Many Americans can now work from anywhere, and as a result, off-season rentals have become quite popular. Up and down the Delaware Beaches, we've seen quite a few renters take advantage of this trend.
While this is great news for every property owner, the reality is that your home is now possibly being used much more than in prior years. If you're currently providing guests off-season options, it's critical to perform routine maintenance during down times ahead of the lucrative summer season.
If you are currently renting your home in the off-season but need to remove your home from the market for a few weeks, our Owner Portal makes this easy in a few clicks (or you can always give our front desk a call to block off your time).
However, if your rental is not booked and you've got the time now, here are eight property management suggestions for the winter that will ensure your property is ready to rock and roll when the summer tides roll in!
Making Upgrades
- Technology: Smart TVs are now the norm and guests expect them. We still recommend having Cable TV in the Living Room, but with guests “working” from your home, it is imperative to have the best internet speed that you can for streaming. The off-season is the perfect time to upgrade.
- Mattress/Bedding: Always test out ALL the mattresses in your home in the off-season! One of the main reasons that a guest does not return to a home is due to their inability to get a good night’s sleep (and it goes without saying that mattress pads and pillows need to be replaced each year). Lastly, regarding bedding, always replace worn or outdated bed coverings and extra blankets.
- Outdoor Furniture: With all the sun, fun and salt air, outdoor furniture takes a beating at the beach. Take a moment to evaluate your porch and patio furniture - and umbrellas! - to see what needs to be replaced. Your guests love to enjoy coffee, meals or cocktails outdoors and want to be comfortable. NOW is the perfect time to purchase these items.
- Carpet, Flooring and Area Rugs: The Department of Housing and Urban Development has set 7 years as a benchmark for the replacement of carpet in rental homes. For vacation homes, this should probably be even less. Remember - when you use your vacation home, you normally are not maxing out the occupancy for each stay. When you rent your home, however, nearly every booking houses the maximum number of guests in the home. And this means your carpets (and your entire home) recieve a lot of wear and tear. Please consider replacing carpets with new engineered vinyl plank flooring, which is a great choice for beach homes.
- Plumbing/Electric HVAC Systems: The hospitality industry experienced major delays in services last summer, and the Delaware beaches were no exception. As companies struggle to identify and employ qualified technicians, it is more important than ever to make sure that your systems are in fine shape. We recommend entering contracts with service providers, so that if and when you do experience a problem, they will service your property in a timely manner. As you know, our team is happy to provide the keys to your property for your service partners.
- Painting – Indoors and Out: We've noticed over the years that guests don’t mind old, quirky or quaint properties if the pictures are current and represent the property well. What they do mind, however, are marred, scuffed and dingy walls and baseboards. It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can re-energize a room. The Department of Housing and Urban Development recommends painting the inside of a rental property in its entirety, every 3 years. They recommend pressure washing as needed or re-painting/re-staining exteriors every 7 years.
Maintenance Must-Dos
- Winterization: Remember to "winterize" your outside shower. Also, keep the heat at around 60 degrees in the off-season to avoid having the pipes freeze.
- Give it a Real Deep Clean: Deep cleaning is always a good option in the off-season. Every home can always use a deep-clean, and now you have the time to do it correctly! Pay attention to problem areas like tile grout, refrigerator coils and range hood filters. Also, taking time to sanitize or replace trash bins, clean or replace lamp shades, and inspect/upgrade every kitchen, bathroom and medicine cabinets can go a long way. Lastly, don’t forget to clean out exterior garbage bins and the gutters after the leaves fall as well.
Want help with any or all of the above or have more tips we should share? Reach out and let us know!
