Preparing Your Vacation Rental There’s something about a nicely packaged gift. The attractive wrapping; ribbons; tissue paper peeking out of a bag – all add to the excitement and anticipation of wondering what’s inside. If you have taken care over choosing the right gift, you probably wouldn’t use a store bag or torn and scuffed wrapping to present it. This is the same with your vacation rental. When you spend a lot of time and money on preparing the interior so that you can wow your guests, it’s important that similar attention is given to the exterior, particularly the approach and entrance to the property. Take a candid look at the outside and look at it from the perspective of arriving guests. What impression does it give? Are the windows clean or are they covered with sticky tree sap and insect poop? Is the siding festooned with cobwebs, and are there holes in the screen doors? Over the course of a summer season, the exterior takes a beating and it’s worthwhile giving it a couple of hours attention every couple of weeks. Invest in a good quality power washer and a window squeegee and you’ll find it’s a breeze getting the outside looking as good as the inside. Here’s a few more tips: Replace worn outdoor mats. Clean outdoor windows with water and a small amount of dishsoap with a 1/4 cup of white vinegar for added sparkle. Put a tub with a hardy shrub on either side of the front door. Potentilla or Spiraea are ideal varieties as they can manage with just weekly watering as long as they are in a large pot. Replace any torn or ripped mesh on screen doors. Above all, make the exterior look welcoming and attractive and you’ll have happy guests before they even set foot inside. Photo by Alborzshawn on Flickr
