9 Quick Tips to Prepare Your Home for Airbnb and VRBO
Are you thinking about listing your house on Airbnb, VRBO, or another popular vacation rental platform? Before you can make money off your home, you need to get it ready for guests. Renovation Facetime shares the must-do steps before hosting your first vacation rental guests.
Basic Short-Term Rental Prep
These are the basic steps every homeowner should take before hosting vacation rental guests.
- Deep clean or hire a cleaning company to make your home spotless.
- Remove personal belongings or secure them in a locked area.
- Clean out the fridge and pantry.
- Take care of outstanding home maintenance.
Room-by-Room Steps to Get Ready for Airbnb
Use these room-by-room tips to prepare your home for an outstanding guest experience and even better reviews.
Entryway
1. Install keyless entry
Keyless entry eliminates the hassle and risk of house keys. With keyless entry, guests can check themselves in with a code that’s changed between guests. Basic keypad locks are budget-friendly but it’s worth springing for a smart lock for the functionality and seamless experience. Smart locks let homeowners lock doors remotely, assign unique codes, and integrate with other smart home devices.
2. Adopt outdoor security
That includes integrations with smart security systems for handy functions like automatically locking doors when an outdoor camera detects movement. That offers peace of mind to homeowners and guests alike. And unlike traditional home security, smart security systems are fully customizable with mix-and-match devices so you can balance privacy with security for the best of both worlds.
Living Area
3. Replace outdated furniture
Replace sunken sofas, scratched-up coffee tables, and other worn furniture with new pieces designed for durability. Airbnb furniture should be versatile, comfortable, and most importantly sturdy and stain-resistant. Performance fabrics are the best option for cleanability. Consider buying a convertible couch to accommodate extra guests.
4. Buy a smart TV
A smart TV that can access popular streaming services is standard in vacation rentals today. A smart TV lets guests login into their own streaming services, eliminating the need for expensive cable television. Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and Fire TV Stick are the leading options for hosts.
Bedroom
5. Splurge on nice bedding
Sleep quality makes or breaks a guest’s vacation rental experience. Don’t tank your reviews with a lumpy mattress or scratchy sheets. When you invest in a high-quality mattress and bedding, guests will wake up ready to give your rental a five-star review.
6. Hang blackout drapes
Blackout curtains are another worthy purchase for Airbnb bedrooms. Light-blocking window treatments provide privacy and an excuse to sleep in. Pair blackout shades with side panel drapes for a relaxing ambiance. Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond are the most popular places to buy blinds locally but don’t rule out budget-friendly online retailers like Overstock or Wayfair.
Bathroom
7. Provide high-end amenities
Just like bedding, luxury towels and bathroom linens are a small price to pay for a top-notch guest experience. In addition to plenty of clean towels, provide single-use toiletries like toothbrushes, floss, and hair care items. Even if guests prefer to use their own toiletries, they appreciate the thoughtful touches.
8. Install extra hooks and shelves
Bathroom shelving makes linens, toiletries, and other bathroom essentials accessible to guests without rifling through closets. Include extra shelves for guests to store personal items and toiletries along with plenty of hooks for towels and clothing.
9. Modernize bathroom hardware
Don’t hang any old towel hooks. Hardware defines a bathroom’s character and is an inexpensive way to refresh your bathroom’s look. Simple hardware swaps like replacing towel bars, faucets, and showerheads are easy for homeowners to DIY. More labor-intensive projects including replacing plumbing fixtures or re-tiling a bathroom floor are worth hiring professional help.
Once your home is ready for its first vacation rental guests, schedule a photography session and start crafting your listing. With the right amenities and strategic marketing, you can turn your home into a successful income-generating property whether you rent your home for a few weeks or year-round!