Obvious Affordable Purchases to Make to Make Your Rental Better!

When trying to make your short-term rental units better, it’s easy to look at Instagram and Pinterest images and think, “Oh. I need that.” Whether it’s a marble countertop, marble walls, or marble “everything else” (yes, this is sarcasm), buying something expensive seems to be an easy solution.

However, it might be a good idea to start with the basics and see where we could improve. Sure, get that expensive painting or sculpture, but do the components of the unit match its “sophisticated” energy? Instead of getting something extravagant now, let’s try to see first if there are obvious improvements that you’ve missed.

Bedroom

Sleeping is a huge part of the experience for short-term rentals (BNB means “bed and breakfast”), so getting a better mattress can add brownie points and increase the chances of getting that five-star review! From there, you might want to get some better pillows, sheets, comforters, etc. Sure, you might have gotten yourself an incredible mattress, but the bed has to look inviting before they even get on it. You don’t have to go crazy with the designs, though. Unless you’re coordinating it with the bedroom’s overall look, white and other neutral tones are safe options.

Kitchen

Continuing the “bed and breakfast” idea, we move on to the kitchen and dining area improvements. An empty-looking kitchen is fine, but making a few purchases can significantly make it look and feel better for your guests!

Coffee-makers grant your listing an instant “cozy” vibe to it. You see them on your competitors’ listings, too, right? Even if you don’t drink coffee, seeing a machine dedicated to coffee gives you that comforting feeling. Of course, if you want to be more versatile, you could get an electric kettle instead. Instead of JUST coffee, your guests can make tea, soup, instant ramen, you name it!

But if you want to take cooking on another level, you’re looking for a microwave, toasters, or microwave ovens. Sure, a stove is an ideal thing to get, but it doesn’t go well with “affordable” unless you could get it at a reasonable price.

Assuming your guests could make decent food in your rental, consider getting better tableware! Find some that suit your unit. Is it more suited for couples? Maybe get some wine glasses. Is it more for families? Get cutlery for babies or children. Are you aiming for a specific theme? Find dining ware that fits your aesthetic.

BONUS: Mini-fridges look good on listings, especially those that look like art pieces!

Bathroom

We would say that as long as your bathrooms are clean, you’re good. But, to give that special pizzazz, you could add (or change) a few simple things to make the stay feel extravagant.

Hairdryers are an affordable luxury to include in your unit. Most of them aren’t necessarily expensive but are nice to have. When talking about drying, you can’t forget about towels! Assuring your guests you’d have them could make their packing much easier. If you have a theme ongoing, you can match the towel designs accordingly! Bathrobes and nice shower curtains could follow suit, too!

Living

While we did have “living room” in mind while writing this, most of the stuff here turned out to be related to giving your guests better “living” conditions. Let’s get a little comfortable, shall we?

Your guests come from various places. Different areas with temperatures and climates they’re accustomed to. It might be a good idea to give them the ability to do some “climate-control” for a little sense of home. Fans and heaters work well here. Sure, that’s something your HVAC system can deal with, but we’re talking about “affordable options” here. (Although admittedly, window-type air conditioning units do fit in this description, though.)

In an ever-growing, internet-dependent culture, seamless internet connectivity is a must. If you don’t have Wi-Fi on your rental just yet, you might want to invest a little in it (or upgrade for faster speeds). Some hosts use their own routers if their rentals are nearby, but sometimes the signal isn’t too good. If that sounds like you, then Wi-Fi extenders are your friend. Don’t believe that an internet connection is required? You’re free to think that. However, the following paragraph does require it.

“Netflix and chill” is probably one of the most enjoyed activities in an Airbnb stay. If your TV isn’t capable of having access to Netflix or other streaming services, you’re missing out on guests that just want to break free from the daily grind to watch some TV for a couple of days. Getting a smart TV is a good investment. But if you already have a TV that doesn’t isn’t “smart”, you could get an Apple TV, Google Chromecast, a Roku Streaming Stick, and many other alternatives. These devices do require an account, so you could also consider getting guest accounts for these streaming services/devices just in case some of your guests don’t have existing ones already.

Security

There’s nothing like the feeling you’re safe. That’s why insurance exists, right?

Security cameras are a good idea. Your guests likely don’t want them indoors, but you could keep them outside just to give your guests a sense of security. There are affordable options out there that won’t require you to have a dedicated computer to run. Many of them just need a stable internet connection.

Prevent a gigantic mess from happening while giving your guests peace of mind. Fire extinguishers and first aid kits are also a good idea. You never know when something terrible could happen!

Are you thinking of doubling down on your short-term rental cash flow? You can try things out with Shorefront Investments! We’re Florida-based real estate investors looking to buy and sell properties fast. You could be one of our buyers by joining our buyers’ list! Are you thinking of doing things the other way around? Trying to sell your property instead? You can also give us a call at (850) 713-4866, send us an email, or fill a form on our front page!