Airbnb Hosts Furniture Checklist
Hi, my name is Christian Bauman and I am an Airbnb Superhost and run a Rental Arbitrage business.
For those who don't know, Rental Arbitrage is the act of renting an apartment on a long-term lease (such as 1 year), furnishing the apartment, and listing the apartment on sites such as Airbnb as a short-term rental. This is a lucrative way to start creating semi-passive income with small upfront cost ($5,000 or less)! If you would like to learn more about this business model you can visit my other blog post here.
When furnishing my apartments I do like to try to find some deals for certain items at local consignment shops or pre-owned items on apps like letgo or craigslist. However for many (especially bigger items) the most convenient (and cheapest) thing to do is order items from Amazon and have them shipped right to the property! This allows me to have the biggest items shipped right to the place, I can bring them inside and assemble them on my own and that's it! I don't have to worry about renting a big box truck and hiring (or begging) people to help me move all of my heavy furniture.
This post is a extensive checklist for any Airbnb Host (whether you take advantage of rental arbitrage or not) to furnish their space. In this list I cover everything from big ticket furniture items to the smallest details that may affect your guests stay! I came up with this list after furnishing a couple places and realizing just how easy it is to forget things when furnishing. I hope this checklist can be as convenient for you as it has been for me.
For those who don't know, Rental Arbitrage is the act of renting an apartment on a long-term lease (such as 1 year), furnishing the apartment, and listing the apartment on sites such as Airbnb as a short-term rental. This is a lucrative way to start creating semi-passive income with small upfront cost ($5,000 or less)! If you would like to learn more about this business model you can visit my other blog post here.
When furnishing my apartments I do like to try to find some deals for certain items at local consignment shops or pre-owned items on apps like letgo or craigslist. However for many (especially bigger items) the most convenient (and cheapest) thing to do is order items from Amazon and have them shipped right to the property! This allows me to have the biggest items shipped right to the place, I can bring them inside and assemble them on my own and that's it! I don't have to worry about renting a big box truck and hiring (or begging) people to help me move all of my heavy furniture.
This post is a extensive checklist for any Airbnb Host (whether you take advantage of rental arbitrage or not) to furnish their space. In this list I cover everything from big ticket furniture items to the smallest details that may affect your guests stay! I came up with this list after furnishing a couple places and realizing just how easy it is to forget things when furnishing. I hope this checklist can be as convenient for you as it has been for me.
If you rather see a condensed version of this checklist without a summary next to each item you can click here.
Disclaimer: For each item in this list I have attached an Amazon affiliate link. The items that I have linked are meant to give inspiration for you to see what's possible for your own Airbnb but make sure to add your own touch/personality to your place! I will receive a small commission for any item you purchase from these links at no extra cost to you.
Bedrooms
Mattress- There are some items for you to be able to cheap out on in your Airbnb rental, the mattress is not one of them. Your guest's sleep is a vital part of their experience and it is very important that they have a good mattress for a good nights sleep. I recommend you buy at least a queen mattress but a king mattress is an even stronger selling point and it is actually worth putting "king bed" in the title of your listing if you do flaunt one in your space. Click above for a link to a mattress on Amazon that I personally recommend.
Box spring and bed frame- Of course with a good mattress you will also need a solid box spring and bed frame. Again, it is important to invest in your guest's sleep! There are other areas where you can use pre-owned or cheaper furniture... this is not one of those areas!
Headboard- Very good idea to have a nice headboard though I have seen people skip this without problem or complaints.
Pillows- Important to have good, comfortable pillows.
Duvets and Sheets- Stock up on sheets! I keep 3-4 sets of sheets per bed in stock just in case something happens to one of them. You don't want to be stuck without clean sheets when getting your place ready for your next guests. I also use blankets with duvet covers so that the cleaners can easily take off the duvet cover and a put a fresh duvet cover on for the next guest.
Dresser- It's a good idea to have a dresser, shelves and coat hangers for your guests to be able to store their clothes and belongings. Click above for a link to a trendy dresser that I found on Amazon for less than $75. P.S if you really want to cheap out on this item you can use a plastic dresser as well. I have some of these that I use only for my cleaners to store extra towels and linens.
Bedside Table- Necessary to have at least one (2 is better) of these by the bed but doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. Here is one I found on Amazon for just over $20.
Bedside Lamp- Important to have one of these. This is a unique touch-activated lamp that I think is a cool little touch that could differentiate your place from other stays.
Iron and Ironing Board- These are necessary amenities to have to be included in to Airbnb's "work collection" which will give you a SEO boost for those who are travelling for work.
Garbage Bin- It's often convenient for your guests to have a small trash bin right in their bedroom.
Full Length Mirror- This is a nice touch. Helps your guest get ready for their day!
Bathroom
Towels- This includes bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths. Guests tend to like to see white towels so that they know that they are clean. This also makes them easy to bleach if they do get dirty!
Hair Dryer- I have one of these in each of my Airbnbs. They don't seem to get used too often however it is a necessary amenity to be eligible to be included in Airbnb's "work collection".
Shower Hanger- For toiletries.
Toiletries- It is cheaper and much more convenient to buy these in bulk.
Toiletries include
Kitchen
Coffee Station- This is a must-have especially for coffee lovers such as myself. I recommend using a Keurig single cup serve with a reusable K-Cup coffee filter. This allows guests the convenience of using a Keurig without you having to buy expensive one-time use K-Cups or worry about people stealing your K-cups.
Coffee and Tea- Good to buy in bulk.
Coffee and Tea- Good to buy in bulk.
Pots and Pans- A big reason people like to book Airbnbs over hotels is because they can get a kitchen and have the option to cook their own meals if they want!
Dishes, cups and silverware- Have at least 2 per guest, preferably more.
Knife Set
Dish Towels
Living Room
Couch- This will likely be the focus of your living room and the focus of your front photo. So don't be afraid to make it stand out! One of my best performing listings has an orange couch in the living room that is shown in the first photo and it makes people click!
Love Seat- This is especially important if your listing will be sleeping 4 or more people.
Accent Chair
T.V- You don't need to go over the top with your tv. A reasonable sized tv mounted onto the wall is more than enough for most people.
Streaming Services- You also do not need to shell out for cable. Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are a much cheaper alternative that guests know and love!
Coffee Table
Fake Plants- These are a great way to help liven up your space!
Desk or Workspace- Important for guests who are travelling for work. Also a necessary amenity to be added to the "work collection".
Dining Room Table
Love Seat- This is especially important if your listing will be sleeping 4 or more people.
Accent Chair
T.V- You don't need to go over the top with your tv. A reasonable sized tv mounted onto the wall is more than enough for most people.
Streaming Services- You also do not need to shell out for cable. Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are a much cheaper alternative that guests know and love!
Coffee Table
Fake Plants- These are a great way to help liven up your space!
Desk or Workspace- Important for guests who are travelling for work. Also a necessary amenity to be added to the "work collection".
Dining Room Table
Cleaning Supplies
I would recommend buying most of these products in bulk.
Toilet Paper- Don't cheap out on toilet paper, get 2-ply!
Safety
First Aid Kit
Scissors
Hopefully this resource has helped you cover everything you need to get your Airbnb up and ready to host your first guests! If any of these tips helped you consider checking out these links below:
My Instagram on how to make money on Airbnb with no property:
My Airbnb listings:
Thinking of hosting on Airbnb? Get started here!
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