4 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Airbnb Rental

Learn how to style up your space for Airbnb rental!

As the trend continues for real estate investors to transition their home from lease contracts to Airbnb rentals, owners are discovering higher monthly returns and less hassle with their investments. But there are a few things that an owner needs to do in order to become the kind of host that receives consistently high reviews for their property stays. In this article, we are going to share four surefire things you can do to prepare yourself to be a successful host on the Airbnb platform, while earning you some extra bucks in the process.

Update YOUR Property.

Yes, Airbnb guests want the experience of being in a home. But let’s make a distinction here... they want a nice home experience. When someone spends their hard-earned money on a place away from home to lay their head, they have certain expectations. One of the expectations is a place that is well put-together and aesthetically pleasing. If your budget doesn’t allow for full renovations, at least make sure that your home looks updated, fresh and stylish. A can of paint, yanking carpet from nice hardwood floors and adding some stylish accents (pillows, art and end tables) can do wonders for a home. At a loss for how to decorate each room? Think of each space in themes like coastal or glam or farmhouse chic. Turn on HGTV and check out some of the small, yet inexpensive ways that you can transform your property.

Provide Some Amenity.

Providing amenity does not have to be an expensive venture. Amenity for an Airbnb guest means allowing them to have things that they need and would expect at a hotel, or better. If your house has a full kitchen, with clean appliances obviously, provide additional things such as a a coffee pot with coffee and tea. If you can afford a Keurig, that would be better, less frustrating and easier solution. Keep the cabinet or pantry stocked with seasonings, cooking oil, dishes, wine glasses, eating and cooking utensils and pots and pans so that they can save money by cooking in. Also, keep cleaning products under the sink with some dish towels and leave a roll of paper towels under the sink. In the bathroom, have a couple of bottles of travel-sized soaps, shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste and some unwrapped toothbrushes. Have some bathroom cleaner and a sponge in the linen closet for their use. Also, a plunger and toilet brush, clean and neat, hidden behind the toilet will be very helpful for them. Have enough toilet paper stocked for them and include a bath mat or towel so that they don’t slip on the floor after their bath or shower.

Clean Your Home, But Be Efficient.

The best thing you can do is to keep a cleaning supply closet that’s locked when guests are present. Keep it stocked with a broom and dustpan, a mop and bucket, bleach, all surface cleaners, window cleaner, disinfectant sprays and wipes, cleaning towels, paper towels, furniture polish, bathroom cleaning soaps and a vacuum cleaner. You can also store additional items that you will replenish after each stay such as bath soaps, laundry soaps, fabric softeners, dishwashing liquid, toilet paper and travel size toiletries in bulk. Make sure that you clean every corner of your house. From the floors, to the walls and counters, deep cleaning is required, particularly in the bathroom and the kitchen where water and dirt create nasty build-up. Clean your appliances inside and out. And make sure to wipe down window ledges and blinds. These are crucial areas to focus on to garner great reviews.

Linens, Linens, Linens.

When hosting an Airbnb rental, linens are extremely important. Not only do you want a nice looking bedspread and pillows, you also want to make sure that you have good quality sheets. But washing one set of sheets after every checkout would be incredibly time-consuming and inefficient. The best thing to do is to have four or five sets of sheets and pillowcases per bed in the home so that you only have to drop them in the washer and dryer once a week. You also want to do the same for towels. You’ll probably want to have about five sets of body towels, hand towels and face rags for every 1 bedroom in the home. Wash all your linens thoroughly with fragrance-free detergent to prevent your guests from having allergic reactions. A great, liquid fabric softener will keep them in good condition. Fold them nicely and store them neatly in a clean linen closet or drawer for easy access.

Extras

• You definitely want to make sure to have a fire extinguisher in the home and to assure that your smoke detector is in good working condition.

• Make sure all light bulbs work and keep some extras in your cleaning supply closet.

• All windows should have blinds or curtains for privacy.

• Leave a welcome check-in letter for your guests with instructions for the house. Let them know where they can find the items that they need, how to use cool appliances and how you can be reached for an emergency.

• A couple of other things to consider would be snacks. Grab a big bag or box of cookies, crackers and/ or chips and leave a basket full on the counter for guests to snack on. Just refill them after each check out and store them away for the next check-in.

• Snag some local attraction and tour pamphlets from a local hotel and keep them in a nice neat rack or basket in the living room. This will give your guests the opportunity to know what’s going on in the city and to experience some of the local attractions. You might want to include a binder of local area restaurant menus so that they can go for a meal or order take-out.

Take A Look Real Estate Has Upgraded: Tour the New Office

The sun is shining on Take A Look Real Estate Broker’s new space!

On January 26, 2019, after a focused vision, some diligent planning and team work, Take A Look Real Estate Brokers unveiled our brand new office space. Situated on a corner lot at 2957 Stelzer Rd., adjoining a quaint veterinarian’s office, we are now open for appointments and walk-ins.

Theresa Barron, broker and visionary, wanted a space that was collaborative, energetic and functional for inspired productivity. With its uplifting color scheme and open feel, customers came alive at the open house. There was great food, music, positivity and lots of valuable information shared with our guests. Agents now have a work environment to grow their businesses at pace that promotes their idea of success. And clients have a place to go to ask questions and solve some of their personal economic concerns.

Because Take A Look offers an array of solutions for Central Ohio residents, the space had to allow for enough working room for agents and staff to assist. As you walk in the office, you are greeted with uplifting colors and New Age decor. There are three workspace areas and a media room for agents to create powerful video content for their social media channels and to close out sound for undistracted phone calls with clients.

There are various services that are being facilitated in our building. With real estate being our main focus, agents support home buyers, sellers and investors in making smart moves with their resources. As the government shut down takes a pause, our certified experts are also processing tax returns for W2 employees and 1099 independent contractors. We also assist clients with the protection of their homes, retirement income and their families through life insurance. We discover your needs and goals to locate the right policies, riders and premiums that fit your lifestyle.

Our office is also a training center for new agents. Through our Platinum Success program, along with our private facebook group and exclusive educational podcast, agents also receive their fast start training in the office and get a front row seat to watch successful, seasoned agents work. We believe that collaborative productivity is the key to success. Now we have an office that will help accelerate these ideals.

You are invited to stop on by, meet the broker and talk to the agents! If you are thinking about buying your first home, our next “It’s Time To Own It” event will take place in our conference room in March and we will put you on the fast track to ownership, starting at whatever income or credit level you are currently. We will meet you where you are and help you prepare for your future.

To get pre-registered for the event, give Theresa a call or shoot her a text at 614-778-8503. Make sure to follow Take A Look Real Estate Brokers on Facebook. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel to get the most in depth real estate information and Central Ohio market news.

Appreciate What You Have This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time of year where emotions are plentiful, relationships are evaluated and life’s achievements are questioned. Broad spiritual ideologies, various family interactions and the measuring of our lives against our expectations for ourselves often leaves us mentally depleted. With those anxieties, sometimes we miss the beauty in the holidays. Appreciation, the main purpose of the holiday season, is often left to the wind in exchange for the ego’s need to hold you judge and jury of your life.

In Webster’s Dictionary online, some of the words used to define the word appreciation are, “admiration, approval, gratitude, evaluation, and awareness.” Coalesced, those words speak to a choice to focus our minds on something positive. It means the enjoyment in an observation. Maybe it’s the memory of a closeness with someone. Maybe it’s the mystical traditions, lights, music, and flavors. It could even be an unexpected blessing that arrives like only a miracle can.

Either way, we are making a conscious decision to set our attention on something that feels good to us. It’s a state that allows us to clearly see more of the beauty, wonder and love around all around us.

Appreciation also insinuates growth or expansion of some sort. When an investment appreciates, our ability to use that equitable position improves. We have more choice, ability and access. Those rewards could come in the form of money, knowledge, favor, or strength.

Appreciation during the holidays means finding every blessing bestowed upon us, and watching it expand right before our very eyes. From the sight of a marvelous Christmas tree to the taste of Aunty’s sweet potato pie. From the blessing of having a place to lay our heads, however warm or cold, to the helping hand of a friend or stranger. From the blessing of big plans for the future to just being glad we’ve made it this far. Acknowledging that which is good allows you to be in a receiving mode for more.

The holidays give us the opportunity to ponder our lives in a way that brings resolve. With appreciation, healing can occur. With thankfulness, we learn to forgive. With an attitude of gratitude we develop courage. We open our hearts. We answer our own questions. And we make peace with where we are, knowing that more is in store.

We hope you take this season to find something to appreciate because therein lies the miraculous.

Happy Holidays from Take A Look Real Estate Brokers.