What to bring when you book a holiday home in Agnes Water & 1770

Here our top tips for readying your investment property for Airbnb guests 1. Good quality mattress protectors + a spare for each bed size. Don't skimp on the flimsy, thin ones. Pillowtop protectors are fantastic for larger mattresses, especially older ones. Pillowtop mattress protectors feel so luxurious and will be a winner with the most discerning guests - a great way to make a hard mattress feel cosy. 2. Good quality pillow protectors; the cotton blend ones with zippers are great. Don't waste your time on the cheap dual-pack protectors from Target etc., as they disintegrate after a few months. 3. Be prepared to replace your bedspreads and pillows every 12-24 months. Nothing is more off-putting to a guest than a mouldy or stained pillow. Speaking of stains, sunscreen sometimes interacts with the water used at the laundry and creates fluorescent yellow stains on white sheets/ towels/ pillowcases. Choosing highly patterned bedspreads or dark colours for towels/ bedspreads/pillowcases and tea towels to remedy this is helpful. 4. Remove any precious items from your property, as accidental breakage is unfortunate and creates mistrust of guests. It is easy to paint them all with the same brush after one breakage, so when styling your home, think of cheaper options that won't break the bank (or your heart) when you need to replace them. Check out stores like Target, Big W and IKEA when stocking your property with decorative furnishings and kitchenware. 5. Throw blankets! Waffle blankets and large throws in your living room can potentially save your couch upholstery from stains and mould. If you can, purchase outdoor furniture/weather-resistant upholstery for your lounge rooms as they repel mould, are easy to launder and can handle moisture from damp swimmers. Parents often sit their young children on throw blankets for crafts/eating/play etc. so again, think dark colours or something cheap that can be replaced every few years. 6. Portable heaters. If you don't have reverse cycle AC to the larger living areas of your property, please ensure you have at least one little portable heater as, surprisingly, Agnes Water can get quite cold in the winter months. Most beachside properties are designed for Summer use and are not great at retaining warmth. For Summer, bath robes are a lovely touch and make couples feel pampered. 7. Use your home A LOT! We encourage our owners to utilise their holiday homes for an extended holiday of at least a fortnight each year. If you don't get to use it, you may come to resent guests for booking it when you want it! Book dates a year in advance; you can always release them. Furthermore, it pays to stay aware of your home's natural ageing process and any high wear and tear areas that might need future attention. Painting, replacement of roofing screws, appliances and re-varnishing floors etc. are big costs that come around every decade so ensure you have a special fund set aside for these maintenance tasks and unexpected appliance replacements. 8. Blackout curtains in bedrooms. Most guests see holidays as a time for sleep-ins, particularly guests with young children. Please ensure your bedrooms have blackout blinds for privacy and restful slumber. Many guests feel exposed and vulnerable if there are no coverings on windows, especially in a neighbourhood they don't know... Even if your property is on acreage :) 9. Unlimited WIFI and a smart TV have become one of the most sought-after amenities on AirBnB; make sure you opt for unlimited data so that guests can screen their favourite shows on the internet. Since free-to-air TV is patchy in Agnes (particularly in the Sunrise estate) ensure you have consistent, high-speed unlimited data. 10. Consider a picnic set for your property so guests can take non-breakable, reusable cups, wine glasses and plates to pool areas and beaches. Again, don't buy expensive; cheap items from Ikea or Target are perfect. 11. Make sure you have 2 x cutting boards; always provide a plastic one available for cutting meat that can be properly sanitised. If you provide food containers, ensure they are all labelled with your house name so they don't go accidentally go home with guests. 12. Label, Label, LABEL. Especially your linen in case of mix-ups at the laundry. Don't forget tea towels, oven mitts, table runners.... iron-on labels are great, we recommend iron on labels from this website . 13. Vermin-proof your house. In winter, our native bush critters love to come indoors and find warm appliances to nest in. Native bush rats often eat through dishwasher, dryer and washing machine outlet hoses, so ensure these are all wrapped in metal conduit. Plug holes in, around and underneath your home wherever critters can enter. We will not put poison out for rats and mice as they are native marsupials. Poison can have a secondary effect, killing owls and other birds of prey, scrub turkeys, snakes, goannas and dingoes. 14. Special touches. Coffee machines or plungers with good quality grinds, teapots + tea selection, bath robes, air diffusers with essential oils, indoor plants, a book swap area, board games, DVD player + DVDs, cards etc. are all wonderful touches that make guests feel at home. If there's something you can't live without at your home, consider providing the same at your airbnb! For more tips, questions or to list your holiday home with us... email us today.