Anything But Ordinary Vacation Rental
Hey, vacation rental. It's time for a makeover.
Vacation rentals -- or Airbnb's as we most often refer to them -- often inherit their contents from the furnishings we can do without at home, or the most inexpensive pieces we can thrift or retail shop that check the box for sofa, chair, and coffee table.
This approach has not stopped the estimated 1.3 million vacation rentals in the U.S. from being part of the over 450 million worldwide in this fast-growing hospitality industry.
But while rentals are searched for by order of location, rate, and availability, rentals with better design command higher rates. According to EVOLVE, a nationwide property management company, professionally designed vacation rentals can ask for 71% higher nightly rates and deliver an enhanced experience, and guests are willing to pay more for quality.
So if guests will pay more for better designed rentals, why don't hosts use a professional designer? I spoke to several colleagues in the short-term-rental host business at a recent investors' group happy hour in Northern Virginia and here's what I heard:
-- I wish I would have. In hindsight, many hosts admit design remorse. Design is not their forte, and they wish they would have hired a professional before listing their rental.
-- I have design flair. Some hosts study short-term-rental design tips and inspirational photos and enjoy the process of pulling it together on their own.
-- You can do that? Short-term-rental owners don't know there are professionals who specialize in designing vacation rentals, not just to handle the million tasks, but to create a design unique to your property.
-- I thought I had to. After the long process of searching for the right property in the right location and renovating it, or clearing out the basement for rent, some owners spend their last bit of energy completing the contents list. Vacation rental channels offer design advice to help you DIY, but seldom suggest hiring a designer to achieve optimal return on investment.
Upscale your high-demand cabin rental away from ordinary.
Even in a robust rental market, your rental stands out from the competition if a professionally-trained eye has evaluated your space and preferences; sourced the right products with an understanding of color palette and trends; and arranged furnishings and decor for the best guest experience. Your competition will likely not have the same advantage.
Vacation rental design is different from staging and home design.
Home sale staging attempts a neutral affect to appeal to the broadest base of prospective buyers and not offend with color or personal preferences. Home living design responds to individual tastes and aspirations for enjoying one's own home. And vacation rental design creates a unique design to match the host's ideal guests; and considers the property's region, property type, and guest experience -- whether your budget is strictly retail or exclusively designer-trade.
A trained vacation rental designer is your well-kept secret for distinguishing your rental in the online universe. The best part is that you can charge a higher nightly rate, and prospective guests are willing to pay more for good design; while you increase the profitability of your investment.