Getting your home ready for Airbnb requires attention to detail and quality presentation.
It can only take a few tweaks here and there to each room to keep you and your guests happy - then you can sit back and wait for the five-star ratings to roll in.
Consider:
1. REPLACE FLOORING:
Replacing carpets with If you need to install new flooring with wood laminate flooring on sale or going for something more unique that's still affordable, like a polished concrete floor. Hardwood floors will give you options to allow pets if you like. We bought our laminate flooring from Bunnings cheaply and it has been ideal for our set-up. They are easy to clean which is essential in my view as not all guests are as easy on the floors as you would like. We are also able to accept pets. This gives us a massive advantage over hosts who do not offer this opportunity.
2. PROVIDE STORAGE SPACE:
Storage for guests clothing and other items is appreciated. This can be something as simple as some hooks on the wall, a shoe rack by the door or some free closet space. Airbnb recommends you have at least eight empty hangers for guests to hang up their clothes. A chair in the corner of the room is great for putting a bag or placing your overnight bags. No matter what you do, upgrading the storage in your home can be a really inexpensive project, and you may be able to finish in a single afternoon.
3. PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS
Kitchen appeal can be a make or break for a guest to consider staying at your home- especially for longer stays. In fact, having a kitchen can be a significant factor in influencing a guest to book your house. But what if your kitchen looks outdated and needs a facelift? Kitchen remodels are famous for the return on investment (ROI) that homeowners can expect from them. However, you may be surprised to know that minor kitchen remodels have a much higher ROI than major ones.This means you can update your kitchen and see great results without emptying your savings account. One great way to do this is to paint your existing cabinets and replace the hardware if necessary. If you have a little extra to spend, consider replacing a couple of your cabinet doors with glass doors. Another great way to upgrade cabinets is by adding crown molding to the top for a sophisticated finishing touch.
4. FRESHEN UP THE WALLS
It's amazing the difference a fresh coat of paint can make in your home. Painting is an affordable way to freshen up a space and make everything pop. If you're overwhelmed by the question of what colour would look best on your walls, remember that you can't go wrong with white. "Greige," a combination of grey and beige, is also a great neutral that is trending right now. We used Antique White USA on our walls and we are very happy with the result.
5. UPDATE THE BATHROOM TILES
A picture of a beautiful, updated bathroom will instantly give guests visions of being able to bathe and get ready in a luxurious, relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, if your bathroom walls are covered in tile from decades ago, then it's nearly impossible to make it look modern. By replacing that pink or floral-print tile, you can turn your dated bathroom into a more contemporary and upscale room that guests will love. Our bathrooms are the original 1986 specimens. We merely replaced the shower curtains with brighter ones and made sure that our towels were chosen for effect in photos.
6. ADD INTERESTING LIGHTING
Pay special attention to the lighting in the kitchen and dining areas. Ultramodern and upscale light fixtures can look stunning, but they can also be extremely costly in some cases. To save, skip the middle man and buy directly from the manufacturer. You can also look for antique lighting fixtures at your local flea market and upcycle them for a truly unique piece. A great way to spruce up existing light fixtures is by adding a ceiling medallion around them. These moulded medallions comes in a variety of designs are sure to introduce some elegance into a space. We changed our outdated lighting to 'down lights' but my friend used shade lamps that complimented the 'beach theme'. These were inexpensive and bought from KMart!
7. UPDATE THE DECOR
If a more serious renovation sounds daunting, remember that you can add a great new look to a room simply by updating the decor. Bring the look of a room together by choosing a theme or particular style to stick to. Whether you want to go minimalist, traditional or bohemian, you can add a few key pieces to the room to make it more inviting and look more polished.A new bedding set, new wall hangings, new curtains or an accent piece are all great additions to your Airbnb. New decor will make your room feel clean and put-together. If you have leftover pieces of crown molding from a previous project, you can use them to frame out a beautiful DIY wall mirror, which will also make the room feel bigger. Whatever decor you add, just remember not to clutter up the space so guests have plenty of room to set their own belongings. When potential guests see a beautifully decorated room in the listings in your area, they may be drawn to yours instead of others. Personally, I buy most of my items from Gum Tree, Facebook Marketplace or IKEA. My main criteria is based on - will they look good in my photos and are they comfortable. I don't spend too much money on furniture as it must be easily replaceable as it can be damaged by guests.
Water the lawn and weed the garden! Look at your garden through lazy eyes. You need to be able to keep your garden looking good even if you haven't got the time to look after it- and during high-season you may not have even a day to check your garden's health status! Easy to care for and water efficient gardens are a must but once again, make sure it will look amazing in your photos!
Check out the kitchen carefully for all the essential items required for an Airbnb. You need to make sure that there are enough glasses, cutlery and crockery for the guests you intend to host. What other items do you need? Pots? Pans? I sourced many things like cannisters or salad bowls from Op-Shops just because they are inexpensive but because they have more interesting colours and can be much better quality than new shop bought items.
It is essential that your house is deep cleaned and all the windows are washed prior to your first booking. Guests are very picky about cleanliness and even the smallest amount of dust can affect a good rating from your guests.
These are a few suggestions for getting your house guest -ready but obviously there may be many more things to consider. My advice is to look at your house through the eyes of a guest and get your friends to stay with you for a few nights to give you an honest opinion of what the plus and down side of your house are.
Short-term rental houses are not hotels but we are in the business of customer service. Airbnb allow guests to rate their accommodation out of five. High ratings equal high exposure on the site and that equals a greater income!
