CREJ

Page 24 — Property Management Quarterly — July 2021 www.crej.com Management E ven as U.S. vaccination rates increase and COVID-19 case rates drop, many Ameri- cans aren’t ready to stay in hotels just yet – espe- cially when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that staying in hotels may not be the safest route for travelers heading on vacation. Now that short-term rental occupancy rates have fully recovered, achieving a 60.9% occu- pancy in March, a 29.1% gain from 2019, renters are ready to adven- ture again. As travel tensions and restrictions begin to ease, Colorado continues to be a top destination. Entering a post-pandemic world, property managers around Colo- rado know that cleanliness is more important than ever. As a company that manages 400 properties across Colorado, we developed the new cleaning initiative, PMI Purify, as a way to quell guest and owner anxi- eties at the onset of COVID-19. While hotels provide renters with the luxury of locations and ameni- ties, short-term rentals have an arguable advantage in the vacation industry’s future with their offer- ings of privacy, a home away from home feeling and the ability for guests to enjoy the space’s entire square footage. As travel revs up again, and consumers feel safer booking STRs, here are three steps that property managers can use to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new cleaning proto- cols as we enter the future of the short-term rental industry. n Document the cleaning process. Without proper documentation, it may be nearly impossible to dis- cern when a guest was last staying at the property, or when it was last cleaned. While we use proprietary software for housekeeping and owners, short-term rental property managers can use an app or soft- ware to track the process. When it comes to cleaning, one of the first things property managers should do is “air out” the space by simply opening windows. We also utilize a process called “Follow the Wall” to ensure that franchisees make the property’s cleanliness visible to the eye, rather than just checking off of a list. Additionally, short-term rent- al owners should open the doors while cleaning for added freshness to avoid stagnant air. n Leave the air conditioning on in the summer. Although Colorado property managers are fortunate to not have to deal with humidity as much as other regions, it’s good to be aware that bacteria like to grow in hot, humid environments. Opening the windows, and doors and turning on the air conditioning can help deter airborne bacteria. Always emphasize the importance of finishing cleaning and sanitizing a room before replacing items for the next guest. n Leave visual cues to show renters that the property has been thoroughly cleaned. After follow- ing a cleaning process, guests who stay at your properties should be reminded of the extra measures managers take with small details around the property – small details that make a big difference. Help provide additional peace of mind through a QR code that shows guests the property’s cleaning his- tory, remote controls sealed in plastic and an airtight-wrapped toilet seat that shows it’s been cleaned. No matter how you communicate with housekeeping, owners and guests, open communication will prove prudent to the growth of the short-term rental industry as we move toward the future of property management and rentals. s Ways to ensure a cleaner experience for guests A S P H A LT & CON C R E T E S E RV I C E S A S P H A LT • C O N C R E T E • C O N S T R U C T I O N • M A I N T E N A N C E S E R V I C I N G T H E CO L O R A D O F R O N T R A N G E 3 0 3 . 3 9 8 . 7 0 8 0 economypavinginc.com info@economypaving.com CALL FOR A BID TODAY MARKETS SERVED • Commercial • Industrial • Retail • Multi-family • Condominium Marianne Heders Director of vacation rentals, Property Management Inc. Property managers of short-term rental properties should stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new cleaning protocols as traveling ramps up post-pandemic.