How to Rent a Property for the Long Term?
If you have dedicated your apartment to short-term rentals, you know that one of the downsides of this approach is its seasonality. Holidays, school breaks, or long weekends are usually when your calendar is packed. But what about the remaining days and months? Are you wondering how to rent your apartment for the long term? Get to know workation—a trend among workers that could impact your business more than you might think.
What is workation?
Workation is a term derived from the English words “work” and “vacation.” In Poland, it is used interchangeably with workacje, pracowakacje, or pracakcje. Workation combines remote work with relaxation in any location worldwide. An employee performs their professional duties but, after working hours, explores the area and enjoys activities typically associated with staying in tourist destinations.
The pandemic significantly boosted the popularity of remote work. And although the global situation is slowly normalizing, it turns out that many employees do not want to return to stationary work, preferring remote or hybrid work. Workation in Poland is also gaining an increasing number of enthusiasts.
According to a Pracuj.pl report, 35% of Poles work remotely or in a hybrid model. Moreover, many potential employees apply only to companies that offer a flexible work system. Workation influences creativity, motivation, and job satisfaction. Changes in employees’ approach to their professional lives are forcing changes in work policies among employers. For the latter, this is also an opportunity to hire the best specialists from around the world without limiting recruitment to local areas. Furthermore, in Poland, the government has also announced changes to the labor code to legally regulate remote work. This is another convenience for workation enthusiasts. So, what is the relationship between workation and short-term rentals?
An apartment for remote work
The ability to work from anywhere in the world means that employees are looking for places where they can stay during their workation. Typically, this involves a period of a few weeks or months, though some individuals plan significantly longer stays, such as a year. Workation is therefore an excellent option for those wondering how to rent out an apartment during the off-season or how to rent out an apartment for the long term. Long-term rental offers significant convenience for any property owner. You gain a stable and predictable source of income. You save time—no more constantly answering booking inquiries, cleaning, and refreshing the apartment after each tourist stay. You no longer have to worry about whether you’ll have clients next month. There’s one more important aspect worth mentioning in this context. You probably often worry about what type of tenant you’ll get. After all, short vacation stays often encourage tourists to throw parties. However, when it comes to working vacationers, you can expect a relatively peaceful rental period. After all, every morning they need to show up for work and connect online with the company they work for. Of course, weekends might look different, but that’s a matter to be addressed in the agreement you both sign. A well-crafted agreement protects both parties. Renting an apartment for workation is closely linked to the requirement of having fast and stable internet access. Good mobile network coverage is also helpful. These are two key items at the top of the list of apartment amenities, but they’re not the only ones.
How to prepare an apartment for workation?
Short-term rental has its own rules. However, for workation, you need to adjust your approach and figure out how to prepare your apartment for working tourists. Although this might seem labor-intensive and/or costly, it will certainly prove very profitable in the long run. First of all, you need to create a space for remote work. This could be a separate room or a designated area in the living room. It all depends on the size of your property. If you decide to arrange a workspace in the living room or bedroom, remember to separate it with a bookshelf or screen. The most important pieces of furniture are, of course, a desk/table and a chair.
Place the desk facing or next to a window to provide the worker with as much natural light as possible and to prevent sunlight from reflecting off the monitor screen. A spot by the window is also an excellent solution, as it allows for relaxation during work breaks, especially if you can boast a beautiful view outside. To ensure comfort for renters on sunny days, consider adding blinds or shades to the window decorations. When it comes to the size and type of desk for remote work, there are plenty of options. It can be a standard desk measuring 90×150 cm, a height-adjustable desk (ideal for those who like working while standing), or, in the case of small spaces, a foldable wall-mounted desk. Don’t want to buy new furniture or clutter the space, which might also need to serve traditional vacationers later? A dining table will suffice, and you can supplement it with monitor stands. Another interesting option is attaching a countertop to the wall, which can serve as both a desk and a shelf.
As for the chair, the only suitable choice is an ergonomic chair. It ensures comfortable work and prevents back pain. Potential working tourists will certainly look for this feature in your listing. Pay attention to features such as adjustable headrests, armrests, reclining backrests, and proper lumbar support. Worried that a chair on wheels might scratch the floor? Purchase a floor mat to prevent damage and dirt on panels or parquet floors.
Become a host for a workation apartment
Adapting an apartment for remote work also requires purchasing equipment essential for professional tasks. A printer, preferably wireless with Wi-Fi, is a must, as well as an additional monitor with an HDMI cable. Don’t forget about cable organizers, extension cords, and a trash can or paper bin under the desk. When choosing a desk lamp, opt for a model with an adjustable arm. To make your offer more attractive, you might also consider adding a paper shredder, paper clips, staplers, a corkboard or magnetic board for note-taking, printer paper, a pen holder, a binder, or a box for documents. If you go for a desk without drawers or shelves, provide adequate storage space near the desk. This could include small shelves mounted on the wall. To add a decorative touch and improve the air quality in the apartment, place plants on the desk or windowsill. While you can’t be sure whether the guest will have the time or desire to care for them, you can choose low-maintenance plants like cacti, ferns, or snake plants. What else might a working tourist need? A good coffee machine is invaluable. Considering the length of their stay, you should also pay attention to household appliances—an iron, vacuum cleaner, and mop—everything necessary for maintaining cleanliness in the apartment (unless you provide cleaning services).
Advertising your rental apartment
You likely already have tried-and-tested methods for advertising your rental. However, if you want to target individuals seeking a workation spot, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, enhance your property description with details about remote work amenities. Describe the workspace setup and include photos. A great way to gain more trust from potential clients and hold their attention longer is by using 360-degree photography. A virtual tour of the property significantly increases booking rates while reducing questions about specific features. Everything will be visible in the 360-degree photos.
Workation is a trend embraced by employees with families and children. Highlight any family-friendly amenities you offer, such as the availability of a crib or proximity to a playground. When describing how to rent your property for a long-term stay, it’s also worth mentioning the preparation of a guide for your working tourists. Providing directions and details about local attractions is essential, but don’t forget they may also be interested in practical information, such as the location of hospitals, clinics, government offices, budget-friendly supermarkets, or local restaurants where residents dine.
Is It Worth Renting an Apartment for Workation? This trend offers many advantages and, importantly, is growing rapidly in Poland. Keep it in mind.
