The Rise of Pets: How to Create the Pet-Friendliest Vacation Rental
Pet-Friendly Rentals Are On the Rise
It seems that anyone and everyone has a pet these days. In fact, pets now outnumber the amount of humans in the United States, and the rate at which people are acquiring them has only risen since 2020. There’s many reasons why: pets make our lives better, and they’re just fun to have around as a companion. Nowadays, more and more people are even bringing their pets on vacation with them rather than leaving them with a dog sitter or home alone.
As a vacation rental owner, it’s important to stay up-to-date with trends in hospitality, and the rise of pets is one of these. In today’s blog, we’ll explore why it’s a good idea to allow pets in your rental along with a few tips for making your vacation rental experience better for the furry companions who join their humans.
Why You Should Allow Pets in Your Vacation Rental
Our furry companions make our lives better, and it feels wrong to leave them when we’re planning to go out and have a great time on vacation. There are few reasons why you should allow pets in your vacation rental, but one of the main benefits of offering a pet-friendly rental is that you can charge higher rates. Pet owners are willing to pay a premium to have Roofus come along with them, and allowing pets in your rental can have a positive impact on your bottom line.
Pets are also a great boon to your vacation rental business because guests typically have a better time with their furry friends around, leading to better reviews and repeat visits. For those who are worried about damages, a pet deposit or a flat pet fee can help to offset the costs of any damages incurred while still ensuring that pets can tag along to improve the vacation.
Finally, KeyData has reported that occupancy in pet-friendly rental properties is slightly higher than those that do not allow pets. This means not only will a pet-friendly rental stand out from the competition, it’s also likely to be filled for more nights than its non-pet-friendly counterparts.
Tips to Create a Pet-Friendly Short-Term Rental
#1: Take Stock of Your Property
Before deciding whether or not to allow pets on your property, it’s a good idea to take stock of it to figure out whether it’s suitable for pets in the first place.
There are a few considerations to keep in mind, such as if the rental has absorbent carpets that could be ruined by pet messes or if you have a gated yard to prevent pets from getting loose. Some places, especially older builds, places with spiral staircases, and certain apartments, are not suitable for pets and shouldn’t be turned into a pet-friendly rental. Taking stock of this information will help you to discern if your rental should house pets as well as give you an idea of how you can improve the pet-friendliness of your property.
#2: Implement a Pet Fee or Deposit and House Rules Around Pets
Let’s face it: pets are messy and destructive, so they’re going to cause damages at some point. However, there are ways to ensure that those damages do not affect your bottom line, such as instituting a pet fee or deposit and creating basic ground rules for guests who bring their pets. Pet fees and deposits are often implemented by landlords and those managing long-term housing, but they can be beneficial to short-term rental owners as well. Take a look at what people in your area are charging for pet fees, then take into consideration your home and its amenities before settling on your fee.
As far as house rules go, setting down some basic restrictions will help you to avoid egregious damages. Think about breed and size restrictions as well when creating your house rules–if your property is quite small, for instance, you can limit your pet policy to breeds that are under 50 pounds. Some breeds are also more dangerous than others, and it’s never a bad idea to ban those types of breeds outright from staying at your property to avoid any issues with bites or attacks.
#3: Keep Pets in Mind When Renovating or Purchasing New Furnishings
Because pets tend to cause stains and other damages, one thing to keep in mind when allowing pets in your rental is the wear and tear that they can cause. If you are allowing pets in your rental, then you need to take steps to prevent unnecessary wear and tear from becoming a problem later down the road.
That’s why we recommend keeping pets in mind when renovating your property or purchasing new furnishings. Lean towards flooring that is stain-resistant and non-absorbent, and the same goes for any new furnishings. Even if you have to spend a little bit extra, you’ll be able to prevent wear and tear from pets for years to come.
Discover More STR Owner Tips at the LocalVR Blog
Allowing pets in your short-term rental is a controversial move, but more and more Airbnbs these days are moving towards allowing pets, and it might be time for you to hop on board as well. There are many advantages to becoming a pet-friendly rental, such as being able to charge a higher daily rate and making your guests more satisfied as well.
Hoping to find more ways to become a successful vacation rental owner? Check out the LocalVR blog for more homeowner tips, like our guide to direct booking or our recommendations for automating your vacation rental.