Do you manage your short-term rental property from afar? Or, are you normally available but planning to take a vacation during a time when you have guests? You might think it’s okay if you’re not physically available, as long as you prepare ahead.
You may take every precaution to prevent problems like installing smart locks, keeping the property maintained, leaving some basic toiletries in the rental, and giving thorough instructions to your guests. You may even go out of your way to provide them with a guide to the property and the local area.
But even if you take every precaution, your guests could still run into problems that require someone to be available on the spot. A pipe might start leaking, smart lock batteries might die, a toilet might overflow, or an appliance might malfunction.
Sure, it’s a good idea to take precautions and do everything you can to ensure your guests have an enjoyable stay, but you need a backup plan for emergencies. A back plan requires you to keep a little extra in your “rainy-day fund” and have someone available for emergency needs. Guests need to be able to reach out to someone and get help as soon as possible when they’re staying at your property.
You can create working relationships with local vendors and have a list of people you call whenever you need help. You can partner with a property management company that will have a local manager available to assist your guests with any concerns or questions they may have. You don’t necessarily need to be available in person for your guests, but you do need to have someone who can be available if the situation warrants it.
To ensure things go smoothly, make sure that you or your property manager checks in with your guests when they arrive. This way you can find out if there are any immediate concerns. Maybe they arrived to find out that an appliance isn’t working and they need someone to correct the issue, for example. By reaching out to your guests after they check-in, it can help catch and resolve issues in a more timely fashion.
Include information in your guidebook about who your guests should contact if there’s an issue. You can remind them of this information when you reach out to check-in. If you don’t have anyone to watch your property and be available for guests 24/7, reach out to us at PMI. We have years of experience and know exactly what it takes to keep your guests satisfied.
