Kate and I have learned over the past 5 years of hosting Airbnbs that pillow protectors and mattress covers are a good investment for Airbnb hosts. They protect your bedding and allow you to keep more of your profits. The best pillow protectors and mattress covers we’ve found are waterproof, noise free (or low noise), durable and affordable. Through the process of trial and error we’ve found 2 brands of pillow protectors and only 1 mattress cover that meets our needs. Early Lessons From Hosting We opened our first Airbnb more than 5 years ago and in those early days we learned some valuable lessons about how guests treat your bedding. Two stories come to mind for me. The first is from a pair of guests that stayed with us in our first month being open. We had some grey…

The best fire extinguisher for your Airbnb is one that will work if you ever need it to and won’t have to be replaced often. After more than 5 years of running Airbnbs we’ve come to the opinion that you should put every available amenity in your listings whenever possible. And adding a fire extinguisher is a quick (and cheap) win. We put a fire extinguisher in all our listings, and we are always looking for other easy wins as well (like hair dryers). Our Experience with Fire Extinguishers Yes, we’ve hosted hundreds of guests across our currently (as of March 2022) 4 Airbnb listings and we’ve had to solve all kinds of problems for guests. We’ve had ant infestations and faulty fire alarms waking guests up in the middle of the night. We’ve had guests locked out and heating…

When my wife Kate and I buy a hair dryer for one of our Airbnbs we always go with a basic model. The best hair dryer for your Airbnb is one that is easy for guests to operate and hard for them to break. There are purchases for your listings where it makes sense to splurge. One example would be a mattress. But the hair dryer is not one of those items. It’s best to buy a basic model that is durable and cheap to replace. Hair Dryers in Airbnbs Let me be up front with you. I’m an adult male who has lived most of his life with short hair. The only time I’ve used a hair dryer is the three years I grew my hair out for my rock band after college. So I don’t know hair dryers.…

The best comforter for your Airbnb is one that fits your bed, fits in with your bedroom’s interior design, is durable and doesn’t break the bank. The reality is that there are dozens of comforters that fit this description, but there are also some that can cause minor headaches for you. Today, I’ll share two blankets that we’ve used in our short terms rentals and have served us well for many years. I can’t promise you that they are “The Best,” but I can confidently tell you that they have been great for us. Our Comforter Method We host Airbnbs in a part of the country where temperatures fluctuate from well below freezing to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). This typically means that our guests will want very warm comforters in the cold months and a different, cooler…

The best duvet covers for your Airbnb is affordable, easy to put on a comforter (and easy to remove), and is durable enough to last a few years. Duvet covers can protect your comforters from accidental damage from guests. They can also make it easier and cheaper to redesign your bedroom when the need arises. You may think of duvets as a luxury, a needless extra, and to be honest I used to believe that myself. But time and experience as an Airbnb host has taught me that they are actually an investment in your listings. It just takes one guest to ruin bedding, and as a host you’re always happier to replace a duvet than an entire comforter. Our Experience With Duvet Covers If I’m honest with you, before meeting Kate, I had never even heard of a duvet…

Most of your Airbnb guests will be living out of their suitcase while they stay with you. If they are forced to keep their suitcase on the ground then that will be a real inconvenience for your guests. This is why we keep luggage racks in all our Airbnbs. Choosing the best luggage rack for your space isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things I like to keep in mind when we buy one for a new listing. Do you need a luggage rack? The truth is that a luggage rack is not one of the most important decisions you will make as a host. Your beds, amenities and interior design are all far more important. Luggage racks are just one of those nice to have items that can make your guests more comfortable, or make your place…

Choosing the wrong deadbolt can have major consequences for an Airbnb host. One of the worst experiences you can have as a host is guests that are locked outside your house. I know this from experience. Your check in process should be simple enough for every guest to understand. The best deadbolt for your Airbnb is one that integrates perfectly into your check in process and is easy for guests to use. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a deadbolt lock to have a great check in experience for your guests. But some of the features of the cutting edge locks today maintain that smooth guest experience while also adding huge benefits to you as the host. Best Airbnb Check In Options In the new post-pandemic world you should be letting your guests check themselves in. Your guests…

There are two kinds of pillows we stock in our Airbnbs: pillows for sleeping and pillows for design. The best sleeping pillows Kate and I have used are the Downluxe down alternative pillows for sleeping. And the best design pillows are completely dependent on the look and feel of your home. I’m going to recall some of our lessons learned and share some of the products we’ve used and others that we are looking to buy when we open our next Airbnb. Pillow-related Lessons Learned From Our Airbnbs Pillows are one of those things that you just seem to need a lot of as an Airbnb host. We put pillows on our couches, and of course pillows on our beds, but we also use decorative pillows on our beds to make our homes feel more luxurious. We usually have two…