Preparing your Vacation Rental for Fall

Most of us, as vacation rental owners, prepare our rentals for the busy summer season with a major “Spring Cleaning” overhaul.  But preparing your vacation rental for Fall is just as important. That’s why I have created this Fall Prep Checklist to help you with all your Fall season tasks.

I have prepared a checklist for prepping your vacation rental for the Fall season.  This “Fall Prep Checklist” will help you to not miss those pesky maintenance issues that could quickly derail your guest’s vacation.

The checklist is divided into four sections – Lawn & Garden, Decks & Patios, Around the Home, and Inside the Home.  Download the checklist and use it to get your home in tip-top shape for the upcoming Fall/Winter seasons.

Download the Vacation Rental Fall Prep Checklist

Other Things to Consider for Fall

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Fall Maintenance & Cleaning

Fall gives us an opportunity to give our vacation rentals a thorough maintenance review and a good cleaning after the busy summer schedule has ended.  For most of us, summer season brings the most guests, and equally the most wear and tear on our rentals.

Even if you aren’t able to physically perform the maintenance tasks, it is critical for you to be able to identify any issues that need attention.  Once identified, you can then hire out the tasks to your handyman or another qualified maintenance contractor.

For tips on prepping your vacation rental for COVID-19, check out this article. 6 Ways to Use COVID-19 to Improve Vacation Rental Operations

Outside

Take a walk around the outside of your property and throughout your yard.  Look for items that need replaced, repaired, cleaned or rearranged.  Pay careful attention to structural issues, water damage and wear and tear that could cause issues if not repaired before the next season.  Make notes of any items that need addressed.

Next, walk around decks and patios.  Look for loose boards, rot or water damage and any other structural issues that could be a safety hazard. 

Inside 

Finally, go through each room of the house.  Take notice of any issues along walls, windows, doors, floors, ceilings, and closets.  Touch up any areas that need paint.  Use a “magic eraser” to remove scuffs on walls and doors.  Dust and use a crevice tool around furniture, baseboards, walls, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and window sills.  Check switches and outlets to ensure nothing is loose or broken.  

Check all appliances and electronics for wear and damage.  Replace batteries in TV remotes and any other battery controlled items, including keyless entry locks.

Check plumbing for leaks around commodes and under sinks.  Check for leaky faucets, commodes and shower heads.  

Thorough seasonal maintenance checks should be routine.  Make a point to schedule these maintenance checks and expect to spend at least 2-4 hours (depending on the size of your property) performing the checks.  Of course, you’ll need additional time for making any repairs.

Fall Prep – Money Saving Features & Gadgets

Fall is also a good time to consider adding some additional features and gadgets that could help with saving you money. 

• Wifi Remotely Controlled Thermostats

We installed this Honeywell Wifi Thermostat in our rentals last spring.  These thermostats include a smartphone app where you can set max/minimum high and low temperatures for the thermostat. 

If the temperature goes above or below your temperature range settings, you receive an alert.  The thermostat can be controlled through the app whereby the thermostat can be turned up or down remotely. 

It is nice to be able to adjust the thermostat remotely and have the home at a comfortable temperature when the guest arrives.  Likewise, you can adjust the thermostat after departure to a more energy efficient setting.  

Many vacation rental owners are using the Nest Learning Thermostat, so you may want to check that model as well.

• Pool Heater Wifi Timers

Pool heaters are a huge expense in the vacation rental business.  Guests expect to have a heated pool during the early days of Fall.  Having a timer on your pool heater will greatly increase energy efficiency.  With the timers, you can run the heater less hours per day and at specific times of the day.

Emergency Items

Obviously, emergencies can happen any time of the year.  It’s a good idea to have some items available in your vacation home to help your guests through these anxious moments.

Fire and carbon monoxide safety is something you do not want to risk.  There are plenty of inexpensive detectors available, so there really is no excuse for not having them in your rental. 

These Power Failure lights are LED nightlights and also serve as blackout lights should there be a power outage.  They are rechargeable and can also function as a portable flashlight.  

• Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
• Emergency flashlights/lanterns
• Emergency/First Aid kits
• Emergency radio

Creature Comforts

When I think of a Fall vacation, I think about relaxing, getting cozy, taking it easy.  You may want to add a few additional creature comforts to your vacation rental for the Fall season.  Including some special touches to make the indoor guest experience a little more comfortable and relaxing will go a long way.

• Add some new magazines and books
  • Lin Stepp’s “Saving Laurel Springs (A Smoky Mountain Novel) or “Claire at Edesto”
• Fall flavored k-cups
• Pumpkin Spice Coffee
• Fall printed throw/blanket
• Slippers – disposable/bulk
• Boot/Show tray (cut down on mud and dirt on the floors)

Cleaning Up Your Vacation Rental Listing

In addition to all the physical Fall preparations, consider taking a look at your website and any sites where your vacation rental is listed.  Some of your information may be outdated.  It’s a good idea to “spring clean” your listing each season.  Add that task to your calendar in the upcoming year.

Use the “Spring Clean Your Vacation Rental Listing in 4 Easy Steps” as a guide.   

Vacation Rental Seasonal Preparations

Print the Fall Prep Checklist and add it to your Vacation Rental Planner.  Review your planner for any additional purchases you may need to make to prepare your rental for the Fall season.  Perhaps you need to replace some linens, touch up some paint, buy additional soaps, etc. 

Now is also a good time to start planning ahead for Spring.  Make a list of ideas for Spring improvements.  Begin thinking about your Spring budget and what you can do this Fall and Winter to make your budget manageable for the Spring updates.