The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Your Property for Short-Term Rentals

The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Your Property for Short-Term Rentals

Thinking about turning your property into a short-term rental? Whether you’re aiming to generate passive income, host guests from around the world, or dip your toes into the vacation rental market, proper preparation is key to standing out and succeeding.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to get your home guest-ready—from safety and comfort to design and compliance.

First Impressions Matter—Curb Appeal and Entry

  • Make sure the exterior is clean and inviting: mow the lawn, trim plants, power wash surfaces.
  • Consider upgrading your welcome mat and adding warm touches like potted plants.
  • Ensure your door has a modern, secure lock system—preferably a smart lock. We can not recommend the Schlage Encode enough!

Interior Readiness Checklist

Deep Clean

Floors, windows, under the couch, behind headboards, and all surfaces

Furniture

Each room must have the basics. This is standard and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Declutter

Remove family photos and excess décor. Balance here is key regarding décor.

Trendy Styling

Keep it simple, minimal, and cohesive throughout the entire property.

Safety and Compliance: Protecting Your Guests and Property

  • ✅ Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
  • 🧯 Fire extinguisher accessible in kitchen/living area
  • 🩹 Fully stocked first-aid kit
  • 📋 Emergency contact info & house rules printed
  • 🏛️ Comply with local STR laws, licenses, and permits

The Extras That Make a Difference

Tech Setup

Provide fast Wi-Fi, a Smart TV with streaming apps, and convenient USB charging stations. Guests expect seamless tech, and these extras make your place stand out.

Kitchen Essentials

Stock the kitchen with basics: oil, salt, pepper, a good coffee setup, cookware, and dish soap. It shows you’ve thought of their everyday needs.

Cozy Touches

Throw blankets, family games, and a welcome note or snack turn an average stay into a memorable one. These little gestures often earn 5-star reviews.

Cozy Touches

Throw blankets, family games, and a welcome note or snack turn an average stay into a memorable one. These little gestures often earn 5-star reviews.

Photography and Listing Prep

Your listing photos are your first impression—and often your only chance to capture attention. Whether you hire a professional or shoot it yourself, make sure the space is clean, well-lit, and staged to highlight the best features.

After photos, your listing description seals the deal. Keep it honest but inspiring. Focus on who your space is perfect for, highlight nearby attractions, and sprinkle in local flavor.

Pro Tip:

Listings with professional photos earn up to 40% more bookings than those with DIY images. Combine great visuals with optimized descriptions for max visibility.

Conclusion

Creating a welcoming and well-prepared short-term rental takes time and attention to detail—but the results are worth it.

When your home is clean, well-stocked, beautifully photographed, and marketed thoughtfully, you’ll earn better reviews, attract more bookings, and ultimately increase your rental income.

Not sure where to start or want help getting it right the first time? That’s what we’re here for.

Want to Hand Off the Hosting Work?

At Stay Nestled, we offer boutique co-hosting services tailored to fit your needs—whether you’re looking for full-service support or just help behind the scenes. We help homeowners earn more while spending less time managing.

Want Hosting Tips Straight to Your Inbox?

Join the Stay Nestled community and get expert tips, tools, and updates to help you grow a thriving short-term rental business.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

-Stay Nestled ✌️

What Is an Airbnb Co-Host and Why You Might Need One

What Is an Airbnb Co-Host and Why You Might Need One

Thinking about turning your home or second property into an Airbnb, but not sure you want to manage all the day-to-day tasks that come with it? That’s where a co-host can be a game changer.


In this post, we’ll break down what an Airbnb co-host is, what they actually do, and how partnering with one can help you run a successful short-term rental—without burning out.

What Is an Airbnb Co-Host?

An Airbnb co-host is someone who helps manage a short-term rental on behalf of the property owner. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes partner—handling the details, so you don’t have to.


Depending on your needs, a co-host can be very hands-on or manage your property remotely using a combination of tech tools and trusted local vendors. Some co-hosts live nearby and visit often, while others operate remotely and only visit quarterly or annually for property check-ins.

Co-Host Vs. Property Manager

While both help manage rental properties, co-hosts specialize in short-term rentals like Airbnb and offer a more flexible, tech-driven approach compared to traditional property managers.

Task/Feature

Co-Host

Property Manager

Specializes in short-term rentals

Works with Airbnb platform

Handles long-term tenant leases

Offers flexible, tailored services

Uses automation and pricing tools

❌ / sometimes*

Coordinates cleanings and turnovers

Local to the property

❌ / sometimes*

Offers remote management

Charges lower fees (varies by service)

✅ / varies

❌ / typically higher

Available for guest communication

Focuses on maximizing short-term income

*Some property managers are beginning to adopt tech and automation tools, but it’s not yet industry standard.

Rather than being locked into high-fee, rigid contracts, many co-hosts offer a boutique experience—custom-tailored to your goals, your property, and your preferred level of involvement.

You don’t live near your property

A co-host can be your eyes and ears on the ground—or manage the property remotely with systems in place.

You’re Short on Time

Between work, kids, and life, you may not have time to handle inquiries, guest check-ins, and turnovers. A co-host takes care of it all.

You Want Higher Earnings

Co-hosts can help improve your listing, boost reviews, and use data-driven tools to optimize your nightly rates and occupancy.

How Co-Hosting Works on Airbnb

Airbnb makes it easy to add a co-host directly to your listing. You can customize their access and permissions—whether it’s just messaging guests or full operational control. Co-hosts typically earn a percentage of each booking or charge a flat monthly fee, depending on the level of service.

What to Look for in a Great Co-Host

✅ Proven Airbnb experience with 5-star listings
✅ Prompt, professional communication
✅ Reliable cleaning and maintenance partners
✅ Knowledge of automation and pricing tools
✅ Values aligned with yours and your guest experience

Want to Hand Off the Hosting Work?

At Stay Nestled, we offer boutique co-hosting services tailored to fit your needs—whether you’re looking for full-service support or just help behind the scenes. We help homeowners earn more while spending less time managing.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a co-host might be the smartest move you make as a short-term rental owner. Whether you’re new to Airbnb or growing a multi-property portfolio, a co-host can help you level up without the overwhelm.


Got questions? Drop a comment or reach out—we’d love to help.

Want Hosting Tips Straight to Your Inbox?

Join the Stay Nestled community and get expert tips, tools, and updates to help you grow a thriving short-term rental business.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

-Stay Nestled ✌️

The Most Common Airbnb Guest Complaints (And How to Avoid Them)

Your role as an Airbnb host is to ensure a hassle-free and comfortable stay for your guests. Unfortunately, some issues can happen in the short-term rental game, which translate into bad reviews and less business. This article presents the top ten most frequent Airbnb guest complaints and, more importantly, how to avoid them even before they occur. By staying ahead of these pitfalls, you can provide a five-star experience, enhance guest satisfaction, and increase the profitability of your rental to maximum levels. Keep reading to discover how to avoid these traps and make your Airbnb shine among others.

Cleanliness Issues

Complaint – Guests expect a clean environment, and even the smallest presence of dirt, dust, or dirty sheets can lead to dissatisfaction.

Prevention:

  • Hire a professional cleaning agency or an exhaustive cleaning checklist.
  • Conduct a walk-through before guest check-in.
  • Provide extra linens and cleaning supplies for long-term stays.

Misleading Listing Descriptions

Complaint – Guests are upset when the rental house doesn’t look or look as depicted or described. Not too sure how many of you will get my catfish reference here…

Prevention:

  • Provide high-quality, honest photos of all rooms and amenities.
  • Be frank in room description, potential noise, or peculiarity of the space.
  • Keep your listing current with changes.

Poor Communication from Host

Complaint – Guests are upset when they are unable to reach the host with questions or issues.

Prevention:

  • Use automated messages for check-in/check-out details and FAQs.
  • Respond promptly to questions, ideally within one hour.
  • Provide multiple channels of communication (Airbnb chat, phone, email).

Uncomfortable Beds or Low-Quality Linens

Complaint – Guests complain of firm mattresses, flat pillows, or scratchy sheets.

Prevention:

  • Invest in high-quality mattresses and linens.
  • Offer a variety of pillows to suit different sleeping habits.
  • Replace linens every 6-12 months for comfort and freshness.

Recommended Products:

King Size 4 Piece Sheet Set – Comfy Breathable & Cooling Bed Sheets Set – Hotel Luxury Bedding

ViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper King – Select High Density

Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows Standard / Queen Size Set of 2 – Down Alternative Bedding Gel Cooling Pillow for Back, Stomach or Side Sleepers

Noisy Environment

Complaint – Guests are disturbed by outside noise, traffic, construction, or raucous neighbors.

Prevention:

  • Be very transparent and upfront about noise in your listing. I can not stress this enough. If you are right above the bar in the middle of downtown, please put that in your listing! If there is construction on the neighbors house that is right next door, please put that in the listing!
  • Add heavy drapes or soundproofing elements.
  • If you foresee the sound being an ongoing issue you might want to leave white noise machines
  • And if you skipped the first bullet point, list possible sources of noise in your description 🙂

Check-In or Check-Out Confusion

Complaint – Guests have difficulty checking in or get confused.

Prevention:

  • Use self check-in capabilities such as smart locks or keyless entry.
  • Provide a step-by-step check-in guide with pictures.
  • Clearly outline check-out expectations in advance.

Wi-Fi and Tech Issues

Complaint – Slow or unreliable internet is a deal-breaker for the majority of guests.

Prevention:

Poor Amenities

Complaint – Guests expect more than the bare minimum, including toiletries and kitchen supplies.

Prevention: I wrote a whole blog post discussing The Best Amenities Travelers Look for in a Vacation Rental! Give that post a read if you would like to learn more about providing the best amenities.

Temperature Control Problems

Version 1.0.0

Complaint – Guests are uncomfortable as they are unable to control the temperature.

Prevention:

Security Concerns

Complaint – Guests feel unsafe because of poor locks, poor lighting, or security threats.

Prevention:

  • Install smart locks and ensure all doors and windows lock correctly.
  • Install motion-sensor lights for late check-ins.
  • Provide an outdoor security camera (without compromising privacy).

Final Thoughts

Preventing these common Airbnb guest issues requires proactive measures. Solving these issues beforehand will allow you to enhance the guest experience, receive more five-star ratings, and book more guests.

To make your Airbnb hosting easy, Stay Nestled offers professional short-term rental management services. Let us fine-tune your rental for hassle-free guest experiences and optimal profitability. Contact us today!