Vacation homes often exist in competitive markets. They must appeal to guests each year and dazzle them to stay popular. Use these tips to transform your summer house into the ultimate hangout spot. You’ll prepare it for your guests and make your property stand out in the ever-growing rental market.

1. Provide Comfortable Seating

When people browse potential vacation rental homes, they swipe through online listing photos and daydream about relaxing in each room. Inviting couches and outdoor patio sets appeal more to viewers than wooden rocking chairs or deflated sofa cushions.

Create the ultimate hangout spot inside and outside your vacation home by upgrading its seating. Guests should be able to socialize with their loved ones for hours without aches or pains. A new furniture set could be what your summer house needs to appeal to new and returning renters. Before snapping pictures, brush up on photography tips, such as the rule of thirds, to upload high-quality photos on your virtual listings.

2. Create a Focal Point

The best hangout spots always have a focal point that visually invites people to one area of a room or yard. It also makes the space a better place to relax than other areas of the property.

You can recreate this by adding focal points to the inside and outside of your summer house. Consider installing a built-in bookshelf around the TV in the living room or installing a fireplace on your patio. With easy comforts like this, your guests will enjoy spending a cozy evening outside next to a fire to roast marshmallows or escape the cool night breeze.

The maintenance of your focal point should also be easy. A gas fireplace is much easier to maintain than a wood-burning one, with no soot or ash to clean, which will allow it to uphold its elegant, modern appearance for longer. Bookshelves need no maintenance at all. You wouldn’t have to worry about scrubbing with cleaning solutions or hauling logs between guests to prepare your home for its next arrival.

3. Offer Complementary Features

Hotels attract guests in many ways, especially with amenities. Recreate the experience by having complementary features for your guests. People always appreciate a free box of chocolates or toiletries in each bathroom.

Provide beach towels and sunscreen if your home is near a waterfront venue. Anything guests can use for free will make your property the ultimate hangout spot because they don’t have to worry about bringing as much from home.

4. Install a Pool

People love pools because they offer so many benefits. You can relax on lounge chairs while your kids swim in the shallow end, exercise by swimming laps or float around with your friends while catching up.

Pools are luxury vacation home amenities that make people want to book properties over residences without them. They can relax indoors or outdoors and get more fun out of their rental fees.

Consider adding one to your property to transform your summer house into a relaxing place to cool off and get a return on your investment. Homeowners who install an in-ground pool see their property value increase by $27,199 on average and may be worth even more. It depends on the pool’s size and design.

You could also opt for an above-ground pool with design features that fit the surrounding landscape. Create a budget to find one that works with your transformation capabilities.

5. Include Beverage Equipment

Summer weather can be too warm, even with an evening breeze and a shady place to sit. Give your guests the comfort of refreshing drinks by including supplies that keep beverages cool. You could provide coolers free with every rental deposit or install a fridge on your screened-in porch.

You could also build an outdoor kitchenette area if you have a bigger budget. Guests could use the space to make meals under the stars while grabbing sodas, beer and wine from a mini-fridge. Something as small as a wine chiller that floats in your backyard pool would also be an excellent addition for anyone hanging out at your summer house.

6. Consider Your Home’s Design

If you walked into a vacation rental and found appliances or decor that went out of style decades ago, you’d likely wish you had chosen a more modern home. Outdated things make houses feel neglected and like no one has spent time there in years.

Reflect on your home’s interior and exterior design to upgrade whatever creates that vibe. Modern aesthetics with sleek lines, warm colors and visual weight will make your property a better place to hang out. These are a few additions you can consider when deciding how to improve your property’s design:

A minimalistic Scandinavian patio furniture set
An all-white tile backsplash in the kitchen
Earthy, neutral paint throughout the house
Decor with metallic accents
Smart technology like a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat and lights
Gauzy curtains to let in more sunlight

7. Include Kid-Friendly Fun

Parents know children need extra entertainment on vacations. They’re far from their toys and friends, so provide kid-friendly fun when you upgrade your summer house. Install a playset in the backyard and provide chalk if you have plenty of shade on your driveway.

Renters may appreciate inflating a pool that awaits them in your garage so their kids can splash around if you don’t have an in-ground or above-ground pool. Other forms of summer fun, like water sprinklers for little kids to run through and slides that hook up to garden hoses, will keep children of all ages entertained so the whole family enjoys their visit.

8. Connect Renters With Local Businesses

When people want to hang out, they want to take it easy. Being responsible for preparing dinner, providing drinks and cleaning up is hard work they want to leave at home. Your summer house will be the ultimate hangout spot if you connect your guests with local businesses that deliver to your front door.

Create a custom menu with nearby restaurants, ice cream parlors, and convenience stores with snacks and essentials. You could also make a chalk sign advertising seasonal town events happening that week or month. These additions give guests options that make their trip more fun and don’t require time or effort.

Create the Ultimate Summer Hangout Spot

Anyone can transform their summer house into an incredible getaway by using ideas like these. You’ll make your property a competitive rental venue by adding something for the whole family and get five-star reviews from guests who can’t imagine staying elsewhere.