How to Stock Your Airbnb

Written by Ashley Sutphin Posted On Friday, 21 April 2023 00:00

When you own a short-term rental, your ultimate goal is to increase the occupancy as much as possible, meaning more revenue. You need to build a strong reputation and have great guest reviews to do this.

Impeccable guest reviews mean your listing is honest and transparent, so they know what to expect. You also want to go the extra mile to make their experience great.

While an Airbnb experience is different from staying in a hotel, you still want your guests to have what they need. There’s no requirement that you have to stock a short-term rental with hotel-like amenities and supplies, but not doing so could be disappointing, and your reviews and ratings could take a hit.

When you supply what your guests needs, it’s an upfront cost, but often not a major one, and it can easily pay for itself and then some.

So what’s most important to the majority of guests?

Bedroom

In the bedroom, of course, you’ll have the basics like a comfortable bed and nice sheets. Also, consider adding clothes hangers and two pillows per guest, and make an extra set of linens available. Guests might also appreciate a safe in the bedroom.

Bathroom

The bathroom is where you can go above and beyond to provide items that travelers might not pack.

Things to include in your short-term rental bathrooms are:

  • Extra toothbrushes
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Razors
  • Hand soap
  • Towels and washcloths
  • Body wash
  • Shaving cream
  • Tissue
  • Plunger
  • Trashcan liners
  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash
  • Toilet paper

 

You can also think about including a basic hairdryer in the bathroom.

Kitchen

A fully-stocked kitchen is often one of the top reasons travelers say they choose rentals over hotels. Many people like to cook when they’re traveling, and they also like the convenience of being able to make a cup of coffee without going out.

Things to make sure your kitchen includes are:

  • A set of basic cookware
  • Cutlery
  • Cups and glassware
  • Basic cooking utensils
  • Coffee maker
  • Dish soap and sponges
  • Paper towels
  • Extra trash bags
  • Basic spices and cooking oils
  • Coffee and tea
  • Surface cleaner or wipes

Managing Your Supplies

No matter what you specifically decide to stock your rental with, you want to keep it all organized, and you want a system to know when something is about to run out.

Take account of everything in your rental. This should include things like your furnishings and the items your guests use, like the ones above. Then, you can keep an inventory on-site in a locked closet and share the inventory list with your cleaners, so they know what to restock and when.

When your cleaners use your inventory checklist, they can let you know when items are running low. You can even schedule to have items delivered to your home on cleaning days if you aren’t nearby.

Some short-term rental software platforms will offer an option to automate inventory tracking and management. The cleaners can use this, and then you’ll also know when you need to replenish something. You’ll all be seeing the same thing as far as tracking.

As a final note, while you want your guests to be comfortable and have what they need, you also have to be mindful of theft and inventory loss. Keep a close eye on everything in your home and keep up with your inventory lists, so you always know if something goes missing and easily make sure your property is always ready for your next guests.

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