Airbnb states that it’s hosted about 200 million visitors worldwide since it opened its doors online in 2008. And Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, just squeaked into the top 10 most expensive cities to rent Airbnb, according to a survey by Bloomberg.
With three million listings in 191 countries to compete with, you need great photos of organised spaces to attract vacationers to your short-term rental.
But what happens to everything you remove from your property to keep a room clean and clear for the arrival of your guests?
Here are eight storage hacks to keep your vacation rental property or spare room free of clutter for Airbnb guests.
#1 – Be minimalist
Let minimalist thinking guide you to keep your guests from living among your wardrobe and cluttered furniture. Clear away everything except what your guests will use, and end up with a clean tidy room or space.
#2 – Lock away your valuables
Lock away and store your valuables so that they’re not a temptation to visitors. You should place family photos, artwork, financial papers, silver and other valuables in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box or off-site storage space.
If you have to leave valuable items on your property, lock them away in a closet or even a separate room to ensure their safety.
#3 – Seek new heights
You don’t have to live in a sky rise to go vertical. Build cabinets that go to the ceiling to maximize storage space for shoes, bags and clothes, or build mini storage units inside walls and floors.
#4 – Make use of old CD racks
Let your guests loose in the kitchen by organising drawers to make it easy to find everything. A metal CD rack keeps Tupperware and other items up right where they can be easily seen. Which is great because who needs a CD rack anymore?!?! Store larger items in the back and the smaller ones up front so that everything’s easy to find.
#5 – Provide a suitcase stand in each bedroom
Provide a suitcase stand in each bedroom for a nice touch, a nod at the hotel role your home is playing, and an easy way to help guests get organised fast so the floor doesn’t look like a mess.
#6 – Make the most of multifunctional furniture
Multifunctional furniture is a hot trend for vacation homes, small condos and beach getaways. If you own a vacation rental home, get a multifunctional bed that unfolds at night and transforms to daytime seating. Multifunctional walls, beds, tables and other furniture double as storage spaces as well as functional furniture.
#7 – Hang things on your walls
If you don’t have enough closet space for cleaning supplies or kitchen utensils, you can get creative and find useful ways to create extra storage. For example, you can hang pots and kitchen utensils on the wall, put a frame around them and enjoy convenient access to needed items that double as artwork.
#8 – Become a closet organising guru
When closets are in short supply, use antique dressers to store everything from kitchen linens to towels or even pots and pans. You can also try these closet organizing tips:
- – Add another bar or shelving system to double your hanger space
- – Install shelving
- – Organise your shoes in a shoe ladder or rack
- – Organise that jewelry with hooks and jewelry boxes
- – Add wall hooks for guest robes or other clothing
- – Add a mirror (this makes a room look bigger)
- – Get rid of everything you don’t wear
Wrap up
These are just a few ideas that anyone can use, which are particularly valuable to Airbnb vacation home rentals.
By keeping everything stowed away, you can take great pictures that attract other guests. Besides, your guests don’t want to see your high school football trophy or bobblehead collection.
When in doubt, store it away. Whether you’re renting a regular home, or a tiny apartment, keeping your home attractive creates a better guest experience and encourages them to leave your home the way they found it.
For more advice about maximising your property with short term rentals read more blog articles here.
