Equipping your Marbella home for holiday rental
Some people think that you can simply put a property on the rentals market and start receiving guests and charging money – and although the process is straightforward it’s not quite as simple as that.
The fact is, a property needs some preparation before it can be placed on the rentals market, particularly in the holiday rentals segment. Don’t forget that you are competing with hotel rooms and suites, not to mention many other holiday rental properties, and preparation is required for villas as well as apartments.
How to prepare
The first thing to do is look at the house itself. Does it require some painting, maintenance work, reparations or simply a little care and attention to return it to its most attractive self? Does the plumbing work well, the electrics, the internet connection (yes, that is a requirement) and are the appliances, for instance in the kitchen, up to date and functional?
If you were ever thinking of fixing some bits around the house, now is the time to do it, as people who pay by the day or week demand quality in return. Once the house looks fresh and works as well as it should, the next thing to look at is the decoration. If the furniture is old and tired looking, and the beds uncomfortable, it’s time to change them.
There is no need for a luxurious overhaul. In fact, we recommend people to furnish holiday homes with contemporary furniture that is attractive, comfortable and functional but does really not have to be too expensive. This is where brands like Ikea come into their own, and a holiday home should also not be cluttered. It should be cosy, yes, and free of your personal belongings.
How to equip
When all that is done, make sure the house is well-equipped in terms of bedding, towels, kitchen cutlery and crockery, with manuals that explain how things work and also an iron and ironing board, bucket, mop, broom, etc. The sort of things you have at home too, plus it’s always good to have some spare batteries and lightbulbs available.
Finally, to make a truly good impression and get those high rankings on TripAdvisor and others, remember to make sure the house is stocked with toilet paper, and if you add some details such as fresh bread, milk, water and other essentials it will be much appreciated. Now you can start renting out successfully.