"Wants/Needs" in an apartment
 

What is the most needed item in an apartment, which might not be supplied. As an example, a hairdryer. Or maybe a corkscrew hasn't been supplied.

I'm furnishing a new apartment for rental and it will for the Mediterranean coast. Since so many Fororists will have a better idea than myself, what is "The Most" for your vacation apartment.

Blackduff

Okay, I should have previewed. Replace "Fororists" to "Fodorists".
Sorry

Blackduff

We do not seem to be able to manage the coffee pots that are used on the stoves.

The last apartment we rented had one of those and also a Mr. Coffee type, which we appreciated.

Also, extra pillows.

Instructions on how to work things (ie light switches, electric outlets, dialing the phone, remote control for tv).

Hi blackduff, hair dryer and corkscrew for sure. I think a short list of emergency numbers, yours and/or your apartment manager phone no., police, fire and medical emergency no's. Also it would be helpful to have a list of nearby restaurants with addresses, phone no's..maybe the restaurants would each give you a memo to put in the apartment, good advertising for them. Also the name and location of the nearest market and if there is a weekly market info regarding that would be good. I would take a few minutes to put myself in the tenants place, no doubt they will not be familar with the area. For example, where is the nearest pharmacy, gas station etc.

A an extra blanket or two. Dish towels and plenty of hangers. I would add to mclaurie's suggestions instructions on how to use various appliances such as stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine etc.

Where will your apartment be located blackduff?

A looseleaf binder with instructions for all the appliances/whatever in the apt. Also in the binder instructions on using the phone, what stations the t.v. gets (or does not get), where the nearest ATM/Bank is located, where the nearest grocery store is (a map of local area would be nice).

Personally, I like places that have a safe in the apt. for guests valuables. It's worth looking into having them mounted in a closet or something.

Blackduff, my wife and I have rented something like a dozen houses and apartments in France. There are a couple of needs that spring to mind:

- We often read during the evenings, so two bright lamps in the sitting room are important for us.

- We're cooks, and while we often eat in restaurants, we enjoy buying local ingredients and preparing some meals ourselves. I'm assuming you will have a fridge, stove, oven, microwave, pots, pans, dishes, and cutlery. But knives and chopping boards are also important. If you're really kind, you'll add in a knife sharpener.

- A seive and a colander are fairly critical; a measuring cup and measuring spoons are nice to have.

- Eggcups are also nice to have, although we have improvised with paper towel stuffed into a teacup. Let's see, what else ... a can opener that works and a salad spinner.

- Cotton sheets in preference to a synthetic blend, and for the summer, a light cotton blanket as an alternative to a duvet.

If we think of anything else, I'll post again.

Anselm

Ice cube trays. And proper ice cube trays - not those that make itty bitty 1/2 inch balls. Less of a problem in some countries - but I have probably provided new ice trays for 7 or 8 flats I've rented over the years.

A very modest amount of staples -- salt, pepper, paper towels, tea/coffee/milk/sugar (just enough for a cuppa or two when they first arrive).

Hi, :-)
There was a thread last may which could interest you :
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34622021
and too others of general interest with maybe good ideas for you :-)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34600709

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34655759

good luck with your apartment!
coco

Hi Janis, I remember you were on one of those postings, about ice cubes!((d))

Things I have often had to bring or go buy:
Tall glasses- for drinks with ice in them.
Sharp knife and cutting board
Large salad bowl and servers
Washcloths
Clothesline/drying rack

And I always ask for a standalone electric coffeemaker. Can't handle those little espresso things.
There often is no dish rack or dish drainer. Its nice to have one under the sink in case its needed.
A couple wastebaskets, and plastic liners with directions of where and how to dispose of trash.
As tacky as it is- we prefer rentals where there are plastic dishes and glasses. Good for clutzy folks who don't want to break the dishes provided.

Yep - its sort of an "American thing" :) Some even put ice in perfectly cold soft drinks straight out of the fridge.

Many in the States have automatic ice cube makers in their freezers so they can be surprised about not having ice.

oops - my last post should have been addressed to cocofromdijon.

Don't worry janis, we all understood! ;-)

I'll second the lightbulb request. If not good bulbs in all the lamps, at least higher-wattage lamps in one or two comfortable reading areas. Also good lighting over the kitchen and bathroom sinks.

If there's not much room around the bathroom sink for people to put their "stuff" and especially if no cabinet around the mirror, then a small vanity table - preferably with 2 shelves - is always appreciated.

Loveitaly
"Where will your apartment be located blackduff? "

This on the beach on Argeles Sur Plage. This is a sandy beach near the Spanish border on the Med. It's the French Catalan area.

The apartment is on the frontline on the beach.

I have lived in this area for twelve years and I'm very happy about the region. We should have the TGV within a few years and this should be direct to Barcelona at that time.

Blackduff

Large beach towels! If you are a frontline property, you want to make sure that they keep the beach towels separate from the nice bathroom towels.

2 folding beach chairs and a cooler. . . even though it is on the beach, your guests might want to hit the beach all day.

If this is not an urba that already has an outdoor shower, can you put one on the patio? (maybe you have a groundfloor). It keeps the drains from clogging inside.

we keep 10 pairs of multi-sized houseshoes so that our guests don't track around the apartment.

Spanish phrase book for non-Spanish speaking guests.

Phone number for your caretaker/cleaning lady.

Extra twin size mattress(es) under one of the twin beds.

If your apartment does not have a washer and dryer, post EXPLICIT DIRECTION for using the washer and dryer in the local laundromat. We spent a lot of time in a laudromat in Lake Garda trying to figure this out...finaly a local took pity on us and showed us, money in the wall, settings, whew..

You'll have two types of renters - those who cook and those who don't.

BUT here's what I want in an apartment:

1) Washer and dryer that actually work. And instructions. None of this fake all one unit thing. They are horrible.

2) Ice in the freezer.

3) Comfy, durable furniture.

4) Good sheets on the bed.

5) Plenty of towels.

w, you might get a washer and a dryer in a house or a large flat in France but in a small flat you will mostly find a washer and nothing else, and it is not very handy to dry your clothes in the middle of the living room on a clothes-horse...

Now a lot of young couples (or elderly persons) in tiny flats use a washer dryer and they manage very well :-)

If a seperate washer and dryer aren't possible (and there often isn't space) - and if a combo unit is not possible for some reason (too expensive, plumbing, whatever) it is actually more useful to have a dryer than a washing machine. Most things CAN be washed by hand - but drying is a whole other matter.

Take a look at your own home and duplicate all the facilities ,crockery, etc etc. Travelers are no different in terms of facilities needed.

It annoys me when an apartment has a big room with a 14" portable TV in it and the kitchen utensils are so poor that you couldn't cook a meal if you tried.
Fix it up in the same way you did your home.
Also leave your contact number and do not what ever you do turn up at the apartment uninvited.
Nosey owners are a real pain.



Muck

For those of us who read in bed, decent bedside lamps that are tall enough to actually illuminate the book rather than just the table. This is a pet peeve in hotels as well.

I always thought "Fodorites" was the correct reference.

Brother
I'm sure that you're correct. I was close but no cigar.

Fodorites, hmmmm! I'm sure there's a better ring to this term.

Blackduff

I have a washer in the bathroom but I don't think I'll be install a dryer.

In the summer time here, the clothes will dry hanging for about ten-fifteen minutes. Once in awhile I use my dryer but it's only in the rainy time in the winter.

So, it's going to be hanging on a rack in the loggia. It will smell better anyway. Fresh wind from the Med will be better than heaters burning fabric.

Blackduff

#1 Washer/dryer combo is always a must for me. Its usually a deal breaker if there isn't one but I see you've got that covered.
#2) If I'm renting for a week or less I like a good supply of paper towels, toilet paper, & dish soap as I don't bring those items with me and I don't want to buy once I get there. If I rent by the month I don't mind stocking those items myself once the small initial amount has been depleted.
#3)Several pillows- both thick and thin models as different people have different likes.
#4)I don't need it but I enjoy a small binder of local restaurant menus and brochures on local highlights that the owner himself recommends.

Air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.

The phone number for the flat (if there is a phone) preferably with instructions on how to call ther both locally and internationally.
Ditto the reading light. And not those nasty, useless wall mounted bullet things so common in Paris!
If there is internet connection, directions on using it.

blackduff, obviously you don't wear jockey shorts. Unless they are a special travel variety, I defy you to find a place where wet ones hung up by 11 PM will be dry by morning! The same is true of white (or other) cotton socks that men wear. And even once they are dry, they will be stiff as a board and uncomfortable to wear, not like coming out of a dryer. Hang up a pair of men's khakis or a polo shirt on a hanger, wet out of a washer, and I wouldn't be caught dead in them the next day without ironing. Take them out of a dryer immediately and they are fresh and not wrinkled. When I get a washer but no dryer, I will go to a laundromat instead where I can dry my clothes, thank you.

Washer AND Dryer. You can find them small enough to fit any space. Detailed instructions.

Quality, basic wine glasses (not creative), water glasses, juice glasses, coffer service. Cork screw.

Electric coffee maker. However, if you provide stovetop, the leave clear instructions.

A high quallity cooking knife and pans.

And hope that all the small special items listed will still be in your rental apartment when tenants vacate it backduff. Even high end hotels have problems with "guest" stealing items.

Regarding a clothes dryer, at least in Italy dryers are not that common. When one travels to another country one should expect a difference in lifestyles.

Guess I am not the person to advise you as to what you should have in the apartment blackduff, as when I travel I do not expect the same things that I have in the US. But obviously I am in the minority.

Your location sounds lovely, best wishes to you.

LoveItaly
This web site shows this area. I haven't finished this web site and now I plan on changing.

http://www.pyreneesmediterraneanproperties.com/

The mountains come all down to the sea in this area. There are pebble beaches and then it starts to have beautiful sand beaches.

I have started to make a list of what everyone noted. I certainly cannot include everything but there are a lot of ideas which everyone posted.

Neopolitain
I'll try my best for including a dryer but this bathroom is going to get cramped.

I don't use jockey shorts but I wash my bike shorts, which have a chamois liner, and it can dry in a very short time. I'm not sure about drying overnight but it does dry in minutes in the summer sun. But, I agree that they get very stiff.

Blackduff

No Ikea beds! I have nothing against Ikea, but as soon as I see an apartment has Ikea beds, I know the owner has been cutting corners. And frankly, I don't think they hold up to a variety of users of all shapes and sizes.
A sofa that is big enough to stretch out on. I hate it when places only include loveseat size seating or just chairs. Or uncomfortable sofas with flimsy legs.
A washer/dryer is a must for us. If an apartment doesn't have a washer/dryer (preferably separate units rather than a combo if space allows), then we pass it by. Ditto for apartments that have washers only. I really hate those!
Re the ring binder of instructions is a great idea, but add with it some photos of the correct settings (easy to take with a digital camera and paste in your print outs of the instructions). Makes life a lot easier for people who get confused by strange appliances. Laminate the pages.

I think all basic kitchen utensils should be there, as well as basic dishware. A corkscrew wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me, as you can buy one without too much trouble, but it definitely should be there.

In my opinion, the most important thing that should be there that often is not is a good floor fan (if no AC) for summer. These aren't that expensive, a large fan that has a pole floor stand, not some cheesy little small desk fan. And I definitely agree with the good bedding mentions in that you should have a variety of thicknesses of covers/blankets to suit different tastes and temperatures. This is a real problem with hotels, also, most of them only provide thick blankets, even in summer. It's terrible.

I also agree with enough and bright-enough lightbulbs, as that isn't something a guest should have to provide. Poor lighting goes without mention, lots of apartments have it and shouldn't, but I choose based on that. Lots of apartments have cheap and ugly furniture, also, but that's kind of into a different area than amenities one should expect.


A lot of the other things that some folks suggest, I wouldn't personally provide myself and think people have to take some responsbility for taking care of themself. I would never provide people with language phrasebooks, for example (guess how long that will be there), nor washcloths. I might not provide a hair dryer, either (and haven't been in an apt. that has one), but I think that is a nice thing to provide if you want. I just think it may get stolen or broken a lot.

I like the idea someone suggested of some kind of safe with a combination lock, that would be great.

Hi Christina, I do think it is a matter of trusting people. When you have nice contacts by email with your future guests you can't imagine them stealing anything.
I truly believe in people honesty and since last May nothing was broken or missing in my flat... :-)

Coco
Are you managing your apartment yourself or passing the work to an agency?

I will be using an agency and they'll be doing everything. In some way, it's not getting the contact with the guests but being locked down each Saturday is tough.

I'm not sure that a person cannot make money renting apartments. Especially passing the work to the agency. They'll require 33% of the gross, there are two taxes which whack the gross too. The building needs annual charges, and the other various charges for water, elect., etc., etc..

I think it will be very difficult to make more than 1% return for the rental. If things get broken or taken away, the little left for the owner it's gone.

All of the ideas and suggestions are being masaged, trying to include these into the apartment. Certainly won't make the threshold. It might be too expensive or to practical but what can be added for the near future. Happier vactioners will profit from all of the thoughts.

Blackduff

--A full-size fridge/freezer, or at least a decent sized working (not frosted over) freezer with 3-4 ice cube trays
--dish drying rack
--binder with phone numbers,instructions and directions to groceries, laundromat (if no washer/dryer)
--not that this is within your control, but we look for apartments with separated toilets, so the people on the sofabed don't have to wake up the people in the bedroom to use the bathroom.

Hi Blackduff,
I manage everything from A to Z.
I wouldn't trust anybody (except my DH who welcome my English guests who came at the same time I spent 3 days in London and Canadians while I was at my grandma's funerals)
Website, advertising, and answering requests (mostly through internet)
Shopping for the fridge and little other things, welcoming guests at the train station, explaining things in the apartment, a little walk around to show where the market is and show some hidden things they would miss, checking out and back to the railway station, cleaning ironing etc... and little details like sending thanks cards, birthday cards. I really enjoy doing that so why would I pay an agency to do half of that? :-)
I know it is only the beginning but as long as I have the energy...