What to do with my personal belongings?

[Danielle50]

Hi, I have been hosting with AirBNB at our rental apartment for some time. 

I have now decided to rent out our home when we go on vacation. I am getting ready for my first guests at our home next month. I rent out my entire home (except one closet and the garage, which are locket).  This is the home where I normally live in with my husband and cat.  I am bringing the cat to a boarding facility and removing the litter box (and putting it in the garage).

I want to make it clear this is a home where I live in most of the year, that the master bedroom is normally lived in and will have a small amount of personal effects.

My question is, how much personal stuff/clothes in the closets, dressers, night stand drawers, bathroom drawers, etc should I clear out?  I can empty my dresser drawers into bins and put my clothes in the garage and I can also empty out all of the bathroom drawers and cabinets, but this will take a lot of time every time I have a guest. 

Would you remove files from your desk drawers? What is the expectation and what would you do?

The first guests are only staying 5 nights so not sure if this is necessary. I am hoping to get a long term renter in December for 15-30 nights of which I would probably make more room.

Any advice? Also photographs, etc, do you remove them?

Thanks!
Danielle

[Andrée2]

Tricky question because it depends on what the items are; bathroom products will be used so you only want to leave what you don't mind sharing...even your toothpaste  and deodorant : /

Photos: Well, I wouldn't want other people staring at me in their bedroom that I am sleeping in but no problem in the hallways or living room areas.

Clothes: I would consider putting most in a bin and sliding it under the bed or the garage option. Unfortunately I have found that some (not all) guests do enjoy rummaging through items that they have no business in. I have even found boxes opened that were closed before, etc...baffling.

I heard one host had luck using zip ties on some of her cabinets so that might be an option in this case as well to save time.

A locking armoire for your clothes in the bedroom might be a good investment in this case. Otherwise you might want to get some nice totes that you can easily fit onto your shelves and into your closets that can have a lid put on them when they need to go elsewhere quickly.

[Glorivic0]

what about makeup 

[David9493]

I'm sorry to reply to this specific post, I just don't see a way to post an individual message:

We have a large rental, 2 br downstairs, 2 br plus a loft upstairs, 4 full baths.  Upstairs has its own mini kitchen with everthing but an oven.

We do not live there.  However, due to some....family issues, I have been staying in the upstairs bedroom by myself for the  past two weeks.  We had guests coming in for Thanksgiving, so I vacated the premises and had it professionally cleaned as usual.  As the incoming guests were a single couple it seemed highly unlikely that they would ever even go upstairs and certainly would not use those two bedrooms nor their very large closets.  I chose to leave my wireless phone charger out on a side table (figuring someone might use it) as well as a mac power adaptor plugged in.  I left my electric beard trimmer in a bottom drawer in on of the upstairs bathrooms, and my freshly laundered and neatly folded clothes - 2 pairs of jeans, a few t-shirts and a couple of fleeces on a bottom shelf tucked away in the far corner of a large walk in closet.  In a small basket were a few pairs of clean and folded boxers, covered up with several pairs of clean sock.  Again, all of this upstairs where nobody was ever likely to come across them.  There was enough room left in that one closet - and there are many more closets - to house 3 people's entire wardrobe for a year.  And my feeling was that, even if somebody did stumble on my clothes, they wouldn't give a crap at all.

Let's just say my wife felt....differently.  (I already told you I've been staying at our rental...)  She did not find out until after the guest left (sending me a very nice message thanking us for a wonderful stay in our lovely home) when our cleaner found my clothes in the closet.  My wife was beyond livid, claimed it was utterly inappropriate and wrong and disgusting and who the hell does such a thing and if she ever found an owner's clothing in a place we rented she would be disgusted and write a scathing review.  I said we have stayed in plenty of places that had owners' personal items, including clothes.  She said that never happened and I am delusional if I think it did.

SO....whatta y'all say?  Ok?  Not ok?  Ok but not ideal?  Disgustingly and off-cuttingly inappropriate and I should be ashamed?

[Penny1]

I rent out my whole apartment when I am interstate but I predominently do bookings upto 10 days, most are 3-5 and some week bookings.  I have a portable close rack for guests, the bedside drawers, another shelving unit and a suitcase holder. 

I like to leave my personal photos in my apartment as it is my home and I feel people respect it more knowing it is someones home rather than a blank investment apartment with ikea furniture and no personality.

I am not precious about people going through things, I know a lot do, its having a glimpse into another persons life.  I have a box of luxuries, things picked up on travels or products I don't use that were giveaways or given to me so that means people are less likely to use my things in the bathroom.

I provide Shampoo, Conditioner, BodyWash and Body Lotion.  Have a look at my Master bedroom photos, although it is tidier now and no items except pillow on the top of the red shelving unit I still have my shoes out.

Anything of value is either locked away or removed to my mothers house or boyfriends house.  Sharing your home you can't be precious but you can be preventative and cautious, its more about the vetting of guests.  I don't host locals that often and I find out their reasons for coming to Melbourne and why they picked my apartment.

[Rosemary18]

I rent one story of my home. I leave nothing in the chest of drawers in bedroom except paper to line drawers. I do provide one set of linens that are on each bed and a well stocked supply of towels and wash clothes for bathroom. I tend not to over stock products such as paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper because those items are costly and extra tend to be taken by guest. Travel size extras in bathroom for them. I enjoy keeping their living area nice; however, furniture, lighting fixtures, pictures, etc are things that I would not be devastated about if stolen. Utility closets to hot water heater, HVAC are always locked. Cleaning supplies left there for them under bathroom sink.

[Hosanna0]

As a realtor I would say, leave nothing personal for the guests that you do not like them to have access to...it is tiring and time consuming but better safe than sorry.  leave all the personal effects (photos, any thing that would say something about the hosts, in other words de-personalize your home...

[Kevin1322]

I'd go with this if at all possible. 100 percent. 

[Michael2417]

I had a home in Davis CA that I never lived in and for a time had on Airbnb so there weren't any personal belongings to worry about.  The bathrooms and kitchens were stocked with the essentials.  But I've just started listing my personal home in Sacramento.  I don't care much whether any of my guests touch my clothes and of course, I would properly store any medications but I'm wondering if it's proper etiquette to leave my clothes in some drawer and in my closet? How about food that would be available to my guests in the refrigerator and kitchen cupboards?   I would leave ample room for guests.  Any feedback is appreciated.

[Karin399]

I noticed this is an old thread, but as a new AirBnb host I find the topic very interesting! As an AirBnb guest I have stayed mainly in "investment"-houses where no one actually lived. They were only ment to be rented out. Therefore they were very un-personal and with no personal belongings. Now I have for the first time listed my personal home, filled with personal stuff, since this is the place where we live most of the time. Of course I do understand that leaving expensive jewlery in your bedroom drawer is not the smartest thing, but do I have to accept that books in my library, dvd films in the TV-room, food in one of the top drawers or fridge in the kitchen will be stolen? What are your experiences?  Do I need to clean out EVERYTHING that I don't want to be gone when I come back? And have you taken any action, if you have had things stolen or completely destroyed? How do you proof that it was your latest guest that took it or destroyed it? Would very much appreciate your feedback! Thanks, Karin

[Kenita1]

I'm interested in hearing the answers to her questions as well! I will be hosting my own personal home & don't want to completely remove ALL of my clothing & personal items.

[Jeff754]

I want to echo this question.. surprised there are not more responses. I don't (yet) own a place but am thinking about doing that, and plan on living there 60-70% of the time, renting it out the other 30-40%, and am wondering how people handle this.

[Valya0]

From a guest point of view, if that would be valuable - please, don't leave too many personal stuff, especially when you're expecting a longer stay. I had an experience recently where I had nowhere to put my own clothes, not to mention that the bathroom was fully stocked with hosts' stuff there was even used pumice stoned hanging right where the shower was with no 1 inch of space for me to put my travel size shampoo. I know all of this might sound like the host was being helpful - having some toiletries but that's only helpful if you have some small packaged toiletries - "hotel-style" for your guest, otherwise - honestly it's gross. And most definitely I don't want to see stranger's pumice stone nor do I want it under my nose while showering!

[Nina75]

Do not leave anything of value...

[Katy302]

Great thread. I’m a first time host over this coming Christmas/ NY. We have a three bed house and for months now I’ve been anxious about how to leave the house. I want the guests to feel at home but also with a touch of luxury. I plan on emptying most drawers and cupboards and storing clothing in our lock up detached back room. I will purchase small toiletries/ new sheets towels etc and leave a few small staple items in the fridge.

i feel like it’s a huge amount of work and may come to regret it at the time. 
It seems it may be necessary. 
What are people’s thoughts around Christmas Decorations? 
I am moving in with my parents for Christmas before our camping trip so I was not going to worry about the added stress/ extra space for a tree etc.?