Maintaining Your Vacation Rental: A Checklist for Owners

Owner

Owning a vacation rental along the Gulf of Mexico coast in Florida is often a rewarding investment. There’s a lot of demand for vacation rentals here, so you’ll find you’re making good money on a nightly basis and over the long term.

Your job is to keep that property occupied as much of the year as possible, and to provide your vacation guests with a beautiful place to stay during their travels. As local Anna Maria Island property managers who specialize in vacation homes, we can tell you that the success of your rental property relies heavily on your ability to effectively maintain it. Regular maintenance ensures your property remains attractive, functional, and ready to welcome guests at any time.

To make maintaining your vacation rental easier, we’ve compiled a comprehensive checklist for vacation rental owners. Use this as you prepare your property for the vacation rental market and continue to keep it in good shape between guests.

Preparing Your Vacation Rental: Immediate Maintenance Needs

Before you even place your vacation rental property on the market, there are a few important things that you need to take care of to ensure your property is ready for tourists and vacationers who are eager to rent it:

Deep Clean the Property. Schedule a deep clean of your property. This should include cleaning carpets, windows, dusting hidden areas like ceiling fans, baseboards, and the tops of your refrigerator, and washing all linens. Make sure the dishes are sparkling, the coffee maker doesn’t have aging coffee grounds in it, and the trash is empty.

Look for Potential Safety Issues. Test and change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Ensure fire extinguishers are accessible and up to date. Make sure every door and window can open, close, and lock properly. Look for loose handrails.

Preventive Pest Control. Bring in professionals to check for signs of pests and treat any potential problems before they arise. Ideally, you’ll have a service established where treatment for pests and prevention are recurring activities.
Inspect HVAC System. Ensure heating and air conditioning units are serviced and filters are replaced. In Florida, our air conditioning systems work hard. You want to make sure you won’t be responding to complaints that the A/C isn’t working during an August visit.

Maintenance Checklist for Regular Turnover Tasks

With vacation properties, you can have guests coming and going nightly, weekly, or monthly. Each guest expects to arrive at an immaculate property. Here are the tasks to complete between bookings:

Restock Essentials. Refill all supplies, including toilet paper, paper towels, soaps, and detergents. Leave some things in the kitchen that guests will appreciate, such as sugar, salt, pepper, and oil so they won’t have to buy those things when they want to cook.

Fresh Linens. Provide fresh bed linens, bath towels, and kitchen towels for every new guest.

Complete a Quick Clean. Perform a thorough cleaning focusing on bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces. Wipe down all surfaces, mop and vacuum all floors, and make sure the toilets and tubs look pristine.
Make Sure Outdoor Spaces are Tidy. Keep the exterior inviting with attention to lawn care, trash removal, and pool or hot tub maintenance. Keep the flowers watered and the garden beds free of weeds and debris.

Conduct Routine Monthly Check-Ups at Your Vacation Property

To avoid unpleasant surprises, mark your calendar for these monthly checks that are preventative and will contribute to the long-term functionality and maintenance of your investment property:

Plumbing Inspections. Avoid dealing with expensive leaks and potential floods. Check for leaks or drips and unclog any slow drains. Look at your irrigation and make sure the water heater isn’t rusting or leaking.

Appliance Checks. Run appliances through a cycle to ensure they’re in working order. Note whether the dishwasher is making a funny smell or the washing machine is having trouble with drainage.
Security Measures. Test locks, security systems, and outdoor lighting. If you have a video doorbell outside or an alarm system, run it through a test.

Seasonal maintenance is always a good idea, but Florida does not exactly have seasonal shifts that are dramatic. However, you do want to prepare for hurricane season and be ready for any potential tropical weather. Make sure your emergency and evacuation plans are updated. Check the strength of your windows and look at your roof. Consider installing hurricane shutters or taking other protective measures.

Conduct Yearly Assessments

Once a year, a top-to-bottom review will help you keep your vacation property in excellent shape and attractive to potential renters:

Professional Inspections. You’ll need to submit to an annual inspection to keep your registration active. So, why not consider professional yearly inspections of electrical systems, roofs, and major appliances? This can give you an idea of when you’ll have to invest in replacements or prepare to make some upgrades.

Furniture and Decor Updates. You want to make sure your property remains competitive on the market. Replace worn or outdated items to keep your space modern and appealing.
Amenity Upgrades. Evaluate feedback from guests to determine if any additional amenities could improve their stay. These days, visitors are especially in need of high speed internet and some smart home tech functions that prioritize convenience.

Maintaining Guest Relations

Maintaining your property means maintaining your guest relationships. Keep your Welcome Book updated with any new instructions, local recommendations, or emergency contact information. Promptly address feedback from guests regarding any maintenance issues, and ensure guests can easily reach you or a property manager in case of an emergency.

Remember, regular maintenance isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a safe and welcoming environment that guests will want to return to and recommend. By sticking to a schedule and tackling tasks systematically and in an organized fashion, you can maintain a high standard for your vacation rental with minimal stress.

Maintaining a vacation rental requires diligence, and if it seems like too much for you to manage, reach out to a local property manager. We have excellent relationships in place with vendors, contractors, and service professionals, and we also understand how to prioritize your maintenance needs all year long.