HomeAway, a world leader in the vacation rental industry, published a guide to Renting Your Vacation Home. It’s filled with great information including the rental process, setting rental rates, taking reservations, etc. For investors managing their own vacation rentals, keys can be difficult to pass on between guests. In their vacation rental guide, HomeAway highlights four fixes:
Keyless Entry
- Smart locks can be cost-effective in the long run, as codes can easily be changed in between guests. It’s also easy for vacationers, as they don’t have to worry about getting or returning keys. Plus, many smart locks are very affordable. We found three smart locks on Amazon that could be good options for vacation rentals.
Lock Boxes
- One tried-and-true key method for vacation rentals is lock boxes. Lock boxes are highly affordable at $25-$30 and can easily be placed somewhere on the property. This makes for painless key pick up and drop off for guests, but keep in mind you have to change the code in between stays.
Mail Keys
- Though old-fashioned, mailing keys can work well. It is a good remote option for out-of-state investors. However, it relies heavily on the timeliness and effectiveness of the postal service you choose.
Key Pickup Service
- Even if you manage your vacation rentals yourself, certain services, such as key pickups can be outsourced. Look into local property management groups or possibly talk to your housekeeper about this option.
For more vacation rental management tips, see HomeAway’s Renting Your Vacation Home: A Step-by-Step Guide. For more landlord resources, visit our blog.
Related: Financing Challenges for Vacation or Short-Term Rentals (STRs), 10 Best & Worst Vacation Rental Markets of 2018
