Having your own Airbnb rental property can be a great way to make a good passive income. However, there’s only one caveat – you need to be able to get regular bookings on a marketplace filled with competitive listings.
One of the best ways to achieve this is by getting more positive ratings for your property. However, this turns into a bit of a “chicken before the egg” situation. How do you get more renters if your reviews are still low?
The answer is by making smart, practical improvements to the property and highlighting the best features of your property. Below are some effective strategies you can apply to your own Airbnb to naturally increase your bookings and reviews.
Add More Comfortable Furnishings
While all your Airbnb guests are likely to have different tastes or interests when staying in a rental property, one thing they all equally share is the desire and need to get a great night’s sleep. Even though you can’t directly assure them this will be possible, you can definitely make it easier for them to feel more relaxed in the atmosphere they’re in.
Start by choosing a comfortable and durable mattress for each of the bedrooms and upgrading the quality of the linen or comforters you use. This is an easy, cost-effective way to give your guests the comforts of home without breaking the bank.
Make Use of Smart Home Technology
Most people have become accustomed to having a certain amount of smart home technology available to them. While it isn’t common to find smart home solutions available in hotel rooms, there are a lot of opportunities to incorporate them in your Airbnb rental.
For example, you can install smart lighting solutions, app-controlled thermostats, keyless door locks, and even virtual assistants. While these little extras may not seem like they’re worth the effort, you would be surprised how they can make a difference when trying to leave a good impression on your guests.
The plus side of adding in these features is that they can also help you to reduce your expenses on utilities. Smart LED lighting solutions and appliances significantly reduce your home or rental properties’ energy consumption, helping to lower your monthly running costs.
Choosing More Memorable Decor Items
The great thing about planning a stay at an Airbnb property is that there are a lot of options to choose from. If you’re a property owner, however, it can be difficult sometimes to make sure your rental gets more attention than other listings. One way to do this is by incorporating more unique and memorable features.
Depending on where your property is and the type of renters you’re trying to attract, it can be helpful to add some more eye-catching furniture pieces or artwork that help to add some more personality to your property. This could also include making smart use of house plants throughout the home or trying to choose furniture items that help guests feel more at home, like a small library, a game room, or an art studio.
Update the Kitchen Space
One of the key differentiators of staying in an Airbnb instead of a hotel room is your access to amenities like a full kitchen. It’s important to take advantage of this by renovating your kitchen so that it has all the features your renters are likely looking for. Some of these features might include a kitchen island, modern countertops, and upgraded appliances.
While a functional kitchen space is great, it’s also the perfect way to help your home feel more modern and look great on listing images. Kitchens are typically a central point in all homes, so the better yours looks, the more likely your listing is to gain additional interest.
Renovate Your Bathrooms
Much like kitchens, bathrooms are one of the most used rooms in any property. But even though people don’t spend long periods of time in their bathrooms, it doesn’t mean you should keep the space strictly utilitarian. There are a lot of different ways you can customize your bathroom spaces to help them look more appealing and pleasant to be in.
One way you can achieve this is by making smaller, but practical changes to the layout of the space. This can include updating different fixtures, installing organizers for toiletry items, and hanging racks for towels and washcloths. Modernizing your shower head and adding a new shower curtain are also simple ways to help your bathroom stand out.
Create an Open Floor Plan
Another important thing to consider when designing your short-term rental space is how open and flexible common areas are. Helping your guests feel like they have more space to move around helps to increase the value of the property and avoids making guests feel too crowded.
While you could always start a renovation project that involves removing non-load-bearing walls to open up rooms, many times you can make adjustments that don’t require too much effort. For example, by being more selective about the type of furniture you choose, you can still provide comfortable furnishings without taking up too much space.
Focus on Outside Improvements
It’s only natural to want to look at different rooms in your rental property and look for opportunities to make certain changes. However, you want to make sure you don’t forget about the first thing guests see when they stay at your Airbnb property – the outside.
Focusing on your property’s curb appeal helps to set the right tone for guests before they ever step foot inside the rental. By doing some thoughtful landscaping, adding in some flower beds, or giving the exterior of the property a fresh coat of paint, it can significantly improve the likelihood of receiving more bookings.
Start Bringing In More Reviews to Your Airbnb Property
The more reviews your Airbnb gets, the more repeat bookings you’re able to receive. By following the strategies discussed and investing in your property, you’ll help your short-term rental stand out from others, helping to increase your bookings, positive reviews, and ultimately, your revenue.
Author Information
Author Name: Michael Alladawi
Author Bio:
Michael Alladawi, CEO & Founder of Revive Real Estate, is a Southern California real estate veteran with a proven track record as a builder, investor, and respected home flipper. Michael created Revive Real Estate to share his industry knowledge and help homeowners maximize their profits when selling their homes. Michael’s passion for his work is as big as his desire to create lasting partnerships. For Michael, it all comes down to how much value one offers, both in business and life relationships.
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