Guesthouse/ BnB Hosting in a nutshell - Part 2 of 4

Further to my post where I covered Viability & Demand for short term accommodation as well as Legalities,
https://steemit.com/guide/@lizelle/guesthouse-bnb-hosting-in-a-nutshell-part-1-of-4
FACILITIES
While waiting for approvals, have a hard look at property entrance, garden, buildings, facilities and décor. Cleanliness and neatness very important!
Should you not have enough capital, keep set-up costs to a minimum by raiding your own house where practical, or buy from charity stores, which often are treasure troves! Take before & after photographs of every little project you complete; you will obviously use the after photos in marketing, but nice to keep record and have a look-back. As money comes in from bookings, plough it back into buying new appliances, furniture, décor, linen, crockery etc.

• Remember, first impressions are very important! Property entrance – good lighting, visible street number and establishment welcome sign with your logo.
• Provide sufficient parking bays, with visible disclaimer signage.
• Inspect pathways are safe, install hand rails plus signage should pathway be sloping.
• Buildings – repaint exterior as well as interior if necessary.
• Spruce up the garden.
• Pool fencing or a pool cover is a necessity. Disclaimer signage is vitally important here.
• Check electrical appliances are in excellent condition or buy new. Do not buy second-hand appliances!
• Furniture has to be of a good standard, beds especially. Use throws and cushions to brighten up dull couches. Steam clean couches & carpets if necessary.
• Ensure there are bedside pedestals with a lamp next to each bed.
• New linen is a necessity, I recommend white towels and bed linen, as it can be bleached. Duvet covers can be colourful but I suggest you go with one shade so it can be interchanged. New colour schemes can be bought later on.
• Waterproof mattress & pillow protectors are a must.
• Good quality pillows are a must.
• Provide at least 5 hangers per guest.
• Have lined waste baskets in each bedroom and bathroom.
• Supply extra blankets and throws during winter. (heaters & electric blankets if you’re in a cold region)
• Supply electric adapters for cell phone charging.
• Have at least one full length mirror in each unit.
• Leave space for luggage storage.
• Display emergency numbers as well as rules & regulations in a frame.
• Provide WiFi name and guest password, in a pretty frame.
• Provide electric mosquito repellent units in each bedroom.
• Fans or air-conditioning units in bedrooms are essential in hot climates.
• Provide a hairdryer.
• Provide clothes hooks in bathroom.

Image from Pixabay.com

MARKETING
• Most software packages are very user friendly – will save yourself quite a packet by designing your own logo, business cards, brochures, adverts, etc, all cutting down on the printing costs.
• Register a domain for your own website, again the packages are user friendly, but there are many freelancers waiting to do this at a reasonable fee. With this, you can set up your company email.
• Add your establishment to Google Maps, again very easy and makes you very visible. We get many enquiries via this.
• Set up a facebook page for your business – post photos of guests if they have no objection, they will visit your page afterwards, as will their friends. Advertising on facebook is very effective and cost effective, again very user friendly. You can select your audience by location, age, gender, interests, and you decide on your budget.
• Add your establishment to Tripadvisor as well.
• Use Instagram, as well as Twitter.
• Register with as many reputable online booking sites as practically possible. Remember you will have to update your calendars regularly on all sites, many of them can be linked, to avoid double bookings. Most of your booking will come via these. Airbnb is still our favourite as guests also get reviewed, so one at least has a bit of control over who is coming to stay!
• Ask your guests to write reviews on all the above: Google Maps, your Facebook page, your own website, Tripadvisor & the online booking sites.
• Offer special rates or deals out of season online.
• Get in touch with head offices of large companies near your guesthouse, but speak to person responsible for staff travelling.
• As mentioned in the previous section, take photos of your establishment, be it the garden, the interior or the guests.
• Vital to know your market – holiday makers, business guests, contract workers, sportsmen, conference goers, students or their family if you live near universities or boarding school, relatives of patients if you live near a hospital, the list is endless as far as short-term accommodation goes.
• Tourism bodies will list your establishment in their brochures and websites free of charge, and often offer affordable adverts in their brochures.
• Never stop marketing your guesthouse, vital for the off-season periods.

Thank you for reading, and please remember, all your efforts will pay off when the guests start coming :)

Part 3 to follow – reservations & guest resources.