GET YOUR AIRBNB BOOKED IN MINUTES THIS HALLOW'S EVE

It is that time of the year again where most of us just could not wait for Christmas! But before that, we still have Halloween to deal with. For those whose apartments are up on Airbnb, decorating your place according to the current season is a good strategy as well. And because we are just as festive as you are, we have a few tips for your easy décor transitions!

Go colorful.

Follow the color palette of the corresponding season or holiday to invoke that warm feeling. It will definitely add a wonderful surprise for your guests. For one, when it’s Halloween and fall season, try warm tone-colored throws and curtains in fiery oranges, neutral browns, and golden yellows.

Go fun.

Add more fun Halloween accessories to your place such as mini jack-o-lanterns and a few bat cut-outs. Want to level this up? Pull out a carving knife and go decorate your pumpkin! This is something easy to do and yet adds that drama you can't get from fake plastic ones.

Afraid you might mess that up? Simplest way to do it is by using markers! Go get drawing! You can even use the pumpkin for some cream of squash after! 

But if you’re not into the festivity and would rather be more subtle, a scented candle helps your guests get a feel of autumn. 

Give some candy!

Yes, it's almost Halloween and who can resist these? The wonderful thing is it won't even cost you an arm and a leg, and your guests will embrace that thoughtful gesture you made.  Place your colorful sweets in a white bowl so your colors can stand out. Impressing your guests is certainly one thing that should be foremost in your mind! 

Bonus.

People rent out your place when they have a vacation or perhaps for business, add a local souvenir from your town or city--something for them to remember. For an extra oomph during Halloween season, print a local horror story on paper you can leave near the bedside for your more adventurous clients. Warning! Not everyone likes Halloween so this may not go well with some guests. 

More Secrets!

Thinking about it, you can even go all out and change your photo ads for the Halloween season. Take photos of your added seasonal decor and see your place booked in minutes!! After all, I haven't seen any place in Airbnb decorated for the season... That might change when you guys post! Won't that be a really good come-on?!

Then after the fall and Halloween, we meet winter and Yuletide! 

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REFRESH YOUR HOME FOR LESS

You may have reached a point in your life where you need to be in a new environment. And not just a new workplace, but a new home. Or you may have been offered your dream job and may require to relocate with your family. With this, you might need to have your current home available for rent or even for sale. But where do you start with leasing your home? Keep reading…

• Bathroom
  • One of the easiest parts to clean up is the bathroom since this only requires some scrubbing and bleaching. Also make sure that there are no chipped tiles, the plumbing works just fine, no leaks, and no moss or molds are forming inside. 

• Kitchen
  • Aside from plumbing, the kitchen requires more effort. Check all cabinet doors and drawer glides to see if they still work smoothly. An easy and cheap upgrade is to change cabinet knobs or pulls. To renew the overall look, have the cabinets painted. 

• Walls
  • Look out for cracks, chipping and fading on your walls, especially when you have utilized both paint and wallpapers. Again, the cheapest way to do it is to have it repainted. Stick to neutrals.

• Décor
  • To attract a wider pool of buyers/renters, choose neutrals for the walls and use patterns and textures on your decor. What does this entail? Have a color palette in mind, then, use patterns that follow your color scheme. This way, you can add some pizzazz to your home without making it look chaotic. Patterns can be introduced by adding throw pillows, throws, and a few key decor pieces. Moreover, indoor plants also work well as home decor and as cliché as it may sound, bring the outdoors in.

A final word: a styled home makes a deep and lasting impression on your potential buyer/renter. Keep all things organized. Remove clutter. Refreshing your home need not be expensive. It's simply a matter of taste and a few upgrades.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when you want to overhaul your home so you can put them on sale. Most importantly, don’t forget to consult with a professional so that your home will be at its best.

Check out my basic room design below for an upgrade to your interiors!

SECRETS THAT WILL BOOST YOUR AIRBNB BOOKINGS

Do you know that hotel bookings are going down? Today’s travelers are getting smarter. They want a larger space, more amenities and less cash to pay for it. There is a market as well for luxury rooms. The Airbnb market is definitely growing. I won’t get into the specifics of how to get started because Airbnb certainly has that covered. A few guidelines to remember is that you need to establish your target market (don’t target everyone) so you can find out their needs and design your space accordingly.

How do your guests choose you?

Travelers base their decisions on the photos of your place, your facilities and amenities, and your reviews. Before anyone even attempts to click on your ad, the first thing they see will be the photos.

How do you start?

1.     Find out their needs.

Look back at your target market. What do they want? Check out the Airbnb site and see who has the most reviews for the target market you’re aiming for. This will tell you what they like about the place, what they don’t like about it. It gives you a good insight on what your market wants.

Are they millennials, gen Xers? Do they have children traveling with them? At what age are they? If you have space for a family of four, then you need to think of beddings for four. You can have a main bedroom that can sleep two. Perhaps a trundle sofa (this is a sofa with a pull out) will work – you get a sofa by day, and 2 beds by night. This will also dictate that you need a dining table for four. Are you targeting business travelers? Then, you will need a desk where they can work. Think of function and convenience!

2.     Find out what design style you’re aiming for.

Don’t decide based on what you want but again, look at your target market. What do they want? Are they business travelers? Do they want something modern? Or are they tourists looking for a home away from home?

3.     Decorate with your location in mind.

Think about your location. Are you in the city, by the beach, in the mountains? You can narrow down your design style too with this. Go local and check out what your town has to offer. If they are tourists, look out for souvenirs and knick-knacks they will appreciate. It might seem kitschy to you, but they may be attractive to tourists. Check out the local handicrafts and artwork. Decorate with macramé. If you have a beautiful view, take a professional photographer to get you those photos and hang it in your living room.

4.     Look for sturdy furniture.

Don’t buy cheap furniture. They may be cheap but they won’t last. Good furniture does not mean expensive. Some guidelines to remember:

a.     If you’re opting for wood furniture, use solid wood! Pls. don’t use MDF or particle board, they will break. I am all for recycling but what’s the use if this only lasts a month or two. How do you find out? Knock on the wood. Not for luck but to check the hollowness of the material. Or you can check the underside (sometimes they are left unfinished and you’ll see if they aren’t real wood). Remember not all guests are very careful with your things. That’s just the way it is.

Particle board is waste wood product pressed together with synthetic resin. Photo from Wikipedia.

Mortise & Tenon by Wikipedia

b.     When buying dining chairs, check out the construction of the chair carefully. If it’s those assemble your own chair types, do back away… far away! Those joints will give! A well constructed chair uses a mortise and tenon joint. How will you know? Look at the section where the legs and the seat meets. Same advice goes for other furniture like the dining table.

5.     Use furnishings and accessories that can be cleaned easily.

a.     Pick out fabric that will hide stains. That means go for patterns or use a good German leather (that’s leatherette or synthetic leather) to upholster your furniture.

b.     When choosing rugs, look again for patterned ones that can hide marks. Remember the purpose isn’t for your place to hide the dirt but rather to look for something that you can maintain easily.

Shayne Drop-Leaf Table from Pottery Barn

6.     Don’t have enough space? Use convertible furniture.

There are extendable dining tables, or those drop-leaf tables. They can accommodate more people. Or choose a table you can mount on the wall and pull down.

Coffee tables with a pop-up mechanism works as both storage and a table.

7.     Remember to have sufficient outlets.

One of the things we need when travelling is charging our gadgets. Make sure to have enough outlets near the bedroom and the living area.

Lighting from Brabbu

8.     Go the designer way and create lighting for moods.

Designers use lighting to create a variety of moods. Use cove lights to soften the space and not have anything glaring on your eyes. Create a cozy reading area with a floor lamp in a corner. Add a track light to accentuate your wall art.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning and make yourself some extra cash! 

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