Some landlords don't realize how much more work it takes to screen guests than tenants. Since vacation rentals are for short-term stays, guest screening must be conducted more frequently and differently.
We’re here to guide you through the process. That way, you can ensure your potential guests will follow your rules and take care of your investment property from the beginning of their stay to the end.
Key Guest Screening Factors for Vacation Rental Management
Requiring Verified Identification
Asking for guest IDs is the first thing on the checklist. Knowing who is staying in your vacation rental property is crucial for a plethora of reasons such as emergencies and issues. Make sure to ask for valid IDs like:
- Passport
- Driver's License
- Military ID
- Birth Certificate
You can use a third-party service to verify their identification, or you can research on your own. Either way, verification is a must.
Criminal Background Check
Since a short-term rental's guest screening process is less thorough than a tenant screening process, bad guests might take advantage of it. A criminal background check is a must for intelligent guest screening, and it saves you from potentially bigger problems down the road.
Behavioral Analysis
One of the perks of having access to social media platforms is that you can review the guests' online behavior, which tells you what to expect from them and whether you should book your vacation property.
You can also look at other sites where hosts rate the guests who stayed at their vacation rental. You can do this first in the guest screening process so you can skip the rest if you find that the other hosts had bad experiences.
Cross-Check Records from Your Properties
If the guest already booked your vacation rental in the past, you might not need to go through the entire guest screening process again, except if they have new guests with them. You can check if they have glowing reviews from the past stay and if not, it's best to avoid booking them again.
Assess the Risk Level
Based on all the guest's data you collected such as background checks and reviews from other property owners, you can assess whether it's worth ignoring minor red flags from the guest and allow them in your vacation home.
Why Guest Screening is Important for Property Managers
Guest screening is a significant part of vacation rental management as it helps property managers make an informed decision, especially if the properties are located in vacation destinations, where the kinds of guests are more unpredictable.
To Protect Your Vacation Rental Property
There are a lot of objects a guest can damage in a fully furnished vacation rental, and repairs and maintenance brought by negligence or reckless behavior could cost you a lot, especially without homeowners or landlords insurance.
Since it's a short-term rental, guests might not be as careful. Luckily, you can hire property management companies like Austin Property Management to delegate the work. We can handle all maintenance requests to keep your vacation rental in optimal condition.
You'll Have Their Contact Information
Once you acquire identification and contact information, you'll be able to contact them even after they check out. This might become necessary when you notice damages in your vacation rental late, and you need to charge them for the necessary repair service.
Positive Guest Experience
Part of vacation rental management is making sure all your guests are having a good stay. If you're managing a vacation home with one unit, you might not have to worry about other guests, but that's not always the case. Even just one guest can ruin the experience for everyone else.
Maintaining a Good Reputation
Even with the best property management services, bad reviews can deter guests from making reservations. When bookings drop, so does the revenue for your vacation rental business. A guest will always consider whether the listing offers safety and security, not just a fun time.
Preventing "Party" Bookings
A group of unrelated guests might be renting for the sake of having a place to stay during a trip, or they could be looking for listings where they can celebrate, and parties can potentially cause structural damage.
Even if they manage to keep the place intact, you might have to address other issues like excessive noise. It can disrupt another guest's or even your personal stays, and a positive experience and safety are your top priority as a property owner.
Guest Red Flags to Look Out For
Unverified Guest Accounts
If you're using a specific platform or a property management company's in-house website for your listings, one of the benefits you have access to is a built-in system that can verify customer information. It helps owners avoid potentially disastrous stays and protect their business.
No Previous Booking
A guest with no single record of booking a listing should have property owners wary. Although they might just be new to rentals, the responsible property management move is to thoroughly screen them before making the reservation.
Booking a Stay on the Same Date
It's suspicious for a potential guest's reservation to be placed on the same day as their stay, especially if it's a last-minute one-night booking. Vacations usually take at least a week of planning before they happen since travelers want to ensure they have a place to stay and even pay ahead of time.
A last-minute booking for a short-term rental can also mean they would cancel just as quickly. Your business will lose money over the cancellation when you could've hosted another guest. This can be a huge loss for vacation homeowners who only rent out one unit.
Refusing to Answer Key Questions
An owner has the right to ask certain questions to make sure their guests will treat their properties with respect and follow the rules. When a guest refuses to answer or omits information, this might be a sign that they plan on breaking your rules.
How Property Management Companies Can Help You
Vacation rental properties are harder to manage than residential rentals in some aspects. You can always hire companies like Austin Property Management to get the help you need. We offer services that can lighten your workload such as:
- Marketing: We can boost your visibility through our marketing services on multiple platforms.
- Property Maintenance: We can take care of maintenance requests and address repairs as part of our service
- Rent Collection: We can collect your rental payments and get them to you on time
- Accounting: You will get monthly reports to get a more comprehensive look into your business' profitability and success.
We can offer insights about the current real estate market and you can use our free Rent vs Sell Calculator to determine the best option for your properties. Set up a consultation now to discover how we can be of service.
