It’s so important to know what makes your guests’ experience in your home a great one so that they write rave guest reviews and return year after year. But it’s also important to be aware of some of the most common complaints from vacationers so that you can avoid unpleasant experiences.
In our recent efforts to identify who today’s vacationer is and what they want, we also asked them in a survey (2,069 responders in September 2022) about what they DON’T like – what annoys or disappoints them during their experience in renting a vacation home.
Common phrases mentioned in Vacationer Pet Peeves
Here are the top pet peeves from vacationers:
Cleanliness
The topic that stood out the most, not surprisingly, is “cleanliness.” Nothing can negatively impact the excitement of arrival and start of a vacation faster than arriving at a rental that has not been properly cleaned. More than 40% of responses mentioned cleanliness.
Owners can help mitigate this by texting guests when cleaners have completed and rental is ready or have the cleaners leave a note or business card. These are simple signals that show care has been taken to prepare the rental for their arrival.
Rental property condition
We traveled over 1000 miles to get to Cape Cod and found it disappointing that we had to pay additional money for sheets and towels and then immediately had to go to the grocery store just to get toilet paper.
In addition to cleanliness, vacationers pointed out some other common conditions:
- Lack of paper products, soap, and basics like salt and pepper, tin foil, cleaning supplies/broom, and kitchen supplies [Read more]
- Mildew/mold (Read more about battling dampness and mold)
- Dirty grill
- Bugs [Read more]
Lack of transparent, accurate advertising
I would make sure that amenities and details match from section to section. I’ve seen listings that say pet friendly, but in the description it will say otherwise, or vice versa.
- Photos/descriptions aren’t accurate or up to date (View our post about the importance of good pictures)
- Inadequate info/photos of bathrooms
- Misrepresented proximity to beach
Rental management
The homeowner this year was flaky and inconsistent with communication.
- Poor inquiry response time Read more
- Lack of or poor communication (Read more about pre-arrival communication with your guests)
- Hovering homeowners who drop in too often
- Unannounced landscapers or construction workers
- Lack of instructions for things like Wi-Fi, TV, washer & dryer, check-in/out requirements and times (Read more about check-out requirements for your guests)
Others
- Poor quality mattresses & furniture (old and worn, uncomfortable, broken)
- Too much owner clutter (Read more about the problem with clutter)
- Inadequate furniture: e.g., number of people home sleeps should match number dining table seats
- Not enough trash containers
- Air fresheners and scented products (many people have fragrance allergies)
- Not being informed of security cameras prior to arrival
So, while you’re working hard to come up with added amenities or gifts to give your guests a great experience in your home, make sure you’re not overlooking any of these common pet peeves from vacationers.
For what owners charge ~ you would think they would update their homes
Homes I have rented haha pictures posted online wasn’t the furniture in home / bedroom had a fake window (beach picture) shower was a stall (try shaving your legs) / living room sofa nasty tweed 80’s fabric / refrigerator was ducked taped together / torn curtains / rusty washer/dryer / worn rugs / plastic outdoor furniture
Owners don’t reply back when you text or call them
Thank you, Carol, for your feedback. Unfortunately, as the demand for short-term rentals sky-rocketed during the pandemic, some homeowners were able to get away with raising their rates without providing an improved property. Demand is still considerably stronger than prior to the pandemic but has definitely decreased. And there is increased inventory of rental homes on the market, creating more competition among homeowners to fill their homes. So, if homeowners want to fill their homes – and get great guest reviews and repeat guests – they would be smart to make improvements or lower their rates, or both. And it goes without saying that prompt replies to every inquiry are a MUST. This is an issue our site has worked hard to improve, now enabling vacationers to sort by Listing Quality, which includes Inquiry Response Times and Rates.
Very good article about what annoys renters. As a home owner I think a lot about these things. Even though we are hitting the major concerns without being prompted, I look for issues that we can improve on. For 2023 this is what I am adding: (1) a note to say where the attic fan is – to distinguish it from the lighting switches; (2) a note indicating where the main light switch is in the master bathroom; (3) a note on recycling – what they take and do not take (I have recycle notes in the welcome note I send but they forget). (4) a notice for thé lodging tax (we consistently pay it – but I never put up the owner Id info that you get when you register) I have had two renters ask me if we pay the tax – I sent them both our digital id so they could check it out on their own – mass gov sends owners a sheet to post – will laminate and put up). And will continue to text rénters a hello (a few days out or the Monday before their arrival) with key location info and wireless code and the fact that it is self check in – all of which is noted in both the contract and the digital welcome note – but they forget. I started sending this text in 2022 – and it gets me a twofer – it means they have my cell number handy – and I can avoid getting a last minute call when I might be working.
You might wonder why I don’t already have these notes (about switches etc) in the house – it is because I have wanted to avoid having the house filled with « notes to renters »; and wanted it to feel more like a house that is an extension of their own property. But have had too many texts sent to me on these issues in 2022, so am making an adjustment.