Rcently I have been travelling around Japan for one month using only AirBnb and I want to share my thoughts. Originally I was going to release a paid ebook but I decided to share my knowledge here. This will be helpfull to anyone who wants to rent and earn money on AirBnb.
If your apartment is equipped with washing machine then provide a detergent. It's better when you preload detergent so guests doesn't have to bother with it and you also can save it by doing like that. If your washing machine buttons description is in other language then English then you should provide translation in form of stickers under the buttons or a leaflet on the wall near the washing machine. This approves as well to any other device like for example a microwave, a cooker, a fridge or AC (this one is very important). You want your guest to have an easy life and also your equipment to remain in perfect condition.
In kitchen provide basic equipment like a plates and cutlery or chopsticks and a dishwashing liquid. If there is a need to recycle rubbish in your area then provide separate bins for different kind of waste, make it easy to use and straightforward. Explain the rules using a leaflet on a wall.
How to design your space
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You must start from the core and then build everything else around it. Travelers and tourists then need to sleep, bath, relax,eat and sometimes work from your home. So first of all provide a new, clean, comfy and good looking bed. Bed is essential and I suggest to start from this place. Then make sure that bathroom and toilet are clean and fresh. No mold, rust, dirt etc. Pay attention to your floorings. Get rid of carpets because they are easily getting dirty, although you can use some carpets but in selected areas, not covering the whole place. The best choice in my opinion is a wooden floor because it looks nice and its easier to maintain clean.
Next very important thing is a place where guests can unpack their stuff without creating a chaotic mess. Cupboards, countertops, shelfs, there is nothing more disturbing then lack of space and when you have to keep things in your suitcase, backpacks, therefore making it hard and unpleasant to manage and use.
Travelers carry lots of electronics, phones, tablets, netbooks, cameras, electric shavers and toothbrush etc. Equip your house with multiple extension travel adapters. Lets say that your listing is in Europe, then provide your guests with extensions for UK and USA/Japan plugs. Multiple extensions are very convenient because travelers usually carry not enough single adapters and are not able to charge multiple devices at once. With multiple extensions travel adapters they will be able to charge all their devices at once and it won't cost you a fortune.
Easiest ways to refresh your flat:
- a new pain,
- a new floor (no carpets!)
- less is more so get rid of an old equipment and leave essentials)
- bring in some decorations (a world map on a wall is a tip for you, interesting paintings and small pictures, charms, real and fake flowers and foliage etc)
- lighting - get LED system with intensity and color control
From my perspective and my personal experience with renting AirBnb I usually used to pay half price of a hotel in desiread area. But don't get me wrong! Don'd try to make your apartment like a hotel room! If you did you have already failed. Because people who are using AirBnb they look for ,,real experience" or want to taste a life from perspective of a local person. Make it natural, make it as you would make it for you. Sometimes you don't have to change much, don't try too hard because you might destroy that ,,natural" state. I mean, when I was in Japan I enjoyed tatami rooms as well as modern style Japanese places... and even typical tiny flats that looked like hundreds around and in which Japanese low-middle class people live everyday. Maybe they were not the dream places to stay but they gave you perspective and look into the local people world, different culture. And it's really meaningful experience so don't take it away from your clients by changing your place into a hotel room, kind of.
Things that will make your place more convinient:
- cloth hangers,
- electronic scale,
- ironing and other equipment,
- mobile wifi
Automatization
If you have lots of flats to rent or you are lazy and don't want to meet people then this is for you.
First of all your building should have front doors with electronic lock and you provide a code to your guests. Then you put ,,key locker” (just googe this device) b attaching it close to your doors or hiding
it in some place. Then your guests just enter the building using the code provided by you and then they open a key locker with another code you have gave them. And when tthey check out just ask them to put your key into the same box. Voila! Simple as that. Oh you can also ask them to put the key into a mailbox if you want to speed up things and make it less confusing for guests. You know in kase they would struggle with putting the key back to the box or locking it. It's good to eliminate any weak points of your automatization process so you have less complients.