Your Guide to Creating a Unique Vacation Rental
The Benefits Of Standing Out
The rise of unique vacation rentals was a natural trend, as some guests always seek out one-of-a-kind accommodations. However, the pandemic significantly accelerated this trend, leading to a surge in interest for eclectic rentals. With many popular destinations unavailable in 2020, travelers turned to unique properties, and according to The Hustle, searches for “unique” rentals surged by 91% during the first half of 2021.
Owning a unique property could be a boon to your short-term rental business and it can even help keep you afloat during tough economic times. Today, we’ll explore the benefits of owning a unique vacation property and give you a few tips on creating the unique vacation rental of your guest’s dreams.
The Benefits of Owning a Unique Vacation Rental
Not only can owning a unique property help you get more bookings and stay booked throughout the year, it’s also just an easy way to set yourself apart from the competition in your area.
Unique properties are so popular on Airbnb, for instance, that in 2022 a new category was added to the site called OMG!, which showcases all of the most unique and interesting properties on the platform. The most-booked (and most wish-listed) home on the platform is also a unique property–the Mushroom Dome, a geodesic dome located in California, is so booked up that even the owner’s children have to compete with guests for a night in the coveted space.
Kristie Wolfe, creator of the famed Hobbit Inn in Washington and the Potato Hotel in Idaho, also owes all of her success to constructing unique vacation rentals. With a shoestring budget, she was able to construct one-of-a-kind properties that draw in guests despite their remote locations, and her properties are typically booked up for over a year in advance.
Although your property might not be quite as rare as the Mushroom Dome or the Hobbit Inn, injecting some unique characteristics into your build can help you to attract guests looking for a totally different experience than what other rentals can provide.
How to Make Your Unique Vacation Rental A Success
Be Creative, Especially When Building a New Construction
Unique properties begin with creative ideas, so it’s important to give a spark of creativity to your construction plans and your decor so that you can appeal to guests who are craving a once-in-a-lifetime accommodation.
If you’re starting a new construction, you can certainly work with an architect to come up with viable plans, but usually the best vacation rentals are ones that have been created by the owners themselves, such as Kristie Wolfe’s incredible homes. The important thing, however, is for the home to be distinctive, as the goal is for the property to be a destination in itself that people from all over the world will travel to.
Investigate and Learn From Your Competition
Once you’ve come up with an idea for your unique vacation rental, take some time to research what’s already out there.
For instance, if you’re creating a Mario-themed home for Nintendo lovers, investigate other similar properties on Airbnb to get a good idea of what nightly rates they charge and how popular they are. This will not only help you to gauge interest for your own unique property, it can also allow you to generate more ideas that will set you apart from the competition. Are they missing something that you could provide? Are there any opportunities to be even better than what’s out there? Ask yourself these types of questions when you’re taking a look at your competition, and it’ll only help to make your vacation rental even more unique.
Market Your Listing Differently
Rather than relying solely on your location and property type to help you get bookings, running a unique vacation rental gives you the opportunity to market your listing in new and innovative ways. It’s a given that you should add your listing to Airbnb’s OMG! Category for some exposure, but savvy short-term rental owners will also understand that the media loves stories about interesting and unique properties and they will leverage that accordingly.
Kristie Wolf, owner of the famed Potato Hotel, was able to generate over $1 million in free press when she went viral for purchasing a gigantic concrete potato that she then converted into a short-term rental. Even if you don’t go viral, however, there are plenty of chances for you to get into local media outlets such as newspapers and TV stations. It’s also a good idea to have a website and social media accounts for your rental, as these are great ways to market a unique property.
If You Can Dream It, You Can Build It
There’s no denying the rise in popularity of unique vacation rentals, and if you’re looking for a way to set yourself apart from the competition, creating a unique rental could be the way to go. Not only will you see the benefits when it comes to revenue and occupancy rates, you’ll also get a chance to be featured in the media for tons of free advertising.
Searching for more ways to make your vacation rental business a success? Check out our guide to screening your guests for better experiences or get some insight into the best short-term rental listing platforms with our data-driven analysis.