Vacation Rental Amenities Checklist
One of the questions that we get asked over and over: What amenities should I offer guests to get them to rent my property? The answer may depend on your region and your property, but there are certain amenities that are must-haves for pretty much all vacation rentals. To make your property stand out against the competition, consider adding a few above-and-beyond extras as well. Living Area
Must-Haves
□ Comfortable seating for at least the number of people you sleep
□ A TV large enough for guests to watch from across the room (27” or larger)
□ Basic cable
□ Reading lamps
□ A DVD player, or at the very least a VCR (If you only provide a VCR, it's probably a good
idea to also have a stock of videos, since they may no longer be readily available at the
local video store.)
Extras
□ A big-screen HDTV - Can be a deal-maker for sports fans
□ A DVD library with flicks for the kids
□ Satellite, premium cable or movie channels
□ Recliner or comfortable reading chair and ottoman
□ A fireplace (If your home doesn't have a fireplace built-in, consider adding a freestanding
electric fireplace.)
□ A stereo with a CD player or an iPod docking station
□ A CD library
□ Game systems like Xbox, PlayStation or Wii with games.
Kitchen/Dining Room
Must-Haves
□ Microwave
□ Teapot
□ Coffee pot with filters and a starter pack of coffee, creamer, and sugar
□ Basic pantry items like sugar, salt and pepper
□ Cleaning supplies, including liquid hand soap, dishwashing liquid, carpet cleaner,
all-purpose cleaners, bleach/disinfectant
□ Adequate cooking gear
□ Enough plates, glasses, and flatware for double the number of people that you sleep - who
wants to be constantly doing the dishes while on vacation?
□ A dining room table that will seat the number that you sleep
□ A fold-up table and chairs readily available for the kids, if you sleep large numbers
Extras
□ A deluxe coffee pot with grinder or espresso machine
□ Granite countertops
□ Stainless steel appliances
□ Specialty gadgets like a juicer, waffle maker, soft-serve ice cream maker or margarita
machine
□ Other small appliances like a mixer, slow cooker, or griddle
□ Fresh fruit, pastries or a bottle of wine or champagne
Bedrooms
Must-Haves
□ At least a queen-sized bed in the master bedroom
□ Two sets of high-quality sheets for each bed
□ Pillows with pillow protectors.
□ Extra blankets
□ Mattress pads
□ Full-length mirror
□ Alarm clock
□ Reading lamp on a bedside table in each bedroom
Extras
□ King-sized beds
□ High-quality or Egyptian cotton sheets
□ Down comforters
□ Feather pillows
□ Television
Bathrooms
Must-Haves
□ Two quality bath towels per guest
□ Two hand towels per guest
□ Four washcloths per guest
□ Hair dryer
□ Hand soap
□ At least one roll of toilet paper
□ Tissues
Extras
□ Shampoo and conditioner
□ Body wash and lotions
□ Unique shower/showerheads
□ Jacuzzi/whirlpool tub in the master bathroom
□ Steam shower or sauna
□ Bathrobes
□ Towel warmer
Balcony/Backyard
Must-Haves
□ Outdoor seating
□ Lighting
□ Ash trays (even if your home is non-smoking)
Extras
□ An area for lounging and dining
□ Barbeque grill
□ Hot tub
□ Swimming pool (heated is a bonus)
□ Outdoor fireplace or chiminea
□ Children's play area
□ Basketball hoop, volleyball net, croquet set or horse shoes
Other Amenities
Must-Haves
□ Vacuum
□ High-speed Internet (This used to be an extra, but now it's a dealbreaker for many travelers.)
□ Iron and full-size ironing board
□ Landline telephone, even if you only keep it around for dialing 911
□ Local phonebook
□ A first aid kit
□ Liners in trash cans
Extras
□ Washer and dryer.
□ Air conditioning - If you own in a location where air conditioning is not a standard home
feature, providing A/C could be a draw for those who are used to having it.
□ Baby gear like a portable crib and a high chair
□ Game room with a pool table, foosball table, ping pong table and/or dartboard
□ Exercise equipment like a stationary bike or treadmill
□ Office equipment like a computer, fax machine and printer
□ Free long-distance phone service
□ Ice chest/cooler
□ Sports equipment like tennis rackets, footballs, or golf clubs
□ Region-specific gear like beach towels, a ski locker, canoes, kayaks, or bikes
Download a free, printable version of the Amenities Checklist that you can save and edit yourself.
© Copyright HomeAway, Inc. 2007 Updated: November 2, 2009