Top 5 Tips for Renting Your Vacation Home
Published Aug 13, 2022
Keep guests happy and earn more revenue with these five tips for turning your Smoky Mountains vacation home into a successful rental property.
1. DOUBLE DOWN ON AMENITIES.
The right amenities set your cabin apart. Smokies cabins often feature pool tables, foosball, air hockey, or arcade games. Popular amenities today include movie theater rooms, wet bars, and even in-cabin pools. Can’t swing a wet bar or pool? Create a make-your-own coffee bar space in the dining room. If you’re in a resort community, get your guests access to the community pool.
2. SPRUCE UP OUTDOOR SPACES.
Keep up your exterior landscaping and outdoor amenities, and guests will consider your cabin a luxury retreat. Add a hot tub. If you already have one, consider upgrading. Look into adding a fire pit, a favorite with families and couples. Be sure to maintain decks and patios meticulously and furnish them comfortably–don’t skimp on seating. Add an easy-to-use gas grill in place of charcoal versions.
3. KEEP THE INTERIOR UPDATED–ESPECIALLY KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS.
In a mountain cabin, “rustic” should be a decor choice, not a description of the kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures. Guests often choose rental cabins specifically so they can cook. This makes your kitchen a key selling point. Upgrade appliances, add extra counter space in elegant materials like granite, and include a counter bar with extra seating if there’s room. In bathrooms (or even in master bedrooms), jetted tubs attract guests who want a relaxing spa experience.
4. UPGRADE TECHNOLOGY.
Guests now expect a vacation property to have reliable internet. If the local service is spotty, look into ways to boost connectivity. Tech upgrades extend beyond Wi-Fi. too. If you haven’t installed flat-screen, high-definition TVs with streaming and cable or satellite packages, it’s time. Thermostats should be modern and simple to use. Security systems should be easy to set.
5. WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL RENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
Use a local property management company. Let a manager navigate bookings, handle cleaning and repairs, and ensure the rental meets regulations. A property management company promotes your rental, takes top-notch photos, and writes descriptions designed to attract guests.
Colonial Properties is ready to help you rent your Smokies property! Contact our Owner Success Team at 865-365-0240 today.