A growing trend in the travel industry acknowledges the need to move towards making vacation rentals more accessible for travelers with disabilities. In fact, up to 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability while 12.1% of adults have a mobile disability that impacts walking and climbing stairs. For property owners, it's important to consider the impact of making homes accessible for people with disabilities and encouraging guests from all walks of life to come vacation on the beautiful Outer Banks. Making your home wheelchair and mobility-aid friendly will not only boost revenue by increasing bookings while gaining more positive reviews, but it's also an inclusive and thoughtful thing to do. Keep reading to learn more about ways to make your vacation rental more accessible for people with cognitive or mobile disabilities, current regulations for a home to be considered "handicap accessible" per the ADA, and where you can go to get more information about owning an accessible vacation rental.
Benefits of Making Your Rental More Accessible
There Aren't Many Accessible Rentals
A recent study noted that less than 1% of short-term rentals in the US are accessible with 23 states not having any accessible properties at all. Set your vacation rental apart by including additional amenities for accessibility. This will not only give your listing the chance to stand out, but it will also fill an important gap for a large portion of the population.
Widen Your Marketable Audience
And speaking of that large portion of the population, with 27% of adults in the US identifying as disabled in some way, by including accessibility features in your listing, you'll widen your marketable audience. That is a large portion of the population who may not feel comfortable staying in a non-accessible vacation rental. By adding accessibility features to your home, you'll be able to rent to a much larger portion of the population, which is always good for getting more bookings.
Encourage Repeat Guests
By making your property more accessible, due to the limited market, you're also more likely to have more repeat guests which is always a plus for vacation rentals. Encourage people to stay with you over and over, creating a consistent income for you and a routine vacation spot for them. There's also a good chance that these repeat guests will refer your rental to their friends and family, again increasing bookings.
Receive More Positive Reviews
In addition to personal referals, when your home is more accessible, you're apt to receive more positive reviews. Because of how few accessible homes there are on the market, people are going to be excited to stay in your home. This means there's a greater chance of them leaving a review and highlighting what your property has to offer. More positive reviews leads to more bookings and the cycle repeats.
Tips For Making Your Rental More Accessible
Accessibility for People with Sensory Disabilities
- Choose lighting that is more natural with CRI (color rendering index) as close to 100 as possible.
- Avoid flickering lights.
- Consider whether or not the lights make sound.
- Consider window tinting or anti-glare coatings to prevent glares.
- Install dimmable lights.
- Decorate with muted colors.
- Choose a monochromatic color scheme.
- Avoid too much clutter.
Accessibility for for People with Mobile Disabilities
- Install a roll-in shower.
- Include an elevator - and ensure it's operational.
- Ensure that there is space to around between furniture and walls
- Install a roll-under sink.
- Have a microwave that is reachable from a wheelchair.
- Replace stairs/steps with ramps.
- Install handrails and grab bars throughout the home.
- Remove rugs.
- Replace doorknobs with lever handles.
- Purchase ADA-compliant appliances.
Accessibility for People Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Ensure closed captions are available on all TVs.
- Use a vibrating door bell system.
- Consider acoustics when looking at flooring, ceilings, and window insulation.
- Install whisper-quiet appliances to eliminate painful and/or distracting noise pollution.
Accessibility for People with Visual Impairments/Blindness
- Install additional lighting under counters and in cabinets.
- Maneuver furniture to create clear paths around the home.
- Avoid sharp-edged furniture and decor.
- Install fluorescent tape on stairs and steps.
- Install non-slip flooring or flooring with warning textures in front of steps, stairs, and doorways.
ADA Requirements to Be Considered "Handicap Accessible"
We've included some tips and suggestions for making your rental more accessible for people with disabilities, but it's important to distinguish between accessibility features and ADA designations for a property to be considered "handicap accessible." Federally-mandated handicap accessible home requirements are relatively lengthy and can change from year to year. The ADA (American with Disabilities Act) also has different requirements for different types of businesses and buildings. Therefore, labeling your home as "handicap accessible" can be a relatively large endeavor and includes opening up entrances and doorframes, measuring parking spaces, and installing additional accomodations.
But just because you aren't able to go through the entire process of being ADA compliant doesn't mean you can't use the ADA Checklist for ideas on how to make your home more accessible for people with disabilties. Read through some of the requirements and look for easy additions, such as ramps or grab bars, that will help make your home more inclusive and welcoming.
Tips for Marketing Your Accessibility Options
Be Realistic About Your Offerings
It's important to be clear about what you have in terms of accessability features. As we mentioned, labeling your home as "handicap accessible" is a process that requires adherenace to certain standards. That doesn't mean you can't offer accessability features - in fact, you should - it just means that our marketing team will work WITH you to advertise everything accurately without misleading guests.
Be as Detailed as Possible
And with that in mind, be sure to be as detailed as possible when updating us or your PC about new accessability features. Every little bit counts, so keep a record of things that you add so that our description can accurately reflect your hard work. Everything from walk-in showers with seats or railings to textured flooring in certain areas of the home will be important to include.
Be Honest About Limitations
Honesty is important when it comes to ensuring positive reviews and repeat guests. If you are unable to install or maintain an elevator, that's fine. We'll remove it from the listing and move on. Don't push yourself too far and plan to install things that aren't feasible. ADA compliance often requires certain door widths, grab bars, etc. so be clear about the things that you can and cannot do when adding accessibility features to your rental. Our marketing team will work alongside you to advertise your home properly and highlight the features you do have installed.
You Don't Have to Be Certified to Make a Difference!
Even if you don't go through all the steps to make your home a federally-mandated handicap acciesble home," there are still plenty of reasons to add modifications to your rental that will make all the difference for vacationers with disabilities! Many people are searching for homes with wheelchair ramps and wheelchair access while off-season rentals often see people of an older crowd who would benefit from closed captions, extra lighthing, and clear walking paths throughout the home. Something is better than nothing! So even if that means adding a bar to the walk-in shower or installing a wheelchair ramp, let us know so that we can update your listing! We may not be able to label your home as "handicap accessible," but we can definitely let people know that your home offers these additional amenities that are sure to make their Outer Banks vacation experience much more relaxing and inclusive.
Here at Seaside Vacations, we love property management on the Outer Banks and it shows. Family-owned and locally managed for over 30 years, Seaside Vacations goes above and beyond to make sure property management is Hassle-Free, meaning that we’ll take care of the details so that you can get back to taking care of the things that matter most to you. We'll help you make the most of your vacation rental! With our unique Property Coordinator model, we're here to help you successed.
If you’re not already working with us and you're ready to find out more about how we support YOU in your rental property business, request your Complimentary Rental Projection today! Simply fill out this form to receive a commitment-free call from Michelle Russell, our Business Development Director at Seaside Vacations, who can answer any questions you may have about how Seaside Vacations can help you make the most of your Outer Banks vacation rental property.
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About the Author: Lauren is an Outer Banks local, mom, trained historian, and travel enthusiast. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with her nose in a book or cuddling with her cats.
