On vacation, no one wants to feel like they have to walk on eggshells. Yet small subtleties in how you design your space make a significant difference in how welcome they feel. Of course, none of these things will be applicable until you get your vacation rental property, and in order to do that, you need to get a vacation property loan from First Western Federal Savings Bank. Learn more about how you can qualify for a loan, revisit our first three blog posts, and get some tips and guidance on how to make your guests feel welcome while they’re on vacation!

Tip #1: Do A Proper Run-Through

Tip #2: Decorate Accordingly

Tip #3: Set Up Procedures

Provide a small gift to welcome your guests.

It doesn’t have to be anything huge, but a small sentiment or token of appreciation is just the ticket to make your guests feel welcome. Pick out a small box of chocolates from a local store, provide a bottle of wine from the nearest vineyard — no matter what you choose, a small gift is a great way to introduce your guests to both the area and your rental property.

Greet your guests with a thoughtful note.

The moment your vacationers enter your place, they’re going to marvel at their new surroundings, and take everything in. If one of the first things they notice is a thoughtful note (bonus points if paired with a gift), this is going to set the tone for how they interpret your space. You could even set up a little welcoming center, by having an end-of-hallway table set up with a bouquet of fresh flowers in a vase, complete with a note or card that makes it known you’re so glad your guests chose to stay at your place.

Be color-conscious.

The colors you use in your rental property can absolutely make a difference in how people feel. It might not seem like it, but if you’ve ever felt more relaxed in a room with warm, yellow walls than a room that’s painted bright red, you know there’s something to be said for how colors can affect our moods.

In creating a property that’s welcoming, color is an excellent place to start. Painting the walls with lighter shades can make your guests feel welcome from the moment they enter the room. Subtle or slightly richer yellows, an accent beige wall, a lighter blue — particularly if it’s near some big and beautiful sun-facing windows — are all excellent examples of colors that can set a tone of relaxation for vacationers (which is just what they’re looking for).

Consider having a guestbook.

It’s a small gesture, but oftentimes, visitors love to see notes from people who have stayed at the same establishment as them. There’s almost a sense of community that can come from a guestbook, because everyone feels connected to this particular place. Who knows — your guests might recognize a name on one of the pages, and find out that they know someone who stayed at your very same place!

Make your rental property feel like home.

For as much as people love to escape and get away during vacation, they always will long for some of the comforts of home. Some common themes of each home, such as living rooms with bookshelves and board games, as well as having a kitchen — completely stocked with utensils, pots, and pans — is one such way to help them feel like they can call your space their own. As temporary as that feeling might be, it’s a pretty significant one, and makes a difference in your guests’ impressions of your rental property.

Let your guests settle in.

While it’s a good idea to make sure your guests know how to reach you when necessary, part of making someone feel welcome involves allowing them to settle in. If your guests truly feel like this vacation rental is their home, they’ll feel all the more relaxed on their trip, and will be more likely to give you a higher review at the end of their stay.

In the digital age where choices are practically limitless, we often turn to reviews to help make our final decision. From the products we purchase to the places we stay, we look to those who have already experienced what we’re debating — meaning that getting great reviews on your property is an essential part of having guests and generating more revenue, and ultimately helping this portion of your financial portfolio continue to grow. Being a welcoming and kind host or hostess is necessary to your success as a rental property owner.

For more information on vacation property loans and how a rental property could be an asset to your financial portfolio, contact our lenders at First Western Federal Savings Bank today!

The post Preparing Your Vacation Rental Tip #4: Making Guests Feel Welcome appeared first on First Western Federal Savings Bank.