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If you are here, chances are you have already read my other popular blog posts sharing everything from my favorite bedding for Airbnb to choosing which TV you should buy and how to make your Airbnb baby friendly. Today, I want to share 7 Airbnb must haves that you should make sure you have in every one of your vacation rentals. They are all inexpensive ways to go the extra mile for your guests and help you avoid unnecessary hosting headaches yourself.
Why trust us? We are Airbnb superhosts who, in 2023, currently own 4 condos on 30A — in the Florida panhandle. We almost always receive 5-star reviews from our guests. I credit that to our communication and attention to detail. We are family travel bloggers and know what we look for when staying at properties.
Airbnb Hosting
While I have pointed this out in other blog posts, hosting on Airbnb has changed our lives! We continually say that buying our first vacation rental was the best decision that we have made, and I am thrilled that we have been able to grow our business to four condos now in 2024. It’s not just owning the properties and building equity we love; it’s the actual hosting part.
Hosting has given me a “career” that allows me the flexibility to be a busy mom and the freedom to travel myself, all while bringing in a 6 figure income. And I love what I do!
At the bottom of this post, I share more information about becoming a host yourself. I have an entire section on my blog dedicated to sharing our experiences and recommendations.
And as a host, there is always room to improve. So, here are 7 items that I now make sure I provide in each one of our condos before the first guest even arrives, with easy links to purchase them yourself. And if you would like to learn more about how to become an Airbnb Superhost, read my latest post here!
Airbnb Must Haves
I am pretty sure you will have at least one “why didn’t I think of that” moment while reading through these suggestions of things you need in an Airbnb! I did too. That’s why I learned the hard way on a couple of these. Yes, I am looking at you, Roku controller. Yes, you, all of the way up in Nashville, because you snuck home in an open suitcase. Anyway, we will talk about this when we get to #6!
Let’s get started. Here are 7 Airbnb must-haves for Airbnb vacation rentals.
#1: Tool Box For Your Airbnb
For around $20, this 38-piece toolkit is a no-brainer. We make sure there is one under the kitchen sink in each of our condos, and only does it offer a set of tools for your guests to use during their stay. Still, it also ensures that you have a set available each time you check in on the place.
Why do Airbnb guests need tools? It could be as simple as needing a screwdriver to open the battery compartment of a new toy. My guests probably use it less often than I do because each time I am in one of my units, I am tightening knobs or hammering in a nail here or there. Having a toolkit available for guests is an easy and inexpensive way to enhance your guest experience.
Click here to purchase a toolkit for your vacation rental!
#2: Emergency First Aid Kit
This one probably should have been number one because it’s used the most by guests! Make sure to have a First Aid Kit under each Airbnb bathroom sink.
We use this Johnson & Johnson 160 PC All-Purpose Portable Compact Emergency First Aid Kit. It has so many different supplies and should be able to cover most issues. You will find that over time the bandaids get used up first, so always keep a backup assortment of bandaids in your owner or cleaner’s closet so that you can restock them as needed.
And the benefits of providing band-aids for your guests far outweigh the costs because it’s no fun having to throw away a new set of white sheets after a kiddo scratched their bug bites a little too hard!
Click here to buy an Airbnb First Aid Kit!
#3: Portable Black Out Curtains
This is one of those unique Airbnb amenities that help set you apart as a host! While some hosts could argue that a vacation rental should always have built-in blackout shades, I personally do not like the heavy look in a beach place. We decided to use these curtains in most of our units. They do a good job of blocking out most of the light. But, some guests want the room to be truly pitch black which is where these portable black-out curtains come in!
These Amazon Basics Portable Window Blackout Curtain Shades with Suction Cups are pretty awesome! They come in a variety of prints (I usually get the moon and stars) and are inside a small pouch, making it easy for an Airbnb guest to know what is inside. They suction to the window or patio door and are very easy to put up or take down.
These are a game-changers for our guests with babies and toddlers who need to nap during the day, and I can’t tell you how many compliments we get on them. Most of our guests end up buying one (or a set) of their own for future travels! If you want to read about more ways to create a baby-friendly Airbnb, make sure to read this post! After being an Airbnb host for a few years now, I can confidently tell you that making your Airbnb baby friendly will really set you apart.
Click here to view our favorite Portable Black Out Curtains for vacation rentals!
#4: Sound Machine For Your Rental
Up next is a sound machine. This is another item often used by couples and individuals but is always appreciated by parents with young children. The Big Red Rooster 6 Sound White Noise Machine is perfect for vacation rentals because it’s easy to use and does not require an app like many on the market do. The buttons on top are very straightforward, with 6 noise options, a sleep timer, and a volume button easily distinguishable.
You’ll notice that I get most of my Airbnb essentials on Amazon. It’s because it just makes it easy! It’s easy for me to reorder items quickly, which I have had to do with this sound machine.
Believe it or not, I have had a handful of these walk away over the years. They are just that good, or what I like to think is that maybe a spouse packed it up, not realizing that it needed to stay behind. So now, I always keep a backup in the locked closet!
Click here to view my favorite Airbnb sound machine!
#5: Airbnb Borrow Baskets
This is one of those things that Airbnb guests love! In all of my research, I had not seen this method used before by other hosts, so I coined the term Borrow Basket. And this is the second most praised item from guests – after our comfortable mattress, of course!
What is a borrow basket? It’s just a plastic basket under the bathroom sink or in a kitchen cabinet where guests can leave unopened or unused items and borrow anything they need. When I am there, I usually leave some extras in there as well, including small zip-lock bags with safety pins, laundry pods & dryer sheets, and extra coffee pods. Typically, guests leave items such as paper plates, granola bars, unopened water bottles, sunscreens, shampoo & conditioners, tampons, and more.
It’s really cool to know that there is a place to leave things instead of having to throw them away. As you will read in my Best Coffee Maker for Airbnb post, these borrow baskets are a big part of my coffee strategy.
The other benefit? It keeps my drawers and cabinets free of these items, making the space clear, open, and uncluttered for future guests. In my Airbnb house manual, it says:
“We use our condo often and have left a borrow basket with our staples in the kitchen cabinet and also in the bathroom cabinet. Feel free to use things as needed while staying with us and also to leave anything in there for the next guest.”
And when I send the departure checklist the evening prior to a guest’s checkout, it also includes the following:
“In lieu of throwing things away unnecessarily, you are welcome to leave unopened or reusable items in the borrow baskets located below the bathroom sink and in the kitchen cabinet for future guests.“
When setting up a borrow basket, any plastic tub works. I like the cute waffle-weave-style bins. Just ensure they fit into the cabinet or under the sink well!
Click here for an assortment of plastic baskets that work!
#6: Backup TV Controllers
I mentioned this one earlier in my post, but backup controllers are a MUST-HAVE if there is one. This is a lesson you usually learn the hard way after the next guest tells you there is no remote for the television. And there is a good chance that it’s in the suitcase of the previous guest because while this isn’t an item that people tend to steal, it does fall into open bags or get tangled up in clothes piles during a stay. So, you really need to have a backup!
If you have read my blog post about Choosing the Best TV for your Airbnb, you know we exclusively use Roku TVs in our condos for many reasons. One reason is that the remote controllers are universal, so guests can often use another one temporarily if one goes missing. That said, I still have 3-4 extras (with fresh batteries) in my locked closet at any given time, and my cleaners have had to replace them more than once.
I also started leaving an extra remote in a bin, the sound machine, and an extension cord in the living room. Roku controllers are inexpensive and easy to find. However, suppose you have a different brand of television. In that case, you may need to dig a little more and make sure that your backups are compatible with the version you have.
Click here to view the backup Roku controllers that we use!
#7: Extra Batteries & Lightbulbs
This one is by far the least glamorous but a necessity. Extra batteries and lightbulbs should be kept in any vacation rental. I don’t like to keep them anywhere outwardly visible. In my condos, they are in the awkward cabinet way up above the fridge so guests can get to them if needed, but they need to be in the way or out in the open and are tempting to take home.
Here is a bonus #8 must-have — a step stool. They use this to get to these items, but it is also great for little ones to reach the bathroom sink. I use this folding step stool in black in each of my rentals.
The extra batteries are great for when a controller runs out or your cleaners need to replace the batteries in your smart lock. The lightbulbs, which should ALWAYS be labeled, make it easy for your cleaners to put the correct bulb into a fixture. My pet peeve is when the bulb temperatures in a fixture don’t match each other and have slightly different colored lights. And these are the things that guests actually notice.
Any other Airbnb must haves that you recommend?
I sure hope that you both enjoyed and found value in this blog post! Being an Airbnb host is such a rewarding gig, and doing these little things to help avoid future hiccups and enhance your guests’ experience helps you enjoy hosting your property on Airbnb in the long run!
I will note that there are countless other things that we have in our condos and that you may do in yours, and oftentimes, it can vary based on the location of your rentals. Things like smart locks (I use this one) are essential, and I always recommend both a Keurig and a regular coffee maker, but I will save those (and more) for future blog posts, so make sure to check back regularly!
Do you have any other Airbnb must-have items to recommend to people reading this post? Make sure to leave a comment and share!
READ: Deep Cleaning & Resetting Your Vacation Rental In The Offseason
Rent our 30A Seacrest Beach Airbnbs
We have four condos on 30a that we book exclusively on Airbnb. We love being Airbnb superhosts and providing a top-notch concierge-style experience for our guests from start to finish.
You can click here to view all 4 of our Seacrest Beach vacation rentals (located a block from Rosemary Beach, Florida) and check both rates and availability. It would be our pleasure to host you on 30A!
In my opinion, Fall is the best time to visit 30A and Florida in general! And we love to host you in Fall 2023!
Learn More About Becoming an Airbnb Host
Have you ever thought about becoming an Airbnb host? If you are considering purchasing a short-term vacation rental and becoming an Airbnb host yourself, I have a whole section here on my blog about our journey so far.
I always welcome any conversations and love to share my experience. I have a lot of great advice to share, so feel free to leave me a comment or reach out to me on either of our Instagram accounts below!
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Hi there !!!
Do you provide coffee pods for the keurig coffee maker? Or do the guests bring their own? I was debating of getting it for my Airbnb but not sure if I want to have to refill it every time.
Hello! We provide 2 at the start and make that clear in the house manual so that they know before they come. I do have a borrow basket in the kitchen where I put extras when I am there. I would love to provide more and like all of the cute displays some hosts have, but I have had guests swipe them ALL before.
Hi Sarah
First off I want to say I am inspired by you and I love reading your travel and Airbnb posts on your website. I just purchased a beach condo in Tampa and I’ve been reading your articles to help me get started. Since this is my first Airbnb it’s extremely overwhelming! Sometimes I question myself if I made the right choice taking on the work but I know it’s worth it in the end.
I wanted to ask you if you recommend if I should use a property manager to manage my Airbnb rental since I live out of the country (Canada)? Or do you think it’s doable to self manage? Although It will be hard for me to get to the condo since it’s a few hours flight away. The property manager charges 15% of net profit and I don’t have to worry about anything and she’s a superhost. Just want your input on that 🙂 thanks so much
Hi Alexa! Thank you and congrats on your purchase! I 100% think it’s something you can do yourself as long as you can find a reliable cleaning company and also a handyman. We live 90 minutes from ours and can go down and check on them often, but plenty of other owners that I know manage from afar. I would personally want to lay eyes on it at a minimum 2-4x per year just to be safe. The main thing that I would consider… is the 15% (which is pure profit margin) worth the freedom of not having to worry about day-to-day maintenance. Because when you self manage you have to be accessible 100% of the time. For me, it’s worth it because this is my main “job” and I genuinely enjoy it. But 15% is a pretty good deal. Many property management companies take 20%-30% and that is a HUGE chunk off your bottom line. Also, I do like the power to set my own prices and maximize my earnings vs relying on someone else to do that and managing my own properties allows me to do that.
And thank you for reading my posts and the kind words!
Sarah
Actually, reading that again, if she is taking 15% of the PROFIT, that is a pretty good deal! Most take 20%+ of the gross revenue. But, it still is bottom-line cash out of your pocket.
Thanks Sarah! You’re so helpful. Also one last thing..since you manage 4 properties , do you get personal liability insurance? I was told it’s recommended in case your guests get injured in your units or a fire?
We do not at this point. We have a good general insurance policy and the Host liability insurance that is a part of AirCover also gives some coverage.
Hi there, Love your blogs !
I wanted to ask what reliable electronic locks do you use for your guests? And how often would you suggest I change the code?
Thanks
Thank you, Michael! The one I originally used is no longer made so I switched to this one for our last condo. https://amzn.to/3JkBV4q but I have heard great things about this one too https://amzn.to/3Y2XAC2. I change the code for every guest. I make it the last 4 digits of their phone number and send it on the day of check-in, as soon as it’s ready for them to check-in. They really appreciate having it be an easy-to-remember number!
Love your blog!
Pillow covers for bed pillows are essential to keep pillows fresh.
And I made a big chalkboard wall which the kids really love. Takes no space and was practically free!