Bonus Material: Printable Inventory Checklist
Today, many travelers are choosing to rent a home for vacation over traditional hotels. All of the unique amenities and features that a vacation rental can provide are a big influencer in that decision—ahem, hello gourmet kitchen. Families want to feel comfortable and at home, no matter where they’re traveling. From a property manager’s perspective, however, it’s sometimes difficult to know if you’re missing some desired features or supplies until a guest brings it to your attention (#facepalm). Don’t disappoint your guests. Be proactive, and provide a rental that has everything their little hearts could desire. We’ve put together the only vacation rental inventory checklist you’ll ever need to remind you of all the essentials!
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Stocking Your Bedrooms
Quality mattresses and beds can be expensive, but this is definitely not an area you want to skimp out on. Guests are sure to remember (and leave reviews about) beds that are creaky, rock solid, lumpy, or just plain uncomfortable. A bad mattress can quickly ruin a great vacation with a stiff neck or aching back. All bedrooms should have quality linens—with a backup set just in case. Bedrooms (actually, every room) should also have adequate lighting and storage space for clothes, especially if there is no walk-in closet. Aside from the good bed, quality sheets and storage space, these days guests expect a TV in each bedroom. A spare phone charger is also a nice bonus.
Every owner has their opinions on whether bedrooms should be themed or not. Whether you decide to go with a bold theme throughout your property or painted walls, remember artwork can go a long way to make bedrooms feel more welcoming.
Each bedroom should have:
- Quality bed, mattress & linens
- Extra blankets and duvets
- Lamps and lighting
- Coat hangers
- Ceiling fan or free standing fans
- Alarm clock
- Durable curtains to block out the light
- Television (optional perk)
- Spare phone charger (optional perk)
Living Room Inventory
When guests aren’t sleeping or exploring the area, they’ll be spending time in the living and dining room areas of your vacation rental. These spaces should be open, welcoming and spacious. There’s nothing more frustrating for guests than renting a home that sleeps 12 but only has seating for six. What are they supposed to do? Sit on their beds the whole time? That’s not going to work when everyone wants to play Monopoly together.
Living rooms should have:
- Comfortable couches
- Loveseats or armchairs
- Flat screen TV with working remote
- Lamps & lighting
- Coffee tables & side tables
- Area rugs, artwork and wall décor
- Guestbook for comments
- Coasters to protect furniture
- Board games, video games & DVDs (optional perks)
If your vacation rental caters to families, you will want to consider adding things to the living room that will appeal to the younger members. Playing cards, board games, a kid-friendly DVD collection or game console can keep kids busy and give parents a few precious moments of quiet time. A fold-out sofa can also provide additional sleeping space.
Dining Room Checklist
Meals are a special time for many families on vacation. They want the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a meal together as they discuss their plans and adventures. Here’s your vacation rental inventory checklist for dining rooms.
Dining rooms should have:
- Sturdy dining table
- Enough seating for all guests
- Place settings
- Area rug and wall décor
- Appropriate lighting
- 2x dishes and utensils for guests
Some owners like to set up the dining room table with dishes and utensils, while others prefer to leave the table clear and let guests set the table themselves. Either way, there should be enough dishes and utensils for twice the number of people that the property can accommodate. Guests don’t like having to wash their cups and plates after every use, so the extras are always an appreciated gesture.
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A Well-Stocked Kitchen
One of the major draws to a vacation rental is access to a fully stocked kitchen. Being able to buy local groceries and cook for the family is something many families look forward to when on vacation. Hence, a well thought out kitchen will be a major factor in creating an exceptional experience that your guests will remember.
Kitchens should have:
- High-quality dishes to use both inside & outside (that are dishwasher safe and basically indestructible)
- Cups and glassware
- Silverware
- Kid-friendly dishes (Sippy cups, small utensils, plates & bowls)
- Pots, pans and cooking utensils
- Tupperware
- Sharp knives, baking sheets and a cutting board
- Garbage can and trash bags
- Dishwashing soap and sponge
- Paper towels and cleaning solutions
- Seasonings and condiments
Not all homes come with extras like paper towels, seasonings or condiments, but the guests always appreciate them and it’s relatively inexpensive to stock. Going above and beyond in the kitchen is something that helps the guests feel at home—and that’s an easy way to enhance their vacation experience.
Welcoming Bathrooms
The cleanliness of your property’s bathrooms is always a top priority. But having it well-stocked comes in a close second. Each bathroom should have plenty of towels for both indoor and outdoor use. Sure, guests will take inside towels out to the beach and use pool towels for the shower, regardless of how many notes you leave or how you identify them. But it’s still good practice to have plenty of both. Most guests travel with their preferred soap and toiletries, but having the basics stocked in the bathrooms is essential.
Stock your bathrooms with:
- Hand, body and face towels (2x for each guest)
- Toilet paper (and extras)
- Hand soap, bath soap and face soap
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Shower curtain and mat
- Toothpaste and extra toothbrushes
- Small trashcan
To go above and beyond what most guests expect in a bathroom, consider offering feminine products, razors, baby bath toys or a scale. On second thought, that scale might just remind them of their diet they need to get back to when they get home—so maybe not #buzzkill.
Laundry Room + Cleaning Needs
No one really wants to do laundry while on vacation, but being able to keep up with the laundry makes coming home and unpacking so much easier. A washer and dryer, ironing board and iron, and a starter pack of laundry soap make laundry day a little more bearable while on vacation. It’s also important to supply cleaning supplies such as a broom, vacuum, mop, and plunger (this is super handy because, boy, do we have some toilet stories). With the right cleaning supplies, guests may be less likely to call you in the middle of the night to help get rid of a mess.
Amenities For Young Children
Babies are small, but they require so much stuff! Families traveling with little ones will appreciate not having to pack some of the bulkier items from home, such as:
- Crib
- Stroller
- Pack ‘n Play
- High Chair
- Baby toys
- Baby gate (if there are stairs)
- Baby monitor
- Childproofed cabinets
- Outlet covers
For families with little ones, including these baby basics within your vacation rental inventory checklist could mean the difference between renting your property and renting someone else’s. When parents feel like their needs and the needs of their kids are met, they can relax much easier.
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Final Thoughts On Nailing Your Vacation Rental Checklist
You want your vacation properties to feel like home for the guests who stay there. Make sure you provide everything they need for a relaxing vacation. If you think you may be missing something, try staying overnight for a day or two. You will quickly notice what you have and what you need, and this will help you equip the property appropriately!
Did We Miss Anything?
What’s the one thing on your checklist your guests can’t live without? Leave a comment and tell us so we can add it to the list and make all our guests’ vacation dreams come true!
Take Your Properties To The Next Level
Now that you know what you need, are you sure you’re ready to compete? To make your life easier while increasing your bookings, you need something that can help to keep all aspects of vacation rental property management organized. That’s where Bookfull FREE vacation rental management software comes in. We’re your one-stop-shop for all of your property management needs, including marketing, listings across channels, calendar updates, reporting, ordering supplies and more!
Comments (2)
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4 years ago
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