Many traveling couples that have children choose a vacation rental home over a hotel room because of the extra space needed for their little ones, especially if they want the freedom to bring along a playpen or toys along. It is important to make your home one that parents will notice when they are scoping the ads for rentals by having it stocked and ready for your little guests. Plus, you can add more to your renting price if there are children coming. Below I will let you in on a few secrets to having a very child friendly rental.

When marketing your vacation home to families, it is essential to realize that small children like to roam, and to get into things. Keep any breakable items off low tables, and only place them on high shelves

out of a toddler’s reach. Place safety plugs in any electrical outlets not in use so there will be no little fingers poking around inside them. Be sure to have “sippy” cups as well as child size plates and silverware in with the regular dishes. Not only will those things help the parents at meal time, it could also mean fewer spills and messes on your furniture and carpet. Also, having a highchair in the dining room and a crib or toddler bed in one of the bedrooms would be nice accommodations for families.

There are some nice things to have handy in the home for older children as well. Having a DVD player with a small collection of kids’ videos would make for a nice afternoon when the parents wish to stay in and rest. Video games are another great thing to have on hand when children are going to be staying in your rental. Coloring and story books, crayons, and small toys are also great things to provide in a home where there are likely to be children staying. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t go out and spend tons of money providing entertainment for children, but it is nice to have these amenities available…at least for the parents’ sake!

Be sure in your vacation rental advertising that you include any amenities designed to make the parents’ vacation a little less worrisome where their children are concerned. Highlight any child friendly items you have placed in the home, such as the highchair and bed mentioned above. Be sure to note the safety features of the home that will have the parent’s feeling good about their children staying in your vacation home for an extended period of time. If possible, include photos of families enjoying your home. This will be visual proof that you home is suitable for children.