It’s no secret that airBNB has become a major force in the hospitality industry, offering cheaper and easier alternatives to hotels for holidays and overnight stays. Due to its fairly low entry point, lots of people have been trying their hand at the airBNB game to varying results and the industry’s seemingly untapped revenue potential is appealing to many, even those in the real estate industry. 

However, airBNB is a very different sell to that of a house or property. This is a one-time transaction and it is almost always entirely virtual. There is no home visit or trip down to check out the place. This means that your airBNB is sold almost exclusively on the strength of its images and this is a factor that few hosts have seemingly considered.

A casual look at the local listings will reveal many properties with poor images and relatively bare or dull looking rooms. This may have worked when the low price point was a far stronger pull but with airBNB only growing in competition, your property needs to do far more to sell itself. This is where airBNB staging comes in. While similar to that of a property staging project, airBNB staging is often even more impactful as the ‘sell’ is far easier and the impact of strong photos is more effective, there are less factors involved in a hotel booking than a home move after all.

This article will look at 3 key areas of focus for airBNB staging and offer 3 top tips in order to put your best foot forward and really sell your property’s best points. In an airBNB, you want to sell ease, relaxation and a bit of luxury. That needs to come through in your images and knowing how to best accentuate those qualities will help your listing massively increase bookings.

Keep it modern and clean

I can’t emphasise enough that a key part of selling your airBNB is just making it look nice. BnBs have an old school reputation of being lived in, a grandma style look that you just sort of tolerate as it is cheaper than the nicer hotel down the road. Escaping that feel is a top priority and this should be reflected in your colour and furniture choices. Pick light and classy colours, remove any wallpaper if possible (it looks tacky) and keep things spacious and clean. Open the blinds and get the light in. If your rooms have curtains, remove them or replace them with thinner alternatives. Heavy curtains can be a real hard sell in an airBNB context. Remember that you want to capture the essence of a holiday and your scratchy woven cushions and purple pleated curtains aren’t doing it.

Make the bathroom a focal point

You’ll no doubt want to make the bedroom a focus when you start staging and draw most of your efforts there as it will be the biggest room and the one most important to most attendees. However, the bathroom deserves some love too and can be easily overlooked. Focus on keeping it simple by making sure that everything sparkles and that everything is clearly presented. Showcase exactly what your room has to offer. If you have a nice shower, make sure it’s in your images and looking nice. You’ll be shocked by the value a modern shower can bring!

Daylight bulbs can dramatically improve your space. Clean, crisp light transforms a bathroom and really works well with the reflective surfaces. Another popular choice is sheer curtains and while they do let light in and look quite nice, we are personally not really fans. They do look the part when first installed but they have a tendency to collect dirt and dust and become quite unappealing over time, looking more like a bug net than anything else.

Make sure to include fresh white towels in your bathroom and add some little bonuses. Keep it simple but clearly showcasing shampoos and moisturisers can really help boost up the value and professionalism of your airBNB, showing that you have the interests of your clients at heart and are more than willing to go the extra mile.

Stage your photos effectively

Before you start to take any photographs of your rental, make sure it is clean from top to bottom. This includes vacuuming, wiping down counters and making sure everything is spotless. Put extra focus on shiny or reflective surfaces such as mirrors or metal taps as these will show up most prominently in your photos and people will notice smugs and dulled surfaces. All surfaces should be dusted, and messy rental rooms will scare away renters.

When you go to take photographs of your rental property, remember that angles are key to presentation. You should take them from eye level as higher as this gives renters a better view of your space. Wide angles will also make your space look bigger and more appealing.

Be aware of light as you photograph your rooms. In the day, preferably during peak hours, is the sweet spot as this is when light naturally comes into your rooms. Avoid the morning hours though as this light can often be a bit too striking and overpowering. Don’t try cheap tricks with filters and lighting tools, these will look far less natural and your potential renters will likely notice. Make sure any area you photograph is lit properly, taken at eye level or higher, and matches what you put in your listing.

People buy with their eyes, and having a properly staged and photographed airBNB is a great way to make sure you get more renters.  If staged properly, a rental will be inviting and relaxing to bookers. As with a traditional property staging, staging your rental comes down to simple tweaks with touches of colour and textures, this isn’t rocket science but a lot can go wrong if you don’t follow the right guidelines. Remember that you are selling luxury and relaxation in every step you take and you should be fine.