Chances are your bank account is in a sorry state post-party season. But there is a solution for boosting your finances without the need to take on a second job or sell an organ – Airbnb. The beauty of this, of course, is that you can list your home for free, and it welcomes all spaces great and small – even if it’s just the sofa bed or the box room.
But it’s not as simple as just listing your space and leaving your guest to it. Airbnb believes that hosting is an ‘art form’, and it should know – it has over 1.5 million listings worldwide. Opening your home to a stranger is a deeply intimate gesture, even if they’re paying for the privilege of dossing down on the couch. It requires thoughtfulness, organisation, and a LOT of cleaning.
The cleanliness thing goes without saying, but there’s a whole lot more you need to consider if you want good reviews, return bookings, and stand out from the 1.5 million listings on offer. Here’s how to be the hostess with the most-ess…
You want to be a good host, right? Right. So investing in a few basic but good quality towels and bed linen sets is high on the list of priorities. Nobody wants to snuggle down in those threadbare sheets you’ve had since you moved into halls, or dry themselves with your crunchy beach towel. Debenhams does bales of cotton towels from £25 that’ll make your humble flat feel a little closer to a real B&B.
However friendly a host you aim to be, there is a line, and sharing soap and toiletries is definitely over that line. Make like a boutique hotel and stock up on mini soaps and shampoo. C’mon, who doesn’t love a miniature, after all? Anything in miniature is exciting. Le Baigneur’s cold pressed mini soaps will edge you ahead of the competition (£4.99 for three).
Now you’ve got the basics covered, turn your attention to the details. For example, where exactly is your guest supposed to hang their clothes if your wardrobe is bursting at the seams? Make sure you clear enough rail space and provide hangers for a few outfits at least. If they’re sleeping in the living room and there's no wardrobe? A foldaway valet stand like Ikea’s Mulig (£13) is ideal. Likewise, make sure there’s room on the coat rack for your guest’s jacket so they feel welcome the moment they arrive.
If you’re planning to be away when your guests are under your roof, a welcome pack of essentials goes a long way and ensures glowing reviews. These are things you should have in your home anyway – olive oil, milk, coffee, loo roll (nothing worse than discovering there’s no loo roll after a long journey), plus a few luxuries. A few cold beers and nibbles are sure to be appreciated after navigating a foreign city with a dying phone battery and a weekend bag in tow.
Zhuzhing-up your space can be as simple as populating your home with blooms and plant life. Avoid the supermarket bunch of gerbra and opt for something a little more natural instead. Foliage in an empty jam jar looks effortlessly cool compared to a forced arrangement of flowers in a vase. Place by bedsides, on the bathroom windowsill and on kitchen counters. See also: scented candles.
Photo: Dominik Martin
Local info is immeasurably helpful for guests as savvy Airbnb users are likely to want to get to know the local environs rather than heading to the M&M store and Big Ben. Leave directions/maps to the nearest tube, bus route info and the proximity of the nearest shop in a welcome dossier, along with any local haunts you recommend. To go the extra mile, invest in a few guidebooks, cool shop guides and pick up the latest copy of Time Out for visitors to peruse.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Trim Your Tree With A Powerful Woman: Beyoncé, Hillary, & Serena Tree Toppers Are Here