Those who are looking to invest in an exciting industry packed with profitable potential will find owning a vacation rental in San Diego, California is always the right move! San Diego is known and loved by travelers for its year-round incredible weather, seemingly endless sunshine, and access to rich history and versatile entertainment that makes it appealing to just about everyone. If you’re lucky enough to own a vacation rental in this area, this combination of appealing features means you can count on a steady stream of prospective guests in every season. Travelers flock this way year-round to enjoy the inviting Southern California vibe and oftentimes, they have a way of lingering longer than they originally planned too. With year-round temperatures in the mid-60s to the mid-70s and access to the water and sand right at traveler fingertips, there’s no shortage of options for those who are looking for a picture-perfect place to customize their getaway. San Diego is a destination that beckons to surfing enthusiasts, foodies, culture-seekers, history buffs, and outdoor adventurers alike. Those who are looking for thrills and relaxation too will all find what they’re looking for and more in this Southern California oasis. Here are the 10 must do’s when renting out your San Diego vacation rental.
10 Must Do’s When Renting Out Your San Diego Vacation Rental
Travelers who head to San Diego all year long span families and solo travelers, as well as couples on romantic getaways and groups of friends too. While some come for the arts, others come exclusively for the sand. Either way, owning a vacation rental in this area means there’s a long lineup of potential when it comes to marketing your property to travelers who are looking for a unique and customized home-away-from-home experience. San Diego boasts a strong vacation rental market, but as a property owner, there’s always more you can do to boost your earning potential year over year and create incredible stays for your guests simultaneously. The following are 10 must do’s when you’re renting out your San Diego vacation rental and looking to reach your business goals with ease.
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Make Check-In as Easy as Possible for Your Guests
San Diego is known and loved as a laid-back destination and many travelers head this way to get away from the stresses of life and embrace a slower pace and a focus on fun instead. When you’re renting out your San Diego vacation rental, it’s important that you keep the atmosphere you present your guests with aligned with this welcoming vibe too. That means ensuring things run smoothly from the very start.
Creating a smooth, simple, and stress-free check-in process is a must when you’re renting out your San Diego vacation rental and wanting to make sure your guests have an enjoyable stay from the beginning. Property owners who invest in options like keyless entry give their guests access to the home without having to adjust travel schedules to match when a property owner can meet up with all of the home entry essentials. Keyless entry gives guests the freedom to pick and choose their arrival time and get their vacation underway with ease.
It’s also a good idea to make sure your property’s thermostat is set comfortably so guests are comfortable as well when they walk in the door. Consider adding an air freshener or two to your home so the scent is pleasing upon arrival, and making sure there’s a welcome message easily noted when they come through the door that includes local activity and attraction recommendations in addition to everything they’ll need to enjoy an easy and convenient stay like the Wi-fi password, home security information, and who to call with questions.
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Ensure Your Home’s Interior Is Exceptional and Matches Your Marketed Listing
Authenticity is key to creating a stay in your property that guests are sure to rave about when they return home. That starts with ensuring the experience your guests have in your San Diego rental matches what they’ve come to expect based on your marketed property listing. Those professional photos you invested in should be a true representation of the experience guests will have upon arrival, and if you’ve made any upgrades or changes since their booking, sending updated photos their way is a kindness that won’t go unnoticed by guests. It’s worth your while to invest in high-quality appliances and furnishings throughout your San Diego rental that can keep up with general wear and tear as well as look great, even when visitors are coming in after a day on the sand or out exploring downtown. A little fresh paint on the walls can go a long way towards setting a more inviting scene for visitors in your San Diego vacation rental, and adding some wall art that pays tribute to this incredible city will get guests excited about the places they’ll experience while they’re in town too. Upgrading light fixtures to make your rental as cozy and welcoming as possible should be a priority as well as making sure high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms are clean, pristine, and feature useful extras like toiletries, chef blocks, and utensils is a must.
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Don’t Overlook Exterior Extras
The interior of your San Diego vacation rental is a focal point for guests with good reason. That said, you don’t want to overlook just how much of a difference exterior design aspects can make in the overall guest experience too. When you’re renting out your San Diego vacation rental, be sure to set aside time to pay attention to professional landscaping at your property which will enhance your marketing photos and stand out to a wider audience of prospective guests. It’s also important to create an outdoor entertainment space for visitors who are in town specifically to take advantage of Southern California’s incredible year-round weather. A place for lounging, socializing, and al fresco dining might just be what keeps guests booking a stay at your property time and again.
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Ensure Noise Monitors Are a Priority
You want to make sure your guests have fun during their stay in your San Diego vacation rental, but it’s equally important to make sure your home reflects the qualities of any good neighbor. To that end, including a noise monitor in your lineup of home features is always a good idea. You’ll want to let your guests know that this is in place ahead of time to keep track of everything from noise levels and smoking to occupancy and humidity rates during a stay. Many of these noise monitors are tracked on a single and easy-to-use platform without compromising guest privacy standards along the way.
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Be Readily Available at All Times
Even the most appealing vacation rental in San Diego won’t get the great reviews from guests it deserves if travelers don’t know who to turn to when they have questions or concerns. When you’re renting out your San Diego vacation home to guests, it’s vital they know from day one exactly who to call when needs arise. Whether it’s you directly providing the world-class guest care, or you’re letting a property management team take care of customer service, this is essential information and access that provides your guests with the peace of mind they deserve to enjoy on vacation.
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Always Include Personalized Amenities
The key to making a stay in San Diego memorable for guests often comes down to the type of personalized amenities you include in your rental home. San Diego is a city that invites travelers to get out and explore and when you cater to that invitation through amenity options in your home, your guests are sure to be thrilled and impressed. Small additions like a local guidebook that they can keep are always a treat while larger amenities like a surfboard to use during a stay or even a bike in the garage can go a long way toward a 5-star review. When you tailor your home amenities and extras to the guest experience and the city your home sits in, it lets your guests know from day one that you’re invested in them having an amazing vacation.
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Prioritize Immaculate Cleanliness Standards
These days, perhaps more than ever before, making sure your San Diego vacation home is immaculate upon guest arrival is a must. In a post-pandemic world, travelers want to know that property owners have taken the time to have the place thoroughly cleaned both before and after their stay. Make it a point to let your guests know how you sanitize the home and what type of maintenance schedule you adhere to that keeps the property safe and at its best at all times. It’s also important to point out when fire alarm batteries were changed out and where carbon monoxide detectors are located in the home.
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Encourage Reviews and Feedback
You don’t ever want to be afraid of guest reviews or feedback, as these comments can boost your place as a trusted vacation rental homeowner in the area, and pinpoint opportunities for improvement that can boost your profits over time. When you’re renting out your San Diego vacation rental, be sure to let your guests know from day one that you’re open to reviews and feedback along the way. This offers up a sense of confidence in the home-away-from-home you’re providing and shows your guests you care enough to make changes going forward based on the experience they have in your home.
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Consider Adding Personalized Services from the Start
Many travelers heading to San Diego choose a vacation rental over a traditional hotel because they’re drawn to the idea of a more personalized stay. When you’re renting out your San Diego vacation home, making it a point to offer specialized services that help guests tailor their experience every day of their stay can put you a step ahead of the competition! This could be something like offering to have groceries stocked in the rental ahead of time or arranging transportation from the airport to the rental as an added convenience. These personalized touches have a long last positive impression and will likely lead to great reviews, terrific return guests, and fantastic referrals in the future.
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Check Out Should Be a Breeze
As important as a smooth check-in process is when you’re renting out your San Diego vacation home, making sure check-out is just as easy is equally vital. The guest experience is undeniably comprehensive, and you don’t want to sour your guests’ impression of their entire amazing stay with one chaotic last day in town. When your guests know exactly what’s expected on the last day of their stay, it’s better for you and them too! Take the guesswork out of check-out entirely by creating clear and concise instructions for your guests to lean on. Your instructions should include a strict check-out time, what’s required of guests in the way of cleanup, how they should leave the rental property, and where they can deposit their keys. Be sure to note if there are any special shut-off procedures for appliances in the home, where to put trash, and if any rooms require special attention before departure like the garage. Investing time in creating a clear and concise check-out process takes the stress out of the last day of the stay for guests and makes it easier for homeowners to have things in place for a quicker turnover for the next arrival to come.
Reach Out to Skye Management Today to Learn More About Our Homeowner Services
Managing your San Diego vacation home on your own can be a lot. When you’re looking to take your business potential to the next level of excellence and you want to eliminate some stress too, reach out to Skye Management to learn more about our world-class property management options. Our team can handle everything from home evaluations and upgrade recommendations to marketing, customer care, and home care on your behalf. We bring years of experience into property management in the greater San Diego area and love helping homeowners boost their business potential at every turn. Whether you’re new to vacation rental management and excited to get started on the right foot, or you’re looking to elevate the vacation rental you already manage, we’re here to help. Reach out today to learn more and to get started with Skye Management!
