Looking for tips to have a well stocked kitchen

[Diana2915]

my name is Diana Wright and I am from Provo Utah. I’ve been a landlord for more than 30 years and decided to venture into the Airbnb world so far I have enjoyed it. It was fun setting up our apartment. I also have relatives that have done Airbnb’s before and they liked it.  I would like somebody to look at my listing and see where I can improve on.  I did have one person stay so far, and she commented that she wished that the kitchen was better stocked. I would like help with that as well, thank you so much

[Title updated by community manager for relevancy]

[Marie8425 · Accepted solution]

@Diana2915 

It’s a very cute apartment. In the Airbnb world the 4-star review is going to hurt seriously. She was way too harsh; she knew she was first and not an outrageous or rare mistake.
I always do my plans when stocking the kitchen first what usually comes in bigger packages. Like sugar for coffee and salt, pepper and oil. Nobody wants to pack leftovers, and they are things most people use.

Then I have like popular spices oregano, garlic and onion powder from Costco.  Nothing fancy just simple nice to have items.

Coffee maker I usually provide few pods until they can make it to store.

I supply ample dish detergent for hand washing or dish washing.

Ample kitchen trash bags.  Some people change kitchen garbage every night just a preference for them.

Cutting board, can opener, and cork screw. lol

Paper towels and napkins again just catering to people's habits.  

Then as I receive guests I always ask and notice.  The napkins I noticed though everyone was using paper towels supplied, one guest bought napkins.  On his second visit he was happy to notice I buy now and offer napkins and paper towels.

[Diana2915]

Thank you so very much for your support and input.  Ouch! About what you said on her review.  I think she was upset that they ran out of TP.  I had one on the roll and then an extra one so apparently that was not enough for four nights so this time I have one on the roll and two extra I think I’m gonna go put two more under the sink. What are your thoughts? Also I have everything in my kitchen that you said, except for I will go to Costco and get some garlic and onion powder. I do have paper towels and I do have a coffee maker and a bunch of pods sugar and creamer,  hot chocolate mix for them I have waters and some snacks like pop tarts and granola bars,

[Paula]

Hi @Diana2915, I am tagging @Marie8425 here so they receive a notification of your message. This way, we increase the chances of them getting back to us.

Quick tip: To tag someone, tap "@" and select the host's username from the dropdown menu 😊

[Marie8425]

@Diana2915 

Yeah, she was very harsh some people are don't take it too bad.  Just be aware Airbnb wants you between 4.6 or 4.8 minimum so it stings.

I would suggest not negatively don't mention her but in your description elaborate in a positive way coffee supplies no need to worry.  Want to make an easy quick meal basics are supplied showing she lies without being confrontational.  Even little pluses  like cutting board and such.  Not all vacation properties have a simple 3 dollar cork screw your on vacation so you buy the 10 dollar one at the convience store usually worse than the 3 dollar one haha.

Speak in a positive way about the kitchen is stocked.  Remember to entice potential guests not to win an argument with a bad guest you won't see again.

[Greg2406]

@Diana2815 

Suggestion; get the basics, which you are.  For our guests, always ask them prior to and also at Check-In if there is anything that they need for the kitchen.   Since we offer Specialty Menu gourmet dinners, we have pretty much anything they may need in stock.  We initially stocked over two dozen coffee pods, but that ended due to the high expense, and we believe some pods sprouted legs and decided to walk off.   We now provide just a few pods, drip coffee maker, a French press and coffee.   As far as bath tissue and some consumables, we ask that the guest contact us immediately via text message, and usually within a few minutes, the items that they need are placed in a grocery bag hanging from the door or on the porch.   For a two to four night stay, we supply at least two full rolls of paper towels, with smaller rolls under the sink.   Making sure that the Guest realizes that immediately communicating whatever their needs may be is critical.  Any guest that complains after the booking period shows intent and it should not be taken lightly.  

[Anton7298]

@Diana2915 

For us, we start with all the basic needs.

Put yourself in guest shoes and run a simulation. Something like a house play. As a guest, what would you need in a typical stay. Make sure you have all those things.

Then after that, think of what you think you can add that will not harm your pocket or you are happy to provide regardless of the price, add it.

Then add some value added items that can touch your target market hearts. In our country. Food is one of the things that is always appreciated. It is part of our ancestral culture to share food. So, we make sure all our guest have a welcome meal. It doesn’t have to be expensive. A snack from a long trip is always appreciated in our place.

During summer, if your listing is near your own place, try to turn the AC ON before your guest arrive. Its a small electrical bill added but the cool breeze from a hot day can go a long way.

What we need varies from places to places that is why I am not being very specific. Ask yourself what you want because 99% of your guest will want that too.

Just try to be your own guest and you should be fine.

Now on your negative review….

This kind of review is really sickening me.

why guest are looking for things that “they wish” and if its not there they will review negatively.

That is why we have listing profile! We tell in advance what we have!

We should be reviewed based on what we said we have not on what we do not have unless we falsely advertised something.

This is where I expected AirBNB to be logical but unfortunately they don’t care.

If AirBNB will continue to allow guest to rate our listing negatively just because we do not have what we say we do not have (not listed on our profile), guests will have thousand reasons to use against us because WE CANNOT HAVE EVERYTHING!

Luckily, in my more than 1 year hosting, so far, I encounter only 1 unreasonable guest.

I used to complain about it but my experience with ABB Support tells me I will be wasting time. They will tell you scripted response not related to what you are asking them.

We (me and my wife) choose to move on and try to do the best we can in our place with hope we do not get another bad guest because the way ABB is running now, we host are very vulnerable to bad guest.

All we can do is pray not to get one because if we do, we have no where to go.

But we do not worry that much.  We believe there are a lot more good guest out there than bad ones.

good luck to you.

-A-

[Marcio149]

Bom dia, tudo bem ? Nesse caso, sobre itens essenciais na cozinha, eu costumo convidar alguém como por exemplo minha namorada para ir ao meu imóvel e observar o que precisa ser adicionado. Às vezes, um olhar de fora ajuda a acrescentar algo importante que estava faltando na cozinha. No meu caso, eu não tinha tábua de carnes e já estou providenciado e também um moedor desses simples para temperos. 

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Good morning, how are you? In this case, regarding essential items in the kitchen, I usually invite someone like my girlfriend to come to my property and observe what needs to be added. Sometimes a look from the outside helps add something important that was missing in the kitchen. In my case, I didn't have a meat board and I already have one, as well as a simple grinder for seasonings.

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