Tips for Owning a Vacation Rental in Jackson Hole

More than 2.6 million people visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming each year. Not only do we have one of the top ski resorts in the United States, Jackson also offers year-round attractions for tourists. In fact, summer is our most popular season! 
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Why do people love visiting Jackson? A vacation in Jackson gives you access to not one, but two national parks: Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Plus, we offer world-class skiing, shopping, luxurious spas, dining, museums, and concerts. We host Elk Fest in May, Grand Teton Music Festival in July and August, and the Fall Arts Festival and Wildlife Film Festival every September. 

Jackson’s tourism industry is buzzing, which might have you wondering if owning a vacation rental might be right for you. A short-term vacation rental can provide additional income, while giving you a fun way to connect visitors to the local community. If you’re thinking about investing in a vacation property, or already own a property in Jackson Hole, here are a few tips.  

Know the Rental Regulations in Your Area

Before investing in a rental property in Jackson, make sure you read your HOA, municipal, and state regulations and bylaws thoroughly. These regulations are intended to sustain the value of your property and protect it in the long term. Teton County designates specific areas that may or may not allow rental properties for stays less than 31 days. It’s important to comply with short-term rental regulations in order to support the long-term success of your property and avoid violation fines.

Update the Interior of Your Rental Property

Updating the interior of your rental home with clean lines, minimalist design, and luxury finishes will set your property apart. First-time rental property owners often feel compelled to control costs by cutting corners on the initial updates, but luxury amenities, furnishings, and finishing touches can be the determining factor for people seeking a vacation stay. 
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While designing the interior of your rental property, make sure to include elements that connect to the local area. For example, in Jackson Hole we love our elk and we live for skiing. Incorporating elk antlers or ski decor, local art, and products made by local vendors will add a nice touch to the style of your rental property. Every little detail can create a memorable vacation in Jackson Hole, and encourages repeat renters. 

Update and Maintain Your Home Exterior

The exterior of your rental property is important for two reasons. First, having beautiful outdoor amenities is a big draw for vacationers wanting to spend quality time in the great outdoors. Second, the exterior of the home—including your siding, gutters, roof, and windows—protect the inside. Care for your rental property like it’s your own home with regular roof maintenance, exterior painting, consistent lawncare and landscaping, and repairs when necessary.

Provide an Experience, Not Just a Place to Stay

Think about the best vacation you’ve ever had. You may not remember every detail of the place you stayed, but you probably remember the experience. As a rental property owner, it’s important to provide an exceptional Jackson Hole experience. 
Give your guests a seamless, personable process for checking in and out. Welcome your guests with some elk jerky, samples from a local distillery, or a bag of coffee from one of our local roasters. Offer suggestions for local attractions, events, and things to do while in town. Provide helpful amenities, like daily snow removal during the winter months. Think of how you can create an incredible, and unique, customer service experience. 

Protect Your Investment

Renting out a home to vacationers poses the risk of property damage. In addition to property insurance and security measures, make sure you have policies in place to protect your rental property. This could include pet guidelines, smoking policies, and capacity restrictions. You should also screen your guests in a legal and non-discriminatory way. Ask screening questions, verify their identification, collect a security deposit, or use guest screening software. This helps ensure that your guests are who they say they are and intend to treat your home with care.

Use a Dynamic Pricing Model

Pricing a rental property can be tricky, but dynamic pricing allows you to increase prices when your property is in high demand and offer more competitive rates during low-traffic seasons. While Jackson is known for our ski resort, summer is our most popular time for visitors. Using a dynamic pricing model you can raise your nightly rate during summer, ski season, and special events. 

At MD Roofing, we offer reliable roofing and snow removal services for residential and commercial properties throughout Wyoming and Idaho. Whether you’re investing in a home for yourself or vacationers, we offer new roofs, re-roofs, and roof repairs to help protect your home all year long. Contact us today for a free roof inspection.