Things You'll Need:
- a vacation rental
- storage boxes
- a camera
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Step 1
Clear the clutter. Even though a vacation rental property won’t be permanently occupied, you want to make certain the vacationing renter can imagine themselves in your home. If your vacation rental is overrun with clutter, such as old books, magazines, and knick-knacks, you need to clean house. Store items you want to keep for your vacation and leave only a few key items, such as area restaurant guides and board games, at hand for your vacationing guests’ enjoyment.
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Step 2
Neutral colors are bestChoose neutral colors, clean lines and go lightly on the theme. While it might be tempting to decorate your beach house with very bright colors or your western lodge with dead animal heads, it’s best to stick with neutral colors on the walls and clean, modern lines in the furniture. Choose only a few key pieces, such as a bowl of shells for a beach vacation rental, to give your guests a sense of the beach without overwhelming them with an ocean theme in every room.
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Step 3
Create an open feel. Don’t overfill the room and leave enough space so your guests can move freely around furniture. If you have too much furniture in a room, your guests will feel cramped. Your vacation rental should create a sense of openness and relaxation. Arrange seating so that your guests can enjoy gathering together for conversation or for taking in a fantastic view. Don’t push all the furniture up against the walls or your room will feel like a waiting room.
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Step 4
Use accessories to ‘invite’ people to sit and relax. Plush throws and cozy pillows strategically placed on a chair near a fireplace or in a bay window overlooking a view of the ocean are the perfect accents to stage your vacation rental. They say, ‘Relax and enjoy.’
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Step 5
Present a welcoming exterior. As with staging a home, you’ll want to make sure you stage the exterior of your vacation rental. Walks and decks should be clean and in good shape. Landscaping should be inviting, yet uncomplicated. If you have to, hire a manager to maintain the grounds. As with the interior, don’t clutter your exterior with too many decorations. A wind chime or two is good, but an entire balcony-full is too much.
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Step 6
Take good pictures. Once your vacation rental is staged, you need to get good pictures for advertising. Take pictures in the daytime when natural light is optimal for that particular room. Get a few tight shots to create a sense of coziness. For example, place a throw on a chair with a pillow and a book. Set a cup of steaming coffee on the table next to it. Take the picture! Prospective guests will imagine themselves sitting in that chair, reading a book in your vacation rental!
