How To Prepare Your Vacation Rental Property For Holiday Guests

It’s that time of year when your vacation rental properties are most likely booked up with guests trying to escape the cold weather. Dazzling your guests for the holiday season shows you go the extra mile and care about them and their comfort, which ensures they will return each year for the holidays.

Here are a few ways to prepare your vacation rental and maximize your vacation bookings.

Don’t Skip The Basics

While the holiday season tends to be busy for vacation rentals, cover the basics by scheduling specialists to look at your mechanical systems and ensure everything is in working order. Nothing is worse than having guests at your property when the A/C or furnace goes out, and it could have been avoided if someone looked at it before. If you provide towels and bath necessities, make sure to have everything stocked and ready to go for guests so it’s one less thing they have to ask about during their visit. 

Welcome Them With A Gift

Guests want to feel like they’re important and not just another number. Celebrating the season of giving with a holiday gift is just one extra thing you can do to show you’re grateful for their booking with you. Think about having a plate of holiday cookies waiting for them upon their arrival or working with nearby restaurants and businesses to offer discounts to your guests.

Get Into The Holiday Spirit

Decorating for the holidays can make your vacation rental feel like a home away from home for your guests. It also makes your rental feel more inviting and warm and can help them get into the holiday spirit. Adding simple touches like throw pillows, lights, garlands, or a Christmas tree can go a long way and make your rental more festive. 

Prepare A Local Holiday Guide

Guests who have never been to your vacation rental before might not know what there is to do nearby. Providing them with a local holiday guide of festive boutiques, restaurants, and more, can help them finish up some last-minute holiday shopping and live like the locals. 

 

Utilizing these tips to prepare your vacation rental during the holiday season will go a long way with your guests and make their stay merry and bright. If you have any questions about vacation rental properties, reach out to us! We would love to provide our expertise and help in any way we can! 

Mortgage Rates June 2020 and Investing in Austin

Stay informed of Austin’s investment opportunities and real estate market trends with a quick look at the latest mortgage rates. Mortgage rates continue to linger near the bottom of the graph as the gap widens between home inventory and buyer demand. Even after a slight uptick in rates the first week of June 2020, they are still just .13% above the all-time low. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate landed at 3.18% in early June as the economy heads to the recovery ward. 

Freddie Mac’s national average report shows all rates are trending downward from this time last year:

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.18%, a decrease from the 3.82% rate in June of 2019.
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.62%, down from the 3.28% rate from this time last year. 
  • 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.10%. In 2019, these 5-year adjustable mortgages averaged 3.52%.

While rates are still incredibly low, buyers and renters are starting to take advantage and dive back into the home search. Not without precautions, however. In a recent industry survey, management professionals revealed their top priorities are focused on new technology and paperless leasing to meet the concerns and demands of current home seekers who need to know its safe. Technology is allowing the market to keep moving with virtual tours and remote signing solutions.

Investing in Austin can be fruitful, but it takes diligence and market knowledge to maintain a top return on investment. Relying on an experienced and professional property manager can help you avoid the high costs of new technology but keep you relevant in the 2020 rental market. If you have property management questions or are considering hiring an Austin professional this year, contact Dona Brown. Her experience can help you navigate investing and managing. 512-721-1094. 

Also, check out these recent blogs for more Austin investment resources: