Would you like to share before & after photos of your listing?

[Paula]

Hello everyone 👋 I hope you're all having a great week!

Recently, one of our wonderful hosts, @Oksana12, shared an inspiring post about the transformation of her property, titled "From Mess to Cozy Nest: The Transformation of "Mandarin"  I was truly impressed by all the hard work she and her team put into creating such a beautiful space 😍🍊

Has anyone else here completed a property transformation, whether it was during the start of your hosting journey or more recently due to personal renovations or guest feedback?

We'd love to see the changes you've made! Feel free to share before and after photos of your listing — your transformation could inspire many other hosts in our community 🌟

Best regards 😎

[Mark5779]

@Karen4131 That's an awesome job that you've done!   Love it!!  The rental cabin we have is only a few mile from where we live.  The cabin we live in has undergone a lot of renovation too. From 2019 until now I've basically had a full time job with renovations LOL.   Her sis a before and after of our home cabin.   

BeforeAfter

[Karen4131]

Hi @Mark5779 

Thank you for your kind feedback.

Your cabin has also turned out beautifully. The wooden construction is fantastic. It’s wonderful that the old and new buildings are now connected. You’ve done an excellent job of creating a seamless flow. How about the interior—has it also undergone a major renovation?

[Mark5779]

@Karen4131 , Thank you!  Not too much renovation inside.  Put in a new refrigerator, a gas stove, new HVAC, new doors for all the old ones, electrical work, built a cover over the back deck, added a room behind the breezeway from the garage, and a few more things.  The garage is fully insulated, has HVAC (mini split) and has a half bath.  We going to use it as my studio, but when we moved full time, there is very little space left.  Had the large shed built so I can have work space for projects.  And had the wood shed built because we supplement heat with a wood stove in the winter. The rental cabin has space in the basement that I will make into my studio after I put in a door to block it off then the rental area (owners closet".   

[Paula]

Wow, @Mark5779, this really sounds like a full-time job! Congratulations on all the hard work! 😊

Are you renting your space right now, or are you still waiting to finish some renovations?

Best regards,

[Mark5779]

Thanks @Paula !   The Running Deer Cabin is renting.  We listed it last month and it's been booked every weekend since.  Everything is done (except sealing to deck and siding which have to wait for warmer weather).  But of course, we still will do things like decorating for seasonal changes, etc.  We try to make it very special.  And when a guest tells us that it's for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, my wife puts a little plant out for them to take home and a card for them.  

Our home cabin is not going to be rented because it's where we live with our kitties.  

[Paula]

Wow, @Karen4131, your place is definitely a dream destination for me! 😍

Where did you get the idea to have an outdoor hot tub? It’s such a unique and special amenity, not something you see often.  It reminds me of hot springs in the snowy mountains of Colorado—one of my favourite trips to plan, though I had to drive three hours to get there! 😅

Regards,

[Karen4131]

Hi @Paula I just Googled “Snowy mountains of Colorado.” Amazing pictures!

Being a Scandinavian, or especially a Dane from a small, flat farming country, it’s incredible to imagine the opportunities you have on the American continent for grand nature experiences.

I’ve always sought out Norway and Sweden for the kind of nature Denmark doesn’t offer, and I previously owned another house in the Swedish woods, where I always dreamed of getting a hot tub. But there was only an old dug well, which couldn’t supply enough water for a spa.

So when I bought this house right by the lake and gained access to plenty of water, I got the hot tub right away.

The wildest thing is wintertime, when we break through the ice to take cold dips in the lake and then head back to the hot tub. – It’s an amazing experience!

Where are you from in the U.S., Paula? Did you grow up surrounded by nature?

- Karen

[Paula]

Hello @Karen4131 😊

Yes, the mountains in Colorado are absolutely stunning! They’re a dream for hikers, mountain bikers, and skiers. My husband is from there, so I had the opportunity to live there for a while.

I’m originally from Colombia, where I was lucky to grow up very close to nature. It’s a unique experience compared to countries in the Northern Hemisphere since we don’t have seasons there—I enjoyed spring and summer weather all year round. I traveled extensively within Colombia, mostly to natural destinations, which deepened my love for the outdoors.

Currently, I live in British Columbia, Canada. What brought us here were the mountains and the incredible natural beauty. I’m absolutely passionate about outdoor activities and make it a point to connect with nature, even if it’s just for a few minutes every day.

Have you had the opportunity to visit South America? 🌻

Regards,

[Karen4131]

Hi @Paula 

The past few months have been quite busy at work, and during those times, I tend to fall a bit behind in the Airbnb communities. But your question about whether I’ve ever traveled to South America has stuck with me, even though I haven’t answered it yet.

My experience with the Americas is quite limited. I’ve mostly traveled in Europe, Asia, and Africa, with a couple of trips to the Caribbean, the US, and a few days in Toronto. So no, I haven’t spent much time on the American continent and not at all in South America.

The language barrier stops me. I don’t speak Spanish, but I know I’m missing out on so much. That said, I’m also a “mental traveler,” journeying through literature. I’ve visited continents through their great writers, including Márquez. More recently, I read Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki about his attempt to prove that Polynesia was originally populated from South America. It was very entertaining, and it made me think of you again.

Colombia. It must be amazing to have roots in such a fascinating country and, in general, to speak two of the world’s major languages. That must offer an incredible sense of freedom. The closest I come to that is being able to speak my native language, Danish, across all the Scandinavian countries and the North Atlantic islands, including Iceland and Greenland.

It’s remarkable, in a way, that such a small language has such a wide reach, though, of course, it’s tied to a history of colonization that is deeply problematic.

But Spanish—that’s one I lack.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!  🙂

- Karen

[Tia13804]

Hi, I really didn’t take many before pics. So sorry!

smiles

tia 

[Paula]

Hello @Tia13804 👋

I hope you are doing well! Thank you for joining this conversation.

How did your renovation project go? Was it just part of your property or the entire place?

Have you received any great feedback from your guests?

Best regards,

[Michael9349]

Hi Paula, I'm afraid i don't have any before pictures as the property was completely renovated 6 years ago.

Thank you

Michael

[Paula]

Hello @Michael9349

Thank you for joining the conversation!

Did you renovate your property six years ago with the intention of starting on Airbnb, or was there another reason for the project?

Have you had a chance to look at the renovation projects shared by other hosts in this thread? Keeping before-and-after pictures is a fantastic way to highlight the impact of your work and showcase the results of your efforts 😊

Best regards,

[Michael9349]

Hi Paula,

I bought the property then on bank auction with the intention of listing it for short term rentals and it has been there from since that time, however the site stopped doing these types of rentals and a friend suggested i try Airbnb as it has worked for him, so here i am.

I have not yet had a chance to look at other hosts' project posts as yet unfortunately.

Thank you

[Karen114]

Th