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Listing your Houston home on Airbnb as a vacation rental or short-term rental? It’s time to get ready for guests! From home cleaning and home organization to maintenance to staging your property and taking professional photos, check out these ideas for getting your home ready for Airbnb!
Remove Personal Items
Remove any personal or precious belongings, such as household bills, family heirlooms, and jewelry, if you’re renting out a home or place you used to live in. You have the option of storing these belongings in a locked room or in a storage facility. Feel free to leave out books, wall art, or pictures that your guests might find interesting. These objects also serve as a gentle reminder to your visitors that they are staying in a private residence.
Deep Clean Your Home
Before encouraging visitors to stay in your home, make sure it is clean. This entails thoroughly cleaning all of the blinds, walls, light fixtures, floors, and baseboards. Check for garbage and clean high-touch areas such as counters, doorknobs, remote controls, light switches, and tables. Cleaning your property is essential if you want to compete with hotels and receive rave reviews on Airbnb!
Take Care of Maintenance
Every home has regular maintenance that needs to get done, so knock that out before guests arrive! Check that all lights are working. Wash the windows inside and outside to remove grime. Schedule an HVAC system checkup and replace air filters. Look under sinks for any signs of leaks, and be sure all drains are clog-free. If you have a pool, inspect the filter, skimmer, and pump to ensure they’re working properly.
Update the Locks
Replace your front door lock with a keyless entry system. You can establish a unique code for each visitor with digital locks. It also means a quicker check-in and check-out process, as well as remote access for the host, no-contact rental alternatives, and no need to worry about lost keys. Furthermore, these locks provide you and your guests with additional security features such as tamper and failed attempt notifications.
Fix Curb Appeal
Spruce up the outside of your home by mowing the lawn, trimming back bushes, adding fresh mulch to garden beds, planting fresh flowers, and tackling other small DIY landscape projects. Give your home’s exterior a fresh coat of paint and add more landscape lighting around pathways. And be sure to clear the driveway and walkways for guests!
Provide Basic Kitchen Essentials
For the ease of having a kitchen, many individuals prefer to stay in an Airbnb rather than a hotel. Stock your kitchen with the cooking basics your visitors will require before they arrive. Pots, pans, utensils, cutting boards, oven mitts, and dish towels, as well as basic condiments and spices, should all be included. Remember to provide enough plates, bowls, cutlery, and cups for the number of people your home can accommodate!
Test Your Kitchen Appliances
Before allowing guests to use your kitchen, double-check that all of your large and small appliances are in working order. This entails checking for any issues with the stove, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and coffeemaker. Check to see sure your refrigerator and freezer are operating correctly as well.
Set Up a Place to Eat
Being able to cook is one of the main attractions of Airbnbs, so make sure your property has a location for guests to gather for meals. Provide a dinner table and chairs for the maximum number of guests you allow if you have space in the kitchen or a designated dining room. Do you have a limited amount of space? Include stools or TV trays at a portable island!
Create a Cozy Living Room
Create a cozy space where your guests can kick back and relax after a day of sightseeing! Fill this living space with comfy seating options like a couch, loveseat, or oversized accent chairs. Enhance your living room area with good lighting, a coffee table, end tables, and plenty of throw pillows and snuggly blankets!
Add WiFi and Streaming Services
One of the most asked for amenities with Airbnb rentals is WiFi. Offering free internet access to your guests not only gives you a competitive edge, but you can also expand your pool of renters to include business travelers who may need access to the web to work. Along with WiFi, it’s a good idea to provide a TV with access to cable or a smart TV that guests can use to stream their favorite shows!
Create a Cozy Bedroom
Put together a cozy bedroom so your guests wake up feeling refreshed after a long day of exploring our beautiful area! Opt for a bed with a sturdy headboard and durable memory foam mattress, and don’t forget to change the mattress cover regularly. Place nightstands next to the bed with a clock and lamps. If the bedroom gets a lot of natural light, hang blackout curtains, so your guests will be able to sleep in.
Clear Out Closets and Dressers
When getting your home ready for Airbnb guests, include clearing out closets and dressers to your to-do list! Give your guests enough room and shelving options to store their clothing and accessories while staying at your home. You might also provide a clothing rack, luggage rack, or wardrobe as alternatives.
Have Clean Linens on Hand
Make sure your Airbnb rental has enough clean linens for your guests! Prepare bedroom essentials like a full set of sheets, including a fitted sheet, top sheet, and a pillowcase along with either a comforter or duvet. Provide bathroom linens like bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. Store extra linens in a closet so your guests can easily grab one if they need more!
Stock Up on Toiletries
Including toiletries in your bathroom makes for an even better rental experience! Stock linen closets and bathrooms with toilet paper, facial tissues, hand soap, shampoo, and body wash! You might also include a hair dryer, lotion, razors, toothpaste, and toothbrushes to go the extra mile.
Amp Up Your Outdoor Space
Designing a welcoming outdoor living space can help draw more guests to your Airbnb rental! Have fun with string lights, torches, or lanterns for backyard lighting. Add a grill and all the grilling essentials for outdoor cooking.
Include House Rules
Prepare a welcome packet with house rules and information about local amenities as you prepare to rent out your home on Airbnb. Make sure guests are aware of your smoking policy, maximum guest capacity, quiet hours, and pet rules.
Make a list of instructions for the television, air conditioning and heating systems, security, WiFi passwords, parking, and garbage collection days. Include information on neighboring gas stations, food stores, and popular local restaurants and attractions. Also, don’t forget to give your contact information in case your visitors need to contact you!
Invest in Real Estate Photography
To have a successful listing on Airbnb, you need good real estate photography. If you’re taking DIY real estate photos, be sure to use a professional camera, tripod, and as much natural light as possible. If, however, you have the budget, consider hiring a professional real estate photographer, as they’re more experienced and will have the necessary equipment. Remember, photos are the first impression of your Airbnb home!
Need help decluttering, organizing or decorating your new Airbnb rental, or upgrading an existing space? Just Organized by Taya can help. Book an appointment here and let’s get started on the work it will take to make your space on of the top Houston Airbnb rentals in town!
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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