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How To Ensure Your Rentals Are As COVID-Secure As Possible

Even with lockdown restrictions being somewhat eased in recent weeks (depending on location), we’re not out of the woods with Coronavirus. 

With this in mind, when it comes to opening up your doors at your rental properties, it’s important to make sure the premises are as COVID-secure as possible. So, how can you do just that?

By following the advice we’ve listed below, you’ll not only give your rentals the best possible protection against Coronavirus, but you’ll also ensure your guests remain safe throughout their stays as well.

Offer A Considerate Cancellation Policy

It’s not just the physical threat of the virus you need to worry about when welcoming guests – there’s your turnover to think about too. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen at any time. So, it makes sense to protect your assets as best you can.

From ensuring the guest experience is as positive as possible to attracting guests to stay with you in the first place, safeguarding yourself against the potential loss of turnover is vital, and that starts with the cancellation policy you offer.

Amidst all the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, allowing your guests to cancel their reservation any time, at no cost to them will increase the likelihood of them keeping their reservation and booking with you not only now, but in the future as well.

Follow in the footsteps of Beside The Sea Holiday Cottages, for instance. This Sussex-based short-term rental provider has adapted its website to enable its guests to book risk-free and cancel any time between 2 – 60 days before their arrival for a full refund. This, in turn, puts guests’ minds at ease when it comes to making a reservation. 

Improve Your Hygiene Level…Even More

Although you should always have high cleanliness standards in your rentals, as a result of Coronavirus, those standards now need to be raised even higher.

From the bathrooms to the guest rooms to the common areas, keeping the entire space clean, sanitized and safe is imperative to minimising the virus’ spread and thus, keeping your guests safe.

In order to do this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using disposable materials like paper towels rather than microfiber cloths or absorbent rags. You should also have hand sanitizer readily available and topped up around the common areas and entries of your rentals.

Rethink Your Space

Maintaining your local government’s social distancing guidelines will need to be at the forefront of your mind when you look into welcoming guests to your rentals amidst COVID-19. And, in order to do that effectively, you might need to rethink the space you have available.

If you have a garden or any kind of outdoor space, for instance, make the most of it.

Because the risk of Coronavirus spreading is much lower outdoors than it is indoors, try to encourage your guests to utilize your outdoor spaces as much as possible – perhaps by adding a few tables and chairs.

Likewise, in any communal areas – such as the living or eating areas – rearrange the furniture to maximize the space, and use signage that encourages guests to abide by the required social distancing rules.

Streamline Your Safety Protocols 

Given the economic uncertainty that we’ve all been subject to as a result of Coronavirus, it’s now more important than ever to ensure your rentals remain profitable over the coming months, while keeping guests safety top of mind. 

In order to do that, putting these procedures in place to make your spaces COVID-secure is imperative for both your guests and your staff. Otherwise, you could end up losing a lot more than just revenue.
 
To streamline these safety processes, as well as countless others, consider an end-to-end property management software like the one we offer here at Guesty. Our platform will not only help streamline and automate your tasks, but it will also free up your time so that you can remain focused on what matters most: keeping your guests safe and maintaining business stability.

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