Decorating Tips for your Vacation Property
Many vacationers choose to rent vacation homes in lieu of hotels because they like to have the conveniences of home. They expect your second home to be as nice as or nicer than their primary home. When furnishing and decorating your island vacation property, keep these tips in mind:
1. Make it easy to clean. Buy furniture that can be wiped down or shaken out. Because of beach sand, consider tile, wood or terrazzo flooring with a few rugs to make it feel more cozy.
2. Buy furniture that is of good quality, but not top-of-the-line. Keep in mind that you’re going to have to replace the furnishings in your vacation rental home more often than you would in your primary home. For that reason, it’s best to buy less expensive furnishings that still look nice.
3. Opt for comfort. Your guests go on vacation to relax. Make sure you have a place for them to kick back and read a book or watch TV.
4. Reflect our beach location in your decor. When booking a vacation home, renters like the furnishings to reflect our beach destination. Materials tend to be natural and made of wood, stone and shells with furnishings often made of wicker or rattan. Take advantage of Anna Maria Island décor stores and decorate with sea shells, pastel colors and lightweight fabrics. Popular island colors are blues, greens, yellows and tans.
5. Keep your furnishings consistent with your rental rates. If you market your property as “luxury” and charge rental rates on the higher end of the spectrum for your area, your renters will expect a certain level of luxury in your furnishings, linens, appliances, and entertainment options. Know your audience and keep them in mind when furnishing your property.
6. Have comfortable beds. Sleep one night on every bed in your property. If the beds in your holiday rental are not good enough for you to sleep on, they’re not acceptable for your guests.
7. Give your guests storage space. If the bedrooms in your vacation home are short on closet space (or lacking closets entirely!), consider adding armoires to those rooms. Your guests will appreciate being able to put their belongings away so that your home feels more like their home.
8. Make sure your furniture is family-friendly. Steer clear of glass coffee tables with sharp corners, as well as breakable trinkets and knick-knacks.
Tips to keep your vacation property rented during the off-season
1. Lower the price. Your vacation home may command top-dollar during the winter/spring season, but fewer summer and fall travelers on the island mean more properties are competing for the same few customers. Summer travelers are often more budget-conscious than those who travel in peak season and price is an important factor in their decisions.
2. Reduce the minimum stay. If your property has a one to three month minimum stay requirement during winter/spring season, consider changing to a one week minimum during the summer and fall. This will allow your property to appeal to families who only get a week or two of vacation. If your property has a one week minimum stay, consider allowing a three day minimum to appeal to weekend travelers.