Getting Your Kitchen Rental Ready
How to Setup Kitchen for your short term vacation rental – First, no one likes bad reviews. What is the number one reason why host get negative kitchen feedback on reviews? Not providing the essentials. This post contains lists of must-have supplies and hacks for setting up your kitchen like a superhost.
Lucky for you, this short post will provide you with a framework for kitchen success. Learn how to setup your vacation rental kitchen for 5-star reviews below:
Setting up your kitchen like a super host means supplying everything a guest needs for their stay with you. Five-star reviews come from thinking like a guest, but one step ahead. Think, what would you like to use on vacation? Provide quality items. Setup your kitchen for your guests with the right supplies…
This list will make sure your vacation rental kitchen has guest essentials at all times:
Appliances
Blender
Toaster
Coffee Maker
Set of Knives
Glass Set
Wine Glasses
Dinnerware
Plastic Dishes
Utensils
Cookware (Pots and Pans)
Kitchen Towels
Coffee Maker
Cutting Board
Oven Mitts
Drying Mat for Dishes
Trash Receptacle
Kettle
Items to supply in kitchen between rentals:
Sponge
Dish Soap
Dishwashing Pods
Paper Towel
Trash Bags
Coffee
Salt and Pepper
Tea
What does AirBnB say about stocking a kitchen? Airbnb has a few helpful threads for hosts who want to stock their kitchens, but we have done the research to provide you the essentials in this post. They don’t have strict guidelines for kitchens – as long as they are safe, welcoming, and friendly.
Less is more, do not clutter your kitchen! You do not need duplicate coffee makers, toasters, etc. Less is more! Putting two toasters or two coffee makers is not necessary. I looked after a home for several years with a stubborn owner who had too many coffee makers. It really looked bad and thankfully, he took the advice to declutter and now his rental looks a lot better. This holds true for too many plates and utensils as well. You will be constantly battling dirty dishes when people use double the dishes. Supply 2 of each utensil, bowl, and plate. You get the picture. If your place hosts 10, 20 forks, 20 knives, 20 spoons, 20 bowls, and 20 plates. Rule of 2 – buy 2 of each for each guest your place accommodates:
Bowl
Glass
Medium Plate
Plate
Fork, Spoon, Knife
Wine Glass
Appliance Essentials for a Welcoming Vacation Rental:
Homes should come with a refrigerator, oven, and stove – that means fully functional. Please make sure housekeeping is constantly checking on these items for you. A nonworking appliance is a huge pain point for guests and will lead to bad reviews if not checked. Outdated ovens can run hot and ruin a dinner, burners can be uneven causing the pan to burn eggs – problems do come up. Nothing is worse to a guest than a ruined meal.
Best Coffee Maker for a Vacation Rental We like Keurig, but an inexpensive Mr. Coffee may do the trick.
Matching kitchen sets are essential for a 5-star first impression… Please, skip the stuff that came with the house when you bought it…the home needs matching dinnerware sets, glasses, and utensils. You want your place to look like it came off the cover of a kitchen design magazine…not Aunt Edna’s kitchen. Having a matching set goes a long way to create a lasting first impression with a hotel-level experience.
Provide cleaning supplies for everyday messes. Messes can happen – your guests want to keep your place tidy. Under the sink or in an extra pantry, place the following cleaning supplies for everyday messes.
Under sink list of cleaning items:
Dishwasher pods
All Purpose Cleaner
Baking Soda
Carpet Stain Remover
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Extra Sponges
Paper Towel
Essential cleaning supplies to leave for guest:
Broom
Mop or Swiffer
Dust Pan
Bucket
Need help with your kitchen? If you would like more tips from our short term rental pros, contact us today!