Preparing A Vacation Rental
- Repairs and Maintenance:
- Ensure any damage is promptly repaired.
- All ripped screens (on windows, doors, sliders, etc.) must be fixed before the first renter’s arrival.
- Test the coffee pot to ensure it’s working properly.
- Replace any burnt-out light bulbs.
- Change smoke detector batteries, even if they aren’t dead yet.
- Ensure all bathrooms have fresh shower curtain liners.
- Check switch plates and outlet covers to make sure they’re not broken, missing, or falling off.
- Remove any academic leases or house rules pinned near the front door to eliminate signs of student rentals.
- Grill and Outdoor Areas:
- Provide two full gas tanks for the grill.
- Clean the grill and all grill tools.
- Ensure the yard is kept tidy and that trash is picked up regularly.
- If your home is a large 3-bedroom or 4+ bedrooms, arrange for trash pick-up twice a week.
- Trash and Recycling:
- Provide one 64-gallon trash bin for every two bedrooms.
- Provide one 46-64 gallon recycling bin for every two bedrooms.
- For example, a four-bedroom house should have two trash bins and two recycling bins (you can never have too many bins).
- Line trash and recycling bins neatly in a designated area. Consider building a trash corral for better organization.
- Contact Narragansett Rubbish at 401.783.3177 to arrange trash pick-up (this doesn’t apply to Bonnet Shores homes).
- Ensure your property has yard pick-up as well.
- Cable and WiFi:
- Confirm that all TVs have expanded basic cable (six channels are not sufficient for renters).
- Tape WiFi information to both the router and refrigerator. Avoid leaving a loose piece of paper with the password, as it may go missing.
- We no longer provide welcome books for each home. Instead, a general pamphlet is given to renters at check-in or left in homes with keyless entry.
- It is highly recommended to create your own “House Rules/Guidelines” specific to your home. Ensure these guidelines include the WiFi password and other relevant details not covered in the general pamphlet. Frame and hang it near the front door.
- Additional Recommendations:
- Make sure to provide an overall welcoming experience by preparing the property thoroughly and addressing these points before each rental.
