Things to Check When You Rent a Vacation Home

We have rented private homes direct and through the main vacation rental companies you've seen on TV.  We've rented well over 50 homes from Hawaii to Maine in price ranges from $150-700/night and the more you pay, the more expectations you have of cleanliness and general upkeep.   Regardless of price, there are some issues you are likely going to run into no matter how much you paid for it.  I've got some tips for you on what to look for when checking in and what to potentially expect so you can get to relaxing sooner.  I'll warn you that this is going to sound like I'm ragging on cleaning crews/property managers and I suppose to some degree, I am. I have yet to rent a place in the past 10 years that hasn't had cleaning issues or general issues of some sort that had us unable to enjoy the place for the first night or two except for one and thankfully that was the place we rented for our 25th anniversary last year.

Here are the things we do now the second we walk through the door because we'll either be pleasantly surprised or grossed out and I'd rather get the grossed out stuff out of the way.

1. Check the sheets

One thing we've learned over the years is more often than not, cleaning crews wash sheets in the most harsh, perfumed detergent out there.  If you are sensitive to smells or prone to itchy skin from strong detergent, you need to bring your own detergent, strip the sheets (and towels if need be) and get them in the washer as soon as you check in so they'll be ready for bedtime.  I asked for and received this awesome sleeping bag style bed liner.  So many hotels have horrible scratchy sheets or the aforementioned harsh detergents in rentals and this makes it so even if the texture is horrible, I know I have a set of sheets that I can sleep on that have been washed in my free and clear detergent.  I hate that we have to bring an extra bag for these but it's that or break out in hives.

2.  Wash the dishes

If you think the heathens before you didn't just do a rinse on their plates the morning of checkout and that the cleaning crew checked to make sure that wasn't the case, I've got a bridge to sell you. Grab at least 4-8 plates, bowls, glasses, mugs and silverware and run them through the dishwasher the first hour you're there so they're ready for dinner.  (This is of course assuming you don't open the dishwasher and either see a load of dishes for you to put away or even better, a load of the previous renters dirty dishes.  It's happened.)

3.  Check your network

If the homeowner has video cameras on site, they are supposed to tell you.  (It can go against some rental companies terms of service if they don't.) This article tells you how to do a quick sweep of the network to make sure you're not being watched or digitally spied on without your consent. 

4. Look in nooks and crannies

Check in corners, behind furniture, etc for mouse traps, ant traps and similar items.  This means they aren't likely keeping them at bay but have an active problem especially judging by the age of said items to make it LOOK like they're addressing it.  A place we stayed had ancient looking ant traps but very alive and modern large ants in the kitchen.  Terro ant traps are the only things that work pretty quickly and they take it back to the colony to spread the love. I should just buy them before every trip just in case and will do so especially if we're staying in the country.  We also had a wasp infestation there which was fun.  Bring some painter's tape with you (it doesn't stick when you peel it off) so you can temporary fill any gaps while you're there and remove before you leave.

5. Locate the cleaning products

Nothing is ever cleaned to my satisfaction, okay maybe like three homes we've rented.  This is from a woman who is not a great housekeeper herself.  But I resent paying $100-500 for a cleaning fee to come into a place with cobwebs clearly visible in common places, surfaces that look like they were barely wiped and my biggest pet peeve, grubby little handprints all over the windows.  I know you see them, cleaning person!  I should not have to spend a second of my vacation washing windows, spraying down tubs, etc and yet regardless of the nightly rate, I still find myself doing at least some light house work which is not the way to kick things off.  So locate the cleaning products as soon as you get there, if they aren't locked away because chances are, you'll need at least one.   If they're locked away, run to the store and grab a good multi purpose wipe, cleaner and paper towels just for cleaning.

6. Bring earplugs

Earplugs are a must!  The last place we stayed had me in tears and was NOT the way to round out an anniversary trip.  One thing listers are really good at are angles, especially if they're right on top of other neighbors.  These people also added other pictures to the listing just before we rented that, had I seen them, I NEVER would've rented the place.  I know they weren't there because the Mr reviews my rental selections for his stamp of approval and he agreed, some of the things were not shown.  The thing about older homes is many keep the original glass in tact for either historical or financial purposes.  This allows several issues from easy pest entry to my favorite... hearing the neighbors screaming demon spawn (kids) and their devil hound which barks in a way that makes you feel it's being rewarded to be that annoying.  You could also be in a flight path, have neighbors that don't appreciate dealing with renters in their neighborhood so they purposely rev engines or other less than idyllic behaviors that will spoil your chances of a relaxing time or good night's sleep.  At least you can be prepared while you furiously search for other accommodations and pray you luck out. (We, unfortunately, did not.)

These are annoying things to have to check especially when you're spending your hard earned money on a rental but if you address them as soon as you drag everything in and before settling in, it will make your first night that much easier.  As someone with high rental expectations that is constantly getting let down, just assume you will have to do some light cleaning and be prepared because sometimes it's heavy cleaning.  Also immediately alert the renter to anything within the first few hours of check in because they can try to blame broken ANYTHING on you if you don't tell them.  I can't count how many reviews have property owner responses being snarky and nasty saying "if you had told us, we could've rectified this!"  (But also be prepared to have your vacation interrupted unless you don't mind service people being in the house when you're not there.  I'm not one of those people and we lost 2 hours last year to 100 years of calcium build up being chiseled out of our quarantine rental on our last full day.  Good times.)

Did I miss something that you check when you check into a rental?  Feel free to share what helps you too!

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