Vacation rental season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, your place isn’t ready for visitors just yet. Instead, you’ve somehow accumulated a ton of clutter at your property. Whether it’s your belongings or items left behind by previous guests, it’s time to cut the clutter. Here’s how to do it.
1. Re-Organize the Kitchen
Even if everything on your kitchen countertops serves a practical purpose, leaving it out creates visual clutter. So, shuffle things around so that you can fit as much as possible into the cabinets. Now’s a good time to examine all of the in-house cooking materials you provide, such as oils, spices, jam, butter and more. Remove anything that’s expired to clear up space.
After that, place only the most essential kitchen appliances on the countertop. Think about what your guests are most likely to use. You probably want to keep out the coffee machine and toaster instead of, say, the stand-up mixer. Donate the appliances you no longer need to free up space, as well.
2. Ditch Any Paperwork
You might get mail delivered to your rental property — utility bills and local restaurant pamphlets, for instance. If your guests have piled up those envelopes, then take time to go through them. Recycle anything that isn’t important.
After that, go online to your utility service provider’s website. See if you can opt for paperless billing to keep your vacation rental clutter-free. Otherwise, add a recycling bin to your kitchen so that guests can get rid of any other paper products they don’t need.
3. Choose Furniture That Fits
Sometimes clutter is a visual problem. Stuffing your vacation rental with too much furniture or oversized pieces can make it look too busy and overwhelming.
Instead, consider how you want each room to look and function. For instance, a large living room in a big rental home could do with a sizeable sectional sofa. That way, every guest has somewhere to sit. In a smaller sitting room, though, you’d have to scale down your seating. Otherwise, the whole space would appear cramped.
On that note, you might have the right-sized pieces, but maybe you put too much furniture in one room. Remove the least-functional items from the space so that it appears more open and less cluttered.
4. Empty the Owner’s Closet
If you stay at your rental for a few weeks every year, then you’ve probably cordoned off at least one storage area as your own. Over time, though, your personal storage section has gotten a bit out of control. Maybe you hate opening the door for fear of its contents spilling out.
We suggest taking everything out of the closet and categorizing it. What do you actually use? Everything else should either go to charity or to the recycling center. Then, put your “keep” items back into the storage area and remember where you placed them. If everything has a designated spot, it’s easier to ward off clutter in the future.
5. Un-Decorate
Finally, you have to remember that your vacation rental isn’t your permanent home. It’s an investment, and one you should tailor to the tastes of your guests.
So don’t over-personalize your vacation property. Remove knickknacks that create visual clutter. Take down any family photos you’ve hung up over the years. Keep things neutral so everyone feels at home at your rental abode.
De-Clutter and Move Forward
A quick de-cluttering session gives you and your rental property a fresh start to the season. Tackle the above five steps and add any tasks that’ll further freshen up your abode. With that done, you’ll have a clean house ready for guests — just in time for the busy summer season.
