Furnished Vacation Rental Inventory Checklist For Landlords

If you are new to the world of short-term rentals, you may find yourself wondering what you can do to give your guests the best possible experience. While some things are out of your control, such as the location of your property or host fees, you can shape your guest’s stay and make their vacation memorable by ensuring that you follow a vacation rental inventory checklist.

Keep reading for our checklist of everything that should be at your short-term rental.

Why have a vacation rental inventory checklist?

Perhaps most obviously, an inventory checklist will provide you with a baseline of the amenities and furnishings you need to provide. Especially when preparing a property that has not been previously used as a short-term rental, it can be easy to forget certain essentials. The checklist, therefore, can help you keep track of what you have and what you need.

Another benefit to having a checklist is that it can aid you during your rental property inspection in between guests. If you are operating with a high guest turnover, you may not always have a lot of time to prepare the property for the next guest.

A good checklist will help you manage your vacation rental by helping you keep track of the condition of everything in your property. The last thing you want is for guests to complain that there is no toaster (when there is one showing in the photo online) or that the lamps on the bedside tables are not working.

Following your checklist will allow you to give your guests the best possible stay. This will then lead to great reviews, helping your vacation property to stand out from the competition.

Related: Move-in and move-out inspection template for rental properties

Tips for furnishing your vacation rental

It is worth keeping a few things in mind when furnishing or decorating your short-term rental:

• Consider using items that can be easily replaced. For example, opting for plain white plates, rather than a matching, patterned set. This way, when one breaks, you will not have to replace the whole set.

• Don’t use anything overly sentimental or valuable as it is likely to go through increased wear and tear and may even break or be stolen. It’s better to not be too attached to anything that strangers will be using, day in and day out.
• Try to appeal to as many people as possible. Unless your STR is heavily themed, it’s best to stick to furnishings that will appeal to a broad variety of people. Stay away from items with political or religious sentiment as this can cause offense.

Room by room rental inventory

Each room in your property will be used for different purposes, and so will have different requirements when it comes to inventory.

Kitchen

If your rental is located in a busy downtown area that is surrounded by a plethora of restaurants, cafes and bars, the kitchen may not get much love. Even if your property is not in the city center, the kitchen may only get light use at best, as guests who are visiting may want to explore the new (to them) area through the local food culture.

However, if the vacation rental is in a remote location or somewhere that welcomes big group stays, you may find that guests do use your kitchen. This is where some basic utensils and appliances can go a long way. And thoughtful touches like a juicer with easy clean up and basic ingredients such as oil and seasonings (though entirely optional) will elevate your guests experience.

Bedrooms

It goes without saying that you should provide enough beds per person. Be clear in your listing about pull out beds, sofa beds, bunk beds and other alternative sleeping arrangements so guests know exactly what to expect.

Depending on the location of your property and the current season, you may want to consider  providing blankets and heaters (if it’s cold) or fans and air conditioning (if it’s hot). Bear in mind that everyone has different preferences and comfort levels. The goal is to make as many people happy as possible, within reason.

Bathroom

Everyone knows that you need to provide enough towels per person (the standard is often two towels per guest) but another thing to consider is the color. Some hosts prefer to offer small, dark-colored towels that can be used specifically for removing makeup. This way, you can save your fresh white towels from being streaked with hard-to-remove stains.

Living room

The living room is an area where guests will expect to be able to relax. Make sure you provide enough seating, so there is sufficient room for each guest. Most guests will expect a TV in the living room. Although it doesn’t need to be a smart TV with built-in streaming features like Netflix or Disney+, this can be a great way to add value.

One or two board games or card games can also be a nice addition. They also do not take up much space and are relatively inexpensive.

Dining room

The dining room table should be big enough to eat around with enough seating for each guest. If you are tight for space or renting out a small apartment, a small table or a clutter-free kitchen island may be sufficient.

When furnishing your dining room (and even the rest of your house for that matter) consider placing coasters down to prevent the surfaces of your furniture from getting marked or stained. This can save you time when cleaning and money when it comes to damage.

Related: First-Time Landlord Checklist: 9 Things To Follow For Success

The Vacation Rental Inventory Checklist

Kitchen

• Kettle
• Microwave
• Oven with hob
• Fridge & freezer
• Toaster
• Coffee machine
• Mugs
• Cups/glasses
• Pitcher
• Bowls
• Plates
• Serveware
• Cutlery
• Frying pan
• Sauce pans
• Chopping board
• Knives
• Garbage can
• Paper towels
• Dishwashing soap
• Bottle opener
• Oven tray
• Oven mitts
• Tea towel
• Utensils

Basic ingredients

• Spice rack
• Tea & coffee
• Salt & pepper
• Sugar
• Cooking oil

Bedrooms

• Clothes hangers
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Duvet
• Sheets
• Mattress protector
• Bedside tables
• Lamps
• Wardrobe/drawers

Bathroom

• Soap
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Body wash
• Tissues
• Mirror
• Toilet roll
• Garbage can
• Towels
• Non-slip mat

Living room

• Lighting (lamps)
• Couch
• Coffee table
• TV
• Board games/deck of cards

Dining room

• Dining table
• Chairs (enough per person)
• Table settings
• Coasters

Yard

• Outdoor furniture
• Outdoor tableware
• Pool safety equipment
• Pool net

Safety

• Fire alarm
• First aid kit
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Cleaning products

Other considerations

• Pet water bowl (if you allow pets)
• Safety gates for pets and/or children
• Highchairs for feeding (for children)
• Cots for sleeping (for babies)
• Accessibility aids

Adding value with decor

It goes without saying that you can add further value to your property with tasteful decor. Decor like wall art, throw pillows or indoor plants are a great way to add personality to a space and can be inexpensive too.

Related: 10 Amenities That Will Increase The Value Of Your Property

Final words

As every property, host and guest varies significantly, one size does not fit all. Therefore, when it comes to furnishing your vacation rental, not everything on this list will be applicable or appropriate.

Do not be afraid to add or remove things to the list as you see fit. If you notice that two reviews in a row point out the absence of a pizza cutter, add one! Chances are that if one guest notices something is missing, others will too.

However you decide to furnish your property, our vacation rental inventory checklist is a great starting point that you can easily reference. Finally, be sure to mention all of the amenities in your listing and capture them in your photography to really help your property stand out.

You Might Like

• A Guide To Short Term Rental Management
• How to Run a Successful Vacation Rental Investment
• 5 Real Estate Investing Tax Strategies You Need To Know
• Rental Property Deductions Checklist