Stay, Play, B.L.A. - a blog

We hate to say it...

Winter is coming. If there was any doubt, this week’s sub-sixty-degree weather and driving cold rain confirmed that Fall is in full swing! For those of us in summer dominant rental markets, fall offers a chance to slow down, catch your breath, gain some perspective on what went well and what needs to be improved in our short-term business, and reflect on how can we grow revenue for our owners and enhance the guest experience. Here’s what our team at Woods to Water Vacation Homes, in partnership with our homeowners, is doing to get ready for the Fall and Winter season:

Check your calendars

Make sure next summer is open as many peak season bookings happen between now and the holiday season as families gather and start making plans for their summer get-togethers. 

Do a market check for rates & minimum nights

Check out OTAs like AirBnB or VRBO and see how your property stacks up on nightly rates, minimum nights, cleaning fees, etc. An increase in inventory for most vacation rental markets is driving prices down, we want our properties to be appropriately and competitively priced.

Updating seasonal photos

Summer photos are great. We want to help tell the story to our guests of activities and what they can expect at our properties in the fall/winter months. Featuring photos of cozy fireplaces, hot tubs, and fall colors attract potential offseason guests.

Re-write listing descriptions

Review and refresh listings, adding relevant descriptions and activities for the fall/winter season.

Getting vendors in place

Reaching out early to make sure your dock, snow removal, firewood, and pest control vendors are lined up before the snow flies. Being proactive!

HVAC Tune-up

A down furnace can ruin a guest’s vacation and potentially your reputation. Our team is scheduling HVAC tune-ups to avoid potential issues this fall and winter. 

Post-season deep clean

In peak season, oftentimes, our rentals are rented solid with limited time for cleaning before the next guests. The offseason is a great time to catch up on some much-needed deep cleaning and organizing. Fall can be a less hectic time than the busy spring season.

Get your repairs and maintenance list done

Ditto! It’s time to get those outstanding repairs done that may have been put off through the busy Summer season. 

Review arrival instructions & welcome guides

Going back through guest communications step-by-step to put ourselves in the shoes of the guest. We want the arrival to be smooth and easy. By looking back at what questions guests asked upon arrival this summer, we can figure out where to bolster our arrival instructions and welcome guides

Review guest reviews

It’s a great time to go through past reviews looking for connections and themes. We like to look for consistent opportunities from our guests and making action plans to resolve. It can also be a great time to celebrate with our team on our many victories and consistent praises from past guests

If you’ve been self-managing your vacation rental and are thinking about professional management, don’t wait until spring. Reach out now for professional management! Fall and early Winter is the best time to get your property onboarded and live on AirBnB and VRBO for guests booking for the next peak season.