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Many of us have furniture or goods in our rentals that were in some way or another ‘inherited’.
In one of our apartments I have a glass-topped coffee table which is awful to clean. (All those fingermarks).
In the other we have stainless steel appliances that look great, but again, those fingermarks!
I’m wondering whether other members here have items in their rentals that cause them cleaning headaches?
A gas range! It’s a pain in the neck to clean the grids. Seems to me that an electrical range would be much easier to clean: just squirt cleanser and wipe!
I have a ceramic hob in one apartment which is great. In the other, we have the original 1949 which is wonderful and vintage and super-cool but needs a LOT of cleaning.
I used dark emerald green tiles on my guest shower walls. I love the color, and many of my guests have commented on how pretty it is, but they show every bit of soap scum and water spotting.
I wouldn’t use dark color tiles on a shower wall again.
I couldn’t say why, it’s just a matter of personal aesthetics, but I really don’t like the look of glass-topped tables (even if they’re sparkling clean). Why would anyone want to see the floor through the tabletop? I have a special aversion to the glass top patio tables that have that bubble glass. I just find them ugly.
We don’t fuzz around with vintage charme - which for some guests is a ‘must have’ for their trip. Those won’t be our guests.
We offer a functional, safe and well located accommodation to rest peacefully, have a shower and head out for work or seeing the sights - no hang-out location here.
I couldn’t be happier with an induction stove-top. They are affordable and in my opinion the safest way to heat pots or pans. They come with several safeguards so that it’s nearly impossible to cause a fire even when forgetting the pot and everything evaporates (unless the fat/grease starts to spontaneously combust). We kind of try to make the whole place child-proof LOL.
Easy to clean - obviously.
I would choose ceiling plate lights over pendant lights. I’d aso avoid thresholds and keep a uniform floor level. Accessibility is important to me, so I’d make sure the entrance is fully wheelchair-friendly. I value practicality and dislike the kind of luxury that’s all sparkle and no substance.
By the way, I once bought a glass table just to please my ex 
. Now the glass top is tucked behind my bookshelf, and a beautiful kitchen countertop has turned the base into a stylish desk. A glass table only works in a large living room with fresh flowers on top, definitely not our situation.
During the pandemic, I decluttered my space, removed excess pillows and bedding and replaced my good chairs that matched my dinning room set with thrift store chairs. (Only $4 and were really nice.) It was the best move. For art, I framed my own photos.
I also switched all my linens and towels to white. It’s much easier to clean the stains and while I do replace my linens about once a year, it’s given them longer life.
I also replaced all the old carpet with new with extra sound-absorbing padding. The kitchenette has wood and the bathroom tile.
Think - EASY-TO-CLEAN.
I also by at a minimum, 2 sets of everything I need.
Best resource - I have a store called Savers (thrift store) that on Tuesdays, it’s 30 percent off for people over 55. I get most of my supplies there.
When I had my rental in AZ, I often cleaned a rental for a friend. One of them had 2 glass table tops. I would never have one of those–might look great when new, but they look awful later.
Any light weight cheap Ikea decor items. Those plastic plants or light weight cheap lamps. It seems, you just touch those things and they fall over, in addition i find that stuff tacky and annoying. I would always spend more money on a good quality comfortable bed with decent linen than anything else…that is gold.
Small and unique things. All of them were stolen. Was a little heartbreaking. We focus on making our listing unique through things that are harder to steal, or to rationalize ‘they won’t miss this, it’s a rental’.
we built our guesthouse in 2003 - before Airbnb was around - and didn’t list with them until 2016. We have a “loft” that is only accessible by pull-down attic stairs, does not have ceiling height to stand up and has a full-size bed that almost fills the entire floor space of the loft. We advertise this optional extra bed as something for children and teens…but for some reason almost everyone wants to get up there and give it a try! Changing the sheets up there is a lot like doing pilates, and now that i’m getting older it is becoming more and more of a challenge to do so. We are quickly approaching the day when that bed will be gone and those attic steps nailed shut!
So this isn’t from an Airbnb listing, but from a home decor article. I’d say ludicrous amounts of throw pillows, leaving nowhere left to actually sit, is definitely something hosts should avoid.
I wonder where the concept of things that are supposed to have a practical purpose becoming “decorative” items ever came from. Bed pillows with shams no one is actually supposed to sleep on, throw pillows that will just end up on the floor, dinner plates hung on the wall, “decorative” towels no one is supposed to dry their hands on, “decorative” soaps no one is supposed to use as soap.
Reminds me of some of my childhood friends’ homes that had “living rooms” that no one was ever allowed to go into. They got used once a year when their dad’s boss got invited over for dinner.
Mine has changed over the years as guests have commented in helpful ways. I may not have thought of those changes otherwise. Stay in your place and use it like a guest and see what needs to improve. Hooks for hanging things are vital- to hang bags, hats, jackets, towels etc etc ,these are what I see missing whenever I stay somewhere and put them in my place as a consequence.
