Running a ski town vacation rental means more than just posting photos of the snow-covered pine trees outside and hoping the charm sells itself. You may have pretty views and the coziest vibe in your magical vacation home up in the slopes, but it takes more work to get bookings year-round and keep your guests happy.
If you want to make your rental stand out from the crowd and keep guests coming back year after year, it’s all in the details. Here are seven tips to elevate your ski rental game and turn your snowy home into a total guest magnet.
1.Decorate with a Cozy Cabin Aesthetic
When guests book a rental home at a ski town, they’re looking for a true winter escape with a cozy vibe. If you want more renters and bookings, decorate your home with that homey cabin aesthetic in mind.
Design the home with warm wood tones, vintage ski signs, a warm fireplace, and maybe even some charming winter decor on the front porch to welcome your guests. The more it feels like the cozy cabin of their dreams, the more it will stand out among other listings in town.
2.Make Your Winter-Ready Features the Star of the Show
Ski town rental properties might be stunning, but they can also be susceptible to snowstorms and nights that are freezing cold. To make your vacation home more attractive to guests, install winter-ready features in your home.
That includes heated floors, thermal windows for energy efficiency in winter, hot tubs, and other features to keep your guests warm and cozy. A cupboard filled with hot cocoa and extra-soft blankets are more than enough to make your guests feel ready to settle in after a long day on the slopes.
3.Offer Fun, Ski-Related Amenities
Guests will book your place specifically for the snowy adventures, so make it easier for them by offering fun, ski-related amenities in your vacation home. Stock your place with sleds, snowshoes, gear, and even supplies for waxing snowboards and skis. These thoughtful details will make your guests’ trip convenient and oh-so memorable, which can be reason enough for them to book your place again on their next ski trip!
4.Create a Helpful City Guidebook for Guests
Always think of guests who are first-time visitors to your ski town. To give them a little extra help with planning their itinerary during their stay, give them a simple, printed-out guidebook of your favorite dining spots and activities in the local area. Include emergency contact numbers, maps, and other pertinent info that can be helpful during their trip, too.
5.Offer Flexible Check-In During Snowy Weather
When the snow is really bad, flights into town can get delayed and roads can get congested and snowed in. It comes with the territory of mountain travel and having a rental property in a ski town.
So, show a little leniency and flexibility with the check-in and check-out times of your guests, especially during storms. This reduces guest stress and earns goodwill and rapport that may encourage them to book with you again for future trips. Kindness goes a really long way with renters!
6.Consider Hiring a Vacation Rental Management Team
Success also means knowing when to step back and let someone else take the reins on your rental home so you can focus on other things. When you’re back in your primary home, far from the ski town, you can’t always handle bookings, clean-ups, maintenance, guest check-in and check-out, and the overall management of a vacation rental.
To save time and reduce stress for you while you’re miles away, it’s smart to hire a rental management team to do all that for you. They’ll be on top of guest communication, marketing, and even spring cleaning after the winter gloom.
Opt for a vacation rental management team that is reputable and knows its way around your local ski town. For example, if you have a property in the slopes of Utah, book a renowned Park City vacation rental management that knows how to cater to skiers flying in, maximize bookings during Sundance, and keep your home guest-ready through every snowstorm.
7.Market the Off-Season
Many mountain rentals sit empty after the ski season ends. That’s why it’s smart to promote what your city has to offer in the off-season as well. Post on social media about beautiful hiking trails, local attractions, and fun events that happen year-round. That way, you get more bookings and rake in revenue from your property no matter the season.
Endnote
Your rental doesn’t become successful because it’s located on a beautiful mountain with plenty of ski resorts nearby. What really makes a vacation home special and successful are the little bits of effort you put into the place, from winter features to fun amenities to ensuring it’s well taken care of by a management team throughout the year. By implementing these tips into your rental strategy, you’ll be sure to reap the benefits of a lucrative vacation rental by the slopes.
