Search Go
   Home       Travelers       Homeowners       Property Managers       Travel Deals   
   
Search Community
Go
Browse
HomeAway Sites
Getting Started Links
Services & Tools
Rent by Owner FAQs
Top 10 Articles
Downloadable Forms
  Amenities & Furnishings , Offering a Grocery Service to Your Vacation Rental Guests  
 
     
Offering a Grocery Service to Your Vacation Rental Guests

Stand out from the competition by providing groceries to your renters.
 
If you live near your vacation home, get an edge on your competition by featuring the convenience of a grocery service. If you don't live nearby, you may want to consider hiring someone or making an arrangement with your housekeeper.  A grocery service will be particularly useful to groups arriving at night when grocery stores are closed. You could even take it one step further by offering a shopping list ahead of time so renters have control over their meals without having a hassle of a trip to the store. This service will likely impress travelers and help you to stand out among the competition. A grocery service is particularly useful for groups arriving at night.
Options for organizing a grocery service :
  • Charge a fee for the service. For example, you might charge a flat fee of $20 or you may prefer something more specific, such as: $25 for orders less than $150 and $35 for orders over $150.  
  • Up-charge individual items to cover your costs.  For example, charge $4 for a $3 gallon of milk.
  • Refer them to an outside grocery delivering service, if one is available in your area. Renters can create their own account and pay the company directly.  They select items from an online menu to be delivered to your rental home.  This usually takes about a week. 
How to advertise a grocery service:
  • Feature it on your listing and in correspondence with potential renters.
  • Include reminders in booking confirmation emails.
  • Send a notice to past renters informing them of the new service.
Consider including:
  • A minimum purchase price, perhaps around $25 or so. 
  • A shopping list with prices.
  • An exclusive section of the shopping list for organic, vegetarian, low-fat, sugar-free, or specialty products like gluten- or lactose- free foods.
  • A household-oriented section for toiletries, napkins, plastic dishware, or additional items renters may want.
Consider  including an exclusive section of the shopping list.

Sample Shopping List
 
*Please note that these prices include small up-charges and are simply to be used as guidelines. You should confirm food prices and brands available in your local stores and adjust your list as needed.
 
 
Breakfast
  

Cereal

   
  • General Mills Fiber One Cereal Honey Clusters- 14 oz  
$6 Quantity:______
  • Frosted Flakes- 23 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Kellogg's Corn Flakes- 24 oz
$5 Quantity:______
  • Kellogg';s Special K Cereal with Red Berries- 12 oz
$5 Quantity:______
  • Store Brand Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack- 10 ct
$3 Quantity:______

 Breads    
  • Eggo Waffles- 16ct
$4 Quantity:______
  • Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix Original- 32 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix Whole Wheat- 35 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Plain Bagels- 6 ct 
$5 Quantity:______
  • Toast: see Lunch breads
   

Breakfast Meats/Vegetarian Alternatives    
  • Jimmy Dean Sausage Regular Links- 8 ct
$4 Quantity:______
  • Oscar Mayer Bacon- 24 ct
$6 Quantity:______
  • MorningStar Farms Meatless Veggie Breakfast Links- 10 ct
$5 Quantity:______
  • MorningStar Farms Meatless Veggie Breakfast Bacon- 18 ct
$5 Quantity:______
  • Store Brand Brand Large Eggs- 1 dozen
$3 Quantity:______
  • Nature's Promise Eggs Brown Large Cage Free- 1 dozen
$4 Quantity:______

Spreads    
  • Land O Lakes Butter Spread with Canola Oil- 8 oz               
$3 Quantity:______
  • Store Brand Butter Sticks- 8 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Smucker's Strawberry Preserves- 12 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Smucker's Strawberry Preserves Reduced Sugar- 12 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Cream Cheese- 8 oz 
$3 Quantity:______
  • Smucker's Peanut Butter Creamy Natural- 16 oz
$3 Quantity:______

Lunch

Breads    
  • Pepperidge Farm Whole Wheat- 24 oz                               
$4 Quantity:______
  • Pepperidge Farm Bread 12 Grain- 24 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Pepperidge Farm Bread Hearty White- 24 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Store Brand Whole Wheat- 24 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Store Brand White- 24 oz
$3 Quantity:______

Deli Meats    
  • Boar's Head Deli Chicken Breast Oven Roasted- ½ lb
$5 Quantity:______
  • Boar's Head Deli Turkey Breast Oven Roasted- ½ lb
$6 Quantity:______
  • Boar's Head Deli Ham Deluxe- ½ lb
$6 Quantity:______
  • Butterball Turkey Variety Pack Sliced- 12 oz 
$4 Quantity:______
  • Oscar Mayer Bologna, Ham & Turkey Variety Pack- 16oz
$5 Quantity:______

Cheese    
  • Kraft Cheese American Singles- 16 ct                              
$5 Quantity:______
  • Kraft Cheese Cheddar Sharp Singles- 16 ct
$5 Quantity:______
  • Sargento Pepper Jack Thin Sliced- 10 ct
$4 Quantity:______
  • Sargento Provolone Thin Sliced- 9 ct
$4 Quantity:______
  • Sargento Swiss Thin Sliced- 12 ct
$4 Quantity:______

Condiments    
  • Hellman's Mayonnaise- 8 oz                                            
$3 Quantity:______
  • French's Yellow Mustard- 14 oz
$2 Quantity:______
  • Boar's Head Delicatessen Style Mustard-  9 oz
$3 Quantity:______
  • Heinz Ketchup- 14 oz
$3 Quantity:______

  • Assorted Kraft Salad Dressings-16 oz                                         
$4  
    • Italian
  Quantity:______
    • Caesar
  Quantity:______
    • Ranch
  Quantity:______

  • Fruits
   
    • Apples                                                                
      • Red Delicious- 3ct                       
$4 Quantity:______
      • Granny Smith- 1 ct
$1 Quantity:______
    • Bananas- 1 ct
$1 Quantity:______
    • Pink Grapefruit- 1 ct
$2 Quantity:______

Dinner
 
Meats    
  • Chicken
   
    • Breast- 1 lb
$7 Quantity:______
    • Drumsticks- 5 ct
$3 Quantity:______
  • Beef
   
    • Laura's Lean Beef Ground 92% Lean- 16 oz
$6 Quantity:______
    • Ground beef 85 % lean- 1 lb
$5 Quantity:______
    • Rib Eye Boneless Tray Pack- 1 lb
$12 Quantity:______
    • Certified Angus Beef Steak Flat Iron- ½ lb
$7 Quantity:______
    • Pork chops- 1 lb
$6 Quantity:______

Vegetarian

   
  • MorningStar Farms Veggie Burgers Prime Grillers- 4 ct
$5 Quantity:______

Veggies

   
  • Lettuce- 1 ct                                                           

$3

Quantity:______

  • Tomatoes on the Vine-  4 ct

$5

Quantity:______

  • Green beans 1 lb

$3

Quantity:______

  • Broccoli - 1 ct

$2

Quantity:______

  • Sweet Corn- 4 ct

$3

Quantity:______

  • Garlic- 1 head

$1

Quantity:______

  • White mushrooms- 8 oz

$3

Quantity:______

  • Yellow Onion- 1 ct

$1

Quantity:______

  • Green Bell Pepper- 1 ct

$1

Quantity:______

  • Red Bell Pepper- 1 ct

$3

Quantity:______

  • White potatoes- 4 ct

$4

Quantity:______

  • Russet (baking) potatoes- 5 lb
$5 Quantity:______
  • Carrots- 1 lb
$1 Quantity:______
  • Dole Bag Iceberg Lettuce Salad
$3 Quantity:______

Pasta

   
  • Barilla Pasta Spaghetti- 16 oz                                    
$2 Quantity:______
  • Barilla Pasta Spaghetti Thin Whole Grain- 13 oz

$2

Quantity:______

  • Barilla Pasta Penne- 16 oz

$2

Quantity:______

  • Barilla Pasta Penne Whole Grain- 13 oz
$2 Quantity:______
  • Barilla Pasta Sauce Tomato Basil- 24 oz

$3

Quantity:______

  • Bertolli Pasta Sauce Alfredo- 15 oz
$4 Quantity:______
                 

Frozen Foods

   
  • Digiorno Rising Crust Pizza Four Cheese- 28 oz

$8

Quantity:______

  • Digiorno Rising Crust Pizza Pepperoni- 28 oz

$8

Quantity:______

  • Stouffer's Large Family Size Lasagna with Meat & Sauce- 38 oz

$8

Quantity:______

  • Store Brand Mixed Vegetables- 16 oz
$2 Quantity:______

Snacks/Desserts
 
Yogurt- 6 oz $1  
  • Blueberry                                                                                    
  Quantity:______
  • Strawberry
  Quantity:______
  • Vanilla
  Quantity:______

Chips    
  • Lay's Potato Chips Classic- 16 oz
$5 Quantity:______
  • Lay's Potato Chips Sour Cream & Onion- 12 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Doritos Tortilla Chips Cool Ranch- 12 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Breyers Ice Cream Chocolate Chip- 1.5 qt
$6 Quantity:______

Cookies    
  • Nabisco Chips Ahoy! Cookies Chocolate Chip- 15 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Nabisco Oreo Cookies- 18 oz
$4 Quantity:______
  • Orville Redenbacher's Microwave Popcorn Butter- 3 ct
$4 Quantity:______

Beverages
Regular Milk- 1/2 gal                                                             $3  
  • Skim
  Quantity:______
  • 1%
  Quantity:______
  • 2%
  Quantity:______
  • Whole
  Quantity:______

Lactose Free- 1/2 gal

$5  
    • 1%
  Quantity:______
    • 2%
  Quantity:______

Coffee    
  • Folgers Coffee Classic Decaffeinated (Ground)- 11 oz
$6 Quantity:______
  • Folgers Coffee French Roast Medium Dark (Ground)- 10 oz
$5 Quantity:______
  • Folgers Flavors Coffee French Vanilla (Ground)- 11.5 oz
$6 Quantity:______
  • Store Brand Coffee Creamer Non Dairy Refrigerated- 32 oz
$3 Quantity:______

Tea- 20 ct                                                                                     $4  
  • Bigelow Green Tea
  Quantity:______
  • Bigelow Earl Grey
  Quantity:______
  • Bigelow Herbal
  Quantity:______
  • Decaffeinated
  Quantity:______

Soda- 12 pack    
  • Coke                                                                                    
$6 Quantity:______
  • Sprite
$6 Quantity:______
Orange Juice Original- 64 oz $4 Quantity:______

Beer- 12 pack                                                                                       $25  
  • Miller Lite
  Quantity:______
  • Coors
  Quantity:______
  • Heineken
  Quantity:______

Wine- 1 bottle    
  • Pascual Toso Sauvignon Blanc, Argentina 2005                             
$20 Quantity:______
  • Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Italy 2004
$20 Quantity:______
  • Leaping Lizard Merlot, Napa 2003
$25 Quantity:______
  • Hawk Crest Cabernet, California 2003
$30 Quantity:______
  • Nine Stones Shiraz, Australia 2004
$23 Quantity:______
  • Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel, California 2003
$22 Quantity:______

If the item you request is not in stock do you want a…

(please check one)

  • Less expensive brand
 
  • More expensive brand
 
  • Different flavor same brand
 
  • Don't buy replacement item at all 
 


 
If you're looking for a way to stand out among your competition and provide exemplary service to your guests, try offering a grocery service.  If the travelers know they';ll be arriving late at night, it may make them choose your home over the next.  It also allows renters to cook at home, which is a primary reason travelers choose to book a vacation home instead of a hotel, and yet removes the hassle of a trip to the grocery store. And perhaps more importantly, it allows for more time enjoying their vacation.

What are your thoughts on offering a grocery service to your guests?


Related Tips header

 Fun amenities are special touches.

10 Fun Amenities Which Could Make Renters Choose Your Property These special touches can be the deciding factor between your home and the next.

 These products have been featured in the Owner Community Newsletter.

Great Products for Your Vacation Rental Home Products that have been featured in the Owner Community Newsletter.

 How do you attract business travelers as renters? How to Market Your Vacation Home to Business Travelers Learn how to attract business travelers as renters for your vacation property.
 Keep your large home booked during the slower season.

Creative Ways to Keep a Large Home Booked in the Slower Season Pointers for keeping your large vacation rental home full during the off season.

© Copyright HomeAway, Inc. 2008, U.090112.AF