Preparing Your Vacation Rental for Summer Festivals

The summertime is here and so are the festivals! Whether you’re hosting in your home in Miami, Chicago, or Los Angeles, knowing how to best prepare your rental space for the summertime festival season is important. Redfin found the best expert-curated advice to make sure your rental is the ultimate festival hotspot this summer! 

Understanding timing

With most things in life, timing is crucial. Understanding the best time to market your place, the necessary prep time, and your guests’ schedule will be important. Kelvin Mah, CEO of Rankbreeze states, “Preparing for your summer high season should start in January. Typically families also begin to plan their summer vacations earlier. The bigger your property, the further you need to plan and match the lead times your guests are searching for stays.” Most festivals begin their ticket sales early to build up the hype, so ensuring you are ready as an option is crucial. 

Loren Castillo from Chicago-based 747 Lofts says to be, “prepared for high guest turnover. Summer festivals often mean shorter, more frequent stays. Ensure your cleaning and maintenance teams are prepared for quick turnarounds. Stock up on essential supplies like toiletries, clean linens, and towels to ensure a seamless experience for each new guest. Offering special rates or packages for festival periods can also entice more bookings, helping you maximize your property’s occupancy during the festival season.” 

Festival hours are erratic, meaning having efficient check-in and out procedures is important. BnB My Place shares, “It’s crucial to prepare your rental property to attract guests and provide an easy, unforgettable experience. With guests often arriving and departing at irregular hours, a seamless check-in/out process is vital. We utilize smart locks for flexible self-check-in and provide clear, accessible instructions.” 

Beyond essentials, festival-tailored experiences for your rental property

To stand out above the competition, providing festival-tailored choices will make guests feel in the festival spirit. Jeremy from Bliss Vacation Rentals states that he, “ provides festival survival kits that include essentials like sunscreen, reusable water bottles, maps, and festival guides. These thoughtful touches show guests you’ve considered their needs and enhance their overall experience. Highlight your property’s proximity to festival venues, transportation options, and any unique features that make it ideal for festival-goers.” 

Cole Lema, director of business development for MountainTownVRM agrees with Jeremy by stating, “Consider adding festival-themed decor to set a festive tone. Provide a comprehensive welcome guide with local festival information, transportation options, and dining recommendations. Stock the property with festival essentials like portable phone chargers, sunscreen, water bottles, and snacks. Offering a welcome package with these items can create a warm first impression. Adjust your pricing strategy to reflect the high demand during the festival season and consider offering special promotional packages for festival-goers. Optimize your online listings with high-quality photos and highlighting proximity to festival venues and any  unique property features.” 

Vacation Homes Coachella adds, “By freshening up the landscaping with vibrant flowers, neatly trimmed lawns, and clean outdoor furniture. We are adding festive decorations to align with the festival theme. Offering festival-specific items like sunscreen, reusable water bottles, portable phone chargers, and last-minute deals helps guests enjoy their stay. Additionally, we create a comprehensive guide on our website with details about the festival, including schedules, maps, and local dining recommendations.” 

Outdoor space

Thinking outside the box and preparing for after-festival activities is also a must. Matthew Durian from The BNB Way advises on how to prepare your outdoor area. “Start by creating themed decor that resonates with the festival spirit, from vibrant outdoor string lighting, smokeless Solo Stove firepit for roasting marshmallows around the stars surrounded by comfy wicker furniture to cozy indoor accents that capture the essence of summer celebration. Enhance property allure with amenities like portable speakers for impromptu dance parties or outdoor lounges perfect for post-event chilling and relaxing.”

Florida vacation rental manager Katie from Easy Air Rentals suggests, “For the summer festival season in Florida, making your outdoor amenities as exciting as possible is of paramount importance. Spice up your pool area with minimal effort by providing some fun pool floats for guests, setting a scene on an outdoor table with a fun tablescape, or adding a game of cornhole in the grass nearby. Be sure to take some new photos to showcase what you have done.” 

Fiona Deegan from Host Partners adds, “If space allows, having some large shady trees/shady areas where kids and adults can sit and relax on outdoor furniture would be great. Picnic blankets if they want to eat outside are nice, as are large beach towels or blankets. A good quality outdoor setting with an umbrella can extend your living area to the outside. Additionally, pools must be sparkling and free of leaf clutter and debris. Make sure you have a professional cleaner checking the pool and spa system!”  

Marketing your space for festival-goers

Bethany McCamish owner of Bethany Works, a strategic brand and website design agency, states, “As a brand strategist who designs brands in the hospitality industry, including short-term rentals, I’ve seen firsthand how intentional branding can elevate a property from just another place to stay to an unforgettable experience. Here’s what I suggest to prepare your rental property for the summer festival season.

In today’s social media-driven world, having aesthetically pleasing, Instagram-worthy spots in your rental can significantly boost your brand’s recognition. Think about creating a picturesque outdoor seating area or a stylishly decorated corner that screams photo-op. 

If you’ve ever been to a festival yourself, you know that doing anything else in the area really isn’t built into the agenda. Instead, you can offer guests branded experiences within your rental property so they can still feel like they experienced the place and the music. For example, you could partner with a local massage therapist who will come to the home for massages, or even a sound bath to help them rest and recharge between festival activities. 

Ok, so the above two mentioned don’t hold their ground if you don’t have a memorable property name and cohesive brand people can identify (and tag on social). Choose a name that reflects the property’s vibe and the experience you want to offer. Ensure this name and your branding elements are consistently featured across all touchpoints, from your online listings to in-property signage and welcome guides. This makes it easier for guests to want to share what you’ve done and helps build a strong, recognizable brand that stands out in a crowded market.”

Zviad from Bluvista Vacation Rentals, also states that for their preparations they, “focus on online presence and listing optimization. Including high-quality images, with drone aerial shots, virtual tours, and proper descriptions of all the unique aspects and amenities the property offers. 

Additionally, a social media presence with targeted ads, promos, and specials via direct bookings with email campaigns and newsletters can help make your property stand out. 

Preparing for heat

Air conditioning seems like an obvious utility but proper care for indoor air quality is vital. As Sharaya from Palm Beach Shores-based Bay Haven Management states, “Ensuring that the air conditioning system is properly maintained and serviced is important. A reservation may need to be canceled and rebooked due to a malfunctioning air conditioner, leading to lost occupancy and revenue. By staying on top of maintenance and deep cleaning, you’ll encourage bookings driven by positive reviews highlighting your property’s cleanliness.” 

Mike Springer, owner of Book NOLA, also highlights the importance when he said, “Preparing for the summer season means being proactive about everything the summer heat could cause to go wrong for our guests. We ensure our HVAC systems are tuned up so guests can always stay cool.” 

Proper cleaning goes a long way

Getting your vacation rental ready for the summer festival season involves more than just decorations, it starts with deep cleaning. Ensuring your property is spotless creates a space that guests will love coming back to year after year. 

Kris from Samyx, a professional cleaning service company in London suggests, “Start with a comprehensive deep clean of the entire property, focusing on high-traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Pay special attention to details like grout lines, baseboards, and under furniture to ensure the property is immaculate. And don’t forget to clean outdoor spaces. Power wash patios, clean outdoor furniture, and ensure that garden areas are well-maintained. A tidy outdoor area can significantly enhance the guest experience during festivals. 

To help maintain the cleanliness of the property, provide guests with necessary cleaning supplies like disinfectant wipes, multi-surface cleaners, and a vacuum. This not only helps them maintain cleanliness during their stay but also shows your commitment to their comfort and hygiene.” 

Sherri N. Doumbia, owner and property manager for PMI Realty Group, builds on Kris’ advice by stating, “Thoroughly clean and declutter the property before the festival season begins. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. Remove any personal items or clutter to create a welcoming, hotel-like atmosphere for guests. Power wash the driveway and walkways to make them look their best. Mow the lawn, trim hedges, and plant colorful flowers. A well-maintained exterior will attract more guests and create a positive first impression.” 

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