A Short Guide to Help STR Owners Deal with Heavy Snowfall
How to Handle a Heavy Snowfall at Your Vacation Rental
As mountain-dwellers know well, springtime is one of highs and lows–while there are more warm days for vacation rental guests to enjoy, there’s also the possibility of heavy snowfall in locales like Park City and Lake Tahoe late into May. And while some snow is great for these ski towns whose denizens are always craving fresh powder, heavy snow can cause road closures, delays, and even damage to your property if you’re not adequately prepared.
If you ever wondered how to deal with big snowstorms as a vacation rental owner, we’ve written up a great guide for you. We’ll cover how to prepare for big storms, how to clear up the aftermath it leaves in its wake, and how to take care of your guests during a heavy snowstorm.
Before the Storm: How to Prepare Your Property for a Heavy Snowstorm
Trim Your Trees of Dead Branches
Savvy vacation rental owners know that snowstorms bring with them quite a bit of danger, and one of those dangers is the risk of falling tree limbs under the excess weight of snow. To avoid causing damage to your property or to your potential short-term rental guests, it’s wise to trim up your trees before any large snowstorm. For those who have trees with branches above the roofline, this is especially important–downed tree limbs could cause roof damage or even a collapse, causing thousands of dollars in repair costs. And if a guest gets injured due to falling tree branches, you’ll not only have a bad review, but you’ll also have to deal with homeowner’s insurance concerns as well.
Check Your Roof For Leaks
Another consideration to keep in mind is that, when the snow melts, it will seep through every leak and soft spot in your roof. If you already know that a winter storm is on its way, take some time to inspect your roof. Are there any spots that are damaged or water-damaged that need to be repaired? Get those taken care of before the snowfall begins–you’ll be glad you did when your roof holds up under the weight of the snow and the moisture it brings as it melts.
Take Steps to Prevent Freezing or Burst Pipes
The final important step to take before a snow or ice storm as a vacation rental owner is to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze and cause massive water damage to your property. There are a few ways to do this, including:
Keeping taps turned on very low (just a drip), so water is constantly flowing, especially if pipes are exposed
Cracking open your cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate near your pipes
Turning your thermostat up to 60 degrees to prevent any ice from forming
Ensure that your garage doors are closed at all times
If you have enough time, additional insulation around your pipes and water lines can be helpful in preventing them from freezing
After the Storm: Tips for Clearing the Snow
De-Ice and Remove Snow from Driveway and Walkways
After the storm’s fury has abated, the very first thing you should do as a vacation rental owner is to clear off the driveway, sidewalks, and stairs of any snow and apply your de-icer. Grab your shovel or send out a snow removal team to help you with this task–it’s of the utmost importance to prevent any accidents or injuries from occurring. If necessary, repeat these tasks daily until all of the excess snow has melted and ice is no longer forming on the moist parts of the sidewalk and stairs.
As the Snow Melts, Inspect Property for Damage
Once the snow has begun to melt or dissipate, you’ll want to ensure that there is no further damage to your property. After the melting has commenced, take a walk around your outdoor areas and inspect your trees, outdoor furniture, and the exterior of your property for any possible harm that may have occurred. Take note of the damages and get them repaired as soon as possible–if you can shore up your home to make sure no damage happens again, even better.
What About Vacation Rental Guests? How to Handle Heavy Snowfall with Guests
Let Your Guests Know About Heavy Storms in Advance
Guests are an important consideration to keep in mind when heavy snowfall is on the horizon. If you have guests booked for a time when a big snowstorm is expected, be sure to let them know in advance that they will probably encounter some intense winter weather conditions. If possible, give guests advice on a route to your property that is the safest in these conditions, and advise them to contact you if they run into any trouble. While they might be in town to enjoy the winter weather, sometimes it gets a bit too intense, so be sure to warn them in advance when snow storms might be occurring.
Create a Winter Weather Survival Kit for Guest Emergencies
Our final tip to help you handle your guests during a snowstorm, blizzard, or other winter weather is to build up an emergency winter weather survival kit in the event of a power outage. While most homes in snow-prone towns run on gas heating, there is a possibility that the heat could go out as well. When building your cold-weather survival kit for your vacation rental guests, be sure to include:
Flashlights with extra sets of new batteries
Hand-crank, solar, or car charger for cell phones
Power bank to keep electronics charged
Water supply for 3 days
Emergency radio
First aid kit
Extra blankets, hats, and gloves
Check Out More STR Owner Tips on the LocalVR Blog
Heavy snowfall can put a damper on your vacation rental business, but thankfully it’s only a temporary setback to deal with. If you are adequately prepared beforehand and put in the extra effort for your guests, you’ll be able to sail through snow storms with ease and come out the other side with minimal damage.
Curious on other ways to improve your offering as an STR owner? Check out our tips for remotely managing your vacation rental or our advice on ways to make guest check-ins fast and efficient.