How to Get the Most Money Out of Your Airbnb
By: Katie Anderson
June 20, 2019
It’s summer!
Yes, it’s the season that most people look forward to, taking time off and traveling to new places. Of course when traveling elsewhere the chief concern aside from how to get from A to B is where to stay. In today’s vacation market, people are opting for the Airbnb route or other short term rental services rather than an hotel.
If you are a purveyor of such services this is likely your busiest part of the year, you aren’t taking time off but working to provide your customers a great stay experience all summer long.
- How do you attract those customers?
- How can you better compete with the growing short term rental market?
- What do you have that the others don’t to set you apart and stand out?
One way to attract attention is to acknowledge that people rent on appearances. You can out compete with a better interior design (great photos as well), getting ahead with quality, not price.
People will pay more for what looks fantastic and those that do are the ideal customer.
You may think that the room(s) you are renting are terrific, they are part of your home after all and you know you live in a great place. However, what seems great to you may not read the same way to someone shopping for their vacation stay.
Most people in the US are familiar with the term “nose blind”. It happens when we are in the presence of strong odors. In a short period of time, mere minutes, we lose our sense of smell to whatever it is and no longer experience its effect. However, the smell does not go away, our bodies simply adjust to acclimate to the pleasure or offense.
[Photo Gallery] An Airbnb Before an Interior Designer Helps
Are You Home Blind?
It turns out that we also become acclimated in a different way to our homes and work environments. The Swedes have a word for this, hemmablind. It means home blind, when a person reaches a state where they no longer see the flaws (or strengths) in their home.
This is the primary reason to work with an interior designer, helping you solve your short term rental business interior design problems. The designer is not working or living in your daily environment so they see quite well the flaws to be addressed and the strengths to be supported.
The other person who is not hemmablind or home blind is your customer. What looks perfectly fine to you may appear less than grand to them.
With the short term rental market growing faster than weeds in your lawn you will be better able to rise above the crowd by advertising quality. Competing with quality will bring greater revenues than trying to compete with pricing. You can charge much more money for your rentals if they are well designed with quality materials and furnishings.
You Need to Attract the Female Customer First
Another consideration is the female customer. Marketing studies in the last two decades have shown consistently that women make 83% of all purchasing decisions for their families and/or significant other. Where the kids go to school, where they purchase a home, what car they have, where they vacation and where they will stay once there.
Your vacation rental property will be more profitable if you design it to have a greater appeal to a female demographic. This means quality, beauty and cleanliness. Here are some guidelines that I suggest:
The Colors
Clean, airy, bright, natural light or good interior lighting, happy colors. Beige and gray are colors of death and decay in many cultures. For this reason they are not good choices for hotels or short term rentals.
The Beds
Every bed needs a comfortable mattress and made up to look fantastic. Fluffy, luscious pillows, high thread count sheets and a headboard. Always, always have a headboard for the bed. This makes any bed look more luxurious and no it is not hard to keep clean.
The Floors
Ditch the wall to wall carpet if you can. Replace with hardwood or tile, any surface that can be maintained with washing/mopping.
The Cleanliness
Get a steam cleaner and use it on everything from floors to headboards to furniture. Steam kills any nasties that may decide to take up residence from bacteria to dust mites. Why not make that part of your marketing? You might see an uptake in sales because you are extra vigilant with cleaning.
The Furniture
Shabby Chic styling of furniture merely looks shabby, not chic to most people. All furnishings should be in a “finished” condition. No one wants to be in a “distressed” environment while on vacation.
Invest in superior quality furniture and lamps. Ikea and other low end retail is not going to cut it if you are wanting to create greater revenue for your business. Remember, you are investing in your business.
[Photo Gallery] An Airbnb After an Interior Designer Helps
Get Help to Book More Rentals
Lastly, the most effective investment you can make is to hire an interior designer to create a “concept” interior for your business. A unique and stunning interior will set you apart from the ubiquitous, garnering greater revenues.
Are you interested in making more money with your short or long term rental property? We can help, give us a call to set up a consultation.
Ready to Change the Décor in Your Home or Office?
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