STR rental review

[Henry Clark]

We have been traveling a lot in the last few years and using STRs. Don't own any STRs but here are some items from a Renters standpoint.  

1.  “Live” in your rental unit.   When you’re building or furnishing it, picture living in it.   After you get it ready actually live in it.  For a little while.  

2.  As I write this, I am sleeping on the couch.   My back is killing me.   3 of the 4 of us, our backs are hurting.  You would know this if you had slept on your mattress.  This happens fairly often.

3.  Have a place to hang coats.  We are having to throw ours on the floor.  Again you would know that if you had “lived” in your unit.

4.  There are 4 of us for a week.   2 rolls of toilet paper and the shower soap ran out in 2 days.  Realize STRs can be for even 1 day.  But adjust for your customer or for a few dollars leave extra supply.

5.  Build to the quality of the location and the unit.  We are in a 2 bedroom.  With a shower for each bedroom.   Shared commode in the hallway.  This unit is massive.  Large hallway and open plan kitchen and living area.  Our bedroom you could fit 6 king size beds in just our room.  The shared commode room.  Your knees are actually touching the wall in front of you.  This is a great location in the town center.   The unit is huge.  But the single commode room is maybe 4by 8.  Build everything to the same quality.  

6.  Bedside desk plugin.  The desk is built into the wall.   The plugin for your phone or whatever is about an inch from the bottom of the desk underneath.   You have to look for it.   Then you have to get on your knees.  This is a modern updated unit.  About $500 per night.  Live in your unit.

7.  Pans.  We were cooking a meal.   Realized the pan was not heating even though the stove was on.  Found out this is a special stove and it takes special metal to conduct heat.   So we bought them a new pan.   Live in your units.  

8.  Skinny or threadbare Towels.  Put on your preventive maintenance program to replace the towels.  Again maintain the quality of the unit across the board.  If you have a great unit, great location, charging a good price, why the skinny towels.   If it’s an $80 versus a $500 rental maybe skinny towels are ok.  Live in your units.  

I don’t leave reviews, but you can imagine the reviews I would leave for these situations.  These are all controllable.   Live in your units.  Don’t treat them as business deals.  View them from a Live in standpoint.

[Mike Grudzien]

I coach and train new Hosts for Airbnb as an "Airbnb SuperHost Ambassador"  (it's a paid, independent contractor position working for Airbnb).
I tell all my new Hosts: once you think that you are done with setting up your property, get a notepad and stay in your place.  Every time that you are reaching for something that isn't there; write it down.