4 Reasons You Need an Owner’s Closet in Your Vacation Rental
The Lowdown On Owner's Closets
If you’re new to the vacation rental industry, you might not be familiar with all of the standard practices and procedures that most other short-term rental owners have already had years to learn. One of these practices is having a spot called the “owner’s closet” in your rental: a locked closet, room, or even garage where you store all of the items that you need in the home, but don’t want guests to have unfettered access to. Oftentimes, these closets are also utilized by the cleaning crews as a secure place to store their necessities, and can also be termed “cleaner’s closets” for that reason as well.
But is it always necessary to have an owner’s closet in your short-term rental? We certainly think so. In this blog, we’ll explore 4 important reasons why you should think about turning one of your closets into a safe and secure place to store items in your vacation rental.
#1: Owner’s Closets Help Maintain Household Security
Owner’s closets are not just a place to store your personal belongings between owner stays–they also have utility when it comes to maintaining household security. If your vacation rental is equipped with a WiFi router, for instance, you may not want guests to be able to sabotage or just unplug your internet connection, so storing something like that in your owner’s closet will keep it more secure and out of guest hands.
Similarly, for many rentals the internet connection is necessary in order to power security cameras, such as a doorbell camera near the front door. Giving guests unfettered access to electronics like the WiFi router could lead to them cutting the internet connection in a bid to stop the cameras from seeing something off, like a party occurring. Not only does storing secure items in the owner’s closet prevent guests from messing with them, but it also helps to maintain the safety and security of the property as a whole.
#2: Secure Storage For Your Belongings Needed During Owner Stays
When you’re gearing up for owner stays at your vacation rental property, packing can be a big pain. If you’re planning on enjoying recreational activities like riding a bike or hitting the ski slopes, for instance, it can be a huge hassle to travel with these items at-hand, especially if you’re dealing with airport security.
This is where your owner’s closet comes in handy–rather than bringing (or having to rent) all of the equipment you will need during your stay, just store whatever you need in the owner’s closet for use when you’re staying at the rental property. This can include everything from recreation equipment like bikes and skis to other necessities like extra bedding, clothing, and toiletries. If you’ll need it during your stay, it can be stored securely in your owner’s closet, far from the hands of guests.
#3: Can Lead to a Smoother Cleaning and Turnover
In addition to storing secure items and owner belongings, the owner’s closet has another more important utility: storage for cleaning supplies, extra linens, and any backup items that your cleaners may need.
While many cleaning crews do bring their own supplies to every job, storing items like this in your owner’s closet can lead to faster, more efficient turnovers. Plus, having these items available for cleaners means that your home will be cleaned with the products that you approve of.
If you’re picky about how cleaning crews take care of the home, you can also include a short cleaning guide in your owner’s closet that will educate the cleaners on exactly how things should be done. Be sure to include where each product should be used and what areas of the home typically need the most attention.
#4: In An Emergency, Guests Will Have Extra Supplies
While we don’t recommend allowing guests access to your owner’s closet as a regular occurrence, there are some situations where the closet can come in handy for guests. During an emergency situation, like extreme weather or a flood, guests may need access to things like extra towels and emergency supplies like flashlights or storm lamps. Accidents do happen on a regular basis as well, and your owner’s closet can be helpful in those situations. For example, if a guest spills something on the bed, giving them access to additional sheets and linens in your owner’s closet might be a good idea so that the rest of their stay is pleasant.
It’s not a good idea to leave your owner’s closet unlocked and unsecured at all times, but it can be useful when things go wrong during a guest stay. In turn, this can change an unhappy guest situation into an opportunity–when you have the means to fix guest problems, they’ll be much happier to leave you a positive review after their stay is completed.
More Tips for Short-Term Rental Owners
Becoming a short-term rental owner can often feel like stepping into a completely new world, full of lingo you’re unfamiliar with and practices you’ve never heard of before. Creating your own owner’s closet might not be the most glamorous part of the job, but it sure can come in useful when you’re trying to keep your property secure, store your own personal belongings, speed up turnovers, and help guests out when they need it.
Want to learn more about how to improve your vacation rental business? Take a look at our guide to preventing parties in your short-term rental or check out our blog on turning your vacation rental into a pet-friendly paradise.