When asked about your brand (a totally normal question that is asked regularly, I’m sure), what comes to your mind first? For me it’s all about curating a sanctuary, modern design, holistic tendencies, and unparalleled customer experiences. It’s stuff like that that will continue gravitating your people to your brand. There are tons of articles out there about branding and finding your ideal customer, but let’s dive into how the design of an interior can effect how your brand is perceived.
Form Follows Function
Customer Service
There is so much more to customer service than the actual human interaction you can have with a client. It’s also about the systems and processes that you implement throughout the course of their stay. Some topics that will come to mind are things like a welcome packet or book, the drawer you choose for utensils vs the spice drawer, or the information that has been delivered to them before they even arrived on-site.
Cleanliness
The number one thing I look for in reviews, and why I may opt for a hotel instead of a vacation rental. Once in my teen years, my family went up north to a small cottage in the woods. Within the listing, the cottage we rented looked updated, clean, modern, with enough space for the four of us. Upon arrival, it was a different cottage we had rented, on a campground essentially with at least a dozen privately owned cabins that were being rented out through a single website. Needless to say… none of the units looked similar. The unit we were in was old, unkempt, had tons of fruit flies everywhere, and one night I got into bed and had a huge spider crawling in my sheets!! It was the craziest experience we’ve ever had up until that point, and comes to mind every time I’m searching through listings for upcoming vacations. Don’t let your rental be this nightmare cottage!
The Design
Your online presence is important. The vibe between your instagram profile, your STR’s listing, and the actual space should match. This marries what someones expectations are upon arrival. When you have a well rounded brand, guests will learn to trust you and your listing before they even book it.
Don’t skimp on the design! Higher quality furniture can = higher quality bookings. You want furniture that doesn’t need replacing on an annual basis, especially when you will be going through things like linens, towels, and possibly broken dish-ware as well.
You also want to make sure the space is fully furnished, not just the minimum. People will pay a higher premium, just to have those amenities, and we want to be sure it’s a comfortable space to live in. Not only is having a high quality and comfortable sofa important, but people will notice if you skipped out on a coffee table or end tables to make up for it. Furnishing your space is the minimum requirement, but including things like end tables that may not seem like a necessity, are essential ways to increase the quality of life at your rental.
Become Recognizable
Once you marry the virtual world with real world, you’ll become a recognizable brand. A vacation spot with glowing reviews, a large online following, and a plethora of repeat visitors and word of mouth referrals. With all of this in mind, you’ll be well on your way to building a short-term rental empire, eventually with multiple listings and a team helping you become the top host in your area. Doesn’t that sound exciting?
All of this is a huge undertaking – and I’d love to help. Fill our our form to book your free consultation today!