Rental season on Florida's Gulf Coast is approaching quicker than you can say Siesta Beach. "As we enter into fall months, this is the time of year we prepare vacation rentals for the upcoming season," said Jamie Styers, Director of Michael Saunders & Company's Rental Division. "There are a number of basic tasks that should be done, from having the units deep cleaned to HVAC’s being serviced, exterior pressure washing and more." To help you get your rental in ship shape, here are some ideas for sprucing up your Sarasota rental before guests arrive. 1. Give your home a deep cleaning. It's important your home feel as livable and as comfortable as possible while keeping clutter to a minimum. Consider hiring professionals to do a thorough cleaning.
Give your home a deep cleaning. | 513 Outrigger Ln, Longboat Key FL
2. Repaint or touch up as needed. Your home may not need to be completely repainted but look at the rooms with the most traffic (living room, front entry, or kitchen) and see which walls are calling for a fresh coat of paint. 3. Decorate the walls. Jazz up wall space with some scenes from Florida's Gulf Coast. A fun way to make it personal (but not too personal) is to incorporate pictures of your favorite places. Get a large print made of Siesta Key, Myakka River State Park, the Celery Fields, or Charlotte Harbor, find a nice frame at a craft store, and pick the perfect spot to hang it. 4. Purchase new towels. Guests love soft and fluffy towels, it's akin to staying at a luxurious resort. Check to see that yours aren't faded and that they are free from stains or tears. Each bathroom should include six sets of matching bath towels (one bath, one hand, one wash cloth per set).
You can't go wrong with fluffy towels. | 1160 11th Street East, Boca Grande, FL
5. Upgrade to high quality linens. A little linen can go a long way. Invest in high quality cotton like combed cotton, Egyptian cotton, or Pima cotton sheets as they are much smoother against the skin and will not get fuzzy. Also, most people enjoy the quality of a thread count between 200 and 400. Beware of anything labeled over 400, as 400 is around the maximum number of threads that can fit on a loom. (Even though the thread count can be listed as higher, it can be inflated by manipulating the sheet-making process with low quality construction or thread.) Each bed should also have, in excellent condition, 2-4 pillows, two sets of matching sheets, one comforter or bedspread, one blanket, and one mattress pad.
2050 Benjamin Franklin Drive #A301, Lido Key
6. Arrange the outdoors. The interiors aren't the only areas that may need a little TLC. Pressure wash the exterior walls for a nice clean surface. Give your outdoor furniture a good once over. Clean wood or painted furniture with an oil-based soap. Invest in new cushions if your current ones are looking faded and sun-damaged. Outdoor patios should always have a table with four chairs. 7. Include the essentials. Your vacation rental should accommodate an assortment of essentials for day-to-day life from a toaster oven to a tool set.
- The kitchen should contain: microwave; blender; mixer; a set of eight dinner, salad, soup/cereal bowls, cups, and saucers; two cookie sheets; four dishtowels; measuring cup; spoon; teapot; and more.
- Living rooms should include a couch, loveseat, 2 lamps, stereo system, and an LCD TV, minimum size 32" with DVD player.
- Bedrooms need headboards for each bed, mattresses and box springs, one mirror, one 25" minimum TV/DVD player, AM/FM clock radio and more.
- Bathrooms should incorporate a bathtub mat, decorative shower curtain and liner, toilet brush, plunger, wastebasket, and more.
- Miscellaneous items include vacuum cleaner, steam iron and ironing board, tool set, extra light bulbs, and an extra filter for air filters.
If all of this feels overwhelming or if you are managing a vacation rental from out of state, keep in mind there are experienced professionals at Michael Saunders & Company standing by. "The property management program is designed to take the worry out of renting your property," explained Styers. "And specifically set up for the out of state or out of country owner. We are dedicated, full-time professionals who inspect the property regularly, coordinate repairs, maintenance and cleanings, develop pricing strategies and then collect deposits and payments for each property. Not to mention we offer professional photography and professionally designed marketing both in print and online with a global reach through our affiliations." If you need help preparing your Sarasota vacation rental for season or for the full list of household essentials, contact the MSC Rental Division at 888-409-4448.
