5 Tips for Turning Your Apartment Into a Vacation Rental

With websites like Airbnb making it easier than ever for people to earn some passive income from a property they’re not currently using as a primary residence, there’s no reason you shouldn’t turn your apartment into a vacation rental. Not only can you add some extra cash to your coffers, but you can provide an affordable option to weary travelers looking to have the “local” experience rather than resting their heads in a sterile hotel room. However, there are a few things you’ll have to do in preparation for hosting unknown guests in your home. Here are just a few tips for turning your apartment into a vacation rental.

1. Clear the clutter. You don’t necessarily have to model your apartment after a swanky hotel room, but most travelers will feel a little weird going to sleep in a bed covered in your kids’ toys with a family photo staring down at them from the wall. So you need to clear out your personal clutter and make your space a bit more generic before you start inviting strangers in. You’ll certainly want to leave all of the standard amenities, such as furniture, linens, cookware, and so on – the items you might find in your average hotel suite. And you could even add some artwork on the walls and décor like lamps, rugs, throw pillows, and so on to spice up the space. But everything that is personal to you, such as clothing, family photos, tchotchkes, and the like should be removed.

2. Deep clean. Whether you’ve recently vacated the apartment or it’s been empty for a while, a deep cleaning is no doubt in order. If you want to save some money you can do this yourself, although shelling out the dough for a professional crew could definitely deliver that sparkling clean in every nook and cranny. This is also a good opportunity to note any items in need of repair so you can have the work done to get your apartment in ship shape.

3. Get new linens. Your raggedy old bedding and stained towels are not going to cut it when it comes to catering to guests, who are paying to stay at your place. By spending a fair amount on fresh, new bedding and towels you can make your guests feel pampered, garnering good reviews on whatever site you’re using to list your rental. And you could earn back whatever you spent within just a few days, depending on what you charge for the place.

4. Secure a cleaning service. Since you probably don’t have time to clean up after each booking has come and gone, it’s a good idea to hire a cleaning service and work it into the price of the rental. This is fairly standard practice, so savvy travelers already expect the additional fee. And it saves you from the trouble of becoming a cleaning service yourself.

5. Create a listing. Once you’ve got your apartment in order it’s time to sign up with your rental service of choice and create a stellar listing, complete with a write-up and a slew of photos, in order to start securing bookings and earning some cash. Although your place might not be quite as nice as, say, luxury apartments in Rome at SuitesRome, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of travelers willing to pay the price to stay in a fully furnished apartment rather than settling for a hotel.