Turning empty rooms into Airbnb guest rooms; it’s a growing trend for those would like to make better use of their home and increase the household income too.
Should you rent out your spare room?
It’s worth considering when your spare room has languished without a visitor for months. We’ve all done it! Keeping your childs bedroom ‘their’ room, even when they have a home of their own. Really; when do you reclaim the space? There’s potential for the room to look much better and be the perfect guest room for when they do visit. Revamping this under-utilised room will make visitors to your home more comfortable, but when you do a little extra, the potential to rent out the room to paying guests becomes a viable option.
What do todays B&B guests expect from a guest room? Could your home hold the potential to make some spare cash from your spare room? We’ll guide you through making the spare room the light bright space that people want to stay.
Presenting your home in the best light.
THE BASICS
You’ll need to have the below as the basics your visitors expect.
• A comfy bed with nice fresh linen.
• En-suite facilities, including clean towels and toilet paper.
• Wardrobes with hangers
• Full length mirror, and make up mirror
• Hairdryer in the room
• An Iron and Ironing board (on request is fine)
• Tea and coffee making facilities.
If you are providing a low-cost lodging, that may be enough, however you may want to attract a higher paying guest who will leave rave reviews, in which case you’ll need to go a step further. Have bright ideas that will see your visitors faces light up.
LIGHT FITTINGS EVERY GUEST ROOM SHOULD HAVE
Lighting is crucial, it should be cost effective to run so we’d suggest LED is best; you don’t want the extra money you’re earning being wasted by inefficient bulbs. Also, carefully consider the placement of lamps, as this should be kept convenient. You’ll need general overhead lighting along with bedside lamps. We’d recommend wall mounted lights are best, as it keeps bedside cabinets clear, this is worth doing as it makes cleaning simpler and gives more surface area for guests to place their own belongings. Consider additional functionality, as there are some very good bedside wall lights that give a dual source of light, perfect for reading in bed and some even have USB chargers. If space permits for a chair, place a standard lamp next to it and a task lamp on a dressing table or desk.
Bright Ideas for Guest Bathrooms
In bathrooms you could go all out and have an illuminated mirror, they are always impressive. But do ensure all bathroom lights are safe for use in bath and shower rooms, as not all are. For a great selection of bathroom safe lights explore The Lighting Company.
Add toiletries in dispensers, it looks nice but also people are less likely to swipe them. Otherwise people feel toiletries can be taken home. Put little placeholders explaining what they are.
Make it personal
Most guests will expect tea and coffee making facilities, but here is another area where you can go the extra mile. If the coffee is your own blend, take the time to explain what you blend, or if you have local teas made in the area, explain the heritage. We have a local variety called Miles Tea blended right here in sunny Somerset. If you are in Yorkshire, have Yorkshire tea, maybe add a little description taken from the packaging.
We’ve mentioned here lots about informing your guests of all the lovely extras you are giving them; this all helps you to promote your guest accommodation, which is also useful for marketing when you list the room.
You could put together a guest welcome pack, stating what the bed linen is made from, the pillow selection or anything interesting about your locality.
Let guests know the frequency that you change the towels and sheets, and at what time. If guests know what to expect, there’s no reason that their reviews will be anything but realistic.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
What is it about your area that is unique? Are you right in the heart of a city or a rural idyll? List the facts about the area and keep abreast of what events are happening locally in order for you to capitalise on them.
Considerations
You’ll need to know what you can earn before you need to start paying tax, how renting out a room affects your mortgage, insurances and being up to speed with fire and safety regulations.
This also gives insights into the costs and the expected gains along with advice on how you get the room listed and photographed ready to market.
Quirky Unusual
Homes, be they large or small, often have unused or rarely used rooms (the spare room). But for some of you it may be a garden studio, outbuilding or even a shepherd’s hut. According to many travel companies, guests are seeking out quirky holiday stays, so your unused space may well be the perfect place for an occasional guest. Or a whole new business venture.
It’s truly a spare room when you don’t have to use it. You may have a spare room that looks remarkably like a cupboard full of clutter, that running machine you fully intended to use, but didn’t. Renting this space out could give you cash in your pocket, but if you value your privacy more than the cash – don’t rent it out. But do consider that it could be more appealing even for your family members visiting. Take the time to make the spare room nicer – give it some love, decluttering and freshening it up can stop it being a dumping ground.