Guest Check-In
You want your guests to have a great time at your vacation rental property on the Outer Banks, as you know this can help you to get some great reviews. Those reviews can make it easier for you to keep booking guests at your property through the year. You might not realize it but the start of a good experience begins the moment the guest tries to check-in at your property.
You can make things easier on your renters so they do not have to go through any stress when it comes to checking into the vacation rental. All it takes is these simple tips and a bit of work on your part.
Check the Cleaning Schedule
When a guest shows up at your property, they want to get inside and unwind. They have probably been in the air or on the road for a large portion of the day, so they would like to relax. Getting to your property and finding out that it hasn’t been cleaned properly because the cleaning company got the day wrong is not going to make them happy at all.
You should always double-check with the cleaning company so you are positive the property is getting cleaned at the right time.
You could even ask the company to send you a text to let you know that the cleaning is complete.
Easy Access Is Essential
When people get to the property, getting inside should not be a hassle. You have several methods of providing the keys to the new vacation renters at your property. You could be at the property when they are supposed to arrive and hand the key off to them. This gives you a chance to let them know any special information that you might have about the place, as well. As long as you live locally and you have the time, this could be a good option for you.
However, you do need to be aware that the guests might not arrive on time. There could be traffic, they might have had to stop for gas, or any other number of things could cause them to be late.
Another good option, and one that many owners are choosing, is to get a lockbox. They are inexpensive and easy to use. You simply put the house keys into the lockbox and provide the guests with the code to it. Don’t worry; you can change the code whenever you need.
Keep in mind that if you have keyed entry to the home, you will need to change the locks once in a while. After all, many people will have had access to the key, and you never know if they made a copy of the key while they were in the rental.
Having keyless entry to the home is another option to consider. These are modern, high quality locks. They can cost more than a typical lock and key, but they are easy to use, and you can change the code. They can make it easier on many rental owners, as you will not have to worry about changing keys to the property as often as if you were using the other methods.
Provide Check-In and Check-Out Instructions
Before the guests show up, you will need to provide them with some basic instructions for checking in and out of the property. Send the instructions to them in an email, and through regular mail. This makes sure that they get a copy. These instructions need to be thorough.
They should contain your property's address, driving directions, parking instructions, instructions on accessing the property and anything that the guest needs to do before he or she leaves the house. This could include things such as stripping the beds or making sure all the windows are closed. Be sure they know how to return the keys as well. Your contact information should be available, too. If you are not in the area, you should have information for your local contact person.
Have a Local Contact
A local contact, or a property management company, can be a huge help to make the process of checking into and out of a property easier. These contacts should be available to answer any questions they might have and to help them get onto the property if needed. For example, if they have lost the entry code, or if they can’t remember where they should park, the local contact can help them to get back on track.
It is a simple thing, but it can be a big help for those guests who need it. Of course, if you are in the area, you might be the local contact.
Do a Walkthrough
Your contact, or you if you are in the area, should take the time to do a final walkthrough of the property. This will give you a chance to see the property as the tenants will see it when they walk through the doors the first time. On this walkthrough before the guests arrive, you will want to check to make sure everything looks good and that it is ready for turnover. Make sure the lights are turned off, the rooms are clean, and that everything is functioning properly.
Something you might consider doing if the guests will be arriving after dark is keep one or two of the lights on in the house, so they are not walking into a dark house that they do not know. Leave the porch lights on, too. If you want to go even further and increase your chance of getting great reviews, consider leaving some nice snacks and drinks for the guests when they arrive.
It is your goal as a vacation rental owner to make sure every part of your guest’s experience at the property is as good as possible. Use these tips, as well as any others that you learn over the course of being an owner.
Make your guests happy, and they will write glowing reviews for your property.