Everyone has last minute touches they want to add, whether it is an outfit, a hairdo, an evening meal or a Christmas tree, there is always one more little tweak needed to make things perfect. It is exactly the same with a vacation rental before it goes on the market. It just so happens that ‘one more little tweak’ could be ‘quite a few tweaks’ throughout the property.
We have been living in the Coastal Cabin for a while now and we have dealt with the major issues, besides having done a complete renovation and added a pool. Now we have all the last minute things to touch up and make sure everything is in tip top shape to get 5-star ratings. We are 97% done, but the last 3% is just as critical. There are so many little items that we like to check off our lists. Things like little dings in the paint that need to be touched up, caulking small cracks, adding outlets where needed, and testing to be sure everything is working for our guests when they arrive.
After the pool was finished, I needed to stage the backyard areas, which can sometimes be interesting. It needs to be beautiful, but functional and I like to tie it in with the staging at the front of the house. There are inevitably Costco runs, HomeGoods runs, Hobby Lobby runs and more, depending on what I can find at each place. We provide outdoor furniture and things like plastic wine glasses to safely enjoy a glass of wine by the pool. This process can often take a week of going back and forth, checking off the list while adding new things to the list.
Our final step is usually getting our personal items (clothes, toiletries, etc) either removed or stowed in the owner’s closet. The longer you stay while working on a property, the more of your own items accumulate—that’s just how it goes. We are happy this property is ready to go on the market, but we are a little sad because we have loved our time here. Get a free download of our Finishing Touches Checklist.
Finishing up,
Karen Conrad Metcalfe