Short and Medium-Term Rental Furnishing Checklist
Download REI Grove’s short- and medium-term rental furnishings checklist to help stock, furnish, and prepare your rental for guests.
Key Takeaways
- A short- or medium-term rental furnishings checklist helps landlords and hosts keep track of the furniture, appliances, supplies, and guest essentials their rental may need.
- Furnished rentals usually require more detailed preparation than long-term rentals because guests expect the space to be comfortable and ready to use.
- Landlords and hosts should check furnishings and supplies between stays so missing, damaged, or worn items can be repaired or replaced quickly.
- By using REI Grove’s furnishings checklist, rental owners can feel more confident they are creating a clean, comfortable, and well-stocked experience for short- or medium-term guests.
Furnishing Your Short- or Medium-Term Rental
With more and more people working from home, the opportunity to travel has increased exponentially, and so have profits for owners of Airbnbs, Vrbos, and other short- and medium-term rentals. Having an Airbnb furnishing list, Vrbo furniture checklist, or other tool to keep track of your rental's furnishings will be very helpful as your business expands.
It's important to keep in mind that short- and medium-term tenants will be relying on you to provide all necessary furniture items, appliances, and utensils. Medium-term tenants often rely on the convenience of a furnished unit rather than seeking out a short term furniture rental company and renting furniture that they'll only have to return at the end of their stay.
When it comes to short- and medium-term tenants, your property is their home-away-from-home—make sure they're comfortable, and they'll be more likely to return.
The Importance of Furnishing Your Rental
As mentioned above, guests who book your short- or medium-term rental are doing so without a plan to stay long-term. They are paying a higher daily rent in exchange for the convenience of having a fully furnished temporary home. Supplying almost everything your tenant could need during their stay will help you secure positive recommendations from these tenants and possibly even see re-bookings.
For this reason, the tenant turnover period is especially important for short- and medium-term landlords—you'll need to ensure that furnishings, supplies, and other items are restored to their original conditions and prepared for the next tenant(s). It's also likely that guests (knowingly or unknowingly) could take certain items with them when they leave or even damage furniture during their stay.
By checking your rental supplies, you not only notice which ones need replacement or repair, but you can also file insurance claims when necessary and hold guests accountable. Your rental agreement likely requires guests to leave the property in the condition they found it in, so if a guest steals a blender or punches a hole through the wall, you can notice it and receive compensation to fulfill the liabilities laid out in your agreement.
By using a short term rental inventory checklist between each stay and promptly dealing with any issues that may arise when completing it, you can ensure your next guests receive the best stay possible.
Short- and Medium-Term Rental Furnishings Checklist at a Glance
| Furnishing Category | What It Helps Hosts Prepare | Examples of Items |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen and Pantry | Helps make the rental functional for cooking, eating, and everyday guest use. | Appliances, dishes, cookware, utensils, pantry basics, cleaning items, and safety supplies. |
| Dining and Living Areas | Helps create comfortable shared spaces for meals, relaxing, and entertainment. | Dining furniture, seating, tables, lighting, coasters, games, books, and decor. |
| Bedrooms and Bathrooms | Helps guests feel comfortable, clean, and prepared throughout their stay. | Bed linens, pillows, blankets, towels, toiletries, mirrors, hooks, and bathroom essentials. |
| Outdoors and Miscellaneous | Helps support the full guest experience beyond the main living areas. | Patio furniture, grill supplies, outdoor lighting, welcome instructions, Wi-Fi details, first aid items, and cleaning supplies. |
What Does the Short- and Medium-Term Rental Furnishings Checklist Cover?
REI Grove’s short- and medium-term rental furnishings checklist helps landlords, hosts, and property owners think through the major areas of a furnished rental before guests arrive.
This checklist includes:
- Kitchen appliances and cookware
- Dining and living room furnishings
- Bedroom linens and storage
- Bathroom supplies and toiletries
Essential Furnishings for Each Room
Let's look at a few of the essential items each room in a short- or medium-term rental requires (for a full breakdown, download our checklist above).
The Kitchen
One of the things that make rentals more attractive than hotels is the access to a kitchen stocked with appliances, utensils, and a dining space. Home-cooked meals not only bring a feeling of comfortability to the rental, but they cut down on meal costs, too.
As you fill your rental's kitchen, ensure that each appliance has any necessary accessories as well. For example, a coffee maker will likely need filters and a measuring spoon for grounds, and it's a good idea to have an organization system already laid out for utensils like spoons and forks to keep the rental tidy. Knife blocks and organizers within the silverware drawer will encourage renters to keep the space clean, and it'll be easier for you to find and account for these things when going through your checklist following their stay.
The Dining Room
Your dining room will be one of the many places where guests will make memories and debrief the day's many activities.
This space can be primarily minimal but should at least include durable furniture and dining tables. It could also be a good idea to add nice decor like a centerpiece or attractive light feature above the dining table.
The Living Room
In addition to all the furnishings you typically associate with living rooms like a TV and couch, pay close attention to details like coasters and board games. If you own a beach property, consider adding themed decor or fun games and toys for your guests to enjoy on the seashore. Small items like these make a big difference when it comes to the comfortability of the tenants' stay, as does the presentation of basic items like the couch and chairs. Short term rental furniture doesn't need to be the fanciest, but comfortable, clean, and durable furniture will always make a good impression. And remember to clean all your furniture after each guest's stay.
The Bedrooms
When furnishing your rental bedrooms, a clean and tidy appearance should be top of mind. Tenants are more likely to feel comfortable in your space if bed linens are lightly colored, free of any stains or wrinkles, and soft. If you own a rental in an area with harsh winters or sweltering summers, be prepared. Have extra quilts or comforters in the linen closet, and provide layers if guests decide to shed a few blankets in the hotter months.
The Bathrooms
Bathrooms are another space where being fully stocked and exceptionally clean will pay off. Small details like nicely smelling hand soap or a well-lit mirror can be the difference between an okay stay and one guests find exceptional.
Outdoors and Miscellaneous
If your rental has outdoor space, furnishing it with even a few porch chairs or a small table can add to a guest's stay immensely. For those rentals with well sized decks, porches, or driveways, an outdoor grill can be a huge asset for guests looking to grill out in the summertime.
Lastly, don't forget those miscellaneous must-have items every vacation rental inventory checklist needs, like a list of house rules or a first-aid kit.
How Can a Furnishings Checklist Help Rental Owners?
A furnishings checklist gives rental owners a repeatable way to prepare the property before the first guest arrives and review it again between stays. Instead of relying on memory, hosts can use the checklist to confirm that important furniture, appliances, linens, toiletries, safety items, and guest instructions are in place.
This can be especially helpful as a short- or medium-term rental business grows. The more guests, turnovers, and properties a host manages, the easier it becomes to overlook small but important items. A checklist can help keep the guest experience more consistent.
Conclusion
Aspects like decor and neat landscaping will always endear vacationers and others to your property. This might be their relaxing time off or their temporary living arrangement while on a work assignment— either way, they will want to spend it somewhere that's clean and well-stocked. You can provide that top notch guest experience by being thorough in your preparation. Start today by downloading REI Grove’s short- and medium-term rental furnishings checklist at the top of this page.
FAQs
What is a short- or medium-term rental furnishings checklist?
A short- or medium-term rental furnishings checklist is a tool that helps rental owners track the furniture, appliances, supplies, and guest essentials needed to prepare a furnished rental property.
Why do furnished rentals need a checklist?
Furnished rentals often require more items than traditional long-term rentals. A checklist helps hosts remember room-by-room essentials and makes it easier to inspect, restock, and replace items between guest stays.
What should be included in a vacation rental inventory checklist?
A vacation rental inventory checklist may include kitchen appliances, cookware, dishes, pantry basics, living room furniture, bedroom linens, bathroom supplies, outdoor items, cleaning supplies, guest instructions, and safety essentials.
How often should landlords check rental furnishings?
Landlords and hosts should check furnishings and supplies before the first guest arrives and between guest stays. Regular checks can help identify damaged, missing, or worn items before they affect the next guest’s experience.
How can a furnishings checklist improve the guest experience?
A furnishings checklist can help hosts create a cleaner, more complete, and more comfortable stay. When guests have the items they need, they are more likely to feel at home and leave a positive impression of the property.