Presentation tips - simple (cheap or free) ways to improve perception of your space!

[Ken28]

I'd like to start a discussion relating to ways Hosts can make their spaces seem nicer, more luxurious, more homey, or just make the experience more memorable.

I'm looking for tricks people use that they've found to improve perception, without actually changing anything substantial.

For example, Paul said in another post:

@Paul154 wrote:

I've learned from my housekeeper that a chemical smell that says "this room has been cleaned for you"

is useful.

A little bleach in  the toilet water or in the water used for washing the floor. 

I have to agree - slight the smell of a chemical reinforces that the place has been cleaned.

So, those are the kind of tips I'm looking for... things that submininally elicit feelings in your guests that they don't necessarily realize.

* Do you fold your towels a specific way in the bathroom? Should they be placed in the bathroom on the counter, or set on a shelf?

* Do you fold the top of the comfortor down in a specific way?

* More pillows or less pillows? Do you 'chop' your pillows?

* Do you leave dining room table set for two, four, ... six? Or do you leave it a clean slate for them to use as they see fit?

* Do you play some music lightly for their arrival?

* Do you leave an empty shelf for them in the fridge? Does having only fresh vegetables or fruits make it seem like a healthier space?

* Do you leave blinds open or closed?

[Louise231]

@Ken28I agree with these, but some are not free.

I love having flowers around but i'm a total cheapo and buying them regularly does add up. I tend to buy a discounted set of flowers, cut them really short and do a few mini flower arrangments (that also match!) in jam jars around the flat. But it's not free and some people just don't want to spend money on a very fleeting thing.

Plants in the room, yes! watering is awkward between stays sometimes but yeah they look good, my guests can't use their window properly because there are too many plants 😮

Bottled water, again not free. I do this (there's a fridge in the room i pop them in) but it does seam like i waste of money and plastic when the tap water is safe, limescale free, and there are glasses in the room. I try and mention to guests they can re-use the bottel by filling it up with water from tap after but most single guests tend to use both the bottles in the room, and the bin is always stuffed with plastic bottles, such a waste to the planet!

[Ken28]

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@Louise231 wrote:

I love having flowers around but i'm a total cheapo and buying them regularly does add up. I tend to buy a discounted set of flowers, cut them really short and do a few mini flower arrangments (that also match!) in jam jars around the flat. But it's not free and some people just don't want to spend money on a very fleeting thing.

---

I'm a cheapo, so I only use flowers I grow myself. Roses, daffodils, tulips, and irises.

[Rachel0]

I always put a small vase (it's actually an old "school milk" bottle) with flowers in it on the window sill.  Nothing too fancy, just a couple of gerberas and a sprig of foliage, but it looks lovely.  I also leave a small bowl of chocolates on top of the chest of drawers - Cadbury's Roses which I buy in a big tub - and a Union Jack card in which I have written "Welcome."  Guests love those little cards and often take them away as a keepsake so I  buy them in bulk from a flower card website.  

I provide a matching set of towels for each guest - a face cloth, a hand towel and a bath towel - neatly folded into thirds and stacked on the ladder shelf in the shower room.  I always wash the floor mat and tumble dry it with the towels so that they are all fluffy as although a line dried towel may smell of fresh air it is also as hard as an emery board!  I get all my towels and bath mats from Marks and Spencers and wait until I  get a 20% discount (which they offer a couple of times a year) to restock.  

I rent out the whole top floor of our 3 storey house and the guest shower room is for the sole use of guests so I don't have any issues with them using my stuff as it is not there.  Our family bathroom is on the floor below and is strictly off  limits for guests.  

If the guests are arriving in the evening I always make sure that the bedside lamps are turned on and I also turn on the desk lamp and floor lamp in the adjacent sitting room/study - it just gives out a welcoming glow.

However, the first thing the guest sees when they arrive is the garden path and the front door, and if they look  a mess it can create a bad impression.  During the winter it can be hard to make it look attractive but I have just planted some geraniums in the tub by the front door and made sure that the path is clean and obstacle free.  Also make sure that the front door is well lit so that they can see the door number!  

Chemical smells would be a big turn off for me.  As long as the place is totally clean - and looks it - then I  don't think it is necessary.  By all means put bleach in the loo to clean, but flush it away before arrival.  

[Sarah977]

@Rachel0  Your mention of the cards got me thinking- it would be a cool thing for hosts to have a photo, or even a drawing if one is artistic, of their place made up into a postcard- if it were professionally done, it would be costly, but you can create such things on a home computer or through different online platforms not that expensive. Could say something like "Our home away from home in XXX" with the listing URL on the back. Good advertising if they send to their friends, and if the guests like them and want more, could have them for sale at cost or free.

[Rachel0]

@Sarah977 Brilliant idea!! 

[Clara116]

@Rachel@Sarah I had business cards made up with the thumbnail photo covering the card that is my cottage and across the front the URL so it is direct link to my cottage. Guest love em, they take em and we share them with anyone that ask about our Airbnb. People wanna know how to let their family or friends find our cottage and this is the PERFECT answer. It's the best advertisement and cost is minimal. You can do it on Shutterfly, or Vistaprint -  forget office depot too expensive. It will be the best $25 you can spend. I got 500 and its perfect. I leave the back of card blank. I might wanna put my email or contact info. So it's private and and easy way to market your place. I have one photo of the cottage patio and it is the best shot to draw attention - as I've tried other pics and its the winner. 

trying to add the photo link here - later! happy hosting, Clara

[Clara116]

@Rachel0@Sarah977

[Sarah977]

Very nice @Clara116.   I'm going to try to do something similar. 

[Rachel0]

@Clara116 That looks lovely, what a clever idea.  I think I may try something similar.  Thanks for showing it to us.

[Lizzie]

Great topic @Ken28–thanks so much for starting this. 🙂

It is really nice that you grow your own flowers. Is this a seasonal thing or do you have a solution for the winter months?

[Ken28]

@Lizzie, It's definitely a seasonal thing. This past winter I made a wreath from the holly and hemlock trees in my yard. But I had those (and several other trees) removed in February, and my new house doesn't have any established plants (yet), so I'll have to get planting soon if I want to keep this up.

[Lizzie]

Aw wreaths are nice too @Ken28. I really like the Fall (Autumn to us Brits) and I always think it would be lovely to make a wreath or decoration for the home using all the colourful folliage that is available at that time of year. 

Growing your own flowers must save you quite a lot of money in the end and you get to keep you green fingers going? 🙂

[Liana28]

Hello all!

I love organizing tips and have found so many videos on YouTube e.g. how to fold towels (it makes a nice presentation!) and make the bed in different ways. I wish i could share here some of the videos as they are short and objective and great to help hosts like me, who started to see every little detail after starting hosting (before hosting, I wouldn't care too much on presentations lol). 

* I always leave the curtains opened as I know the positive impact when you open the door of my listing and see lots of sunshine in the living room. A darker place wouldn't have the same positive impact, so i believe it helps.

* Chemical smells unfortunately DOES leave a sense of cleanliness/ tidyness/ Not good for being a chemical-artificial scent but you might have realised that fancy shops, hotels, bathrooms in restaurants, they have a light fragrance that makes you feel good - in purpose! 

I always use some smells closest to 'natural', like bamboo, grass, citric,