10 Ways to Help Your Vacation Rental Stand Out
In today’s competitive short term rental market, guests browse through dozens of listings before selecting a property. At Jayne’s, our team is committed to showcasing your rental’s unique qualities, and while we handle the marketing, booking, and guest communication, there are a few extra touches you can add to elevate your property even further. Here are our top suggestions to enhance guest appeal and help us make your rental stand out:
1. Choose a Reputable Rental Agency
By partnering with Jayne’s, you’ve already made an impactful choice. Guests trust that Jayne’s will deliver a seamless rental experience, and many of our discerning clients come straight to us, bypassing broader OTAs like Airbnb. Being listed with a professional agency instills confidence in guests and positions your property for high-quality bookings.
2. Add Exciting Amenities
Our team works to highlight each property’s best features, and having a few memorable amenities can be a big plus. Guests love features like a hot tub, water trampoline, or sauna, that can help your property stand when comparing properties. Even smaller things, like cornhole or a Green Egg grill, can set your property apart in a family’s conversation about which rental they’ll choose.
If you’re considering an upgrade to your vacation rental, pools, hot tubs, saunas, cold plunges, and pickleball courts are some of the most desirable amenities we’ve noticed.
3. Stock Up on Water Toys (for Lakefront Properties)
For our lakeside rentals, water toys are essential. Guests love to see a property fully stocked with paddleboards, kayaks, and other water activities, which helps them feel like they’re getting a complete experience without needing to rent additional items. Having at least two kayaks or paddleboards is especially appealing, as it allows multiple guests to enjoy an activity together.
4. Refresh Your Furniture
Outdated, mismatched, or worn furniture can overshadow the best aspects of a property. Guests browsing listings often envision themselves in the space, and dated furniture can disrupt that vision. Focus on key areas like the main living room, where a new sofa or modern coffee table can make a big impact. Choose timeless pieces that are easy to coordinate with other furniture, so you can build on it over time. There’s no need to revamp everything at once – start with the most frequently used spaces and upgrade gradually.
5. Prioritize Outdoor Seating
Outdoor spaces are where guests spend most of their time on vacation, so comfortable and ample seating is a key selling point. If your listing lacks outdoor furniture, guests may move on to another option. In fact, one common piece of feedback we’ve received is that some properties don’t provide enough outdoor seating – we’ve even had to deliver extra loungers or Muskoka chairs during rentals!
Ensure your property is well-equipped with a variety of quality outdoor seating options in all key areas. Ideally, every property should include at least:
– An outdoor couch and living set
– An outdoor dining table
– A set of lounge chairs on the dock
– A Muskoka chair sitting area
– Coffee and side tables throughout
– At least one sun umbrella on the dock or in other sunny areas
Well-furnished outdoor areas help guests envision their perfect vacation and make your property a standout choice. If you’re looking for stylish, quality furniture, we recommend Rove Concepts.
6. Showcase The Best Amenities
Your listing features your property’s most unique and desirable amenities under “Notable Features” to help it stand out. If there’s something specific you’d like highlighted, let us know! While we avoid overcrowding the section, ensuring we’ve captured 8–10 of the property’s standout features is a great way to keep your listing competitive.
7. Review Your Property Description
We write engaging descriptions for each listing, but your firsthand knowledge of the property can help us capture its unique personality and appeal. Let us know if you’d like to suggest a few updates to the write-up. Think about what makes your property truly unique, and don’t hesitate to share ideas with us so we can make the description as effective as possible.
8. Create Inviting Spaces for Guests
While tidiness is crucial, a few elevated decor touches can make your property even more inviting. Small additions like coffee table books, plants, art, or tasteful candles create a warm atmosphere that helps guests picture themselves relaxing in your space. Before your next photoshoot, consider enhancing the decor if it feels too sparse.
9. Stay in Touch with Our Team
When our reservations team reaches out to confirm dates, responding promptly can make a big difference. Often, there’s a guest eagerly waiting on the other side, and a quick go-ahead ensures we can keep their excitement high and their booking secured. Timely updates and clear communication on rental intentions and availability can help us deliver top-notch service and confidently present your property to prospective guests.
10. Capture High-Quality Moments
Lifestyle photos and videos play a huge role in attracting guests, and while we work hard to photograph each property, we can’t capture every, organic moment. If you ever find yourself with a stunning sunset view, a beautifully set table, or a cozy scene around the fire, consider snapping a few photos or a quick video. Just send them to us, and if the quality fits, we may be able to feature these personal touches in our marketing materials. You could even ask your creative teen or young adult to capture “insta-worthy” content to share with our team to post!
In a competitive rental market, the little details can make a big difference. By adding a few unique touches and adding some extra care, you’re helping attract discerning guests who notice the details. Not only will these tips help attract guests, but they will also enhance their experience, making them want to return year after year.
If you have any questions, want additional tips, or need help deciding what investment to make in your vacation rental, we’re always here to share our expertise with our owners!
