Tell me your must haves for a new airbnb.

[Gillian166]

Let's play Fantasy AirBnb Creation!

So we have a farm with many outbuildings and we have 3 more spaces we can convert into Airbnbs. We already have 3 listings. I want to create unique spaces that all have their own personality.

So if you could build a new space what would you put in it? What's really important? What wouldn't you do? Obviously we have a budget so things you don't need are important too. We can't change the shape of the space, but we are considering tacking the bathroom on outside, and having an indoor/outdoor bath situation. Apparently bathtubs are important? 2 of our listings have nice tubs, and they only get used 20% of the time. 

So here's where I am at: 8x5m space. We have always called this space "the mancave" as it was going to be hubby's office and well, his mancave, cos the house is my domain and done in a modern vintage style, and had 3 teen girls in it. The mancave has exposed stonework, cedar ceiling and windows.  looks out onto farmland with double doors that will open on to a garden that currently has 3 apple and 1 apricot tree (which the cockatoos never thank us for).  

I dont' want to call it "the mancave" but will need a name.  Except for the lovely old stonework everything else is brand new, so we are going modern for this one. 

We are in a wine region, we get a lot of couples coming up for a night away, a lot of wedding guests, and in school hols we get families too (we have a big pool here, and tennis court, which one guest described as "not olympic standard" or something, lol, cos it's old and warped in places). I'm only planning on making this a couples space (no kids, no pets, we already have 1 listing for that).

I have done up some basic plans but keen to hear from experienced hosts and guests about what would be on their wishlist for a great airbnb space. 

TIA! 

[Huma0]

@Gillian166 

Thank you! I do think the Airbnb photographers went a bit overboard on the wide angle in some of the photos, but I guess that's just what they do...

Luckily, few of of my guests have had a problem with this. Most seem to think that the listing looks as good or even better than the photos and maybe that's because, as you said, the styling looks better when they get here. 

While I would like to update my photos, right now I am not having a problem getting bookings, so it's not so pressing. It is also a homeshare, and therefore homely and lived in, not a show home, so I don't want to oversell by presenting photos of a pristine place. I have three cats after all!

Interested to know which photos you didn't like so much though 🙂

[Gillian166]

oh and btw, that is sheer genius to use guest quotes as photo captions, not sure why i didn't notice last time i looked at your listings. 

[Huma0]

@Gillian166 

That wasn't my idea! I read the suggestion here on the CC and thought what a great idea. If one is not a natural salesperson (which I imagine many hosts aren't), it's sometimes hard to rave about your own listings, so why not let the guests do it for you?!