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Hiring professional service providers to maintain your vacation rental home

Elizabeth Weedon | Updated 1/27/2025
Hiring professional service providers to maintain your vacation rental home

Let's face it — it takes a village. Whether you live near your rental home or far away, you probably rely on professionals to help both before and during the rental season. It’s a good idea to get those services lined up for the upcoming season as soon as possible. Here are three helpful tips for building your support team:

1. Select reputable service providers

If you’re looking for trustworthy businesses in your area, take a look at our Home Services Directory. This directory provides access to local business websites and contact information, and allows you to search by town or region.

Which services should be top of mind?

The most important service to arrange is your professional house cleaner. (See our post about hiring and managing housecleaners.) If you’re not present during turnovers, cleaners can be your best witness to your home’s condition after vacationers leave. Clearly communicate your expectations and ask them to report any unusual findings.

2. Line up these services before the season begins

  • House cleaner
  • Landscaper or lawn mowing service
  • Trash/recycling pick-up (notify guests of the schedule)
  • Linen delivery (if you don’t provide linens)
  • Spring clean-ups (interior and exterior)
  • Appliance repair
  • Pest control
  • Tree service
  • Carpet cleaning
  • Window cleaning
  • Property management
  • Emergency contacts for repairs or unexpected events

3. Have a list of services that may interest your tenants

  • Equipment rentals (baby furniture, medical supplies, etc.)
  • Bike rentals and recreational equipment (boats, kayaks, canoes, etc.)
  • Caterers and chefs
  • Drivers and transportation
  • Fitness and beauty services

You can refer your guests to our Vacation Planner, which, like our Home Services Directory, provides access to location-specific businesses. It also includes activities, events, restaurants, shopping, transportation, a guide to local beaches, and articles about the Cape and Islands.

If you know of a business not listed in our Home Services Directory or Vacation Planner, feel free to recommend them to us or submit a review about any business you know.

About Elizabeth Weedon

About Elizabeth Weedon: I worked for WeNeedaVacation from 2008 until I retired in 2023. I was also one of the first vacation rental owners on the site in early 1998, when I managed my family’s Vineyard rental home. An enthusiastic member of the support staff, I provided fellow Cape and Islands vacation rental owners with advice about online marketing and rental management techniques. I created and edited much of the content on the website, as well as blogs posts and monthly newsletters. I now live on Martha’s Vineyard full time with my family.