Must Haves for 5-Star Hosts

Kate Stoermer Author

Hosting guests in your short-term rental means delivering a 5-star experience to your guests!

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It's no secret that being a short-term rental host or owner means more than providing lodging.  Guests are looking for a specific experience.  For some, its a utilitarian experience that meets their needs - a comfortable bed, clean space, and a way to make a smoothie and heat up their keto-friendly dinner. For others, its a much anticipated family vacation complete with the annual Dad's make breakfast that first morning and long nights playing board games after a day in the sun.  Whatever that experience is, it is up to us hosts to anticipate our guests desired experience and to ensure they have what they need to make it happen.  When we meet expectations, that means we did well. When we EXCEED expectations, that means we are a 5-star host.  

So in light of Amazon Prime Days, lets review some of my favorite "must haves" and "more than expected" items to have in your short-term rental.  

In the Kitchen. 

70% of adults drink coffee.  A coffee pot is a must have, but everyone has a different perspective on what constitutes great coffee. When it comes to creating a comfortable and convenient experience for your short-term rental guests, including a Hamilton Beach FlexBrew in the amenities is an excellent choice. This versatile coffee maker offers a unique advantage as it accommodates both single-serve packs and traditional ground coffee. This way, whether your guests prefer a quick cup to start their day or a whole pot to share, the FlexBrew can meet their needs. Plus, it adds an air of sophistication and thoughtfulness to the rental, making your guests feel more at home. The convenience and versatility of the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew makes it a perfect investment for any short-term rental, enhancing the stay of each guest, irrespective of their coffee preferences.

An inexpensive and yet elevated next step would be to also mean incorporating a French press into the amenities of your short-term rental, bringing a touch of elegance and artisanal appeal. This traditional method of brewing coffee is widely revered for the rich, full-bodied flavor it produces, offering guests an opportunity to engage in a more hands-on brewing process. It's an especially thoughtful touch for coffee connoisseurs who value the chance to craft their own perfect cup. Furthermore, the French press is a simple and compact piece of equipment that doesn't require electricity, adding to its convenience and utility. The inclusion of a French press in your rental can elevate the guests' experience, making their stay feel a little more special and personalized, and hinting at a luxurious attention to detail.

Incorporating an electric kettle into your short-term rental amenities can significantly enhance the experience of your guests. These appliances are efficient, offering quick and convenient water heating that is perfect for both coffee and tea enthusiasts. They are easy to use, safe, and energy-efficient. This versatility makes an electric kettle a universally beneficial addition to any short-term rental, catering to a variety of guest needs. While being a standard fixture in many European households, its global popularity makes it an ideal amenity that adds a touch of hospitality and thoughtfulness, ensuring your guests have access to a well-equipped and convenient living space.

I make no secret about being a fan of Corelle; I use it in all my rentals - budget and luxury. I manage rentals for others and one of them uses stonewear; several dishes had chips just 6 monhts in.  Incorporating Corelle dishes into your short-term rental can significantly enhance the practicality and aesthetics of your space. Corelle is known for its high-quality, durable, and lightweight dinnerware, making it ideal for a rental environment where items need to withstand frequent use and cleaning. Moreover, these dishes are not just functional, but also stylish, available in a wide variety of designs and patterns to suit any décor. This ensures your guests can enjoy their meals on appealing dinnerware that adds to the overall ambiance of the space. Lastly, Corelle's resistance to chipping and breaking provides a safe dining option, minimizing the risks of accidents or damage. Overall, choosing Corelle dishes for your short-term rental not only illustrates your attention to detail, but also reflects your commitment to providing guests with a comfortable, convenient, and visually pleasing home-away-from-home experience. A good guideline for dishes is to have 2x the number of place settings as your occupancy; this allows guests the option to NOT have to wash dishes immediately or to support multiple course meals.  

Making breakfast is often a tradition for vacationing families. If this is your target market, then offering the option to whip up those pancakes is key.  A pancake griddle allows guests to easily cook breakfast or brunch, adding a homely touch to their stay. These appliances are not only great for making pancakes, but are also versatile enough for preparing other foods such as bacon, eggs, or grilled sandwiches. Moreover, most griddles come with non-stick surfaces, making cooking and clean-up effortless. By offering a pancake griddle, you are providing an additional level of comfort and convenience that goes beyond the basic kitchen equipment, demonstrating a thoughtful consideration of your guests' potential needs and enhancing their overall stay in your rental.

While we watch our allotted budget deplete as we spend thousands on setting up our short-term rental, its easy to imagine that items on our short-term rental purchase list could easily be skipped "because no one is ever going to use it".  Some items feel "extra" - and I've stayed in plenty of STR that don't include them but I'm here to tell you "extra" is precisely what get's 5-star reviews. Don't skimp out!  Some other items to make sure you include in your short-term rental include items like a salad spinner and tongs,  blender for smoothies and icy drinks, serving utensils, and kid-friendly dishes if kid's are in your likely guest profile. 

The Living Area

I admit, nothing irritates me more when I am sitting watching a show or enjoying my AM coffee while reflecting in my journal than not having an easy place to put my cup.  You may not like the idea of folks eating and drinking while sitting on the couch, but you can have those rules in your personal home; don't inflict them on guests in your short-term rental.  Make it easy to be comfortable and ensure you have places at hand to set coffee cups and water bottles while guests are chilling on the couch! 

Folks booking a short-term rental are seeking a home-away-from-home experience.  If you've spent much time in hotels, you know that they purchase for volume and ease of care, not necessarily comfort.  Short-term rentals - unless the goal is to replicate the hotel experience, have an opportunity to differentiate by NOT offering the hotel experience while meeting the lodging need.  Unique décor and access to all the amenities of home make short-term rentals attractive, just like hotel's consistency and room service offer an experience desirable for some. One item that many short-term rentalists seem to shy away from - with some reason, is throw blankets, But nothing offers both visual appeal and visual comfort like a throw blanket; an option to snuggle in while watching the television and a pop of visual color or adding texture to a space.  The key is to have several to make it easy to switch out and launder them at turns.  

The Bedroom

A recent analysis review I did in a popular resort market revealed a couple of properties stood out heads and tails above the rest.  As I dug into that market to discover why those seemingly similar, competing properties were generating 30% more revenue the answer wasn't actually hard to discern.  There were many (as it 200%) more rentals in this market in just 1 year; and they were all nicely decorated but so many missed some critical elements in this vacation market.  Those elements are what this entire blog post is about; putting the "Home" in the short-term rentals. While not every STR requires "home" - more utilitarian, budget offerings can certainly offer the basics, these were multiple hundred dollar a night stays in a vacation market. The photos and descriptions did not convey a guest-centered experience. The (2) properties that were making well more revenue than others did a great job of conveying that the guest experience was central to their business.  This was conveyed by what was offered, how it was showcased, and in the reviews.  For those properties that didn't hit that higher revenue, one thing I noted was a couple lacked bedside tables.  And I ask - where do people put their phones when they go to bed at night? Or, for us older folk, their glasses? What if they still read actual books before bed (many of my friends do, and guess who can afford multiple-hundred dollar a night lodging?)  For my cleaners sake (and having dealt with firearms and ..ahem.. adult themed items) being left in nightstand drawers, I highly favor tables without any drawers for nightstands. 

On that theme, there is no reason not to have USB plugs at the bedside table, or charging stations.  Again, thinking about the guest experience and introducing ease into their lives makes them feel thought of and that equates to positive associations with you as a host and your rental!  So when that request for a review hits them, they not only want to rate their experience, but that five-star rating is assured. 

How do you deal with your clothes when you stay somewhere else? Do you unpack into available drawers? Hang clothes? Leave them in your luggage? Perhaps you are like my 10 year and dump the contents of your backpack all over the floor and leave it for the duration? The reality is, people deal with their personal effects differently and we, as hosts, should seek to provide options. Items like Hangers - and if no closet, then some other option for hanging clothes, drawers of some kind, and a luggage racks all aide in having neat living quarters while traveling. 

The Bathroom 

I have a business partner who mentioned he shaves in the shower, and I needed to add a mirror in the shower.  What an inexpensive addition that certainly does add a thoughtful amenity!  These kinds of additions continue the theme of a "guest-centered" experience that leaves guests feeling Wow'd.   The bathroom is no different - so be in making sure everyone has access to a full length mirror or, in your more lux properties, adding lighted magnification mirrors are great ways to show your focus on the guest experience. 

That said, I don't know that anything has gotten more comments that the inexpensive addition of q-tips, cotton pads, and cotton balls in the bathrooms.  These seem to be high-use items that folks don't travel with but appreciate having, at least at my properties.  My cleaners restock these as needed, and they add a visually appealing esthetic to the space. And I kid you not - I have one guest who rebooked with me who simply raves about having extra toothbrushes - she'd forgotten hers, thought "I'm going to have to go to the store" at 10pm and found my "Forgot Something?" bin with new toothbrushes, toothpaste, and feminine products that I leave at my properties. 

So, friends, I could go on and on about all the "little things" that add up to comments like "thought of everything" which means guests leave great reviews!  I hope this helps you in your short-term rental business. 

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Hey Boss! I'm Kate, owner/founder of The CEO Host. If you are interested in taking a leap into short-term rentals - or have some questions about your existing business, my goal - passion, and career, is to help YOU succeed. I've coached hundreds of folks getting started or looking to optimize, analyzed more deals (and duds) than I could count, completed thousands of hours of education and training, attended conferences... So don't be shy. A good CEO knows to bring in expert help - and that's what I'm here for! Lets HOP ON A CALL and chat!

Categories: : self management, Set Up Your Rental