How To Prepare for Airbnb Guests
Airbnb is probably among the most significant sharing economy success stories. The home-sharing platform has become so popular that it is now estimated to be worth over sixty billion dollars. And if you are one of the many people who use Airbnb to list your home or property for rent, you are probably always looking for ways to make your rental more attractive to potential guests. Learn how to prepare for Airbnb guests with our advice below.
The basics include ensuring your place is clean, well-lit, and in a good location. But if you really want to make your rental stand out, there are a few extra things that you can do, including providing each guest with a welcome packet, stocking the fridge, and taking care of maintenance issues, such as getting rid of old broken garage doors and installing new Clopay garage doors.
The goal is to make your rental feel like a home away from home for guests so that they can have a positive experience and end up being more likely to book with you again in the future. Now, continue reading for a few more ideas on how to prepare your home for Airbnb guests!
Do a Deep Clean
It should go without saying that your rental needs to be clean before guests arrive. But we are not talking about just surface-level cleaning here. You need to do a deep clean and get into all the nooks and crannies, and make sure everything shines. Start by decluttering and removing any personal items, such as family photos, from the space. Then, focus on cleaning each room from top to bottom.
In the kitchen, for example, you will want to clean the stove, oven, fridge, and cabinets. In the bathroom, scrub the toilet, sink, shower, and tub. And throughout the rest of the house, dust all surfaces, vacuum and mop the floors, and wash the windows. This, of course, does not mean that you should do all that cleaning every time a guest arrives. In fact, if you have the budget, it is worth hiring a professional cleaning service to do the cleaning for you between guests. While it might be costly, it can be a great time-saver!
Inspect Plumbing and Electrical Systems
While you are taking care of the deep cleaning, it is also a good idea to do a quick inspection of your home’s plumbing and electrical systems. Check under the sinks for any leaks, see whether the toilets are flushing properly, and test the shower and tub to ensure the water is hot enough.
As for your electrical system, check all power outlets and light fixtures, replace any burned-out lightbulbs, and if you have any appliances in your rental, test them to ensure they are in good working condition. There is nothing worse than having a guest arrive only to find out that the coffee maker does not work.
Take Care of Any Maintenance Issues
It is also a good idea to take care of any maintenance issues in your rental before guests arrive. This might include fixing a loose doorknob, repairing a broken window, or replacing the old garage door. These might seem like small things, but they can end up causing the guests trouble. In the end, they might even cause them to write a negative review. So, it is better to take care of these issues sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, taking care of such small maintenance issues can help prevent larger, more expensive problems from occurring later down the road. For example, if you do not fix a leak soon enough, it is likely to start getting bigger and cause significant water damage. All in all, it is always better to be safe than sorry and take care of any small issues as soon as you notice them.
Add Some Personal Touches
Although your rental should not be too personal – as in, you do not want to have family photos on display – it should still feel homey. One way to do this is by adding some personal touches, such as fresh flowers or a basket of fruit. This will make your rental feel more inviting and welcoming to guests while staying within the bounds of what is appropriate for a rental property.
You might also want to add some practical touches, such as guidebooks about the area or maps of nearby attractions. This will help guests get a feel for what there is to do in the area and make their stay more enjoyable.
Leave a Welcome Packet for Guests
Another good way to make your rental feel more welcoming and inviting is to leave a welcome packet for each guest. This can include things like a list of nearby restaurants, information about public transportation, and a personal welcome note from you. You might also want to include some basic information about your rentals, such as how to work the TV or Wi-Fi password.
You can either put this information in a binder or a folder for guests or make it available electronically via an app like Airbnb Guidebook. This is a great way to provide guests with all the information they need while still making it easy for them to find what they are looking for.
How to Prepare for Airbnb Guests – Final Thoughts
As the majority of us know, hosting on Airbnb can be a great way to earn some extra money. However, in order to make sure that you are earning as much as you can and providing your guests with the best possible experience, it is important to put some time and effort into preparing your rental for their stay.
The things listed above are just a fraction of what you can possibly do to prepare your home for Airbnb guests. By taking care of the basics, such as doing a deep clean and inspecting your home’s plumbing and electrical systems, you can help ensure your guests have a positive experience. And by adding some personal touches, such as fresh flowers or a welcome basket, you can make your rental feel more inviting and welcoming. So, what are you waiting for? Start preparing your home for Airbnb guests today!