Your Holiday Rental Home Inventory

Your property inventory and furniture is very important. Your guests have most likely chosen your property over an established hotel so you need to make it a comfortable and memorable experience.

It will inevitably be a bigger job than you expect it to be, especially if you are doing everything (buying, transportation, installation) yourself. Allow at least 10 days if you are and remember that furniture stores may not be able to deliver for many weeks.

It's a 'home from home'. The temptation to scrimp and save while fitting out your property will be natural but if you make sure you constantly think of guest’s comfort and the quality of the holiday experience during the purchasing process, you will be fine.

Cutting corners in the quality of your furniture and equipment will inevitably lead to limited longevity and guests not respecting your apartment as much as they might otherwise. Think quality, durable and robust. If your target group is at higher end of the market, your furniture and fittings will need to reflect this. Can you create that wow factor when your guests walk through the door?

Furnish it in the same comfort as you would appreciate as an incoming guest. Don’t over-clutter the place, the fewer items you have mean the less chance of damage and an overall feeling of space. Try to match your furnishings as well as your white goods as much as possible.

Not being an interior designers, we haven’t got the expertise to advise what colours you should paint your rooms but it is commonly accepted that neutral colours, which embrace natural light, are usually the best option. If you have a friend whose taste you like and trust, ask them for suggestions.

Despite what your housekeeper may report, you should carry out an inventory check at least on an annual basis so your home retains a modern and fresh feel.

 


Suggested Inventory

 

Here’s our checklist of what you will need and should consider providing. Numbers of each item are generally left out as this will depend upon the size and amount of rooms in your home.

(Provide for double the amount of bed linen for each guest. Additional set for sofa bed. Keep spares hidden from guests.)

Airbnb Holiday Let Income CalculatorBedroom(s)

  • Bed(s)*
  • Mattress(es)
  • Duvets (seasonal)
  • Sheets**
  • Pillows
  • Pillow protectors
  • Pillow cases
  • Mattress protector(s)
  • Coat hangers
  • Hairdryer
  • Blankets
  • 1 or 2 bedside chairs
  • Chest of drawers and/or cupboard
  • Free standing fan/s (much cheaper alternative to ceiling fans)
  • Heater
  • Full-length mirror***
  • Bedside tables and soft reading lights
  • Towels. 1 bath towel one hand towels per guest folded neatly on bed****
  • Dressing Table
  • Black-out curtains
  • Safe for valuables
  • Dressing gowns
  • Toiletries
  • Alarm clock (you can provide one but I like to think that people want to forget about time a bit more when on holiday)

* If you have the space, consider a king sized bed for your main bedroom. If you have twin beds you can use a ‘twin bed doubler’ to join them, turning them into a gap-free king. Go for hotel-quality beds if your budget can stretch.

** Get fitted sheets - much easier for your cleaner than normal sheets. Don’t use dark sheets. I did once thinking they had a classy look but stains will show up much clearer. White is simple and can be bleached if necessary. Keep them clean and crisp.

*** A full-length mirror can be very expensive. A cost-efficient alternative is placing 6/8 small individual mirrored tiles with adhesive strips to the wall.

**** It’s perfectly acceptable to advise guests to bring their own beach towels if your home is near a beach.

Living Room

Quality fire-retardant furniture. Try and push the boat out as your furniture will be with you for quite some time. Avoid dated furniture.

  • Sofa(s)*
  • Chairs
  • Cushions (with washable cushions)
  • Oversized lamp(s)
  • Side table
  • TV (ideally flat screen)
  • TV Unit
  • Satellite channels
  • DVD player
  • DVD movie library (Especially for kids. These can be picked up very cheaply at charity shops or cash convertors)
  • Stereo
  • Games console (If you want to provide for families)
  • CDs? (I would say no as it personalises the property to your musical taste)
  • Tea-candles and holders
  • I-pod docking station
  • Fan
  • Heater
  • Fresh or artificial flowers
  • Coffee table
  • Guest comments book
  • Coasters
  • Playing cards
  • Magazines
  • Books
  • Board games? (These do take up room so will depend upon your storage. Travel size options are fine)
  • Telephone? (Unless it is absolutely necessary for you I personally wouldn’t install a phone as most guests now have mobiles and you will have an extra bill to deal with)
  • Large rug (If you have a tiled floor - although remember to take it up if you have a pet staying)
  • Holiday information pack
  • Internet modem (Try to position it in a subtle, hidden position)
  • Wall photos, paintings, artwork (ensure that they are hung high to minimise accidents)
  • Wall Clock
  • Painting / Wall-hangings **
  • Hanging paper lampshade(s)
  • Artificial plants
  • Vase
  • Hanging flower-basket
  • Wood burning stoves. Not a cheap investment but can add significant value to a cozy living room in those off-peak Winter months.

*Get a sofa-bed if you’d really like to accommodate and market for an extra person or two but bear in mind that this will lead to a fuller home and more likelihood of damage. Some owners will advise leather over fabric as they are easier to clean however as long as the cushions are washable I would just consider what looks most cosy for your living room.

**Consider trading an artist a week in your property in return for a large painted picture of the local area.

Dining room / area

  • Dining Table
  • Couple of table covers
  • Chairs

Kitchen

  • White goods (fridge, washing machine, oven, microwave, freezer, dishwasher)
  • Kettle
  • Toaster
  • Chopping board
  • Sharp knife set
  • Pyrex glass dish
  • 4 x various sized saucepans (dishwasher safe)
  • 2 x various sized frying pans (dishwasher safe)
  • Measuring jug
  • Colander
  • Sieve
  • Grater
  • Breadboard
  • Bread bin
  • Serving trays
  • Fruit Bowl
  • 2 x Salad Bowl
  • Desert/breakfast bowls
  • 2 x mixing bowls
  • Large plates
  • Dinner plates
  • Side plates
  • Large coffee mugs
  • Small cups
  • Small milk jug
  • Water Jug
  • Wine glasses
  • Tumbler glasses
  • Long glasses
  • Cooking/Serving utensils
  • Wooden spoons
  • Tongs
  • Fish slice
  • Teapot
  • Coffee pot / Cafetiere
  • Pan stand
  • Oven gloves
  • Full cutlery set
  • Garlic crush
  • Corkscrew
  • Scissors
  • Peeler
  • Tim opener
  • Bottle opener
  • Wine stopper
  • Tea Towels
  • Draining tray (metallic)
  • Place mats
  • Coasters
  • Washing up liquid
  • Dish cloths/scrubbing brush/scouring pads
  • Spare light bulbs (if possible energy-efficient)
  • Hand soap pump dispenser
  • Tea and Coffee
  • Condiments (on tray or in container)
  • Matches
  • Swing-top bin
  • Bin liners
  • Ice trays
  • Clothes pegs
  • Cleaning products
  • Washing up gloves
  • Washing up liquid
  • Tupperware / Plastic food storage
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Skewers
  • Mug Tree
  • Oil/Vinegar holder
  • Napkins
  • Salt and Pepper pot
  • Herbs
  • Herb Garden
  • Hanging artificial garlic
  • Ashtrays (for outdoor use)
  • Kitchen Roll
  • Washing powder?
  • Plug-in air-freshener
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Fly swatter

Try to match your crockery and utensils where possible.

General

  • Iron and ironing board
  • Torch
  • First aid kit (bandages, thermometer, wasp spray – don’t include pills)
  • Noticeboard (e.g. emergency numbers, taxi details, recommended restaurants)
  • Clothes horse
  • Welcome pack provisions
  • Complimentary bottle of wine or lottery ticket (Can be very cheap and kicks off the holiday on a great note)
  • Door mat
  • Smoke alarms / Carbon Monoxide detector
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Fire blanket
  • Complimentary customised postcards for guests to use
  • Business cards to take
  • Pens
  • Paintings (hang high to lessen change of them being knocked down accidentally)
  • 2/3 x small bin/waste paper basket (bedrooms, bathroom)
  • Coat Stand
  • Storage cupboard*
  • Spare batteries (for smoke alarm, remote controls)
  • Plug adaptors (e.g. UK/Ireland to Europe/US)
  • Cot with bedding & high chair (See if you can find somewhere to hire these so it is not taking up room in your property)
  • Potty
  • Pool table
  • Bikes
  • Hammock
  • Children’s toys, bucket and spade and inflatables (They do take up space. Surprising how many guests will leave toys behind)
  • Bucket and spade
  • Beach umbrella
  • Beach chairs
  • Lilo

*Remove anything of sentimental or financial value. Guests don’t want constant reminders that this is somebody else’s home. Some owners would suggest you hide personal items in a locked storage cupboard or storage room but personally I would just remove everything if possible.

Bathroom

  • Toilet roll holder
  • Toilet brush
  • Bathmats – will encourage guests to not throw towels on the floor
  • Non-slip shower mats
  • Shower screen/curtain
  • Towel hook
  • Soap. Small hotel-style packed or pump dispenser.
  • Provide at least one new toilet roll per guest.
  • Bleach
  • Air-freshener
  • Toothbrush holder

Balcony/Exterior

  • Rust-proof outdoor furniture with covers (e.g. plastic table and chairs)
  • Sun umbrella
  • Sun loungers
  • Gates (for children)
  • Plant pots and/or cacti
  • Thermometer

For Cleaning/Maintenance

  • Mop and bucket
  • Dustpan and brush
  • Long-handle broom
  • Basic toolkit
  • Vacuum cleaner or hand-held vaccum cleaner
  • Cleaning sprays and bleach
  • Duster and furniture polish

 

Think we've missed anything? Do let us know...