How To Prevent Parties at Your Vacation Home

Don’t let your property become the latest Airbnb social nightmare. Learn how to prevent your short-term rental from becoming a party house.

Did you know there has been an increase in Airbnb and other short-term rental parties? The surge could be due to people yearning for social interaction after COVID lockdowns. If you’re an Airbnb host or regularly rent out your second home to vacationers, a house full of rowdy party-goers is the last thing you want. Parties are a nightmare for many Airbnb hosts and property managers. The internet is flooded with horror stories of vacation rentals trashed after a guest decided to host a gathering. Plus, parties can be a nuisance for neighbors trying to sleep and damage the property, leaving managers or landlords struggling to clean, arrange repairs, and bill guests.

Partying has become such an issue that Airbnb officially banned unauthorized house parties. But the new ban still hasn’t stopped some. However, as a short-term rental owner, you can do things to prevent parties at vacation rentals.

5 Tips to Discourage Parties at Your Vacation Rental

Naturally, you want your houseguests to have fun at your home. But there’s a line between having a good time and being disruptive. One of the biggest strifes in the vacation rental industry is rude guests and agitated neighbors. Guests should be respectful of your home, the neighbors, and your house rules. So how can you avoid house parties at your vacation rental or Airbnb?

Here are 5 things you can do to discourage and prevent Airbnb parties.

Tip #1: Have House Rules Stated in the Listing and Guest Contract

You should use house rules to set firm expectations before a guest walks through the front door. Parties at short-term rentals are usually pre-planned, so it’s best to let guests know parties are not allowed in the listing before they book. Choose restrictions that apply to your home and include them in your house rules. All guests must accept the rules before booking, which is helpful to avoid unforeseen surprises during the stay.

One thing to remember here is keeping the rules within reason. Massive lists of restrictions could discourage guests (even the ones who aren’t interested in partying). So be clear about your expectations but keep the tone warm and welcoming.

Tip #2: Guest Screening

Try to get to know your guest a little better. Vet your guests by checking out past reviews, guest profiles, background checks, and keeping the communication line open. You can avoid lousy house guests by speaking to them on the phone before confirming their reservations.

Ask a few non-invasive questions to get a feel for what kind of guest they will be. Some common questions you can ask include:

• What’s the reason for your stay?

• Do you have any plans while you’re here?

• How many guests will be staying at the home?

• Will you be inviting other guests to the property during your stay?

If their answers spark a red flag, consider passing and opting for another potential guest to avoid any problems.

Tip #3: Use Monitoring Technology

Prevent parties at vacation rentals using tech tools. NoiseAware is a simple noise detector with an app that can monitor and track noise. Parakeet is a sound sensor detector that will alert you as soon as the recorded noise level in your home becomes suspicious. A video door monitor can help track whoever comes to the property, and smoke monitoring devices can detect cigarette or marijuana smoke. Another tool to consider is Partysquasher, a device that detects a possible party by counting mobile devices within a range. The tool even works if the phones aren’t connected to your Wi-Fi network.

Tip #4: Reinforce House Rules

Even though you may not live there, respecting the neighborhood, neighbors, and your home is critical. Once your guests arrive, a little rule refresh won’t hurt. There’s nothing wrong with giving your guests a friendly reminder that your property has a strict no-party policy. You might want to let them know you have sensitive neighbors or that you have had bad experiences with houseguests in the past breaking rules.

As always, keep things professional and friendly. You don’t want to make your guests feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.

Tip #5: Work With a Local Property Management Company

You can help prevent parties at vacation rentals or your Airbnb by partnering with a local property manager. If you don’t live in the same area as your rental or don’t want to take on the responsibility, a nearby manager can check on the property and be there if a problem with a guest arises.

A short-term property manager also runs the property for you, meaning they take care of guests, arrange cleanings and supplies, find the best guests, and go through extra hoops to take care of your short-term rental, while maximizing revenue for you.

We’re Here to Help

Avoid house parties at Airbnb with Standout Stays. We focus on Sonoma Airbnb management and short-term rentals. Our property managers work hard to only rent your home to the best possible houseguests while taking on the responsibility of your home.

Trust our Sonoma short-term property managers with your investments. To learn more about how we can help, please get in touch today.