As property managers and vacation rental owners, there will be times when you will have to bear witness your tenants’ issues. This is regardless of if you have anything to do with the problem or not. One common scenario would be conflicts among friends who share the holiday home.
Yes, you’ll hear the funniest, the weirdest, and the most frustrating stories about ruined stays at otherwise amazing holiday rentals. You have friends fighting over who gets to use the bathroom first, or who gets to pick the channels on TV. This may sound ridiculous to others, but we’re pretty sure you’ve had your fair share of these. The good news is, there are so many ways for you to have groups of friends enjoy their stay despite small conflicts.
To make sure you don’t get caught in the middle of these fights among friends, you can help your vacation rental tenants have a better vacation by following these steps:
• Make sure every piece of detail is given to them ahead of time.
The moment you find out that your would-be holiday home guests are a group of friends, lay down every single detail right away. Tell them how many bathrooms there are, how many beds, how big the beds are, and every single crucial detail.
Give them hints about how they can share and enjoy the amenities. Of course, you can’t tell them straight up that you’ve had friends fight over someone hogging the bathroom before. You can always tell them that you want them to fully enjoy your holiday rentals, so might as well plan every single detail way ahead of time.
• Know who’s in charge.
You don’t want to get caught up in the middle of a conflict you should not be part of in the first place. When a group of friends inquire about your holiday rentals, ask them straightaway who the point person is. This is to make sure that you maintain a clear line of communication.
Sometimes, you’ll encounter people who want different things. Even friends have different demands sometimes. By having a single person to talk to, you can ensure that what you talk about is the final word.
Of course, you also have to make sure that the person you’re talking to really is in the position to make decisions. You may find yourself in deeper trouble if you end up saying yes to someone who keeps in touch with you about your vacation rental, only to find out that this person isn’t even paying for the place.
• Have clear house rules.
There’s also a possibility that the group of friends taking over your vacation rental has too much fun that they forget to set limits. So make sure you establish the house rules right from the get-go, and inform them about possible penalties should they go beyond what’s allowed.
Things like keeping the noise down and using the equipment the right way should be emphasized. Reiterate these rules before the final deal is closed. Make sure you have ample visible reminders around your holiday home as well. This way, they won’t have any excuse if they get caught doing something they should not be doing.
• Leave a lasting impression.
Though some holiday home owners and managers encounter headaches when dealing with huge groups, those who actually behave can be real gems. Groups have the tendency to set traditions. If they enjoy their stay at your place, there’s a huge chance they’ll think of you every single time they get together for a vacation.
This opens up a huge opportunity to have regular clients. Be friendly, and constantly check if they have everything they need. End their vacation on a high note as well. You can ask them how their vacation went, or leave them a goodbye gift of sorts. Make sure you ask them what they’re looking for before they book your place. As much as possible, try to provide all these. When they realize that you have everything they need, it will be easy enough to convince them to come back soon.
Having groups of friends as tenants has its fair share of problems. However, a successful stay at your vacation rentals will also have them coming back for more. Make sure you give them great reasons to keep coming back. When you find that sweet spot that keeps them satisfied each and every time, you just might find yourself being an integral part in their friendship. And that’s a dream any property manager or owner would love to have come true