2023 saw a record $23 billion of tourism revenue in Alabama.
More and more people are visiting the state, especially the area of Gulf Shores. If you're a property owner in this area, there's an amazing opportunity to make some money on the side in the form of short-term rental income.
Turning your home into a vacation rental might sound simple, but it does come with a few risks. One of the biggest is allowing a complete stranger to take over your property for a few days. Screening guests for vacation rentals will help you lower this risk.
Keep reading this post and we'll help you master the art of vacation rental guest screening with some helpful do's and dont's.
Do: Verify Identities
When you list your home, anyone looking for a vacation home can book it as a rental. If you don't put some guest screening guidelines in place, you could be welcoming a harmful or dangerous person into your home.
Most likely, this will never happen, but one of the most important guest selection tips is to verify each guest's identity before confirming their booking. A basic background check can tell you that someone is who they say they are. Once you know that, you can safely rent your home to them.
Don't: Ignore Reviews
Most rental platforms will have reviews, both for hosts and guests. Hosts need to keep a good average rating so that guests continue to make bookings. When rental guest vetting, however, you too can use the guest's past reviews to determine if they're an acceptable renter.
Most hosts fail to look at these reviews, but they can tell you a lot. If a guest has ever had a poor review, it should give you pause about allowing them into your home.
Do: Communicate Rules to Guests
When a guest makes a booking and you've screened them, you need to then reiterate your house rules to them before they arrive. If they comply with these rules, you'll have another successful booking. If they can't comply with them, then you'll know ahead of time and you can void the booking.
Communicating rules to your guests is one of the essential guest selection tips. It lets them know that you're serious about the rules and ensures you'll be able to protect your property.
Don't: Ignore Gut Feelings
A guest might have a completely clean background check, but if you have a gut feeling about renting to them, you need to follow that. Too many vacation rental owners allow guests who they don't necessarily trust into their homes, only to regret it shortly after. It's never worth the money to allow a poor guest into your home.
Screening Guests for Vacation Rentals and Vacation Rental Management
These tips should help you with screening guests for vacation rentals. If you're struggling to find the right types of guests for your Gulf Shores vacation rental, it might be time to hire a property manager.
PMI Gulf Shores is one of Alabama's top short-term rental managers. We can help you market your home, secure guests, and vet those guests so that you can rest easy knowing your property is safe. Contact us today to learn more about our services and get more Gulf Shores rental tips.
