At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, vacation rentals in Mexico and around the world suffered immensely as lockdowns kept tourists from traveling. While some properties quickly became safe havens for essential workers and volunteers, others remained vacant for weeks or even months at a time. Although it seemed like there was no end in sight, COVID-19 vaccines were developed, and the number of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths slowly declined.
In response to the “light at the end of the tunnel,” countries worldwide began loosening travel restrictions. For real estate investors with properties in popular destinations like Mexico, these changes couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
As summer marks one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, tourists are flocking to find great deals on rental properties for their getaway. Ultimately, if they’re going to capitalize on this, property owners must focus on making necessary improvements to accommodate guests. Below are a few suggestions on how to get your Mexican vacation rental ready for the post-pandemic rush.
Inspect The Property
Whether your rental became a hub for essential workers or vacant for the past few months, the first thing you want to do is conduct an inspection. You must lay eyes on the property to assess its current condition. Check every inch of the rental’s interior and exterior to ensure everything is safe, properly functioning, and in its place. If you can’t do this yourself, there’s always the option to hire a local home inspector or property manager to take care of the task.
Maintenance And Repairs
After you’ve inspected the property, you should have a list of things that need to be done to prepare the unit for guests. Whether it’s something as simple as replacing the air filters in the AC unit or, more significant, like repairing a leaky roof, you should hire a contractor to take care of the job. You can use sources like HomeAdvisor reviews to narrow down your options for service providers in the area.
Aesthetics And Decor
Once you know that the meat and bones of your vacation rental are intact, you can move on to aesthetics and decor. When you place advertisements online, you want the ambiance and design to draw in travelers. Not to mention, hosting guests in a well-designed space is vital to the overall customer experience.
No matter what your budget is, you have multiple options to spruce up your rental’s appearance. You can apply a fresh coat of paint, hang artwork, buy new furniture, replace the window treatments, and purchase accessories like area rugs, throw pillows, and candles. As for curb appeal, cleaning up the lawn, cutting the grass, trimming trees, and placing colorful planters are ideal.
Amenities
Tourists have specific expectations when it comes to vacation rentals. More than just a bed, dresser, and bathroom, they’re looking for a “home away from home”. The rental needs to encompass features and amenities that make their experience a positive one.
Go through each room in the vacation rental to see what’s needed. For instance, you may need clean towels and washcloths in the bathroom, a pot, and pan set for the kitchen, or lawn chairs for the patio. If you have a pool, be sure to have it cleaned and refilled before your first guests are due to arrive. You should also ensure that the internet and television services are running efficiently.
At the start of the global health crisis, many real estate investors struggled to survive financially. Without tourists visiting Mexico, their monthly income decreased by hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Though the journey was challenging, many managed to weather the storm. Now that the pandemic’s threat is subsiding in many regions, everyone is anxious to travel. As Mexico is one of the most popular travel destinations, investors can recoup some of their losses by preparing their properties to accommodate the rush.
