Level up your space: How to set up a back-of-house storage haven
Tired of tripping over cleaning supplies and losing track of your linens? It's time to transform your vacation rental supply closet into a well-organized haven.
Setting up an efficient storage space for your vacation rental business is essential for smooth back-of-house operations. By optimizing your storage space and streamlining your inventory management processes, you can save time, reduce costs, and ensure that your housekeeping team always has the supplies they need.
This guide will show you how to set up a space that's efficient, and easy to navigate to keep your housekeeping team happy and have your back-of-house storage go from amenity chaos to amenity bliss.
1. Designate a space for your supplies by finding a spot that's easy for your team to access and big enough to store and display everything you need. Think like a cleaner, and categorize supplies by tasks to tackle and group similar items together while keeping cleaning products and laundry supplies in individually labeled bins.
2. Group by location of your homes, and consider using a property nickname to organize by neighborhood. Clear labels make finding what you need a breeze, and you can even organize by color.
3. Use color coding to save time and reducing the risk of errors. Think of it like having a color-coded closet, but for cleaning supplies! Here are some ideas:
Assign a color to each room type:
Use blue for bedrooms, green for bathrooms, and yellow for kitchens.
Color code cleaning kits:
Label each kit with the corresponding color for the room type it's intended for.
Color code cleaning supplies within kits:
Use color-coded labels or stickers to differentiate between products within each kit.
Color code by day of the week:
Create a workflow for your team by organizing all supplies by the day of the week that they’ll be used or installed in the home (departure or arrival).
Lean on sojo’s automation and use sojo’s handy color-coded labels as visual cues.
Organize by turn days, and pre-stack your kits for upcoming installations based on guest count and property size. That way you’re always prepared for last-minute arrivals or extended-stays without the scramble.
4. Use a “first in, first out” system to avoid using expired products. Do regular inventory checks to keep track of your supplies and identify any shortages or discrepancies.
5. Invest in sturdy shelves or racks to maximize space, and use labeled bins or baskets to keep things tidy. This will help you know when stock levels are running low, and prevent shortages. If you store perishable items, make sure your space has temperature control to maintain product quality.
We love Breezeway for tracking inventory.
Need help with automating your amenities? See how sojo can help.
Remember: communication is key. Be sure to post clear instructions or checklists near each storage area, and train your team. That way everyone knows how to use your storage and always knows where to find supplies, avoiding errors.
By following these tips, you can create a vacation rental back-of-house storage space that's organized, efficient, and a joy to work in. And remember to regularly review and adjust your system as your business grows and your needs change. A well-managed storage area means a happier team and happier (returning) guests!
sojo is an Amenity Automation Platform for Vacation Rentals. With more than 20k properties on our integrated platform, we’re able to support property managers and their staff to keep turn days automated and the products a welcome surprise to their guests.
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