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.

So much this. Reed diffusers ugh ugh ugh. Heat and ventilate the place properly (ie on trickle even when vacant) - don't just try to cover up the smell of damp. All those hideous things get banished to the doorstep/backyard /balcony as soon as we arrive, and we won't re-book, either.

Oh and please don't use conditioner when laundering the towels, it makes them clammy and ineffective

Oh, and decent sized towels- I’m not huge by any means but at the last place we stayed the towels were so small they wouldn’t wrap around me and preserve my modesty! I ordered bath towels to be delivered to the cottage from M&S and have added towels to my Holiday Cottage Packing List.

Basic/should be there - loo roll, kitchen roll, tea, coffee, milk jiggers, salt & pepper, oil, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets (enough for every day booked), dish cloths, scourer, tea towels (more than 1), soap at whbs, washing powder if there's a w/machine, bin liners.

Nice extra - fresh milk, Cafetiere & coffee, basic herbs/spices, extra towels, shower gel/shampoo/conditioner, foil, clingflim, food bags etc.

Nice touches - wine, local butter, bread, cheese, fruit etc. beach towels, well stocked kitchen cupboards.

Just popping back to add , what I don't want
plug in ,or any other kind,of air fresheners.
And especially not those weird stick on gel things on the toilet bowl.

People don’t ask for much. Check in at 2pm and check out at 11, yet the property must be absolutely spotlessly clean.

A rock bottom price but also a luxury hamper welcome gift with wine etc, that often costs half the nights accomodation.

Most guests are fine. Some are the most entitled arseholes ever. Thankfully they’re in the minority.

I sorted early checkin for some guests who were literally stranded with their toddler and baby, and yet when they checked out they commented in the review that the kitchen floor was still wet when they arrived!

Absolutely this. They are incredibly toxic and bad for health. I once put them all in a cupboard and shut the door firmly.

Cloths that actually work to clean. Not those awful thin blue cloths that are utterly useless. I always take my own. Also rubber gloves.

I’ve just been to a place with one roll of toilet paper to share between bathrooms; on reading reviews this was a common complaint so was planned.

Thank you. All the information and ideas are very helpful

Sparkling clean, comfortable beds and nice fresh linen and towels are my priorities and should go without saying really.
Other things: dishwasher and tabs, decent TV if it's a long stay, sufficient loo rolls for stay, sufficient crockery and cutlery and a frying pan that doesn't look like it's come from a car boot sale!

A teapot always makes me very happy.

How do you expect it to be cleaned and bedding changed in that time frame?

Yes, we stayed in one recently where the bedroom was at the other end of the cottage from the bathroom, with only teeny tiny towels, which meant dressing in the bathroom every time.

Cleanliness
Comfortable beds with good quality bedding
Plenty of good quality towels
Comfy sofa - essential!
If there is an outdoor space - well maintained with plants and flowers and comfy seating - even if just a courtyard or balcony.

Just this actually

Absolutely agree on the coffee clarity. I've spent many an hour zooming in kitchen pics to determine a machine's type.
Plus, kitchens need both tea towels and hand towels.

I always think that Airbnb owners need to spend two seperate nights in their property.

One night in, where you cook and chill, so that you can check that there are enough / correct utensils, pots and pans etc, seating areas, etc. One night out, so you can see how the layout works when trying to do make up, hair etc.

You must stay with the maximum amount of people that you are advertising the let as able to accommodate.

You must adhere to the set check in & out times, plus the cleaning requirements.

Then you can get a realistic idea of the service that you are offering and identify any gaps.

Local taxi info. Takeaway menus. Board games. Good quality pillows.

Oh, and no stupid rules like, "Don't touch the heating controls." We stayed in that one at the start of April, and heating set to 18C for 2 hours a day was really not adequate, so yes, we ignored the rules.

A welcome pack of milk, coffee, tea and something to eat. Doesn't have to be a full breakfast but does make a brilliant impression if there's a loaf of bread, butter, honey or jam, eggs and OJ too.

A dishwasher.
Enough loo roll, dishwasher tablets and washing up liquid to last the stay. It really hacks me off when there is enough for washing up once then you are expected to waste holiday time going to buy boring groceries.

Proper kitchen equipment. Chopping boards as well as bread boards. Saucepans than are bigger than 6 inches wide. Tumblers as well as wine glasses. A couple of good knives and a vegetable peeler.

That is such a good idea.

Disagree on that one. I had someone stay who hadn’t understood the simple fact that, if the thermostat is set to, say, 17C, once the room hits that temperature then the radiators and heating will switch off. They could have easily dialed up the temperature, but no, she had her husband open up the boiler unit, twiddle with dials, and basically did something that switched off the water. I had to get a plumber in to fix.

The big thing is being clear about what is and isn't provided beforehand - it's lovely when there is milk, tea and coffee and a fresh cake waiting for you but half the time I have already bought that stuff on the way so it just duplicates