Set Up Your Vacation Rental to Get More Bookings
To make your Big Bear vacation rental cabin more attractive to potential guests, consider the following.
Amenities
Unlike when staying at a hotel while on vacation, where guests would spend most of the time out of the room, people who rent vacation cabins spend quite a lot of time there. People want entertainment options and other amenities. Some top amenities guests look for in a rental cabin are a hot tub, game tables, and wi-fi.
Hot tubs add instant appeal to your cabin, as guests look for a place to soothe their aching muscles after a long day skiing or snowboarding.
Game tables, like pool tables, foosball, air hockey, and shuffleboard tables, are easy ways to attract more bookings. Have a garage? Consider converting it into a game room.
Wireless internet is practically a must-have these days, since most people expect to connect on their phones. Cellular reception and coverage in Big Bear can be limited, depending on the different cell phone service providers, so having wi-fi at the cabin is key. Also, if you have smart TVs, and offer streaming services like Netflix, wi-fi is a must.
Cooking and Cleaning
Further to the above-mentioned amenities, you want to make sure your kitchen is well stocked with pots and pans, plates, utensils, cups, glasses, cooking utensils…everything a group might need to prepare a meal. Small appliances like microwaves, toasters, crock pots, and blenders are nice additions. Coffee makers are a must! Who wants to have to drive to Starbucks when renting a house with a full kitchen? Don’t forget the little things. When your guests are in the middle of preparing a meal and realize there’s no cutting board, they might start to rethink the glowing review they planned on leaving for your cabin.
Basic cleaning supplies are also important to have on hand. Leave a broom and dust pan for your guests. Even though most people don’t want to clean while on vacation, it’s nice to be able to do a quick sweep or clean up a spill.
Sleeping Arrangements
Sleeping arrangements are very important to guests looking to book a weekend in Big Bear. Make sure you have comfortable beds in each room. Try to avoid futons and pull-outs when possible, because guests look at splitting costs when sharing a cabin and everyone wants to sleep in a real bed. Multiple families will book a house together, so configure the sleeping arrangements to accommodate one family per room, if possible. Try not to cram multiple bunk beds into one room for the kids. Instead, place a queen bed in every room where possible, and add a twin or bunk bed alongside the larger bed so one family can sleep together in one room.
Furry Friends
More and more people are traveling with their pets these days. Pet-friendly cabins are in high demand. Consider letting guests stay at your cabin with their well-behaved pooches to get more off-season bookings. If you are concerned about damage that pets can make, require an additional security deposit to cover any potential issues. Making your house pet-friendly will not necessarily mean you can charge more per night, but it will open you up to more bookings throughout the year.
Anticipate Your Guests’ Needs and Solicit Feedback
Put yourself in their shoes and think about everything you would want or need in order to have the best possible experience in a vacation rental cabin. Would you expect to have a hair-dryer in every bathroom? Extra towels? An ironing board?
After guests check out, you would like them to leave a positive review, right? If you are managing your property yourself, ask your guests to post a positive review online. It is also a best practice to ask for any other feedback (in private, ideally) about what they thought could be improved upon or what they felt was missing. People will appreciate that you care, and you will gain some valuable insight on how to create a better experience for your next guest.
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