What essentials do you appreciate in an airbnb

[Holidayscoming]

We got a place we rent as an airbnb. What sort of things you like to find when you get there. What make it a top review.

Milk.
and simplicity… don’t want pages of instructions for the microwave and cooker.
off street parking is a bonus.

Good coffee making facilities.

All essentials required for the first night (milk, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, dish soap etc) so you don’t have to rush out and buy stuff if you arrive late or after shops have closed.

If it’s a short stay enough toilet osier, dishwasher and washing machine tablets to last the trip. It’s annoying having to buy bulky stuff that you might not be able to take home for just a couple of nights.

I’d say milk is a waste if people don’t use it!
washing up liquid / dishwasher tablets
tea towels (more than 1!)
loo rolls
blackout curtains / blinds in bedrooms
hypoallergenic duvets and pillows
hooks in the bathroom for towels, ditto back of bedroom doors
decent clothes airer if you have a washing machine
ironing board & iron if it’s somewhere you might get business travellers
decent kitchen knifes
the right sized pans for the number of people it sleeps (often an issue in larger properties)
more than 1 plate / mug / bowl and set of cutlery per person
parking unless it’s in a city
accurate description of bed configuration

I appreciate the basics, milk , tea bags, coffee, shower gel etc (shower gel isn’t expected but it’s nice) biggest one for me is actually check in and out times! My preferred check in would be 3 and out 11. I stayed at a lovely place and check in was 4 or 5 but check out was early I feel like it was 9 and it felt so so rushed couldn’t eat breakfast etc. also don’t give people an exhaustive list of tasks to do before they leave

Definitely want milk so I can make a cuppa when I arrive - sometimes you arrive after a long journey and can't check in until 4pm so it's nice to have a hot drink when you arrive.

My favourite house to stay provides milk, teabags, a few coffee pods, a loaf of bread from local bakery, butter, some individual packets of biscuits in wrappers, washing up liquid, a handful of dishwasher tablets and loo rolls. They also provide a little pack of dog treats and a dog bed when guests say they are bringing a dog.

It feels like such a warm welcome.

Shampoo conditioner and body wash!

We stayed in a house in the highlands recently and the kitchen had everything. Loads of herbs and spices and oil etc. Lots of cooking implements. I agree with dishwasher and washing machine tablets. Also tea and coffee is a must!

If you have a washing machine included, an airer to dry things. I’ve stayed in several self-catering places with a washing machine and nowhere to hang things to dry.

Definitely milk, so you can make a cup of tea when you get there.
Ditto posh biscuits/tea/coffee.
A mirror with decent lighting where you can sit and do your make up
Dishwasher tablets and Fairy
Kids cutlery/plates/cups etc if it's a family house
Teapot/tea strainer
A coffee machine and enough pods to last a couple of days, with info on where to buy replacements (i.e. corner shop, shop in village, Tesco)
Very clear heating/hot water/TV instructions

And I would definitely agree on a reasonable check in/out time. Check out especially - we stayed somewhere once with 9am check out and it was so stressful, felt like we were getting ready for work after a nice holiday.

Salt, pepper and oil. We don’t drink dairy milk due to allergies so it’s always a waste if that is left for us. 2x plates and glasses per person

Nice big mugs to drink out of, not piddly little cups.
Pasta bowls as well as plates and cereal bowls
Enough bin bags etc to last the duration of the stay
Comfy sofa not Gran's cast off, with a food pouffe and throws
Good internet and netflix for chill time
Board games
Bedside lamps
Good mood lighting in living room
Nice outdoor furniture
Cotton bedding and decent pillows

USB sockets available. We have them built into our electricity circuit so always forget to bring enough/ can't find them all and end up having to get more adapters.

The last place we stayed in was all kitted out with every utensil we could have needed plus all the dishwasher tabs, washing up liquid, loo rolls etc. was good to have towels provided too.

Downside was not being allowed to leave anything in dishwasher or draining board. We had to rush breakfast and hand wash which was tricky with 4 kids involved. Surely putting on the dishwasher to be emptied by the cleaner/owner is acceptable??

Clean (new) washing up sponge and kitchen cloth.
Coffee making facilities (cafetière is fine)
Pure cotton bed linen.
Hand soap in bathroom and kitchen
I have allergies so I prefer synthetic pillows and duvet to feathers, but I get that's a personal preference.
Decent selection of cooking implements, sharp knives, large enough pans.
If it's a period property, I love some into about its history. Also info about local area particularly nice walks from the door.

A mirror close to a socket (or vice versa) so that I can see what I’m doing when I’m drying my hair.

A mirror in every bedroom, height/ size suitable for people of differing heights to look in, well- lit and with a plug socket close enough to to use the hairdryer.

Parking, preferably off road.

We once spent a week in Tenby in an apartment with no parking, and one of us had to get up early every morning to feed the pay and display meter for each day's parking.

This pre-dated parking apps.

Plenty of things like washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, hand soap, toilet paper, some cleaning material, bin bags etc.
If you have a washing machine - some laundry pods

More than one towel per person

Plenty of crockery, cutlery, glasses and mugs. It doesn't have to match but I don't want to wash up immediately.
If you water for family - some children plates/mugs
Some food containers

Hooks in the bathroom for wash bags and plenty of space to hang up a towel to dry properly.

A decent size wardrobe so you can unpack properly

Some nice throws/blankets to use on beds/sofas

Offer highchair/cots (not a travel one, a proper one), some toys

I wouldn't automatically put milk in the fridge, I would offer to provide it on request. Tea/coffee bags yes, a closed pack of biscuits but nothing which can spoil.

Cleanliness.

Breakfast/drinks making.

Washing up liquid, tea towel , dish cloth. Dishwasher tablets if appropriate.

Offer highchair/ cot - but only if they are clean and safe to use. We stayed in one Airbnb they said they had a cot, they did, they set it up ready for us (nice, thanks!) but it was awful filthy and mouldy, not safe for a dog to sleep in let alone a baby.

A welcome pack is kind, but a bit sad when it’s full of things I’m allergic to. If you’re going to do that, maybe ask for allergies? I’d be happy with some non dairy milk for that first cup of tea!

Clarity on coffee making facilities - I need to know whether I should put beans or ground coffee or pods on my first day supermarket delivery before I get there.

Local walks, maps, leaflets about things to do that aren’t hugely out of date.

Loo roll, handsoap, washing up liquid and new sponge, milk and a few tea/coffee bags but I don't want a lavish welcome pack.

Offer stairgates, high chairs etc but make sure they aren't just left there to clutter up the place if not requested.

Plenty of wardrobe space and hangers, space for hanging coats in the hall and enough towel rails/hooks in the bathroom.

Normal (thin) curtains, I hate waking up in the dark, perhaps have blackout blinds for those that want them but normal curtains for those that don't.

Clear instructions for everything and some local info eg good takeaways.

Charging cables, coffee, tea and milk. Tea towels, kitchen paper, bin bags, towels, soap, a speaker.

The best place we stay at and return to over and over again has everything. It’s literally home from home. The kitchen stands out most. It has every utensil you can possibly need as well as decent pans and pots and things like an airfryer.
I would say it’s the little things that make the biggest difference like having a French press, dishwasher tablets, washing machine tablets, loo roll, extra bedding/pillows, nice towels, extra dishcloths etc. It’s like the owners have thought of every eventuality.
Cleanliness is a must including the fridge, cupboards etc.

As some previous posters have said:

Check in earlier than 4 and check out late than 9.

And no huge list of cleaning to do when a cleaning fee is already charged.