Hi, I am Martin Fuller. I have set up Magpie Cottage as a ho...
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Hi, I am Martin Fuller. I have set up Magpie Cottage as a homestay BnB in Taumarunui in the centre of the North Island of New...
Latest reply
What makes your Airbnb shine brighter than the rest? 🌟✨
Whether it's a breathtaking view, personalised recommendations, or charming decor like this living wall, I'd love to hear all about it! 😍🏞️
Share with the Community Center the unique features, special touches, or amazing experiences that make your listing stand out from the crowd.
Share your Airbnb's wow factor in the comments below. 👇🤩
Hi Rebecca,
There are quite a few things which I think are very important in order to make our little place stand out. Some of the criteria are things I have ensured due to my experiences as a traveller to other airbnbs and making note of what I felt was missing. Some of the criteria has come from guest feedback, which I proactively elicit. My past guests have given some wonderful ideas for ways to make the space just one nuance closer to perfect!
- Cleanliness is always first! We are meticulous about making sure not only the obvious areas are clean, but that drawers, shelves, and underneath and behind items are checked frequently. We believe it should not just be clean, but it should sparkle. We take curtains down and wash them quarterly and continuously check make sure the tops of picture frames and door jams are dusted.
- Comfortable Sleeping is also a high priority! 100% cotton sheets and an excellent mattress are a must. We also have a change of sheets, extra blankets, and extra pillows (of a different thickness) stored in drawers under the bed - all of which are high quality. Also, plenty of bathroom towels, and kitchen towels all of high quality cotton.
- Clear instructions and information for navigating the space and getting the most out of what it has to offer is important to us. I have a thin binder with helpful information about little things you might not notice, but might need to know. I also have discreet labels on lights switches where there are multiple, so guests immediately know which one to flip for their needs.
- Good Coffee and other provisions - We always have good coffee and sugar in the cupboard and an unopened pint of half and half in the fridge. I do this because I LOVE my cup of coffee in the morning, however it is dead to me if I don't have cream and sugar. So, if I show up late in the evening to an airbnb and they are kind enough to have coffee....I still have to leave and go to the store to get cream before I can enjoy a cup. That is a big deal for me. In my perfect world, I can at least have one cup of coffee (the way I like it) BEFORE I have to leave my vacation spot to shop for food. Even though I know not everyone drinks coffee, nor does everyone take cream or sugar - I make sure they have those three items no matter what. I also always leave a few water bottles in the fridge and a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter. If we can provide guests a couple provisions like this upon their arrival so they can "make it "until they are ready to head out for the day, I think it is worthwhile. My guests do, too.
- Fully-equipped kitchen - while we do not boast a "chef's kitchen", we do have EVERYTHING you would need to cook and serve meals. Pots, pans, measuring cups, oven mits, cutting boards, plenty of cooking utensils, cutlery, placemats, cloth napkins, basic spices, and cooking oils. This matters to about 60% of our guests, as some guests hardly cook at all during their stay. However, those that do are always appreciative that they have everything they need to do so.
- Little extras - these items just make guests feel truly welcome, comfortable, and like their needs have been anticipated:
- fresh flowers
- individually wrapped toiletries in case they forgot something; toothbrushes, mouthwash, make-up remover pads, Q-tips, cotton balls, etc.
- BBQ utensils, lighter fluid, and charcoal for outdoor grill, and extra folding chairs for outdoor table
- Portable bluetooth speaker for indoor/outdoor use
- USB ports in sidetable lamp bases
- Desk area equipped with pens, scissors, paper, envelopes, sticky notes, stapler, tape, and a good desk lamp.
- alarm clock
- iron, ironing board, lint roller, blow dryer
- handmade guide book for our town with recommendations for everything from vets, emergency medical clinics, nature trails, fine dining, to special events and local hotspots.
- Suitcase stands with attached laundry bags for 2 suitcases in the large closet, which also has clothes hangers, a mirror, hooks for hats and coats, and good lighting. We think this is important to making guests comfortable because of how many times we have arrived at an Airbnb and there is nowhere but the floor to put our suitcases or clothes, which end up just being a big messy pile on the floor.
Bedroom
Walk-in Closet
Living/Office Area
Outdoor patio
Outdoor patio sitting areaTechnology -
- Our space has a large wall-mounted smart TV which can pivot for viewing from the bed or the couch
- High speed internet
- Portable bluetooth indoor/outdoor bluetooth speaker
- Private outdoor space - we think that having a quiet outdoor area where you can get a breath of fresh air, drink your coffee, read, surf the internet - in your pajamas is a wonderful thing when we are on vacation, so we fully enclosed the back patio space with a privacy fence. There is plenty of shade, a place to sit and relax, and a hummingbird feeder during the spring.
- Welcoming Pets - we want guests to be able to bring their furry family members. We provide extra "dog towels" in case its wet or raining outside, dog treats, an extra leash, food bowls, and "poop bags", in addition to the use of the fully enclosed outdoor space. Pets are very important family members to many of our guests. This is how we feel about our own pets. We have designed the space so that it is easy to clean and "air-out", even after pets visit. (We also have a few little rules, like no pet bathing in the bathtub). While we want guests with pets to feel welcome, we also want NON-PET-OWNING guests to know they can count on a clean, fresh, lint and fur-free space for their vacation.
- Parking, safety, and smoking - We provide free parking directly in front of the airbnb for up to 2 cars, we have safety lighting, and we allow smoking and vaping in the outdoor patio (only). So there is no smoking inside, but we welcome our guests to do so outside.
- Host availability - we live next door to the airbnb, so while we offer keyless entry and a completely contactless experience, we are immediately available if our guests need anything or have any questions or concerns.
These are the things we think are special about our place, and our guests consistently comment positively on several of them in each review. All of which, so far, have been 5 stars. This is what has worked for us. Our place is relatively small in a river/college town with lots of competition. These are our ideas for standing out.
