Do you plan on allowing pets on your rental property? Follow these tips for pet safety and cleanliness.
Allowing pets in your rental property can mean higher occupancy rates and happier guests, which is always a win. Unfortunately, it can also mean more wear and tear on the property. If you’re going to allow pets in your rental property, these tips can help protect your residence while providing you with an excellent, pet-friendly reputation among renters.
Check Your Insurance
As a rental host, you likely carry significant insurance to help protect your property from damage. Check your policy to make sure it covers pets and pet damage before allowing pets in your rental property.
Evaluate Your Property for Potential Hazards
Take a walk through the property and evaluate it from the perspective of a pet owner. Are there any potential hazards that could pose a risk for visiting animals? Is there anything you need to change about the property to prepare it for furry visitors? Don’t forget to check any plants you keep on the property to ensure that they aren’t poisonous to cats or dogs.
Charge Pet Fees
Pet owners expect to pay a nominal fee to bring their furry family members with them on vacation. Those pet fees can help offset the cost of any minor damage the pet might cause to the property. You may also charge a refundable damage deposit. If a pet causes serious damage, you can use those funds to repair your property.
Schedule Cleanings Early
If you’ve had a pet owner staying in the property, make sure to clean that property as soon as possible after their departure. Most pet owners won’t deliberately leave messes behind, but you don’t want to discover three or four days after a visitor’s departure that their pet left a mess. Scheduling cleanings early will also give you the chance to assess the property for any new damage.
Keep Cleaners On Hand
Most guests won’t want to spend their vacations cleaning, but they do need to be able to clean up after their pets if they make a mess. Keep pet-mess cleaners on hand so that guests can easily clean up any accidents. You may also want to clarify to guests that they must clean up after their pets during their stay.
Post Your Pet-Friendly Policy
Not only will clearly establishing your rental as a pet-friendly location make it easier for pet owners to find you, but it will also ensure that any guests with allergies already know that you are allowing pets in your rental property. This may redirect guests with severe animal allergies to another property.
Offer Advice and Goodies for Pets, Too
Do you have a local guidebook for your guests covering some of the activities they may want to enjoy while staying there? Include nearby pet-friendly locations like hiking trails and dog parks. Consider including a few pet treats in your goody basket for new guests.
Allowing pets in your rental property makes your home a great accommodation for many visitors. To help protect your property and your guests, consider these tips as you create a pet-friendly environment.
List Your Ocean City Vacation Rental at VacationAtMyPlace.com
Vacation At My Place is a vacation rental site serving the beaches of Ocean City, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, and Lewes. Property owners can list their beach properties for free, while guests pay an industry-low 3% booking fee with an instant price comparison to national booking sites. We help people find the best vacation rental with one to five bedrooms, oceanfront or waterfront views, and access to swimming pools and other amenities.
For more information, email us at info@VacationAtMyPlace.com, call us at 877-287-VAMP (8267) or visit VacationAtMyPlace.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.