Rental properties are a lucrative business, especially in Hawaii. Tourists from all over the world flock to the tropical islands for vacation, and who can blame them!? When travelers come knocking, you want to be sure that your rental property is ready to attract the big spenders and earn some serious income. Here are five tips for renting your Big Island property.
Use Professional Photos and Videos
If you really want to attract high-end visitors (aka. big spenders), you need to get them interested in the property. Snapping a few pictures with your cell phone isn’t going to cut it. No, even if you use an Instagram filter.
Hire a professional to get incredible pictures of your house that actually do it justice. The goal is to make people want to jump through their phone and computer screens just to get a taste of what it’s like to live there! No matter what you do, use only high-quality photos and videos for your rental website or profile.
High-End Amenities
People don’t travel to a place as beautiful as Hawaii to stay in a motel. From the scenery to the beaches to the rental house, travelers want to be overwhelmed with luxury. First and foremost, your house has to be clean. It’s what anyone expects when they open the door to their rental vacation home.
In addition to being clean, it also helps to include as many high-end amenities as you possibly can:
Stainless Appliances
Granite Counters
Tile Floors
Pool(s)
Smart Home Technology
Extras (wine cellar, home theater, crazy master suite, gourmet kitchen, etc.)
The more luxurious it is, the more your visitors will love it. Then, they’ll post about it on social media and tell all their friends. Before you know it, you’ll be swimming rental applications!
Be Available for Inquiries
What happens if you want to order a pair of shoes online, but customer service won’t pick up the phone? (In this scenario, we’re pretending the “swipe to order” feature on Amazon doesn’t exist, so just bear with me.) Chances are you’d hang up and try another company. Well, the same idea is applicable to your rental property.
If people are constantly asking you questions online but not getting a response, they’re going to find another house to stay in for their Hawaiian vacation. There are plenty of other houses to rent. Be sure to answer calls and respond to texts and emails asking questions about your house. Even if someone doesn’t seem interested right away, follow up with them after a few days. You don’t want to miss a single lead!
Post Your Rental Property Everywhere Online
The more people who see your house, the more people who will be interested in renting it. The internet is a wonderful tool that can be used for so much more than casually stalking your Facebook friends. Post your rental property availability everywhere you can!
Use rental sites like VRBO or Airbnb and post to social media. If you don’t have many followers on social media, ask your friends to share. There are billions of people using the internet every day. Reach out to them!
Make the Rental Process Simple
The easiest way to scare a potential renter away is to make the rental process too difficult. Of course, there’s going to be some difficulty. After all, there are contracts to fill out and deposits to pay. But the less painful you can make the process, the more people will rent out your home.
Use online rental applications to help facilitate the process. That way, renters can fill out applications and make the required payments on their time. Plus, you’ll have documentation at every step of the process. If you’re still using messy filing cabinets, it’s time to join the future!
Looking for a Rental Property to Generate Income?
Rental properties can generate serious cash here on the Big Island. Vacationers from all over the world—and sometimes even the other islands—come here to relax and unwind. If you’re looking for a way to bring in a little extra income, maybe it’s time to purchase a Hawaiian rental investment property.
Ready to take the plunge? Contact me to get started on your search for the perfect rental investment. There are plenty of luxury homes on the market just waiting for buyers. All you need to do is reach out.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.