Month: March 2017

Categories
Hosting Tips Rules & Regulations Travel

Partnering with a Rental Company vs. Doing It Alone

With the rise in popularity of short-term rentals, many owners are turning their investment properties into a second source of income. Once the decision to rent out the property using a short-term strategy has been made, there are numerous other questions that the owner must ask himself or herself: how much should I charge? How do I decorate my home? What do I include in my listing? Should I post on Airbnb, VRBO, or both?

There’s a lot to consider, especially when you’re starting out as a first-time renter. But the single most important decision you’ll make is whether you want to team up with a short-term rental management company or go at it alone.

One of the main benefits of a partnership with Effortless Rental Group is that you’ll be supported by a team of knowledgeable professionals who are dedicated to maximizing your monthly revenue. To learn how you can make exponentially more money when you work with us, versus renting on a short-term or long-term strategy alone, check out https://effortlessrentalgroup.com/hosting-tips/want-increase-earning-potential/

Increasing your earning potential is just the beginning. Effortless stands out from other rental management companies because we provide a turnkey service for our clients. This means that we take care of everything—from analytical pricing using our custom algorithms to handling all bookings and guest correspondence. Our professional cleaning company and re-stocking team will give you the peace of mind that everything is ready for your guests. In fact, many of our clients travel abroad for part of the year or even live out of state. They trust us to manage every single aspect of their rental property.

Owners who want to maximize their revenue and live their lives without worrying about the upkeep of their rental property choose to partner with Effortless Rental Group. We would be honored to work with you in the future. Please feel free to contact us anytime!

Effortless Rental Group

720.475.1486

Categories
Hosting Tips

Space-Saving Design Ideas for Small Properties

  1. Don’t waste the space under the stairs

Take advantage of this valuable (and often forgotten) space and add a few shelves or a cozy reading nook. Whatever you choose to create, keep it minimal and uncluttered with horizontal lines and neutral accents.

mochacasa.com

houzz.com

 

  1. Fold-down furniture is your friend

There’s a good reason the Murphy bed, originally invented in the early 1900’s, is making a comeback. Fold-down furniture like the Murphy bed allows for multi-functional rooms and creates a ton of extra floor space when not in use.

gedyrivera.com

houzz.com

 

  1. Mirror, mirror, on the wall…

Who’s the most space-savvy of them all? Mirrors enlarge any space by creating the illusion of depth. In general, the bigger, the better—opt for tall and wide mirrors over small mirrors or gallery arrangements, which will have the opposite effect.

mogome.com

freshome.com

  

  1. Area rugs suggest separate rooms

This is particularly true in studio apartments or in large spaces that are being used for two functions, like as both a living room and a dining area. Rugs in contrasting colors divide the space and designate each area for its intended purpose.

home-designing.com

jeleba.com

 

  1. Use expandable furniture whenever possible

Maximize your space by buying tables with slide-out or add-on segments to use only when you have guests over. Keep an eye out for pieces that have hidden storage compartments and a fold-out design like the table below—they’ll let you stash your stuff out of sight.

red.lateefabryant.com

westelm.com

 

  1. Install shelves and furniture on the wall

If you haven’t jumped on the floating shelf train, get going. This popular design trend frees your floor from bulky and heavy pieces and adds a modern feel to your home. Consider mounting your desk or dining table on the wall to free up even more space.

irastar.com

decorpad.com

 

  1. Keep things out of sight under the bed

Trust us—your dinner guests don’t need to see your flannel pajamas or your favorite moth-eaten sweater you can’t seem to throw away. Store seasonal items, shoes, or extra sheets under the bed instead. Get a bed with built-in storage or opt for some baskets to slide underneath the frame.

homesfeed.com

iconhomedesign.com

Categories
Hosting Tips

Sleep Like a Baby with 1 Simple Change to Your Beds

We all know that how much we enjoy our day has a lot to do with the amount—and the quality—of our sleep the night before. You’ve also probably heard that sleep is critical in staying healthy, managing pain, and forming new memories. But did you know that good pillows are the easiest way to ensure a good night’s sleep? And that changing out your pillows in your rental property is the quickest way to drastically change your guests’ experience for the better?

There is a plethora of pillows on the market, with various firmness, textures, sizes, and shapes. We’ve picked our favorites that will make sure your guests get a good night’s sleep and are geared up for sightseeing in Denver the next day. When your guests are well rested, they have more energy to explore Denver—and write you a positive review on Airbnb or VRBO at the end of their trip. Speaking of Airbnb and VRBO, feel free to mention the brand and type of pillows in your listing—it shows potential guests that you’ve put time and thought into making sure they’re comfortable during their stay at your home.

 

Our top choice: Coop Home Goods Shredded Hypoallergenic Memory Foam Pillow, from $50

This pillow outperforms and out-reviews any other pillow on the current market. The firmness can be adjusted by adding or removing foam, and the natural materials meet CertiPUR-US standards for allergy sufferers and guests sensitive to harsh materials. The removable fill also makes it easy to adjust the pillow to fit side, back, or stomach sleepers. Long-lasting and affordable, switching out your current pillows for these ones will make your Airbnb or VRBO rental property stand out from the rest.

 

Utopia Bedding Premium Super Plush Fiber Filled Pillows (2-pack), from $19

At $19 for a 2-pack of queen-sized pillows, these fluffy pillows are definitely the winners when it comes to price. Hypo-allergenic with an anti-microbial finish, these fiber-filled pillows will ensure asthma and allergy sufferers get a good night’s rest. The full polyester stuffing resists compression and deformation over years of use. Note: the pillows are shipped in a vacuum-sealed bag—for best results, allow pillows to expand for 2-3 days before use.

 

Foamily Premium Hypoallergenic Stuffer Pillow Insert Sham Square, from $7

For maximum comfort on your bed or couch, these inserts by Foamily are our top pick. The pillows stay fluffy and do not deflate over time, and offer a good level of support for the back and neck. They come in a range of sizes to perfectly fit in your shams and provide your Airbnb property with some stylish accents. And beginning at $7 for the 12” x 12” size, the price can’t be beat.

Categories
Hosting Tips Travel

How to Make Your Home Appealing to Business Travelers

Many of your guests will be traveling for pleasure, but you’ll get some who are in town for a meeting or convention. It’s important that your home accommodates business travelers with all of the amenities they’ll need during their stay. When you set up your home with special business features, along with having a solid review background, a speedy response rate, and several other specifications, Airbnb alerts potential guests who look at your listing that your property is “Business Travel Ready.” This title attached to your listing greatly increases your chances of getting a booking request. For a good place to start, take a look at our list of home additions geared toward business travelers.

 

  1. A workspace set up for laptops in an office nook or room

This is the single most important item for the business traveler in your home. Even if your guest is planning to explore your city a bit for pleasure, the main reason he or she is there is for business. A workspace in your home is essential, whether it’s an entire office or just a corner of the living room set up with a desk and chair. There should be an outlet nearby and enough space for a laptop and a few folders.

 

  1. Fast Wi-Fi

You should have Wi-Fi whether or not you want to cater to business travelers, as your guests will need to be able to look up where to eat on their phones or communicate with people back home. It’s especially important for business travelers to have high-speed internet so that they can do research, get in touch with colleagues, or figure out where their meeting is located.

 

  1. Toiletry essentials

Shampoo, toilet paper, clean towels, and a hair dryer are on the list of features Airbnb deems necessary for a listing to receive the “Business Travel Ready” label. Your business-oriented guests will be glad that your home matches the level of amenities they would find if they were getting ready in a hotel room. No need to spring for the most expensive salon shampoo and conditioner, but make a little effort to provide something nice.

 

  1. A printer/fax/scanner

This one is pretty self-explanatory—if your guests need to receive documents or send them elsewhere during their stay at your place, they’ll be glad to have the supplies to do it. Business travelers might need to print notes for a meeting, but it’s not a bad idea to have a printer available for all of your guests. People may want to print out concert or event tickets, or boarding passes for their flight out of your city.

 

  1. Hangers and an iron

Your guests will need to prepare for their meeting or conference, and you can help them accomplish this. Hangers and an iron are essential items for all types of guests, but even more so for guests traveling on business. It’s a good call to have plenty of hangers and closet space, as well as an ironing board (small is fine) to go along with the iron.

 

  1. If possible, a meeting area

It doesn’t hurt to designate a specific area of your home as a space for guests to brainstorm ideas alone or with others. This could be a home office or extra room—it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Throw in a couple desk chairs, a desk or table, and a dry-erase board on the wall and you’re good to go.

 

  1. A list of coffee shops for remote work

Sometimes inspiration doesn’t hit until we get outside and into the real world. If you know a guest is going to be staying at your home for business, it’s not a bad idea to leave behind a short list of coffee shops nearby. Whether they want to post up there for the day or just stop by for a quick latte before heading to their conference, they’ll appreciate the effort. Check out https://effortlessrentalgroup.com/entertainment/7-best-denver-coffee-shops/ for a list of our favorite coffee shops in Denver.