We are sure you are well aware that summer is quickly approaching. No matter where you look or who you talk to, summer is always a time of year that everyone looks forward to. The summer season is a highly popular time of year for travel. The state offers some stunning landscapes where visitors can get just what they want from a summer trip. With summer quickly approaching you will want to make sure that your vacation properties are ready for the influx of guests. Here is how you can start preparing your Arizona rentals for the upcoming summer season:
Make Sure the Pool Is Ready
Whenever visitors come to Arizona, they are ready for a little fun under the sun. One of the best ways to enjoy a summer break in Scottsdale is by hitting the pool. Having a pool is a great way to get more attention to your vacation rentals and more bookings. If you have a pool already, you are most likely aware that it can be a little tricky maintaining everything. Now is the time to make sure your pool is cleaned with by a professional service that will have it looking pristine in no time. No one wants a review that mentions a dirty pool for their vacation rental. Pool services are often quick and easy to book and can be found all over Scottsdale. A quick phone call will have your pool looking great in no time.
Having your pool cleaned is just the start. Make sure your guests will be ready for the pool by offering all of the necessities. New pool towels can be a great addition for the summer that adds a little color and touch of comfort. Having some amenities on hand such as sunscreen will have a renter who forget theirs feeling great.
Deep Clean of the Interior
They say spring cleaning is always the time of year to finally clean up your home, but it really should be done more often. Get ready for summer by having a deep cleaning of the property done. This can help remove any dust that has accumulated over the previous months. Deep cleaning is great to target hard to reach areas such as baseboards, windows, ceiling fans, and more. Frequent deep cleanings make it easier time after time.
Check Your A/C
Anyone living in the Phoenix Valley understands just how important it is to have a well-running air conditioning unit. Having A/C is more than just a luxury here in Scottsdale. Make sure your guests do not get left in the heat by having a check up on you’re A/C done before the summer arrives. A/C technicians are able to get inside the unit to make sure everything is running smoothly and will not break down at the last minute in the summer. Having your guests stuck without an A/C in the summer can cause a stressful situation for you as the owner. Make sure it doesn’t happen by checking out your A/C before it is used frequently over the summer months.
Pest Control
Arizona locals also know that the summer season is when pesky insects and animals come out of their winter hiding. Scottsdale homes can be a target for many pests including spiders, scorpions, ants, and more. Make sure your home is ready for additional guests by keeping up with your pest control. Some of these pests, including scorpions, are typically hard to kill, so having a professional pest service is typically what is needed for best results. Pest control companies are also a dime a dozen here in Scottsdale, so finding one should be easy enough.
Stock Up on Safety Supplies
It never hurts to make sure your guests have a good supply of safety supplies during their stay. Double check your safety supplies to make sure it includes a first aid kit. Having additional water jugs or water bottles on hand at the property can be a great extra for guests who are unprepared for the heat.
Update Photos on Your Property
With the summer season being such a popular time of year to visit Arizona, you will want to make sure your property is looking its finest. Make sure the listing pictures of your home are updated to show off any new additions. Professional photography is one of the best ways to increase your bookings for your vacation rental.
Get Ready for Another Busy Summer Season in Arizona
We are excited for another summer season that is quickly approaching here in Arizona. You will find that our property management services can make sure that your vacation property is ready to host guests this season. Give us a call and see how we can help.
When it comes to owning a rental property in Arizona, many make the initial mistake that the location of their home is the only important thing to consider. Sure, it is no surprise that Arizona continues to be an amazing spot for rental owners, as the frequent sunshine and tons of local events make staying in the area popular. However, poor management of your property can lead to less bookings. Here are the common mistakes that unsuccessful rental owners usually make and what you can do to avoid them:
Forgetting Local and State Regulations
When it comes to having a successful vacation property, you will want to make sure that you can operate in the area. Many zoning laws now have guidelines for vacation home owners. This can include on having a limit to the number of occupants in the home at one time or having a noise restriction. Whenever you ignore local and state regulations, you can be setting yourself up for frequent fines that will eat away at your profits. Worst of all, some situations may even result in your property being closed down for short-term rentals. Always make sure you understand the law for your vacation rental.
Poor Market Research
Understanding the local regulations and laws are just the start of starting out as a rental property owner successfully. You will want to make sure you do your thorough research to set up your property for good. Just owning a home in Arizona will not be enough to combat the growing market for vacation rentals. Instead, thorough research should be conducted. This can include researching the area where you are thinking of purchasing a property. Clients come to Arizona for vacations and will want to be close by local attractions and stay in nice neighborhoods. Not offering these features can have potential clients skip out on your listing. Understand the local market to set yourself up for success.
Underestimating the Cost of Property Ownership
We are all excited to make a little extra income as a property owner. One thing that often gets overlooked is the cost of owning the home itself. Owning a vacation rental is owning a second home. You should anticipate having to pay for the usual home ownership costs such as utilities, HOA fees, taxes, and more. Maintenance should always be reviewed so parts of the property that need to be fixed up can be. Using a property management service will help with the upkeep of your home but will use service fees. By understanding that all that entails of owning a second home you can be successful in the end.
Subpar Listing Information
First impressions will always be what is remembered most, so make sure the first impression your property leaves are a great one. One common mistake by inexperienced rental owners is not taking advantage of professional photography for their listing. We have seen many properties that provide old and grainy photos to show off their home. Unfortunately, this poor photography will not cut it in today’s market. There are several necessities in the short-term market nowadays to stand out to be successful. Use professional photography that shows clear images while offering all the views inside your home. By having your client see every angle of the home they can feel comfortable with their booking. This information should also include a thorough review of the home’s features and accommodations. By detailing every benefit, they will review clients will know this reservation will be one they have no regrets about.
Ignoring Client Reviews
The first impression will always be important, but so is the feedback that your clients are sure to leave. Property owners love to see the great reviews come in after each successful stay. That means the hard work you have put into the home is paying off and being noticed. However, there can come occasions where a reservation does not go the way it was planned and a negative or constructive review is left behind. Do not let these reviews bring you down and instead use them as a learning opportunity on how to further improve your home. Acknowledging client reviews that are either good or bad can show that you listen to your clients and appreciate their feedback. This will only further show that your property can be a great location for another booking in the future.
Not Taking Advantage of a Property Management Service
Many of these mistakes can be avoided completely when you trust a property management service. Our team is standing by here in Arizona to assist you in managing your property. We assist in all aspects of your reservations from the initial booking to support for your clients. Contact our team today and see how we can help.
It is finally that time of year again when the weather begins to warm up and the thoughts of spring return. We are gearing up for another exciting spring season that includes the ever popular Spring Break. Everyone knows Spring Break is a popular time of year for travel as kids are on a short break from school and the parents are ready for a bit of fun. Spring Break is especially popular here in Arizona as the temps have not hit high digits yet, so many out of town travelers will visit the state. Now is the perfect time to get your vacation rental prepared for your Spring Break in Arizona. Here is how you want to do that:
Little Bit of Spring Cleaning
There is the age old saying that the spring season is the perfect time for a little bit of spring cleaning. This can always be true when managing your vacation rental and just in time for Spring Break. Vacation homes can be known to host many furniture and items that property owners do not want to keep at their primary residence. Use the spring season to go through what items you no longer need and get rid of the clutter. Spring Break is all about excitement and movement, so having extra items around will only get in the way for your guests.
Have Spring Related Items Available for Guests
The addition of Spring Break means that you will have plenty of guests who are ready to enjoy some sunshine. There are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in Scottsdale, Sedona, and Flagstaff that your guests may not know what to do. Having a guide book on hand at your property with recommendations can help them experience the perfect vacation. Once they have an idea of what to do they will need the tools to do them. This includes having items on hand to make their experience easier. This can simply be having pool towels readily available for properties that have a swimming pool and/or hot tub. It can also be having hiking gear for homes located up North where most individuals want to hit the trails. Having items on hand for your guests will have them leaving happy and satisfied with their stay.
Prepare for Snow Bowl
Our properties in Flagstaff can still experience snow in early March when many Phoenix Valley schools are on Spring Break. Snow Bowl, our local skiing mountain, tends to not shut down for the season until early to mid-April. If you have skiing or snowboard gear on hand for your guests to use they will be thrilled to save on the overall cost of their rentals. This is especially important for our Flagstaff homes that are located just off the interstate on the way up to Snow Bowl.
Stage Your Backyard
Spring Break is a time when most individuals are ready to experience some warmer weather but do not always want to leave the home. By having a staged backyard that is ready for fun, you can help your guests have as much fun as possible. Many backyards that are ready for guests have some kind of covered patio. Shading them from the direct sun with patio lounge seating is always a great choice. Help them do some outdoor cooking by offering a BBQ grill or outdoor kitchen; everyone loves a good burger or steak over Spring Break! Outdoor patio tables are perfect to enjoy your meal outside with. We all know that Arizona can get hot especially in the summer. Spring Break is around the time the temps in Scottsdale start to climb up. Have your swimming pool ready for your guests to enjoy the moment they arrive. When they see a crystal-clear swimming pool ready for them to jump in they will be ready to return time and time again. Make sure your swimming pool is clean and ready for guests. If Spring Break is expected to have lower temps you can offer your guests the option to heat the pool for an additional fee. Hot tubs are another great choice they are perfect for any of our vacation rental locations in the state of Arizona. As you can see, the backyard really is the place to be for our clients over Spring Break.
Now Is the Time for Property Management in Arizona
We continue to offer some of the finest homes in the state of Arizona right here in our portfolio. Make sure you are ready to host your guests for Spring Break by taking advantage of our property management services. Typically, upkeep such as exterior and pool maintenance will go a long way with your clients. Now is the perfect time to start preparing for Spring Break that is just around the corner.
No matter what time of year it is, you will find Arizona to be a jewel in the Southwest. The scenery never gets old and provides you with endless fun in all four seasons of the year. The best part of any Arizona getaway is finding a vacation rental that will keep you comfortable during every step of your journey. February 5th is just around the corner and is the return of Book Direct Day. This is the perfect opportunity to share why booking Arizona rentals directly is the best way to prepare for your visit. Here are some great reasons why you should book direct when visiting Arizona?
Detail Amenities and Accommodations
You will find that here at Porter, we offer detailed and in-depth reviews of each of our vacation rentals. Each property will provide detailed photos along with amenity descriptions. We understand that many of our clients require special accommodations during their stay. Detailed listings not found on third-party websites offer you the chance to find the home for you. if you ever need assistance in finding a property that has everything you need you can simply contact our team during the booking window!
No Hidden Booking Fees
The cost of traveling continues to go up year to year so prioritizing your budget is now more important than ever. No one wants to be spending money on unnecessary fees that can be avoided. When you book through our direct portal you will find the best price for our vacation rentals. Third-party services exist to profit off of your booking and can only do that by charging a percentage of our reservation. Whenever you book though a third-party service, you will often see that an extra booking fee is added that is then collected by that company. This is how they profit off your booking and rationalize it by providing you with a quick opportunity to book. Skip out on the unnecessary fees and instead book direct; no middle man is needed for booking a vacation rental!
Easy to Adjust Your Reservation
Life seems to find a way to interfere with our travel plans that we often look forward to. We understand that unforeseen circumstances are something that you cannot control that require an adjustment to the time of your reservation. Should this be the case you will find that contacting our team directly is the best way to go. We can easily adjust your direct booking and help you find a time that allows you to enjoy Arizona. Whenever you book through a third-party service you will not find an easy solution. Their services often have trouble adjusting reservations right away leaving you in limbo about the status of your trip. We also cannot adjust bookings made through a third-party service as the reservation is placed in their name. Skip out on the possible headache and just book direct.
Easy to Contact Our Team
You will see that many of our benefits include having access to our team during your vacation reservation. We offer our services to you from the moment you are interested in booking a rental all the way through to check out. Our team is on stand by for you to contact in a variety of ways including by phone or message. We personally know our vacation rentals and can help make recommendations for you on which home that would best fit you. We also offer detailed blogs about activities to enjoy in the area to make the most of your visit. Third-party services simply gather our listing information and typically do not have additional information for you. Reach out to a trusted source by booking direct.
Can Miss Out on Special Properties
We offer homes all over Arizona that have become staples in the communities. You will find that third-party services often feature homes that are more available to book; they do get a percentage of your reservation through that fee, so only featuring homes that are always available makes sense. However, these services can often miss out on popular vacation rentals that tend to be rented out frequently. These properties do not need to be featured on additional websites and do well with our direct booking service. You will only find these properties in our direct listing and nowhere else. There is a reason why these properties tend to be so popular so come check them out for yourself!
Booking Direct Is the Way to Go
No matter where you visit in Arizona, you will find that booking direct will be the best way to prepare for your visit. Come see all of our wonderful properties here in Arizona and have a blast!
An Arizona vacation is destined to be one that claims a permanent place in your heart offering a glimpse of the old west with a generous view of the modern and beautiful but even the hardiest of travelers may feel that an Arizona vacation is best saved for the winter months. We at Stay Porter can completely understand your concern over high temperatures and if you do decide to try it anyway, we offer a beautiful selection of homes and condos in the desert! All are air-conditioned and most feature a crystal clear pool for extra cooling options, but we also offer another way to enjoy our wild west home state with our newest selection of homes located in sunny and cool Flagstaff! This town in the pines rarely reaches temps higher than the mid-80s and at night, as the mercury drops, you may find yourself eagerly turning to the fireplaces that are in many of our Flagstaff vacation rentals, enjoying the romance, cheer, and additional warmth they provide!
Choose Stay Porter
As you begin your planning for your stay in our favorite mountain town, you may feel a bit overwhelmed at your housing options but just as we provide the best and most luxurious homes in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, our properties in Flagstaff are destined to impress! Choose Stay Porter and discover how we combine luxury, charm, and a friendly welcoming that makes every night the best one! Every property is different, styled according to the whims and interests of the homeowner, but all invite you to step inside, leave your troubles at the door, and fall into the comfort that you will never want to leave. Living rooms with plush furnishings and state-of-the-art televisions are the ideal spaces for impromptu naps, movie nights with the kids, or quiet moments best enjoyed with a good book, a great Arizona wine, and a fire roaring merrily.
The dining areas of our Flagstaff retreats are where families and friends will come together to laugh over dad jokes as they devour food prepared in the fully equipped kitchens located just steps away. These are the spaces where games will be played, plans will be made, and conversations will be had. In the kitchen, modern conveniences bring back the joy in cooking, and traditional charm and cheer ensure, that just as in your home, these rooms will be where everyone wants to hang out, snack, and perhaps share secrets and dreams that they feel uncomfortable doing in their busy real life at home.
Patios, decks, and balconies may look out onto the mountains that stand guard over our town, acres of pine trees, or in some instances, reveal the charm and beauty of the village that surrounds you. Barbecue grills are popular every season of the year, but in the summer months, the aromatic scents of the catch of the day (perhaps the ones you caught yourself during a fishing expedition to Upper Lake Mary) will have everyone salivating and gathering around the grill asking, “is it ready yet?”
The bedrooms of our Flagstaff homes are built for comfort, offering plush bedding topped with the softest of linens, some providing Smart TVs that will allow guests to fall asleep to their favorite streaming shows every night. If the one you choose does not have a tv, why not open the windows a bit and let the sounds of nighttime in Flagstaff lull you into a peaceful sleep? Perhaps a soak in a deep tub in the bathroom, accompanied by wine and a really good book is all you need for a night of sweet oblivion, or maybe your favorite Stay Porter Arizona escape will have a hot tub on the deck, letting guests simmer in the bubbles as they share secrets under an inky black sky dotted with the twinkling of a billion stars!
Your New Favorite Playground
Flagstaff is a college town that offers adventures of every kind. Winter visitors will surely thrill to spend their days on the slopes of Snowbowl (yes, we ski in Arizona) and summer visitors will fall in love with the ideal temperatures and beautiful landscape! Reach for the stars at Lowell Observatory or keep your feet firmly on terra firma as you sip wine from local wineries at FLG Terroir: Wine Bar & Bistro. Enjoy road trips to the mystical town of Sedona, located just 27 miles North of our favorite mountain town, or go exploring and step back into the far past with a visit to Montezuma Castle National Monument and learn all there is to know about the Sinagua people who made their homes in the cliffs for hundreds of years and then simply vanished without a trace. There is so much to see and do during your fabulous Flagstaff getaway and you will enjoy it, even more, when you come home to Stay Porter at the end of every day. Reserve your favorite today!
If you are interested in investing in real estate here in the Phoenix Valley, you cannot go wrong by choosing to purchase in Scottsdale. The Phoenix Valley’s market has never been better with the value of homes going up in the area. Many temporary residents of Scottsdale own a vacation property here in the city to get away from the cold and enjoy the warm weather of Arizona. Owning a vacation property when you do not live nearby can be difficult if you do not know who to trust for upkeep. This is where Porter comes in with our incredible property management services that will make it a breeze for you. Take a look at why it is now the perfect time to invest in Scottsdale real estate:
Property Management Services
As mentioned, it can be difficult handling any kind of upkeep for a vacation property if you do not live in the area. No one wants their homes to feel abandoned and attract dust inside. Instead, let our property management services help manage your property while you are away. This includes frequent cleaning of the property so it is ready to host you or any vacation guests at a moment’s notice. Our cleaning team makes sure the property is picked up from top to bottom, so you have nothing to worry about. Our property management services also include yard maintenance. When someone thinks of Scottsdale, they think of extravagant yards. Our team can make sure your palm trees and other plant life are looking their best while you are away. Swimming pools always need cleaning and will be taken care of as well. Your lawns will never look out of shape when our service team comes out to take care of your yard. All of these services are at your fingertips when you choose Porter for your property management.
Return on Investment
Purchasing new real estate in Scottsdale can be a costly endeavor, but if you choose Porter, you can earn a return back on your investment. Our property services also include hosting your vacation property for guests so you can earn extra income throughout the year. Our team hosts your property on our listing of homes for potential guests to choose for their vacation getaway to Scottsdale. Unique details that are sure to draw in a potential guest will be displayed along with photos of the home. We help stage the home to attract as many potential eyes as possible. As mentioned, our property management services take care of all the cleaning and upkeep of the property. That means, after any guest has stayed at your property it will be quickly cleaned and maintained before you or another guest comes to the property. This means you do not need to do anything whenever you choose Porter to host your home as a vacation property. You can comfortably sit back and enjoy your return on investment as we do all of the work. There has never been a better way to invest in local Scottsdale real estate and earn back on your investment!
Help with Your Property Design
Not all of us are interior designers or decorators. You will not have to be when you choose Porter to help with your property management and upkeep. We will make sure that your property is in its best shape whenever you want to host it for potential guests. As mentioned, we will help stage the home so it looks its best in all of our photos and advertisements. Our team can also help you design each room to take advantage of space and features. There is no better team around who can make your home look as good as we can!
Invest in Scottsdale Today!
As you can see, our property management services here at Porter is second to none. You can invest in the Scottsdale real estate market and make a return on your investment when you choose us.
As you venture into the world of vacation rental ownership, you may be starting to feel a little overwhelmed at how long your “owner-do” list is becoming. You more than likely have a full-time job, a family, and would love to have a life you can enjoy, but all the little things your property needs are getting in the way of any fun you might be having! Fortunately, you found your way here to our Porter property management page, perhaps seeking a respite while still being able to enjoy the fruits of your investment, and we want to welcome you to the next stage in your life—you know, the one where we do the hard work and you sit back and relax? This guide to how our vacation rental property management team takes care of your biggest investment will help give you a peek into your carefree but still moneymaking future!
From the Beginning
The hard work starts almost from the moment you sign on the dotted line, and we at Porter will be right there, picking up the scrub brush and getting it done! Very few investment properties are in turnkey shape—that is how you got such a bargain on your Scottsdale home—and we know what needs to be done! After an intensive review of the space, we determine what needs to be cleaned, repaired, or simply thrown out and replaced by something new, so in most case it is our maintenance workers that will be the first team to get to work! Their job is simple: They make sure that air conditioners cool, that dishwashers wash, and those windows, roofs, and doors keep what is supposed to be outside out and what needs to stay indoors in! Perhaps the dingy walls can use a touch-up or maybe the that crumbling stucco needs to be repaired; whatever the problem, our maintenance team is going to find it, fix it, and field any questions you may have!
As If It Were Our Own
Now that the construction and maintenance part of our services have been completed, it is time to clean! Our initial cleaning services ensure that when the first tenants open the door, they will come into a home that is sparkling clean and sanitized to please even the pickiest of travelers. Treating your property as if it were our own and as if our mothers-in-law were about to visit, we follow all the latest CDC guidelines for sanitizing and disinfecting, much to the relief of your renters, and when the first guests start flocking to your doors, we continue our services between each visit. This clean as you go method keeps guests happy, clients satisfied, and your investment property in tip-top condition!
Sleep Like a Baby
The worst part of vacation home ownership is arguably the middle of the night phone calls. No matter how much we take care of your property, if something does break, spring a leak, stops making water hot, inevitably it is going to happen in the middle of the night. And when the phone calls begin, unless its of dire importance, you can continue to sleep peacefully while we take care of 2 AM emergency! Whatever happens, however, we will keep you in the loop.
Not Your Favorite Uncle
No matter how hard you try, there is no way to avoid the hand Uncle Sam is holding out, demanding his piece of your pie, and although we cannot keep you from paying your part, we can help with the process. Our experience as property manages means that we know our way around the forms that can actually be considered more painful than the assault on your bank account, and when you hire Porter for your property management needs, tax paperwork is just another part of our job! We know their importance, we understand their legalese, and we enjoy doing whatever we can to help make you a success.
Every Step of the Way
There are a million little details involved in creating a successful vacation rental, but choosing Porter is the first and more than likely most important step. We work hard to help make your Scottsdale investment property the most successful on the market, and even as you decide that you need to do some things on your own, we are behind you, the property owner, every step of the way. Your day-to-day life can be overwhelming as you try to cram too many activities in too few seconds, minutes, and hours, and while we can’t help you with angry bosses or school events, we can take off some of the pressure involved with your investment. Give us a call today!