Summer Safety Tips for Your STR with Breezeway and Hospitable

When travelers choose a place to stay during their vacations, they look for comfort, style, and peace of mind. So, what should you do to make your short-term rental safer for your guests and protect your business from accidents?

For our latest Hospitable Masterclass, we invited Justin Ford, an internationally recognized expert in vacation rental safety and Director of Short-Term Rental Safety & Certification Programs at Breezeway. From STR injury statistics to outdoor safety measures to installing security equipment, Justin shared valuable insights and practical tips on creating and maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for your guests.

Watch the full Hospitable Masterclass to discover how to minimize safety risks for guests to ensure that every stay is memorable and protect your business.

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Short-Term Rentals Injury Statistics

Justin begins his presentation by emphasizing the importance of keeping short-term rental properties in good order. “Now, every 44 seconds on average, someone is injured in a short-term rental, and by the way, that’s more often than every time someone is injured in their own home,” Justin points out. That happens because people who stay in a short-term rental are not as familiar with the property as with their own home.

“The National Safety Council tells us it should make sense over 50% of the injuries we human beings encounter in our lives are in the home,” Justin clarifies. “You’re most likely to get injured in your own home more so than you are in a car accident, or playing golf, or going water skiing.” For example, in 2022, 36 million people had to go to the hospital because of some injury in their homes.

Justin explains that when you open your home to STR guests, they trust you, so it’s your responsibility to ensure their safety and minimize the risks of accidents. “An American is accidentally injured every second and killed every three minutes by a preventable event. I firmly believe that the one thing you can do is make a short-term rental safe,” he states.

Stats also show that injuries that make people go to the hospital skyrocket in the summer when 78% of the population is on vacation. This means that “you need to be an expert at short-term rental safety and home safety before you can share your home,” Justin underlines.

By taking proactive measures, you can minimize the risk of accidents and allow your guests to fully immerse themselves in their vacation experience. This can increase guest satisfaction, positive reviews, and repeat bookings, allowing you to build a sustainable business. And if you automate your hosting routine using vacation rental software like Hospitable, you’ll make your business more efficient and save a lot of time.

Common Risks STR Hosts Need to Address In Summer

As the presentation continues, Justin looks at different issues that vacation rental hosts need to address during the summer, including fire pit and grill risks and hazards, and illustrates his detailed explanation with suitable examples. He offers practical recommendations on safety precautions to prevent accidents and keep your guests safe. Justin also discusses possible safety issues in a short-term rental property, which was live on Airbnb, and points out some red flags that are often overlooked.

Smoke Alarms Maintenance

Talking about different types of smoke alarms, Justin notes that commercial alarm systems are the best because they don’t need as much maintenance and inspection as consumer alarms. “They’re a little bit more expensive, but they’re worth it,” he underlines.

Justin further discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different consumer smoke alarms. He emphasizes that it’s essential to carefully read and follow all the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure your device works properly.

“Clean your smoke alarm at least once a month—gently vacuum the outside or use a soft brush attachment. Never use water-cleaning solvents,” Justin recommends. “What happens by not doing is that the dust spill builds up, and then it sets off the alarm,” he explains. Justin also points out that smoke alarms are only good for ten years—after that, they have a 27% failure rate.

Safety as a Marketing Advantage

“Make your property safe. It’s not expensive. Safety is good. You should support it,” recommends Justin. He supports this statement with an example. One woman has done Breezeway’s safety program for four years. A couple of years ago, she changed the name of her listing from Luxury Mountain Retreat to Safe Mountain Retreat. “Guess what? Her bookings went up 9%. Now she’s fully booked all the time,” Justin points out.

Today, travelers care about safety and want to find it when searching for accommodation online, so if you can meet that, it’s an excellent way to market your property. Justin says that Breezeway has all kinds of safety checklists to help you keep your home safe and meet your guests’ expectations.

Watch the full Hospitable Masterclass to discover how to protect your vacation rental property and enhance your guests’ experience during the summer season.