When Chris and I first started hosting our spare bedroom in Brooklyn on Airbnb in the fall of 2016, we were entering into the unknown world of sharing our home with strangers. Sounds scary, right?! But luckily, we had amazing friends who showed us the ropes and shared their amazingly positive experiences with renting out their second bedroom to make additional income.

It took a lot of encouragement to get Chris on board with this idea of sharing our home but the main thing I told him was that it was only a trial run and if Airbnbing our room totally sucked, we could shut the listing down ASAP.

Stepping outside of our comfort zone and giving hosting a try was one of the best decisions we could have ever made because it gave us the ability to boost our savings, making $8,000 in our first 8 months of renting out our guest bedroom on Airbnb.

We have been hosting now for over a year and a half and we wouldn't change a thing! In total, from fall 2016 to August 2018, with some breaks in between for moving from Brooklyn to Denver, we have made a total of $17,060. Reading that number still blows my mind! Imagine what you could do with an extra $17K or more?? So many possibilities!!

So today, I wanted to share some tips on how you can quickly set up your spare guest bedroom on Airbnb so you can start earning extra money!

How To Set Up Your Airbnb Guest Bedroom:

• Make a list: First, I went around our apartment and made a list of everything we would need to get our bedroom guest-ready before we could list our space on Airbnb. We had a lot of stuff already such as furniture, lamps, TV, towels, washcloths, bath mats, extra hairdryer, and other normal household items. But there were other things that needed refreshing or we just didn't have extra of. So I crossed off the things we had on hand that we could use and circled all the items that we needed to purchase.

• Purchase any extra household essentials: Such as extra sheets, a duvet cover, duvet insert, curtains and rod, extra velvet hangers, a luggage rack and a metal trash can for the bedroom. As well as a locking door knob with a key for the guest's door or to lock any closets you want to store personal belongings. Plus a combination lockbox to hold the house key so guests could access your space if you aren't home. This is one of the best purchases we made because we can't sit around the apartment all day waiting for guests to check in. Plus, it gives guests the option to check in anytime they would like without any pressure to be at your place at a certain time.

"My stay with Amber and Chris was amazing! The bed and sheets are ridiculously comfy and the apartment is warm, welcoming and very clean. The decor everywhere is absolutely beautiful. The guest room/bathroom are sort of separate from the main area of the apartment which is nice for a little privacy. Also, the shampoo/body wash provided in the shower smelled SO good, I’m immediately buying the same kind when I get home! Amber provided very organized instructions for check in and Chris made me feel extremely welcome when I arrived. The shops and restaurants nearby are super convenient. I used this to launch off to RMNP and it was a great location. The hot tub after hiking definitely didn’t hurt, either! Highly recommended and all around 5 stars!" - Juliana

Here are some of my favorite items we purchased from Amazon that we still use today!

• Purchase and put out any extra amenities that guests would need during their stay: Such as toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. We usually get these pretty cheap at Trader Joe's or the grocery store. I set out a basket with extra bath towels and washcloths, as well as a hairdryer and hand lotion. We also installed a wall hook and placed about 5 hangers on the hook so guests could hang their clothes up, as well as an umbrella for guests to use in case of rain.

Also, coffee and tea for a coffee station with a coffee and tea organizer. In the beginning, we had a Keurig, so we would buy coffee pods or K-cups for a good deal from TJmaxx, Marshalls, and Trader Joe's. Now we have a Ninja coffee bar that we absolutely love, which allows guests to make a full or half coffee pot as well as individual cups. Some guests make coffee or tea every morning and others never touch it but in my opinion, it's one of the most important things you can offer. If you want to get fancy with it, you can also purchase disposable to-go coffee cups from the grocery store or Target to offer to your guests. We used to do this in the beginning but guests weren't using them very often so we decided to cut it out. 

In the early days, we put out red wine with glasses and a corkscrew on the dresser but later decided that red wine was too risky in our bedroom. But you could do other things that are just as nice, such as bottles of water, sparkling water, fruit bowls, and granola bars! We currently provide bottled water, maps, local guides, magazines, tea, and coffee!

"This place was just awesome. Super close to some food to include a few breweries! The room was very accurate and the bed was super comfy. Delicious coffee, everything was just awesome. The room was decent sized and had our own private bathroom. Definitely a 5 out of 5 in all aspects." -Christopher

• Type up and print an Apartment/Home Guide & Welcome Packet for your guests. In our Apartment Guide, we explain why we love Airbnb for our own travel adventures and how we got into hosting, the wifi network and code, as well as emergency contact info, and where guests could find just about everything they would need inside our apartment. It didn't take long to write this out one time and it really helps to alleviate a lot of the questions that guests would ask us during their stay! This is also a great place to give recommendations of your favorite things to do in your area! Make sure you save this document on your computer or Google Drive so you can continue to update and reprint it as things change around your home.

When you are first setting up your room, you only need to provide the basics, as well as a clean and comfortable space for your guests. I just tried to think about all the things that I personally want when I stay in an Airbnb or hotel and then provide those items. You also don't have to buy the most expensive stuff. If you notice, most of the items that I purchased from Amazon, such as our duvet cover, sheets, and duvet insert, cost under $30, and they have lasted through many washes in the last year and a half. Plus, we get compliments all the time about how comfortable and soft our bedding is! 

As time goes on, you will discover other items that suit your guest's needs, and you can make those purchases as needed. For us recently, that was a luggage rack which we purchased this summer and it was a fantastic addition to our room. Later, as you get more busy, you will want to double up on items such as bedding to make your life easier when turning your room over for the next reservation. We automatically charge a cleaning fee of $35 which covers our personal time that it takes for us to clean the room as well as the cost of additional items we need for our guests. That way, it doesn't come directly out of our pockets.

Once you get the basics needed to set up your Airbnb, you can then work on some interior design elements that you want to incorporate. I like to use things I have around the house, or go to places like Home Goods, Marshall’s, and the thrift store for unique items. If you don’t know where to start or don’t have a design eye, you might want to look for a virtual interior design service that can help guide you make more intentional design choices that will help you stand out on Airbnb.

If you are not in a rush to get your Airbnb on the market, you might want to start with the design first, and then grab basics later that match the style or your design.

After The Room Is Set Up, Here Are The Next Steps To Get Your Airbnb Listing Prepared:

• Set up the Airbnb listing telling all the benefits and features of your guest room - you can do this on the Airbnb website as well as the phone app.
  
  

  • If you don't have a profile already, you will set one up first with your government ID, personal information, a bio, and a photo.
    
    

  • You will then click "Add a Listing". You will be prompted to add information about the property type: is it a house, apartment, or unique space like an RV, tent, houseboat, treehouse, yurt, etc. What the guests get: An entire home, a private room, or a shared room. How many beds plus the sizes, how many bathrooms, and how many guests you can accommodate.
    
    

  • You will add photos of your space with descriptions. See more info on photo taking tips below.
    
    

  • Then you will write a descriptive title that will stand out to potential guests, a description summary, info about your space, what guests have access to, how much you will interact with guests, and then more info about the neighborhood and the best ways to get around. In your description, you should include as much detailed information as possible so guests can make an informed decision on if they want to book our place or not. You should not only tell them about all the amazing features of your place but also any issues that might affect their stay such as street noise, broken appliances, etc. That way they won't feel like you hid anything from them.
    
    

  • You can take your time writing the listing and always go back to add more so don't get overwhelmed!

Airbnb Cell Phone Photo Tips:

Take lots of well-lit photos with your cell phone or digital camera. Take lots of photos of everything in your guest room as well as around your home or apartment, and in your neighborhood. Take photos during the day to take advantage of natural light. If I couldn't get good lighting, then I used a Photoshop app on my iPhone called PicTapGo. I have a serious love for the "Lights on" and the "Crispity" filters! Just make sure you don't brighten your photos too much, especially if the apartment is naturally dark, because you want the photos to accurately represent what you are offering. Many guests of ours have made comments about how accurate our photos were and how much they appreciated that.

If you decide to list your second bedroom on Airbnb, I hope these tips will be helpful for you! Please feel free to ask any questions you have in the comments!

Disclaimer: I earn a small commission if you use some of the highlighted links to purchase products mentioned in this blog/website. I recommend only products that I would use my own home or that I would recommend to clients. 

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