15 Tips to Get Your Vacation Rental Property Ready for the Summer

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However, before you open the doors and welcome your first summer guests, ensuring your property is in top-notch condition is crucial. Your role in this preparatory work is not just important; it’s a responsibility that can make your rental property the shining star of the summer show.

Here are 15 tips to get your vacation rental property sparkling clean, fully equipped, and ready to wow your guests this summer:

1. Do a Deep Clean and Refresh Blitz

Ensure the space is spotless, from floors to linens, to welcome guests with a fresh, inviting atmosphere.

Power wash decks, patios, and walkways to remove winter grime. Don’t forget the outdoor furniture! A fresh coat of paint or stain can work wonders.

Pay special attention to areas that might collect dust or cobwebs during the off-season. Wash windows to maximize natural light and showcase the beauty of your surroundings, vacuum carpets, and declutter surfaces. Consider hiring a professional cleaner to help make a sparkling first impression to guests.

2. Welcome the Season with a Splash

Add pops of summer colour with blooming flowers in pots or hanging planters. Boost curb appeal with some light landscaping, like planting colourful flowers, trimming overgrown bushes, and ensuring the walkway is clear of debris to prevent trip-and-fall accidents. 

Create a welcoming and relaxing outdoor oasis for your guests by providing comfortable outdoor seating where they can enjoy the sunshine.

3. Enhance the Outdoor Experience

Canadians love spending time outside. Make your patio or deck a haven with comfortable seating, string lights, a fire pit (where permitted), and some hammocks for ultimate relaxation. 

If you have a fireplace, ensure it’s thoroughly cleaned and ready for cozy evenings. To encourage outdoor fun, remember to stock up on yard games like horseshoes, croquet, or frisbee.

4. Refresh Bathroom Amenities

Making a positive impression on your guests means providing world-class customer service by doing little things that make them feel welcome and appreciated. 

One way to do that is by stocking your bathrooms with necessary toiletry items, including bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes, mouthwash, cotton ear swabs, and moisturizing skin lotion.

5. Replace Bedroom Linen and Towels

Bedroom linen, blankets, washcloths, and bath and dish towels wear out rapidly. Take stock of what’s in your digs and replace older or stained linen and towels. Swap out heavy blankets for light, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.

It can’t hurt to provide disposable disinfectant and cosmetic remover wipes in bathrooms to help extend the life of your washcloths and towels.

6. Stock Up on Summer Essentials

Ensure your rental has everything guests need to enjoy the warm weather and stay comfortably.

Provide beach towels, lawn chairs, a portable cooler, bug spray, sunscreen (depending on location), or board games for rainy days.

7. Update Your Airbnb, VRBO, or OTA Listing

Update your listing with clear instructions on arrival, check-in, and check-out procedures. 

Be responsive to inquiries and provide local recommendations. Update your listing with high-quality photos and videos that showcase your rental’s best features during the summer season.

Remember, you compete with thousands of other hosts, with countless new properties being added frequently. Research what other hosts in your region offer and check their pricing to ensure your rates are competitive.

Also, avoid fraudulent bookings on OTAs you list with by:

• Only allowing guests to book with a credit card and CVC or CVV code.
• Using a secure payment processing method to pre-authorize bookings by charging the card. If the card is declined, give the guest a few hours to update their payment details on the OTA site or cancel the reservation.
• Verify who your guests are by email, letting them know their credit card has been charged and advising them there’s a self-check-in process that requires them to provide their contact information.
• Being wary of last-minute bookings. Advise potential guests you reserve the right to decline a booking if your confirmation policies are not followed.

8. Get the Air Conditioner Checked

If there’s one way to get a poor review from a guest, it’s if your rental’s air conditioner goes kaput during their stay. So, get it inspected and serviced by an HVAC technician before the start of the season.

9. Inspect Kitchen Appliances and Plumbing

Preventative maintenance is essential for any property. Go through the kitchen and examine the appliances to ensure they’re clean and working. 

Likewise, look carefully at the cutlery, dishware, glassware, and cooking utensils in your place. Replace them if they look old, scratched up, cracked, or bent out of shape. 

Also, check the plumbing throughout the abode for leaks from faucets to toilets.

10. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Keep safety top-of-mind by installing new batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and test them to ensure they work. 

11. Replace Lightbulbs

Check all the lighting inside and outside your property and replace burnt-out light bulbs.

Swap harsh, cool-toned bulbs for warm white LED bulbs to create a cozy, welcoming ambiance. Ensure every light works, from bedside lamps to porch lights, so guests aren’t left in the dark. 

Keep entryways, hallways, and outdoor spaces well-lit for safety and convenience, especially for late check-ins.

12. Do a Tech Check

Many Canadians rely on technology during their travels. Ensure your Wi-Fi is working correctly and that TVs and entertainment systems are functioning properly for those who need to stay connected. 

Consider offering smart TVs with access to streaming services for entertainment and smart features like thermostats or lighting that guests can conveniently control.

Also, if your property has an electronic door lock your guests use to gain access with a secure code, replace its batteries. You don’t want to get a phone call or email from an angry guest who cannot enter the property because the electronic door lock is out of juice.

13. Highlight Local Amenities

Create a local summer guide for your guests that showcases nearby beaches, hiking trails, farmers’ markets, and other attractions.

Consider offering guests a basket of locally sourced treats. Doing so adds a personal touch and shows guests you care about their experience, helping them plan their itinerary to experience the best of your region.

14. Pest-Proof Your Property

Seal gaps around doors and windows and replace damaged screens to prevent insects from entering. Also, look for creepy crawlies in every nook and cranny. 

If necessary, hire a professional pest control technician to inspect your house or cottage for unwelcome pests.

15. Document the Property’s Contents

Keep a detailed inventory of all the items you have in the place so you’ll know if something goes missing or was accidentally broken by a guest and needs replacing. 

Your rental property item inventory should be included in your broader business contents inventory as part of your commercial property coverage.

Bonus Tips to Grow Your Bookings

• Offer Discount Specials

Offering early booking discounts and promotions for extended stays will attract more guests and boost your summer rental revenue. As autumn approaches, pivot to offering discounts and promotions for guests to keep bookings steady while heading into the cooler months.

• Celebrate Positive Reviews

Positive reviews are gold for any vacation rental owner! Encourage satisfied guests to leave positive reviews on your listing platform to continuously improve your guest experience. Positive feedback builds trust and attracts future bookings.

• Be a Helpful and Resourceful Host

Create a guest information booklet that includes clear instructions on how to use appliances, Wi-Fi passwords, and local emergency contact details.

How to Get Low-Cost Vacation Rental Property Insurance

Sharing your home on Airbnb and VRBO (formerly HomeAway) is a fantastic way to earn extra cash. 

But what happens if a rogue baseball smashes a window or a guest trips and needs medical attention? Regular homeowner’s insurance might not cut it since private residential home insurance is not designed to cover business properties (and a rental property is a business property).

There are many ways for Airbnb and VRBO hosts to be successful, such as paying attention to the details and ensuring they have the custom business insurance policy they need to protect their properties and finances. 

Let’s face it – insurance policies aren’t exactly beach reads, but they’re necessary to get the coverage you need. That’s where Zensurance can help.

A low-cost Airbnb insurance or VRBO insurance from Zensurance protects you from unexpected events and liability issues that may arise while your guests use your property.

Fill out our online application for a free quote.

Our experienced and friendly brokers will take the hassle of getting insured off your hands by shopping our partner network of over 50 insurance providers and customizing it to suit your property.

– Updated April 28, 2025.