What kind of modern amenities do you offer?

[Quincy]

Hello everyone!

Most guests don't come to your home to sit inside all day long, though this, of course, depends on what kind of stay you're offering. Having said that, some people still like to make themselves comfortable in the evening or seek relaxation after a long walk or any other activity.

For many, a TV and fast and reliable Wi-Fi are among the basic equipment, though I'm aware this is can not always be provided as some Hosts offer an off the grid stay. However, perhaps there are also Hosts that are very much into technology, and for instance use smart/AI equipped devices in their homes 🤖.

Do you have any devices that control everything from lights all the way to the TV in your home? Do you also offer your guests to make use of them?

I'd love to hear from you!

Quincy

[Katherine852]

Hi everyone,

We have placed smart locks, smart TVs with cable TV, smart thermostats, board games and games for the pool. We try not to leave electronic gadgets that can be either broken or stolen (for example, no turn table for vinyl records or portable wifi speakers).

Hope this help!

Cheers, Katherine

[Kelsie16]

I leave little bags of chips out, coffee, and a breakfast item. Poptarts and frozen breakfast sandwhiches are super popular! I also switched a daybed that beds two more guests comfortably instead of air mattresses. It'll save you money and time in the end if you display it as your couch! Cold pop and water in the fridge

xoxo

Kelsie from Kansas 

[Sudsrung0]

Im going to add this to my properties I bet nobody has one of these,

[Monica528]

Omg!!! Is this an actual iron??

[Jermain40]

😂

[Trude0]

«Very much into technology» does not sound like me…;-)

My latest addition to my listing is warm wool socks - as my tinyhouse does not have underfloor heating.  

And a couple of books. 

I don't think these would qualify as "modern amenities". 

(I do also have a smart TV, fast an reliable Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine, though.)Old fashioned amenityAlternative to Google

[Jenny]

Oh @Trude0 I want to "like" your post about a thousand times!  Warm wooly socks and books are two of the best things in life!

[Stephanie2130]

An Air Fryer and a Rumba type vacuum ( from Walmart about $100). I know the guests use it and I like to run it whenever I am at the house to get the house ready for the guest. It gets under the beds and picks up whatever the cleaner did not!

[Monica528]

Such of good idea to get the Rumba! Specially for under the beds!!! 

[Gloria870]

I have a smart TV with cable and a fast wifi and a Keurig coffee maker. 

I see someone has an air fryer.  I think this is a good ideal.  I think I will get one of these. 

[Susan4629]

I do not offer this kind of equipment in my home but I do have a nice TV with remote control and Internet access in the room.  

[Bradley181]

We provide a simple set of golf clubs incase anyone wants to either go to a driving range or join a friend for a casual round of golf. We also equipped the house with a good amount of BBQ Utensils and Beach chairs. 

[Joseph2571]

Great topic.

We run a tiny off-grid cabin tucked back in the woods, and at first, I figured most folks would spend their days out adventuring and their nights by the fire or tucked in with a warm drink. Maybe sleep in, sip coffee slow in bed, and just breathe a little deeper.

But I thought back to a few of our own off-grid stays—the kind where the weather turned, the bugs came out swinging, and we found ourselves stuck inside with nothing but a deck of bent playing cards and a stack of much-too-pre-loved magazines. Let’s just say… the charm wore off quick.

So yeah, I might’ve gone a little overboard. I kitted out the cabin with a smart TV for casting, fast Wi-Fi (yep, even off-grid), a pretty solid library of books—including a few outdoor magazines and a dad joke book tucked away in the Water Closet—and a games chest over-stuffed with board games, cards, art supplies, and writing kits. Basically, if the rain comes down or the bugs come out, you’ve got options.

But now that I’ve seen how folks actually use the space, we’re tweaking things. The TV and Wi-Fi? Definite hits. The books get picked up often—one or two have even wandered off with guests who weren’t quite finished reading. The games? Some get used, but that chest is a space hog in a 140 sq ft cabin. So, we’re thinking of tucking a few favourites in a drawer and swapping the chest out for a fold-out table where folks can eat, work, or play if they’d like.

@Gillian166, thanks for the projector idea—we actually have one! Might have to test out a little outdoor theatre setup down the line. Appreciate the nudge.

Haven’t dipped into smart-home stuff just yet, but we’ll see where the trail leads. Always learning, always adapting. Curious what others are trying out in their smaller or off-grid spots.

[Alex]

Wow, @Joseph2571! You offer so many things! I'm sure there will be cases where guests doesn't want to leave the house at all. 🤣

Where did you get all of this inspiration? 

Best, 

Alex

[Joseph2571]

Thanks, @Alex, really appreciate the kind words.

Honestly, it’s been a mix of trial, error, and learning from some incredible hosts in this space (there are some real rockstars out there).

A bit of inspiration came from what I call my “research tour” aka staying in similar off-grid spots. Some experiences left me underwhelmed as a guest, and that helped me see where I could do things differently. The rest has been about finding small, meaningful ways to make the cabin stand out from the already terrific local offerings.

Now that we’re heading into better weather, I’m excited to pare back a few of the indoor extras and lean more into outdoor comforts—things like hammocks, lawn games, plein air painting setups (we’ve got a cool little arts scene around here I’d love to connect with more), maybe even kayaks or snowshoes, and clearing out a few custom trails for guests to explore.

Experiencing the land through all four seasons will definitely help guide what stays, what goes, and what guests actually reach for. Just like the indoor stuff, it’s all about learning what really adds to the experience.