When a digital nomad stays at a vacation rental for months on end, hosts can save a lot of money on cleaning while also sparing themselves a ton of hassle. At the same time, they lock in a high occupancy rate and the steady cash flow that comes with it.
Having been a digital nomad since August 2023, I have spent more than a year living in Airbnbs. In my experience, certain features make a listing stand out, while others make me flip to the next.
Here’s how vacation rental hosts can ensure their listings appeal to long-term guests.
How long-stay guests approach listings
Long-stay guests approach listings differently than those who are looking for short-term accommodation. While vacationers and tourists might be attracted by superficial things like the decor, long-stay guests like me consider aesthetics only after other, more practical criteria are filled.
For this reason, we look first for places that will be comfortable for the long haul. For instance, since eating out for every meal is expensive, a kitchen becomes a must for many people. This is probably why a Booking.com study has shown that the longer guests intend to stay, the more likely they are to book vacation rentals instead of hotels. Vacation rentals often have kitchens and cooking supplies, while hotels only have a tiny refrigerator and a coffee maker — if that.
Additionally, a tourist might not need to do laundry during their stay, but a long-stay guest certainly will. I always pay attention to whether or not the apartment or room has a washer. (A dryer isn’t as important to me as long as a drying rack is provided). If your vacation rental does not have a washer, it would be good to explain how close the nearest laundromat is.
Location and access to transportation are also vital. If your property is within walking distance of any public transportation, then be sure to explain that in detail. If there’s no public transportation and locals use Bolt or Uber, advise people to download these apps on their phones before arrival. Don’t assume that prospective guests already know these things, even if the centrality of your property seems evident to you. Your future tenant may be located on the other side of the world and may never have visited your area before.
All too often, long-stay guests encounter situations where the listing doesn’t match the actual accommodations, so we naturally seek evidence that our needs will be cared for. Not only do I read the reviews carefully for any hint that the listing isn’t accurate, but I also scrutinize the photographs for evidence of the amenities listed. For this reason, hosts should consider including more photographs of their property than they probably have now.
Include photographs of empty space
In my experience, most hosts don’t include as many photographs of their property as they should. They seem to approach these photos like a magazine spread or a real estate listing, merely including a photo or two of each room or a close-up of decor.
However, this is a big missed opportunity. Digital nomads like me want to see evidence the unit has room for our clothes and possessions, which is why I recommend including photos of things most hosts don’t. I like seeing photos that clearly show an empty closet or dresser and appreciate when hosts explain how much of the refrigerator and kitchen cabinet space I can expect, along with photos of that empty shelving. Photos of the pots, pans, dishes, and utensils in good condition also encourage me to book.
If you allow pets — and since most listings don’t, it can be a massive advantage if you do — then clearly explain where there would be room for the pets’ food, water, kennel, or litter box. Again, include photos that show this empty space.
This might seem like it goes without saying, but trust me, it doesn’t: the empty space in the photos should actually remain empty so guests can use it. The dresser drawers should be clear so guests can unpack and put their clothes in them. While hosts commonly store things in guest room closets, there needs to be enough space in them for the guests’ own gear.
In addition, if the listing promises guests will have access to a shared living room, then hosts should not fill that room with their own storage, laundry, or massage tables. (These examples come from my own personal experience at three different vacation rentals.)
Additional photographs to include
Hosts should also consider including close-up photos of small details, like the coffee machine. People who need their coffee in the morning will look for a rental that clearly shows a photo of a coffee maker over one that merely includes “a coffee maker” in the list of amenities. That’s because, when you stay at a rental that lists a coffee maker that turns out to be some kind of equipment you’ve never used before, like a rusty percolator, a dallah, or a cezve, you learn not to make assumptions.
Also, consider including photos that clearly show any windows and the view out of them. Believe it or not, some rentals do not have windows, which I ran into once with a rental in Paris. I was one of two lucky people who had a “window” in an apartment for seven. I put the word window in quotation marks because it only looked out over the interior hallway and was made up of strips of frosted glass that blurred the view beyond it. Over and over, I saw new guests arrive at their windowless cells only to move out again as quickly as they could.
This experience taught me to search listings for any sign of a window. If I don’t see one in the photos, I don’t assume one’s there.
The Difference between a yes and a no
While photos of empty closets and coffee makers might seem boring, they reassure long-term guests you understand they will be living at your property, not just passing through. Including photos like these provides them with the evidence they need to trust you.
Seemingly trivial things like this can make the difference between a yes and a no. For those who own a vacation rental, it can pay to snap a few more pictures and upload them to your listing.
