With the popularity of home-sharing services like Airbnb on the rise, many people are starting to rent out their vacation properties through multiple platforms that also include VRBO, Booking.com, Expedia.com, and HomeAway.
4 Tips on How to List and Promote Your Vacation Property on Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway – Airbnb Photography by Duncan Avenue Studios
Here is some advice on how to make your property stand out to potential renters and earn you more money in the process. From choosing the right photos to making small but important upgrades to your home, here are three simple tips for decorating your vacation property for Airbnb or any other platform.
1) Preparing the rental to welcome guests
Preparing your rental property is a great idea. Your future guests will appreciate it and you’ll be able to list your place in better condition than if you didn’t prepare. If possible, have someone stay in your property at least once before you go away. They can help determine what you should focus on when preparing and give you pointers on things like where all of your towels are located and how easy it is to operate appliances that guests may not have seen before. You should also clean thoroughly before each new guest arrives. This means washing bedding, cleaning carpets, vacuuming floors, and changing out linens as needed. For example, hotels often wash their sheets between every guest—and so should you! Take some candid photos: You could even hire a professional Airbnb photographer to capture some photos while they’re there. These pictures will help inspire your decorating ideas and make finding decor items easier by providing inspiration from other rentals around town. Don’t forget about outdoor decorations too!
2) Decorating with colors that pop
When thinking about decorating your vacation rental, think of colors that pop, whether it’s a bouquet of fresh flowers or an interesting pillow, the choice is yours. Not only do you want potential guests to notice your property on Airbnb or other travel sites, but you want them to remember it long after they’ve left. Bright and bold colors tend to stand out more than neutrals and are likely going stand out in a guest’s memory. Choosing one or two bold hues in your property is also a great way to inject some personality into what might otherwise be a rental that blends in with others nearby. It’s important, however, not to go overboard with too many loud colors; even if potential guests love your property, they might not come back if it’s too distracting or annoying. A good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to three saturated hues: one per room would work well and can definitely add punch without looking overwhelming.
3) Make a great impression with professional photos
With so many vacation rentals available on Airbnb, it’s not just about having a clean house—it’s about standing out. To make a good impression, take professional photos and include them in your listing. Use high-quality photos in different areas of your home that highlight specific decorating elements such as artwork or architectural features. Professional photographs are ideal, but you can use your own photos if they’re taken with a DSLR camera; just make sure that you use good lighting and minimize any unflattering details.
Lifestyle Airbnb photoshoots with professional models are a great way to showcase the amenities of your Airbnb listing. Finally, don’t forget about the video: It’s becoming more popular every day among travelers because it gives visitors a unique opportunity to see inside properties without leaving reviews or booking directly through hosts’ websites—and a professional video walkthrough or a review can be an excellent marketing tool that shows people what they’ll get from booking your property.
4) Feature your Airbnb property in the Hudson Valley Style Magazine
Is Your Airbnb listing in Upstate, Catskills, Westchester, Hudson Valley, North NJ, Connecticut, or New York City? The Hudson Valley Style Magazine is a must-read destination guide for art, culture, home décor, and travel ideas all around the tri-state region. Featured as one of our Top Airbnb Listings, you’ll receive exposure to hundreds of thousands of readers each month in print and online. Click here now if you want to be featured in an upcoming issue of Hudson Valley Style Magazine or if you want more information on how we can feature your Airbnb property in Hudson Valley’s premier lifestyle publication.