Listing your rental property on Airbnb and other hotel booking sites is one of the best ways to make the most out of your real estate investment. However, a lot of other property owners have the same idea, and you will likely have a lot of units to compete with, especially if your area is a tourist destination.
So, how do you attract more guests to your listing? And at the same time, how can you set yourself apart from your competitors?
Luckily, you can hit two birds with one stone by investing in upgrades for your rental property. Here are some of the best ones that you should consider:
1. Bathroom renovation
Your guests want to relax in a warm bath or take a soothing shower after a long day. And nothing can make that experience better than an upgraded bathroom. New shower doors, tile flooring, countertops, fixtures, decorations–making these upgrades can make a big difference to the guest experience; yes, even if they won’t spend the entire time in the bathroom. Moreover, having a nice bathroom ultimately increases your property’s value, which is most likely one of your priorities already if you are an investor.
2. New mattress
Mattresses generally last for 15 to 20 years. If the mattresses in your rental have gone beyond that lifespan, then it’s high time to replace them. Otherwise, you can put yourself at risk for bad reviews when your guests have an uncomfortable time sleeping on your old mattresses.
3. Extra storage
Guests want to be able to store their belongings easily after they arrive. Make it easy for them by providing extra storage space in the form of shoe racks, hooks, or under-bed storage bins. Despite being small additions to the room, your guests will likely notice them. But if you want to provide a significant amount of additional storage space, you may want to invest in new furniture such as closets or drawers.
4. Scent diffuser
A scent diffuser is a small and inexpensive upgrade to a rental, but it can make a huge difference in the guest experience. Guests will feel much happier when they walk into a room that smells good and depending on the scent you choose, you can even set the mood that fits the location of your rental.
For example, if you’re near a forest reserve or any other woodsy area, you can opt for scents like cedarwood or cypress to evoke a nature-like feel. On the other hand, if you’re near the beach, you can set the mood by using scents that remind people of summer and the ocean, such as lime, peppermint, and lemongrass.
5. Mirrors
It’s a well-known fact that mirrors can make a room look two times bigger than it really is, so consider using this trick for your rental, especially if it’s on the small side.
Simply place large mirrors in strategic places around the room to achieve this effect. You would want to position them in a way so that sunlight hits them just right to make the room look brighter during the day. However, avoid placing too many mirrors in one room lest the guest feels uncomfortable seeing their own reflection everywhere.
6. Coffee nook
A coffee nook is a simple upgrade that a lot of guests will love, most especially coffee-lovers. Better yet, it brings value to the room without requiring a hefty investment. With just a simple coffee maker, a French press, containers of ingredients (coffee beans, sugar, creamer), a grinder, a few sets of cups, and your coffee nook is all set.
7. Guide book or pamphlet
Your guests are excited to explore what’s beyond your Airbnb. Make their vacation easier for them by providing a guide book or pamphlet in the room highlighting the area’s attractions, including restaurants, museums, parks, shopping areas, and other interesting places.
Making your own guide book or pamphlet is easy. Simply compile all the sites that you want to recommend and the tips you want to share, print your pages, and then have them bound somewhere (or do it on your own). Don’t forget to put a reminder to not take the guide book out of the room so that other guests can use it, too. But if your guests want a copy, have a PDF version of the book or pamphlet saved on your device so that you can easily send it to them.
Making upgrades like these to your Airbnb can bring value to your guests, which can help you gain more positive feedback and in turn, have more guests flocking to your rental. So if you want more 5-star ratings, start looking for upgrades that you can make today.
