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.

Ours is attached to our house. So not taking away a property. We rent it half the year peak seasons and open it up to use ourselves the rest.

We include everything you would want , I think. But I only mention things like baby equipment ( which is stored elsewhere if not needed), and other large things there like bbq/ beach stuff. Otherwise people would complain that there wasn’t a picnic ice pack mentioned or something minor, ie if last guests took it with them and I hadn’t time to replace.

check out is 10am, check in from 3pm. People still leave late and arrive early. I need those 5hrs to properly make sure it’s all clean and ready. So I couldn’t make check out later. It’s not just basic cleaning, but restocking everything, outside spaces, fixing issues or repairs. less than 5hrs is tight.

It depends on where you live, but our most spoken about items are the herb and fruit and vegetable garden. And the outdoor equipment like beach umbrellas, beach toys, picnic coolers etc that we leave for guests to use out and about.

We also have other kids basics like board games, garden swing ball, chalk, aqua water play set for summer etc.

We also have an Ev charger which is used now by around 80% of guests. I assume even more over time so I would definitely look at installing one.

Apart from the basics such as cleaning products and basics condiments, I like a proper hairdryer not a travel size one.
I'm not fussed about coffee pods freshed baked goods and other stuff.
I just want a clean comfortable house.

Enough comfortable chairs in the living are for the number of people. I'm surprised at how often we struggle with space for 4 adults to relax together in the evening, despite the accommodation sleeping 4.

Oh yes. I would never go anywhere where the bed wasn’t a king size anyway so didn’t think to mention this. But yeah, a tiny double is a no no. Even if I’m on my own, I want to starfish across a big bed!

And The display cushions are a waste of time, except for your photos to make it look pretty.

Oh and very clear instructions on where to pick up keys. One time we were given a house number address (say 1 Arcadia Avenue) to pick up and couldn’t find it - it was actually the garage/petrol station at the very end of the lane tucked away. If they’d said “in the petrol station office” it would have been much much clearer!!

Can't believe I'm forgot to say batteries for the remote. Almost every place we stay seems to have a least one that doesn't work and no spare batteries. If I had an Airbnb then I would do a quick check when doing the cleaning.

One of first posters said not pages of instructions - equally NO instructions is pretty poor! I love an idiots guide - especially when the microwave is complicated - and the oven has twelve buttons!! I also hate pods, so would much rather have a cafetiere - I always bring coffee. I like being able to recycle, And yes - if there is a cleaning fee, please don't ask me to do all the cleaning .... I also hate the phrase "Please leave the premises as you found them". That to me means we have to clean it, wash the sheets and towels, etc. etc!!!

@mathanxiety yes, colander, or sieve. It's often missing, and it's really no fun trying to drain a large pan of pasta using a lid,

I'd also suggest that if the place is hard to find, use what3words. Driving round in the dark peering at houses to try and decide if they match the pictures is really annoying.

I agree, this should be compulsory you would
think anyone keen to set up a successful business would trial it, but obviously many don’t bother to check what would be needed. Good on OP for asking for ideas!

I don’t want your unwanted kitchen gadgets and utensils. I’ve stayed in so many holiday homes that clearly contain the owners cast offs and unwanted gifts.

I want all of the utensils that I need to cook a meal and I want sharp knives. Holidays houses never have decent knives.

the other thing I don’t want is dog hair. If you’re going to allow dogs you need an extremely good cleaner.

Yes to the cleaning issue! I just stayed somewhere expensive that asked us to leave it as we found it! No, not getting up at six on the day I leave to clean for four hours. I wipe down surfaces and empty the bins, that’s all.

Bins and fridge are all we ask. Most of our guests are 2 week bookings, and I don’t want someone storing up 2 weeks of rubbish as it will smell.
Fridge again. Smell and If opened we wouldn’t eat anyway so it’s all binned.

We don’t charge a cleaning fee

I can’t say anyone has ever left it ‘messy’. Usually bins etc done, towels often left in one big pile in bathroom. General dirt expected from 1-2 weeks use. We leave cleaning stuff, dustpan, hoover etc, but that’s more if they want to use during their stay for spill

Already posted once but ....... we stay somewhere fairly regularly where it costs (a lot) more for more people. We sometimes stay as a couple, and sometimes with three grown up children I appreciate there are extra costs for towels/bed linen for more people BUT there are never additional loo rolls, and always one pint of milk. There are also only just enough (small) mugs for 5 so feel there should be 10 (don't mind if they are not matching!) so we don't have to wash up (no dishwasher) so often. We use it as a base and there are not many alternatives .......
So if charging more, make it worthwhile - two loo rolls - and for the difference in the cost, two pints of milk!! I also have not figured out how to work the pod machine without it leaking.

Clocks - at least in the kitchen and lounge
A radio or Bluetooth speaker
Pint glasses as well as tumblers and wine glasses
Nice big mugs for tea
Duvet appropriate for the season, i.e. not a 13.5 tog in the summer
😊

I want an empty kitchen cupboard to store food. I hate it when the cupboards are crammed with every random gadget but there's nowhere to put any ingredients. Salt and pepper is useful as is kitchen roll and tinfoil. I love it when there's a pint of milk in the fridge and a packet of biscuits. I'm happy to bring my preferred brands of tea and coffee. Sugar might be useful for those who use it. Mugs big enough for a decent cup of tea too.

I want hand soap and loo roll, I will bring everything else. A few dishwasher tablets, washing pods and washing up liquid and sponge too. A couple of tea towels and bin bags are great to save bringing home soggy towels.

I want a plug socket by my bed for my phone and somewhere to dry my hair.

I want to know you're a available by phone or email but ideally not see you, I prefer to self check in.

Fucking hell - who would want to have an airbnb with some of you lot! I have no idea OP as I don't use airbnb but good luck in pleasing all the princesses on this thread 😂They'll probably complain it's too expensive if everything they want is provided!

Comfortable king size bed not memory foam (hot flush disaster zone). Shower with plenty of hot water and good pressure. Decent sized mugs with comfortable handles, can't stand piddly mugs or awkward handles. Any critical ingredients like milk, tea bags, coffee and toiletries we bring with us because tastes /needs vary but home made cake is always appreciated.

@Holidayscoming when we've stayed in rentals weve had:

Cornwall - milk, scones bit of jam and clotted cream in fridge

So something local to the area

That's right, bro, this time I've arranged the writing a little more neatly, in a fun and lively way — so that your mind is relaxed as soon as you read it, and that Airbnb vacation day appears before your eyes:

Brother, this Airbnb is like a dream house! A sweet smell as soon as you enter the house, the bed is so soft – you'll fall asleep as soon as you jump! Sitting by the window with a cup of coffee in hand, it feels like you're in a movie scene. Host? You rarely see such a friendly person – standing at the door and smiling, "Feel at home!"

The Wi-Fi is jet-fast, you can make whatever you want in the kitchen – from fried eggs to pasta, everything works. And the most interesting thing – there's even a speaker cleaner in the room! I mean, you can polish the speakers before listening to music, the sound is like a concert.

With Holidays coming like this, who wants to go back to everyday life? Airbnb was like this, once you come here, you think – "Bro, it would be nice to stay one more day!

Well, it's my holiday so I want at least what I have at home and ideally something nicer.

I choose a hotel by what it can offer me when it comes to comfort, if I just want to sleep for one night I don't mind a Premier Inn but for a one week/two weeks?
So why should I be differt when it comes to a holiday let?

We had simple ones and the lack of items really spoilt it.

I don't mind buying toilet paper though.

I think Airbnb covers such a wide range of price points so it’s really about knowing your market. If I’m paying £100 a night for an apartment/ cottage I’d expect to see poly cotton sheets (easy ironing) coloured towels (reduced wastage) no welcome pack I’d expect it to be clean and comfortable.

If I was paying £300 a night cotton sheets, white towels, a higher end / luxurious feel, possibly robes, a welcome pack type stuff. It is about knowing your market.

We’ve stayed with Super Hosts and at properties lusted as as Guest Favourites, I feel like the accolade of Super Host goes to those hosts that are very thoughtful and considerate and go that little bit further in anticipating what will help or delight their guests. For example, in one French property, the hosts had kindly provided bottles of home made cordials, in another one in Italy, the host, knowing we had a child had provided chocolate biscuits for her. It’s these little personal touches. Plus, Super Hosts’ places are generally very well maintained.

I have only once stayed in an airbnb property and it was owned by a superhost, and she really was a super host.