AZRT’s Super Bowl Hosting Pre-Game Prep Series

by | Feb 7, 2023 | Guides & Best Practices, Resources

Whether you’re new to hosting or have been short-term renting for years, AZRT has you covered with a detailed 5-step series to get you Super Bowl ready. With the big game upon us, now is the time to ensure you are taking every possible step to make sure your property is safe, your guests are prepared, and you have a plan in place for nuisance issues should they arise.

Super Bowl Prep, Part 1: House Rules

House rules are there to protect you, your home, your guests, and your neighbors. At a minimum, include rules on quiet hours, guest and vehicle limits, parking, garbage disposal, and pets and the fines or penalties for not adhering to them. Your city likely has its own ordinance codes on these items, including citations and fines, but even if it doesn’t, it’s best to create your own.

But documenting your rules isn’t enough. It’s important to make sure your guests have read and understand the rules. While you can require guests to acknowledge the rules in writing, it’s also helpful to maintain good communication with guests before and during their stay. But don’t worry – you don’t have to sound like a nag when sharing your rules with them! Check out our guides below to craft house rules that will protect you and convey them to guests in a way that will still deliver a great guest experience.

Super Bowl Prep, Part 2: Noise Prevention

Noise accounts for approximately 75% of neighbor nuisance complaints, and one bad experience for your neighbors can ruin your reputation as a conscientious host or manager. Furthermore, it is far more effective and cheaper to prevent nuisance issues from the start with a Noise Management Plan than it is to rectify a problem after it occurs.

During the Super Bowl and other major events, neighbors and police will be on high alert for nuisance disturbances. If you don’t live on site at your STR, use technology like a noise monitoring system to head off neighbor disruption before it happens. Noise monitoring solutions will alert you or your property manager when noise levels begin to become worrisome, and data shows that responding quickly to a simple noise alert will have guests quieting down within 15 minutes about 80% of the time.

If guests don’t respond quickly, it will be time to go to plan B, which usually involves activating a friend, family member, or contracted service provider who can show up on site to check in on the property. Think of this as the equivalent of the front desk manager heading up to a hotel room to knock on the door when phone outreach doesn’t solve a noise issue. Because noise issues can occur at any hour, 24-hour coverage is necessary, as is having a person at the property within 45 minutes.

Additionally, ensuring guests are familiar with quiet hours and expectations is critical. This can be done with pre-arrival messaging, on-site messaging and signage, as well as in-person check-ins or welcome phone calls upon arrival.

Super Bowl Prep, Part 3: Guest Vetting 

As tempting as it may be to take as many bookings as you can get, gatekeeping your property from problem guests is one of the best gifts you can give yourself as a host. By setting strict house rules and higher standards for your bookings – and then sticking to them – you’ll end up with better guests who are happier with and take good care of your property, better reviews, and more peace of mind.

Plus, during Super Bowl weekend and other major events, neighbors and police will have their antennas up for disruptive (or worse) guests, and, sadly, major events create higher risks for things like human trafficking and fraud. Thorough vetting practices are more important for yourself and your community now than ever.

Super Bowl Prep, Part 4: Property Preparations 

Getting your STR ready to host guests is about more than just having the right linens and stocking the right guest amenities. Proper prep requires a multi-dimensional audit of your property and operational processes to not only ensure a great guest experience but also make sure you are protected from several potential liabilities. The following is not an exhaustive list, but it does provide a number of things to consider. What your property needs is unique to each STR.

Outside the property: 

  • Do you have the minimum required parking? 
  • Is your trash stowed properly and do you have a process in place for it being brought to and from the curb on time? 
  • Do you have adequate lighting at night, eliminated trip hazards, and proper pool barriers and signage? 
  • Do you have necessary security features in place, such as cameras, noise monitors, and proper locks?
  • Is your deck up to code?

Inside the property: 

  • Is your property cleaned to a professional hospitality standard?
  • Are hazardous or dangerous items safely kept out of reach of kids and pets?
  • Do you have any personal or delicate belongings you need to lock away?
  • Is your wifi speed fast enough for multiple guests to stream, download, and work from their devices?
  • Are things like TVs and stereos properly set up for guest use?
  • Is your kitchen stocked with the cookware and diningware guests might need?
  • Do you have all necessary safety requirements, including (but definitely not limited to) smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency information, first-aid kits, and egress?
  • Do you have the right property insurance? (Standard homeowner’s insurance is not enough.)
  • Are all door and window locks functioning properly, and are handrails secure?

In short, you must do your due diligence to ensure your property is truly guest ready. The following resources can help you answer these questions and many others. 

Super Bowl Prep, Part 5: Pre-stay and in-stay communication

The big weekend is almost here! That means it’s now time for top notch pre-stay and in-stay communication with your guests. Communicating well not only shows you care about their great guest experience, but also that you’re a responsible host who keeps an eye on your property – so no funny business.

In addition to making sure guests can access your property and discover great local businesses and attractions, reiterating your house rules and encouraging neighborly guest behavior is important. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a helicopter host or curmudgeon about it. Check out our resources below to friendly but firm guest communications.