Great Locations Can Make Average Properties Look Successful

One thing I've noticed is that many vacation rental reviews for properties in incredible locations have something in common. Guests talk about the view, the beach, the neighborhood, or how close it was to everything. But they rarely mention the design.

On the other hand, when a property is exceptionally designed, they do.

They talk about how beautiful the home was. They mention the design, the decor, the comfort, and how the space made them feel. They say they never wanted to leave. The home becomes part of the vacation instead of just the place they slept.

That's what makes me question one of the most common beliefs in the vacation rental industry.

I wonder how many owners have concluded that location is everything simply because their location has been good enough to carry an average property.

If you own a vacation rental in an incredible location and it books well year after year, it's easy to assume the location deserves most of the credit. And maybe it does. But if guests walk away remembering the beach and not the home, I have to wonder how much the property itself is really contributing to the experience.

The opposite is true, too. When a property in an average location struggles, it's easy to blame the location. But I wonder how often the design never gave that property a fair chance.

I'm not suggesting location doesn't matter. It absolutely does.

I'm suggesting that great locations can hide average design.

Here's an experiment.

Find the best-designed vacation rental in a market you're familiar with. Then find a comparable property in the same area with a similar size, amenities, and location, but average design.

Compare their nightly rates, and read their reviews.

Are guests only talking about the location? Or are they talking about the home, too?

If the better-designed property consistently commands a higher nightly rate while guests are also raving about the design, maybe location wasn't the only thing driving its success after all.

The best vacation rentals don't make guests choose between a great location and a memorable stay.

They give them both.