Help update rental property

2 years ago

I'm helping my grandad manage a furnished short term rental property. Home has a great location in the heart of town. Reviews are good - when it's booked - but interest has been low. Curious your thoughts on the inside. I'll post mine later to try and keep yours unswayed.
1. Would you rent the house based on appearance?
2. Does it look high end, moderate, or cheap?
3. How do you feel about decor (furniture, fixtures, colors, etc.) What would you change? Is anything a keeper?
My thoughts...
I think the outside is cute. It has some historic charm. Inside however, I think it's too eclectic. The mcm furniture works, but it's small and fairly cheap stuff. I'm concerned the orange, green and red colors may be too much in a world of soothing neutral competition. The problem there is that the kitchen and bathrooms, done in the last few years, were done brown. Pretty. But brown. Tile. Cabinets. Everything. I plan to replace the loving room furniture. I know the dining room (the room with the buffet) needs something else. It's a huge room and the table looks lost. Im just not sure which way to go. I like touches of mcm, but I think it's a little much. Also plan to replace art with something bigger. What, I have no idea. Magnolia leaves? A subtle abstract? No clue. I want to do blue and gold, but there's so much red green and silver lol.
Help.

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Comments (4)

KW PNW Z8
2 years ago
Short term rental as in Vrbo / AirBnB or 3-6 months? The sleeping & bath spaces are almost more important than kitchen no matter how long / short the rental term is. What do they look like? Agree that house looks neat & clean from outside. Garage a plus & sounds like location is too. Kitchen is fine - wood cupboards are nice & hold up better than painted ones would. Assume kitchen is well stocked with dishes & small appliances. Is there back yard space for BBQ or just sitting? The LR needs rearranging for comfortable TV viewing & a comfortable chair would be a plus. I wouldn’t replace dining furniture but would spend $$ in LR furniture. The colors are fine - bright & cheery, Larger art to replace the multiple small pieces would decrease the ’art clutter’. If there’s architecture or historical places locally I’d get art showing them. Get brochures & info from local Chamber of Commerce & place them on coffee table. Bedroom? Bath? Is there a laundry room? What do they look like?
Claudianne Young
2 years ago
Perhaps a basket of artificial flowers/ greenery on the front door, neaten up landscape, add some washable insulated floor length curtains, valance in kitchen. It looks kind of cold and would be loud without curtains and rugs. I agree with the other poster that the tv placement is wrong.
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Colin Etheridge
Original Author
2 years ago
Currently operates sort of as both. Usually 1 month minimums.

I agree with the art. Attempting to find something that is larger, but a bit torn on the modern abstract vs maybe black and white local photography.

Bed and bath aren't bad. Just a queen dresser and bed. I've got a better idea of what to do with them since they're a lot more neutral
KW PNW Z8
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
My vote is B & W local photography. Is this a 1 bed house? Could be reason for low rental rate? Is the sofa a sleeper sofa for more sleeping space? Is there a way to arrange a seating area in dining room that creates sleeping space? Families with kids might rent if there’s room for a kid or two & it’s in a lower traffic area like a dining room. That might mean increasing table size & seating in the kitchen eating area - I assume that’s the room with door - to garage?- at far end & shelf unit in the corner. So maybe the answer is to repurpose dining room…

ETA - IMO the way to get more rental activity is to improve function over decor. In a short term living space I am much more focused first on location, second on bed & bath function, third on kitchen function, last on decor. The absolute must is cleanliness & your place looks spotless.