Property managers already know that one of the key aspects of managing a vacation rental is maintaining a well-equipped inventory of home essentials across your portfolio of rental properties to meet your guests' needs. From the kitchen to the bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, and even outdoors, having a comprehensive inventory checklist is crucial for a successful rental business.

In this guide, we'll provide you with a complete vacation rental inventory checklist to help you ensure your property is well-stocked and ready to welcome guests. Beyond this list, we’ll provide insight into how to track and scale this inventory across multiple properties and locations.

Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the key differentiators between short-term rentals and hotels and is often why guests choose to book a vacation home versus a hotel based on their trip needs. Making sure the kitchen is well stocked with cooking essentials for guests to make the most out of having access to a kitchen is key to creating a seamless guest experience.

This can be harder than it sounds as it’s difficult to anticipate all of the cooking utensils that a guest might need. Stocking your kitchen is not a one-and-done approach, it’s important to check your kitchen inventory between each guest stay to make sure items aren’t missing or broken.

Kitchen Appliances

• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Coffee maker
• Kettle
• Dishwasher
• Oven
• Stovetop
• Toaster
• Air fryer
• Blender

Cookware

• Pots and pans
• Skillet
• Mixing bowls
• Cookie sheet
• Saucepan
• Cutting boards
• Colander

Dinnerware

• Dinner plates
• Salad plates
• Bowls
• Kid-friendly dishes and cups

Glassware

• Water glasses
• Wine glasses
• Mugs

Utensils

• Flatware and cutlery
• Steak knives
• Cooking knives
• Serving utensils
• Spatula
• Ladle
• Wisk
• Tongs
• Rolling pin
• Ice cream scooper
• Pizza cutter
• Cheese grater

Pantry

• Olive oil
• Cooking spray
• Salt and pepper
• Seasonings
• Individual sugar packets
• Flour
• Tea and coffee

Miscellaneous

• Oven mitts
• Dish towels
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Sponges
• Dish soap
• Coffee filters
• Bottle opener
• Wine opener
• Garbage can
• Garbage bags
• Tin foil and saran wrap
• Storage bags

Bedrooms

Creating a comfortable environment for guests to sleep is the bare minimum when it comes to furnishing and supplying a bedroom. To impress guests, invest in high-thread-count sheets and high-quality pillows. You want your guests to enjoy their bedroom so much that they’re reaching out to ask where the bed linens are from. Especially in a vacation rental destination, rest and relaxation are exactly what guests are looking for.

Furniture

• Bed
• Bedside tables
• Dresser
• Kettle
• Full-length mirror
• SmartTV with streaming services

Linens

• Extra pillows
• Extra bed sheets
• Extra throw blankets and comforters

Miscellaneous

• Clothing hangers
• Black-out blinds
• Ceiling fan or air conditioning system
• Alarm clock
• Iron or steamer and ironing board

Bathroom

While guests usually bring most of their own toiletries they do expect some of the bigger items like towels and hair dryers to be provided. Having additional amenities such as lotions and soaps can add an extra personal touch and be a great place to add your company branding.

Basics

• Toilet paper
• Tissues
• Hand towels
• Face towels
• Bath towels
• Bath mat

Toiletries

• Hand soap
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash/ bar of soap
• Lotion

Miscellaneous

• Plunger and toilet brush
• Trash can with extra trash bags
• Hair dryer
• Shower cap
• Cotton swabs

Living room & dining room

This is where guests will spend most of their communal time together. Make it an enjoyable and welcoming space where guests want to congregate, and offer enough seating for the maximum number of guests staying.

Appliances

• TV with streaming services
• Stable high-speed WiFi
• Speakers

Furnishings

• Couch
• Coffee table
• Side tables
• Dining tables and chairs

Miscellaneous

• Board games
• Books
• Extra throw pillows and blankets
• Decor and art
• Table settings
• Remote controls

Outdoors

The outdoor features of your home will depend on many different factors, such as the property type, the guest type you’re appealing to, outdoor space, and the climate you’re located in, but here are a few ideas for outdoor amenities to consider stocking at your vacation rentals.

• Grill
• Fire pit
• Hot tub
• Pool
• Patio furniture
• Outdoor seating
• Potted plants
• Hammock
• Outdoor lighting
• Bikes, scooters, golf carts
• Kid-friendly games like chalk, jump rope, and basketball

Cleaning supplies

We recommend keeping basic cleaning supplies accessible in your properties for guests to use in case of accidents or clean-up during longer-term stays. Depending on your turnover processes, you may choose to stock your homes with additional cleaning supplies for your housekeeping teams or have them bring them themselves.

• Vacuum cleaner
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets
• Broom and dustpan
• Mop
• Cleaning spray (surface cleaner, spot remover, etc.)
• Scrub brushes
• Rubber gloves

Safety

Last, but certainly not least is vacation rental safety equipment. In case of an emergency, make sure guests are informed about the safety measures you have in place at the property like the location of the first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Guests are in an unfamiliar home and location with amenities like pools and hot tubs that they’re not familiar with which can cause more accidents. These simple supplies can save lives and prevent injury.

• Smoke detectors
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Proper outdoor lighting
• Hot tub covers / pool gates if applicable
• Emergency contact card for local assistance

By following this comprehensive vacation rental inventory checklist, you can ensure that your property is well-equipped to meet the needs of your guests. Providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience for your renters will not only result in positive reviews and repeat bookings but also help you maintain a successful vacation rental business. Remember to regularly inspect and restock your inventory to keep your property in top condition and delight your guests with every stay.

Tips for managing your vacation rental inventory

Automate your stock and inventory management

Ensuring your vacation rental properties are well-stocked with necessities and amenities is tricky. There's making sure you have the supplies on hand to replenish items after each stay, monitoring real-time changes in Inventory and tracking associated costs to forecast expenses and capture billables from homeowners.

Breezeway's inventory management program uses data from property care tasks to help you manage your inventory and maintain high-quality properties.

• Add regular checks to cleaner checklists, so they never forget to restock key items and make checking everything a normal part of their turnaround routine.
• Schedule periodic maintenance checks, with a separate Airbnb inspection checklist, to keep track of things like battery levels on smart devices, lightbulbs, cleanliness of hot tubs and coffee machines, and pool water pH levels.
• Automate deliveries to your properties so you never run out of fuel, coffee beans, disinfectant, window cleaner, or toiletries.

Using automation technology lets you not only equip your rentals with the ultimate inventory and appliances, but keep them sparkling, functioning, and up-to-date, too (in less time, and with less stress).

Frequently asked questions about vacation rental inventory checklists

How do I keep track of my vacation rental inventory?

You can sync your calendar with an operations management platform like Breezeway, which tracks inventory and auto-schedules cleaning and maintenance tasks. You can also plan periodic checks and inspections with dedicated checklists, to ensure that everything in your rental remains in working order.

What are the essential items in a vacation rental?

Beyond the obvious items like beds, sheets, towels, kitchen plates, and cutlery, you may want to install smart kitchen appliances, smart entertainment devices, and smart home technology.