How did you aproach STR positioning, design & setup?

Question

I got so many great responses to my post last week about the operations side of the equation with SRS - I'm truly grateful for all of the input.

The other thing I'm wondering about is the first phase of an STR project... how experienced hosts position their rental, design it, and get it ready to go. Here are the questions:

1. What specific property features (square footage, layout, amenities, market data, etc.) do you look for to ensure your property will do better than the competition? (obviously location is very important)

2. How did you approach the design and guest experience of your rental? Also, do you (or did you) use a guest manual/ guidebook?

3. What was your rental development/ launch timeline? I'm curious how properties tend to take to get set up.

Any feedback at all is greatly appreciated! I'm excited to keep learning.

John Underwood · Answer

1. It depends on the competition. See what everyone else is doing and try to match them and then look for some things to one up the competition.  So this will be highly dependant on your area.

2. Look at the competition and copy some of the top performers. Also can give you amazing design ideas. We have a house book in a 3 ring binder. Much easier to use than something online.

3. ASAP after closing.

Michael Eskenasy · Answer

I’d be careful with the idea of simply looking at the top performers and copying what they’re doing. That’s useful for understanding the minimum standard in a market, but if everyone is looking at the same five listings and building the same game room, hot tub, neon sign, and accent wall, you eventually create a lot of interchangeable inventory.

The first thing I’d try to figure out is who the property is actually for. A four-bedroom house aimed at two families traveling together should be designed very differently from a couples’ getaway, a golf trip, a bachelor weekend, or a remote-work stay. Sleeping capacity by itself doesn’t tell you much. I want to know who is sleeping there, why they chose that location, what they are doing during the stay, and what would make the property easier for that specific group to use.

That affects almost everything. Parking matters more for some groups than another decorative feature. Two real dining areas may matter more than a game table. Blackout curtains, luggage space, enough bathrooms, multiple hair dryers, bedside charging, a functional kitchen, and somewhere for eight adults to sit comfortably may generate less excitement in photographs, but they can matter a lot more once the guest actually arrives.

I’d also separate features that help win the booking from features that help earn the review. The pool, view, hot tub, theater room, or unusual design feature may get someone to click. The comfortable mattress, good water pressure, simple check-in, enough towels, working Wi-Fi, clear parking instructions, and kitchen that actually has the things people need are what keep the review from becoming “beautiful house, but…”

That’s probably how I’d approach design too. I want one or two memorable elements that make the listing visually distinguishable, but I would spend the rest of the budget making the property extremely easy to occupy. There’s a point where another decorative object has almost no return while replacing six bad mattresses absolutely does.

I’d pay close attention to the photographs before buying design items. The listing is effectively the storefront, so I’d ask what the first five photos need to communicate. Not just “Instagrammable,” but useful information: what makes this property different, how many people can actually enjoy it together, and what does the guest get here that they aren’t getting from the property next door?

On guidebooks, I like anything that reduces uncertainty without making the guest study. The test is whether someone who arrived tired at 10 p.m. can figure out Wi-Fi, parking, thermostat, checkout, trash, appliances, and emergency contacts without sending a message. Whether that lives in a physical binder, digital guide, or both is less important than whether it is brutally easy to use.

For launch timing, I’d work backward from the date you want the first guest rather than saying “ASAP after closing.” You want enough time for furnishing, utilities, internet, smart locks, safety equipment, photography, cleaning standards, listing setup, pricing, automation, permits if required, and a full test stay. I’d personally spend one night in the property before the first paying guest if possible. You will discover things in twelve hours of actually living there that you will never see on a setup checklist.

The other thing I’d do before launch is walk the property like a guest who knows nothing. Start at the street. Can I find the house at night? Do I understand where to park? Does the door code work? Is the first light switch obvious? Can I find the Wi-Fi without asking? Is there somewhere logical to put luggage? Can the number of people advertised actually eat, shower, sleep, and hang out comfortably?

That exercise is probably more valuable than buying another amenity.

The property should absolutely compete visually, but I think the best STRs are designed less like photo shoots and more like products. Every choice should make the guest either more likely to book, more likely to enjoy the stay, or less likely to need you.

If it doesn’t do one of those three things, I’d question why I’m paying for it.

Andrew Steffens · Answer

Backing up what @John Underwood said it all depends on the competition.  I do not try to reinvent the wheel.  For example I have a $1m-ish property near the beach I own with all of the bells and whistles but I have another non pool home near the airport that is extremely basic.  Just like hotels there are Comfort Inn's and Four Seasons depending who your target is and where its located.

Divin Kanyama · Answer

Great questions, @Liam Miner . I would start with positioning before design. Study the top-performing STRs in that specific submarket and ask: who is the guest, why are they coming, and what would make your property stand out from similar options?

For property features, I would focus on bedroom/bathroom count, parking, layout, outdoor space, proximity to demand drivers, local regulations, seasonality, and how the property compares to the competition. Functionality matters more than square footage.

For design, think guest experience—not just aesthetics. Comfortable beds, durable furniture, good lighting, fast Wi-Fi, easy check-in, clear instructions, and a few local touches can make a big difference in reviews.

I would definitely use a guest manual or digital guidebook with check-in details, Wi-Fi, parking, house rules, trash, checkout, emergency contacts, and local recommendations. It reduces confusion and improves the guest experience.

For timeline, 30 to 90 days after closing is realistic depending on repairs, furnishings, permits, photography, pricing, and systems. I would rather launch slightly later with everything dialed in than rush and risk poor early reviews.

Bottom line: the best STRs are intentionally positioned hospitality products. Know your guest, study the competition, design for reviews, and launch professionally.

Matthew Tregoning · Answer

I start with the guest, not the design. Who is traveling, why they are there, how many cars they bring, where everyone eats and what makes them choose this property over the next one.

Across roughly 20 units, the features that win the click and the details that win the review are often different. The pool, view or game room may earn the booking. Mattresses, blackout curtains, water pressure, parking, WiFi and a kitchen that actually works protect the review.

Before launch, spend one night in the house and walk the entire arrival after dark. That catches more real problems than another week of decorating.

Sean Smith · Answer

Hi @Liam Miner all great questions. Design, online presentation, processes... all important! I helped a client purchase a property earlier this year and is AirBnB'ing one of the units. They've gone through it all A-Z. Design, marketing, pricing, guest service, set up, turnovers, etc. I can connect you with them if you'd like someone's real world experience getting started and succeeding in this 2026 market.

Anas Naeem · Answer

Great follow-up questions Liam!

On property features: beyond location, the highest-performing Smoky Mountain cabins share three things — a hero amenity (hot tub, mountain view, or game room), a sleeping capacity that matches the target guest type (couples vs families), and easy self check-in. Properties with at least one wow-factor amenity consistently outperform comparable listings without one.

On design and guest experience: the most effective approach is designing for your Instagram moment first — what's the one photo that stops someone scrolling? Build the space around that. A guest guidebook is absolutely worth it — digital ones through Hostfully or even a simple Canva PDF reduce guest questions by 40-50% because they answer common questions before guests ask them.

On launch timeline: most hosts underestimate this. Budget 2-3 weeks minimum for photography, listing copy, pricing setup, and automations before going live. The first 60 days on Airbnb are critical — the algorithm gives new listings extra visibility so you want everything perfect before launch, not after.

One more thing: connect with a dynamic pricing tool like PriceLabs before you launch, not after. Setting it up from day one means you capture full value immediately instead of leaving money on the table during your high-visibility window

How did you aproach STR positioning, design & setup?

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