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1. Must-haves

As the short-term rental market gets more competitive, guests expect a certain level of service and basic items.  You cannot just rent an empty room or apartment.  While items a guest needs like a bed and a refrigerator are readily apparent, through experience, we’ve found other not-so-obvious amenities that our guests cannot do without.

Things like television and Wifi are amenities that guests have come to expect and not providing these will severely affect your business.  As mentioned in Section I, after spring 2018, Airbnb will start requiring all hosts to provide towels, bed sheets, soap and toilet paper.  We also suggest you provide trash bags and liners.

INITIAL SHOPPING CHECKLIST

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  • Table and chairs (enough to sit your maximum number of guests)

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  • Sofa or loveseat

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  • Coffee table

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  • Bed or futon/sofa bed (keep in mind that many guests do not like to sleep on a futon or sofa bed, and Airbnb asks you to specify if you are offering a “real bed”)  

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  • Nightstand

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  • Television

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  • White sheets and towels* (at least 2 sets per bed; we have 4)

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  • Set of pillows +1 extra set for the closet

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  • Blanket/ comforter

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  • Bed coverings/decorative pillows

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  • Mattress and pillow protectors

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  • Full plate service (we recommend Corelle)

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  • Set of silverware

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  • Set of knives

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  • Cutting board

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  • Set of glasses

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  • Set of wine glasses

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  • Set of mugs

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  • Small set of pots and pans

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  • Coffee maker

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  • Toaster/ toaster oven

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  • Microwave

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  • Kettle

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  • Cooking utensils (spoon, spatula, etc.)

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  • Corkscrew

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  • Can opener

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  • Kitchen towel

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  • Trash can

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  • Clothes hangers

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  • Hair dryer

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  • Umbrella (get a big one so people don’t take it)

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  • Mop & bucket (if you're going to clean)

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  • Vacuum cleaner(if you're going to clean)

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  • 3-ring binder or plastic brochure holder

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Click for a printable checklist

Click for products we love (affiliate links)

Mattress protectors: We recommend you ALWAYS use a mattress protector.  We started out with the heavy-duty, waterproof mattress protectors. However, they were a pain to wash and dry.  We’ve since adjusted to the IKEA pads with elastic straps.  They are extremely easy to wash and dry and fit in the same load with the sheets.  I was a little reticent to use them at first, since I felt that they would not protect the mattresses enough, but it’s been four years and none of our mattresses have been stained yet.

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