Is The Lure Of Airbnb Encouraging People To Turn Their Houses Into Show Homes?
Airbnb grew slowly when it launched in the UK in 2008. By 2016, there were nearly half a million rentals in London alone, showing Brits are more and more open to the idea of opening up their homes to short term lets and ‘staycation’ rentals.
According to a new study into home improvement motivations by London property maintenance experts Aspect, 20% of UK residents say they’ve invested in making their home more Airbnb-friendly. Particularly those living in hot spots like London, Brighton and Hove, and Manchester – three of Airbnb’s most popular UK locations.
How to create a popular Airbnb listing?
The importance of good reviews on Airbnb means homeowners is keen to make a good impression every time.
Creating a space that will go down well on Airbnb is quite a big job. Guests want the character and economy of staying in someone’s home, but they also expect hotel quality mainstays like fresh bedding, towels, a nice clean bathroom, and excellent facilities. Hosts have to make sure their home meets expectations before they list.
Airbnb suggest that hosts advertise accurately, get to know their guests, make sure the space is clutter-free, and always listen to feedback.
The downsides of running a ‘show home’
Hosting involves some inevitable risk. Fragile nick-nacks, family heirlooms, and important paperwork need to be hidden or removed completely. (It’s a bad idea to leave your phone bill on the table for all to see!) Despite hosts being able to vet and review their guests, breakage and even theft is possible.
Got very specific tastes? You might find your Airbnb profile looks less appealing to people who don’t appreciate it. While some do want to rent a brightly colored, quirky space, Airbnb lets with clean, neutral color schemes are more likely to attract bookings.
Guest turnover puts homeowners on a strict deadline too. Hosts have to maintain their clean letting all year-round and prepare beds and bathrooms for every new arrival.
Online #inspo
Airbnb isn’t our only source of online inspiration. Aspect’s research also revealed 29% have spent money on home improvements to emulate an idea they’ve seen on social media, and 16% were motivated by the popular Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.
According to Nick Bizley, director of operations at Aspect, feeling motivated to make the best of our homes is nothing new. “The habit of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ never went away. What we’re seeing now are just different sources of inspiration for doing so. Whether we’re inspired by a picture on social media or a TV show, it’s great for the tradespeople we employ that UK residents show so much pride in their homes.”
