No matter what time of year you find yourself longing for a scenic retreat, a trip to Sun Valley, Idaho is sure to inspire. Situated in the heart of Blaine County, Idaho, Sun Valley is within easy reach of the Wood River Valley and Ketchum, expanding options for exploration and fun with every visit. Hosting a population of just under 1,800 residents, Sun Valley is a place where small-town charm and opportunities for big adventures go hand-in-hand.
The city sits at just about 6,000 feet above sea level, making it a picture-perfect place for ski enthusiasts to come put their downhill skills to the test in the wintertime. Home to Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley calls to those who are looking for fun of the highest caliber when temperatures drop and ski season is in full swing. When the snow melts away and temperatures rise, Sun Valley becomes a comprehensive destination for activities like hiking and biking as well as wildlife watching, swimming, nature photography, and more. With easy access to the scenic Sawtooth National Recreation Area available to visitors, there’s no shortage of beautiful sights to discover.
Touching down at the Freidman Memorial Airport (SUN) in nearby Hailey means you’re only ever 15 minutes away from the Sun Valley trip of a lifetime. Whether you’re someone who loves to dine and shop in style, or you can’t wait to make the most of your time in the great outdoors, Sun Valley is a vacation destination that can call you back year after year. In all seasons, there’s something new to enjoy and views only make it that much more unforgettable.
1. Be Authentic and Detailed in Your Property Descriptions
It’s vital to remember that travelers are savvy and will speak their minds when what they think they’re signing up for doesn’t match what they find upon arrival. If you want to improve your Sun Valley home rental rates, it’s above all important to always provide prospective guests with authentic and meticulously detailed property descriptions online.
Transparency with what you have to offer from the start leads to trusting relationships with your guests and likely, a lot of return travelers heading your way too when they find what you’re selling is above and beyond the standard. This means highlighting all the most appealing features your property hosts, while also being open when there’s something that might deter someone from a less-than-ideal stay. For example, if your home is experiencing nearby construction for a short period of time, you’re going to want to mention this clearly in the listing so guests arrive knowing to expect a bit of extra noise. Always keep the door of communication open for guest questions regarding anything that might be a temporary situation at your property so you can put their minds at ease and even offer something extra if they choose to stay during that timeframe. When you do, you’re far more likely to increase your bookings and end up with positive reviews too.
2. Invest in Quality Photos That Highlight Your Home’s Best and Most Unique Features
While it’s sometimes tempting to cut costs by taking your own home marketing photos, investing in professional home photos for your listings can make a huge difference in the guests you attract year-round. Competition online can be steep when it comes to vacation rentals and anything you can do to make your home stand out in a crowd is worth the effort. While smartphone photos are improving all the time, there’s still a discernable quality difference between those and professional photos that can be noticed by those browsing for options. It’s worth your while to let a pro take the reins when it comes to capturing your home in its best light and making sure all enticing features are showcased at their best too. If you really want to capture guest attention, consider adding a detailed floor plan in the mix of photos so they can get an even more authentic feel of the layout.
3. Meticulously Maintain Indoor Living Spaces So Guests Feel Right at Home
Your Sun Valley guests will likely spend ample time out exploring, but they’re inevitably going to be enjoying a lot of time in your rental home too. That makes meticulously maintaining indoor living spaces a must if you want to increase your year-round occupancy rates. From regularly scheduled cleanings to upgrading finishes, technology standards, and furnishings, you want your guests to feel right at home from the moment they arrive. Making sure that any maintenance issues are resolved is essential as well. When you can’t guarantee that something could happen, make sure your guests know exactly who to call for maintenance help if something should arise. The combination of effort, attention to detail, and customer care will lead to great reviews and enhanced referrals over time.
4. Invest in Updates to Outdoor Living and Entertainment Spaces
When you put so much focus on maintaining indoor living spaces, it can be easy to overlook the importance of upgrading your outdoor living spaces as well. Sun Valley is a beautiful place and creating a rental home where guests can relish the views in the fresh air with ease will boost your property’s demand in no time. Creating aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces might mean investing in professional landscaping and including upgraded outdoor features like hot tubs, shaded lounge areas, outdoor dining options, or a new deck. If you really want to take your outdoor living experience over the top for guests, looking into the inclusion of a private pool can expand your guest interest exponentially over time. It will also give you the ability to increase your property listing price to be more competitive with luxury homes in the area.
5. Be Sure to Immediately Update Your Property Descriptions Every Time You Invest in a Property Upgrade
Owning a vacation rental comes with a lot of details to handle, but one you don’t want to overlook is taking the time to upgrade your property description as soon as you make a home update. Investing time, energy, and money into improving your home to appeal to more guests is a vital step, but it’s one that won’t make a difference if guests don’t know it’s happened. Any time you upgrade a home feature, living space, or amenity, you’ll want to make sure you’re updating your property description and photos too. You’ll also want to make sure you’re keeping track of any fun restaurants, attractions, or events taking place in the area that you can include for real-time bookings that might appeal specifically to seasonal travelers.
6. Consider Having a Professional Designer Evaluate Your Home’s Overall Aesthetic
The decorative standard you love in your home might simply not be the best option when you’re setting up a rental property that appeals to guests from near and far. Having a professional stager come in and evaluate your home’s overall look and ambiance is a good way to get an idea of who your home will appeal to. Interior designers and home stagers have a gift for finding places where little details will make a big difference. It might be as small as adding floor lamps for added light or minimizing knick-knacks in a living room for a more luxurious and spacious look. They can make recommendations on the type of furniture that will catch a guest’s eye while browsing your listing online and will find pieces that balance out the space, so guests feel comfortable and welcome starting on day one.
7. Highlight Luxury Items That Set Your Property Apart from the Rest
If your Sun Valley vacation home has luxury items on-site, this is the moment to laser focus in on those features. As guests move away from hotels and towards vacation rentals, they’re looking for unique stand-out features that are truly one-of-a-kind and tailor a stay to personal style. Luxury items in your home could be the attention-grabber you need to boost your overall annual bookings. Be sure your listing notes anything that might appeal to guests looking for an above-and-beyond experience like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, a private deck in the master suite, high-end mattresses, quality linens, smart technology, and even top-of-the-line coffee machines to start their day on a delicious note.
8. Make Sure Your Property Is Competitively Priced
As the vacation rental market becomes more popular with owners and guests over time, it’s important to make sure that you’re always pricing your rental competitively for your specific market. This requires real-time analysis, and you’ll want to be willing to adjust your prices not only to surrounding rental properties but according to seasonal travel changes too. The vacation rental industry is dynamic and having a system in place that tracks market trends compared to the profits you’re hoping to earn for the year is a must.
9. Dedicated Substantial Time to Cross-Channel Marketing
Even the most beautiful rental home in Sun Valley adorned with world-class amenities, features, and furnishings won’t see the occupancy rates it deserves if you don’t get the word out. These days, it’s more important than ever to dedicate substantial time to making sure your property is infused into cross-channel marketing. Beyond a personal website, you’re going to want to take steps to make sure your property is visible to potential guests on larger platforms like VRBO or Airbnb to name a few of many out there. There are typically annual subscription fees built into listing options with larger platforms, but this can be offset by the increase in the number of potential guests you’ll be reaching on any given day.
10. Hire a Property Manager
There’s a lot that goes into running a successful vacation rental in Sun Valley and efforts to increase occupancy and profits are something you have to continuously work on and dedicate yourself to. When you want to achieve your business goals, but you don’t want to worry about handling every detail yourself, hiring a property manager is the right choice. At Abode Sun Valley, our team of property management professionals maintains a portfolio of beautifully handpicked homes in the area that are packed with unique features, amenities, and charm. We seamlessly navigate the vacation rental industry in Sun Valley and can take care of everything from maintenance and cleaning to reservations, customer care, home improvement recommendations, and marketing for your property. When you work with us, you’re an important part of our professional family and you can be sure you’ll be in the loop every step of the way. We get to know you and your goals so that we can tailor our approach to listing your rental and help you meet your profit margins with ease.
Reach Out Today
When you’re ready to unlock the full potential of your real estate investment in scenic Sun Valley, Abode Sun Valley is here to help make it happen. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our comprehensive owner service options available and how we can help you take your new or existing vacation rental in Sun Valley to the next level of excellence. We can’t wait to hear from you soon!
