There are quite a few #inexpensive #features you can add or modify in your short-term vacation rental to make it more #accessible. Following is our list of the top 15!
Threshold Ramp - To reduce the risk of tripping and make it easier for those with mobility issues to enter your home’s doorways, there are a variety of entry ramps, mats, and plates under $70 that can help provide a smooth transition over raised thresholds.
Keyless Lock - Unlocking a door using a key can be difficult for some people. With a keyless lock system, instead of turning a key, your renters can open the front door lock with a simple remote control, a touch key pad, an electronic card key, or even using their smartphone. Basic keyless locks can be sourced for around $100.
Door Levers - Persons who have issues with dexterity, grasping, or general use of their hands can struggle using doorknobs. Replacing knobs with levers alleviates these kinds of issues and can be purchased from $10 and up.
Single Lever Faucets - Many of your renters will find the use of a single-lever faucet control convenient as they can be operated with even limited use of one hand. Automatic “touchless” faucets are also a good consideration. A basic, single-lever faucet may be purchased for a little as $45. Basic automatic faucets are about $100.
Vibrating Alarm Clock - Vibrating alarm clocks have an additional feature of an attached or remote bed shaker for your patrons who are deaf, partially deaf, or just heavy sleepers. You can find these kinds of clocks between $20 to $60.
Strobing Light Alarms - For your renters who are deaf or partially deaf, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, weather sirens, and doorbells with a strobing light feature or devises that plug into a wall outlet or attach to table lamps that activate a strobing light when an alarm goes off would be great safety modification for under $35.
Open Floor Plan - Those who have mobility issues need 36” of clearance around furniture to maneuver. Removing unnecessary furniture and strategic positioning of furniture will go a long way in creating a welcoming atmosphere for all renters, and this modification is free.
Color Palette - Some individuals with disability may be more sensitive to color than average. Others with low vision may need more visual contrast in their environment. Your choice of color scheme in your short-term rental should consider these kinds of issues. Muted, soothing colors are preferable for wall color. A good quality gallon of paint costs $35.
Black Out Curtains - Some of your renters may have sensitivity to light due to medical issues such as migraine headaches, an autism spectrum disorder, or other genetic condition. Others or their children may have hyperactivity disorder. Costing as little as $10 per panel, black out curtains in bedrooms could help provide a needed quiet place to help decompress.
Odor-Free Environment - Some of your renters will have allergies or sensitivities to smells, so you should refrain from using scented candles, potpourri, or scented air fresheners in your rental units. Additionally, your use of odorless cleaning chemical solvents and odorless washing detergents for towels and linens would be appreciated. This accommodation is free above the normal costs for such cleaning supplies.
Handheld Shower Head - Your renters who require sitting while showering or any others who need a shower with an adjustable angle water stream would benefit greatly from your installing a hand-held shower head with an adjustable slide bar mount. The cost including a sliding mounting bar is around $100.
Shower Chair - A shower chair helps to increase safety by providing a secure area in a shower or bath and are especially useful for those who use wheelchairs, are elderly, or anyone who finds excessive movement painful or difficult. A portable shower chair can be purchased for under $50.
Tilted Mirror - Your renters who are of short stature or who use wheelchairs would benefit from the installation of a titled mirror in the bathroom. Such mirrors can be straight-facing or titled downward to reflect the user without strain. Tilted mirrors with mounting hardware can be purchased for as low as $80.
Toilet Seat Riser - A toilet seat riser can convert a standard toilet into a comfort height toilet and is especially beneficial for taller people, seniors, wheelchair users, and anyone with knee or back pain. These can be readily purchased from home improvement stores, general big box retailers, or even pharmacy chain stores for less than $60.
Couch Cane/Stand-N-Go - Some of your guests may need assistance in using easy chairs or couches. A couch cane or stand-n-go is an apparatus which fits under the legs of a couch or recliner and allows users to get up and down with ease. These can be sourced for around $100 at various big box and medical supply retailers.
So there you have it – 15 inexpensive, easily-implemented changes you can make to provide a lot of accommodation, assistance, and convenience to your #rental patrons. You could make these changes little by little as your budget allows, but the sooner the better as I believe making changes such as these will likely lead to improved reviews of our property which in turn will likely lead to increased occupancy and increased profitability. Why not start now?
For more information on short-term rental properties, visit www.BecomingRentABLE.com.