Small Details That Turn a Good Stay Into a 5-Star Experience

What's surprising is that many hosts expect a 5 star rating for things like cleanliness of linen supply and high speed wifi connection.

Guest experience is just as important of an investment for your vacation rental as the property itself.

Small Touches That Create Big Impressions

You don't have to gut renovate your house to make it stand out. A few well chosen upgrades can do the trick:

•  Let your guests write in your guestbook and include their favourite tips for other visitors.
• Pick some games to store on a shelf, in a cupboard or wherever you choose to stash them. Board games, card games or even puzzles make great extras for movie nights.
• Add a section called "local guide" that details quirky places to visit that are outside of the typical tourist trail.
•  Add a Bluetooth Speaker, Record Player or a Projector to your tent for fun late night movie nights or lively parties.
•  Partner with local businesses to offer guests a small discount to dine at local restaurants, pubs or coffeeshops - or even arrange something more memorable, like a close-up magic experience. Ben Silver Magic offers private event entertainment that works surprisingly well for vacation rental guests looking for something different.

These little details are very cheap to do but bring loads of satisfaction to guests.

Vacation Rental Entertainment as a Competitive Edge

More hosts are including details of 3Dprojectors, karaoke machines, and other home entertainment equipment when selling their space. But there are many other ways to make your listing standout from the crowd. Did you know, according to Airbnb's own research, guests consider cool experiences and thoughtful extras when choosing where to stay.

Think beyond the television. Consider:

• Inform guests of upcoming shows and entertainment such as theatre groups, comedians, venues that host live music.
• Details of local TV/radio and DVD rental services in the welcome book.

Furnishing and Setup Shape the Whole Experience

Furnishings in a vacation rental property can help enhance entertainment and relaxation options for guests, and property management companies’ approach this by carefully weighing the pros and cons of furnishing decisions to maximize guest satisfaction. However, there are obviously limitations on guest options due to the size and layout of the property and space quality.

Setting up the right amenities and systems at the outset can save you money & set you up for success as your business grows.

Make Licensing the Easy Part

Many great guest experiences are created as soon as potential guests land on your website, before they can even look at your calendar, by first making sure you have the correct license to display your calendar.

When turning your house into a rental property, make sure to get the proper local licenses and requirements in their business licensing guide to get you started. Ignoring certain permits can lead to financial penalties, a complete shutdown, or even lawsuits.

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