Cost Effective Tips For Decorating Your Vacation Rental

Now that you’ve done your research on property management companies, you’ve decided to make your investment property a vacation rental, and do you know what that means? It’s time to get your property ready for guests! This is the 2019 version of ways that are cost-effective to decorate your vacation rental. While we are located along the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, this goes for Vacation Rental Owners everywhere!

Update flooring in high traffic areas 

Replace carpet with more durable materials. With the advancements in technology, replacing your carpet in the high traffic areas with tile or hardwood floors is the perfect thing to show your rental is more updated. By doing this upgrade and using ceramic or vinyl flooring, the prices are minimal compared to what they used to be a decade ago. Not to mention the amount you will save not having to get your carpets cleaned at least twice a year, and they should last a lot longer than your old carpet.

We’re not saying you have to get rid of the carpet throughout the entire property: some people like to have it in the bedrooms because they don’t like to wake up in the mornings and put their feet on cold floors (if you do decide to upgrade throughout to tile, we suggest having area rugs.) On the Emerald Coast, getting sand in your property is inevitable, but it’s much easier to sweep or vacuum tile than it is to get it out of the carpet.

Upgrade your bedding

Making sure your bedding is upgraded is crucial to your vacation rental. It is the focal point of unit shots and so much more. How do you upgrade your bedding without breaking the bank? At Gibson Beach Rentals, we believe in keeping it simple. Having a plain bedspread to give the room a pop of coastal color is nice; they are usually inexpensive at places like Stein Mart. To really be on top of your game, you could buy 2 of the same quilts or comforters and keep one inside your owner’s closet in case of a housekeeping emergency! Dark floral bedding is out and light coastal chic colors are in. Keeping things light is more inviting to guests in person and also in photographs as well!

Don’t go with top of the line furniture

It’s a VACATION rental, chances are your seasonal guests are not going to treat the property like you would. We recommend using cheaper items when it comes to furniture pieces that guests sit & lay on. Chances are, you’re going to have to replace it within 36 months regardless of the amount you paid.  So, going all out and spending $3,000 – $10,000 on a sofa probably is not worth the investment when you could go online to rooms-to-go and get a sleeper sofa for ¼ of the price.

There are ways that you can showcase your property with more expensive pieces that you are less likely to replace giving it that upscale beach feel without having to completely break the bank. You could get a sofa from rooms-to-go or whatever furniture store you prefer and then go to a place like The Rustic Home and spend the money you would have on a top of the line sofa and get the coastal chic look for your home that you’ve been looking for. All their furniture pieces are fabulous, we can’t pick just one!

Update your technology

Your property is only going to be as good as the technology that you have in it. The world has gone digital, so we highly recommend having a TV & DVD player in every room. In 2019 we think you should know: boxed TV’s are out, and flat-screen tv’s are in. Boxed tv’s are bulky dust magnets, and flat screens are sleek space savers, especially when mounted on the wall. Smart TV’s are nice to have but not completely necessary, with Firestick, Roku, and Apple TV devices, guest can travel with their streaming sticks and all they need is your WIFI password!

When it comes to cleaning supplies the same thing goes: If you continue to buy a $50 vacuum from Walmart expecting it to vacuum the piles of sand that come through the door and work for years on end, the chances of you having to replace it are pretty great. But doing your research and purchasing a vacuum like a Shark, Dyson, or Oreck that are meant for sand will leave your rental property sand-free and will last longer!

Paint!

Painting your home is an instant way to give your home an instant upgrade. We suggest using neutral tones with an egg-shell or satin finish on the walls and a semi-gloss on the trim to really give your property that inviting feel! If you are looking for a painter just shoot us an email and we can refer one of our favorites to help you get the look you need!

Going with neutral tones on the walls and then adding a few pops of color with accessories like throw pillows, blankets, dishes, and artwork really do wonders in showcasing your unit.

When to update

It’s always best to update your unit in the off-season. blocking out at least a week of time depending on the work that needs to be done. This gives your vendors time to get in and get things spruced up. It also gives housekeeping enough time to deep-clean your property getting it guest-ready for the next season. If you have any questions about upgrades to your unit or would like to see which vendors we prefer, please feel free to contact us [email protected]. We are more than happy to answer your questions and help you get your property the way you want it because at the end of the day we want what is best for YOU and YOUR vacation rental property.

Published by Tabatha
Thursday, August 8, 2019