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AIRBNB Do’s and Don’ts!

Erin Moriarty

First things first. Create your listing.

To start, (it’s a very good place to start) fill out the basics in each of the 6 sections (calendar, pricing, overview, photos, listing and location). Upload one nice shot for right now. Come back and zhush everything out later.

Take some shots of your own, or opt for pro. And use a mix of both! Some people mistrust pro shots, and some ONLY look for shots by owner. This way if you have a little bit of each, you’ll be more attractive to a larger audience! But you could be saying, “BUT I’M NOT READY TO RENT YET!” Trust me, you must get photos up quickly (maybe even before your place is completely ready for it’s closeup). Booking a pro photog and schedules not gelling for a while, and then……it might take AN ENTIRE month from the day the photog uploads to your listing. UGH. If you don’t wanna wait, use your iPhone. Done.

Life’s an adventure; enjoy the ride.

Bedrooms:

1.Use crisp, white sheets.

“WHY WHITE?” You ask… they are SUPER easy to keep clean. Bleach after each guest. Bleach is your friend when it comes to stains on white fabric. White sheets also give that posh ‘hotel vibe’. Colored or patterned sheets look more folksy, college dorm-like. Who wants that feeling again? *shudder*

Do's and Don'ts for AirBnb accommodations.
AHhh..I wanna dive right in!

We don’t have to tell you to wash and dry your AirBnb bedroom sheets immediately after a guest leaves, do we? Didn’t think so. Gotta maintain those good reviews right?

White bed linens, also help when tidying up after each guest, because you’ll be able to see if they’ve left something behind, more quickly!

“Yep, I found your husband’s cell. It was right on the bed.”

*Hero status achieved*

2. Dress up your bed with a delicious duvet.

Let’s talk cleanliness for YOU and your guests. For sanitary reasons, duvets are the WAY to GO. Easy clean up once each guest departs. And you can switch up the look of your bedroom with seasonal -appropriate duvets. A cozy plaid for the Wintertime, or a crisp clean white linen duvet for Summer breezes. Using a duvet, you are able to remove and wash it every time. YAY! Duvet covers can be found relatively inexpensively and they are much easier to clean than blankets. (unknown mixed fibers can be a totally pain to launder).

2. Pillows.

Not throw pillows, people. Sleeping pillows. EVERYONE is different. You’ll never be able to please them all. So get that notion right outta your noggin. I recommend purchasing 6 pillows total.

“This pillow is juuuuust riiiiiiiight.”

So if you do have a GoldiLocks staying, she has her pick! 2 soft, 2 medium, 2 firm. Have the pillows fill the bed OR stack them nearby, according to firmness with cute notes indicating their softness. Having numerous pillows on the bed look great! But more importantly it provides your guests with options. B

3. Selecting your mattress.

Ok, so you already have a mattress in your AirBnB guest bedroom. But is it comfy or lumpy? We suggest this queen-sized one. Why? It’s totally inexpensive, reviews are plentiful and GREAT..and what’s crazy, it’s ONLY $130 buckaroos! How sweet is that??! (also invest in this mattress cover)

4. Window Decor.

You HAD to know we were gonna mention shades, riiiight? We recommend our Smoothy (continuous cord), blackout, Top Down/Bottom Up Shades.

Why Smoothy? It’s SUPER duper rugged. And very easy to replace a worn out cord. I mean, I can do it with my eyes closed. Not braggin’, just saying’.

Why Blackout? There are MANY light-sensitive people out there. (Including me) And who knows when your guests will be arriving and from where. Wouldn’t it be awesome to offer them a nice, dark room in the middle of the day to catch up on some zzzz’s that they missed out on, taking that red-eye from Croatia?

Shop Blackout Shades Now!
Nighty Night, any time of day!

Why Top Down/Bottom up? One word, PRIVACY. Your guests can lower the shades from the top, to see what the day looks like, and maintain their privacy. I’m sure your neighbors will appreciate that as well. *wink*

Shop Top/Down Bottom Up Shades Now!

Do your homework.

Don’t just read like 1 or 2 recent reviews of potential renters. Read a smattering from the beginning, some in the middle and most current. Also have a salt shaker handy. Why? Some need more than a grain of salt. There are some that are never happy and downright mean. They will find a way to complain about almost anything. Remember ‘The Grouch” ??

Don’t listen to the grouches.

While 99.9% of reviews about renters are awesome, don’t let the Oscar get to you. That’s an awesome benny to AirBnB. They can review you, and you can see who they are before you rent to them. Win- Win!

Don’t be PETTY! (unless it’s this Petty, then always, ALWAYS be this Petty)

The beauty of having additional things to offer and having real, loving humans renting your pad, is that you’re able to offer them for free (yes for free) a taste of what they might like. DO NOT become the host who charges for every little thing. Ew. Gross.
Don’t charge your guests for “made by blind monks” soap.No one wants to use that soap THAT badly (yes, this actually happens).

Nor does your guest, who is staying on your goat farm, feel good about being charged $5 bucks for a glass of your goat “Marcus Wellby” scrumptious milk. No offense Marcus. (yeah, that’s a Llama, I know)

Take the local winery approach. Offer samples of things for free, generously.

Your favorite snacks, local paper at the start of each stay, locally made ornament around the holidays, well you get the idea. Generosity inspires generosity. I think you’ll find your reviews will be more grateful and your guests will thank you for your time, craft, intention and goods with some. Plus, it just feels downright good, to be good to others, aimrite?

BOOKING:

There are 2 different ways to book your place. You have Instant Book and Request to Book. Request to book is the only way AirBnB used to operate. It’s not confusing, really.

Check out our weekly AirBnB Showcase!

Ok, so now YOU want to explore this world with the sweet Airbnb dough you’ve made.

Make a list of what is MOST important to you.

You know that ol’ chestnut, “Know what you don’t want..”?
There are so many different rentals AirBnB has to offer now. Yurts, penthouses, houseboats in Amsterdam, huts, private room, tiny houses, tree houses, well, you get the idea. While there are so many different kinds of rentals, it’s all about what you are comfy with. My husband refuses to rent a room. It’s all or nothing for him. I’m open to a yurt or tiny house, him? Not so much. (Oh, I should also mention, he’s 6 5′).. Privacy is great, but if you’re down for hangin’ with the owners or other renters, go for it.

Prioritize the amenities you desire.
We all know there are just some amenities you just can’t live without. WI-FI, AC, washer/dryer…microwave. It’s different for everyone. AND it depends on the type of trip. Biz or scratching that must-see off your bucketlist. But when traveling to different places, you need different things. You can customize your “filters’ for every single trip you take, so prioritize accordingly.

YAY! So now you can be the most AWESOME AirBnB host/hostess and you are now encouraged to free fall into your wanderlust. GO! Be FREE!

STAY TUNED AirBnB owners for upcoming sales JUST FOR YOU!

And if you’d like us to shout out your listing, email us!

Taking Color Risks With Cellular Shades!

Emily Adsit

Sometimes customers want a specific color, and we do not carry it. Although it can be frustrating, we feel with a little planning, the right look can be achieved. There once was a customer who really wanted a grey blackout shade color for a bedroom window to match other window treatments in their bedroom. I suggested an accent shade color, one that would bring out colors in the room décor, whether it was a color in the comforter or decorative pillow, to tie it all together. Do all shades have to match at all times?

top-down-bottom-up-double-cell-light-filtering-shades (1)Don’t forget, Top Down Bottom Up shades give a different look than Standard Shades. Letting in light from both ends versus just the bottom can make for a different experience. Is the view all clouds or all grass? Colors are processed by how our eyes and brain perceive light. Light filtering shades will make a room’s ambiance more luminous, where black out shades, even if lowered to let light in, will take on a different look and feel. There are lots of factors to consider when planning a room.

Shades don’t have to be uniform. They can be diverse, vibrant, or take on new design characteristics. Look around at the paint colors, the natural lighting versus the artificial lighting. Is this room for entertaining, a baby to sleep, or for watching TV? Sometimes the mood of a room can set the stage for company, or for your everyday atmosphere. Thinking outside the “frame” can open your view to other possibilities you never thought possible. Be subtle or bold – the choice is yours!

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If  you are interested in getting color samples, check out our color options today – you get up to 10 samples!   http://cellularwindowshades.com/order-free-samples/27-order-free-samples.html

How to Color Coordinate a Room Without Losing It!

matto@gordonswd.com Leave a comment

Interior Design Color Wheel
If you’re moving to a new home or apartment, picking out the right colors for your new rooms can be intimidating and overwhelming. You’re likely going to live in your new home for years. The colors tell others who you are – it’s a big personal statement. Today we want to help ease your mind by giving you some tips on how to color coordinate your room without losing it in the process!
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Color-Changing Walls and the Power of Light

Erin Moriarty Leave a comment

If you’re reading this indoors, take a look at the walls around you. Do you notice that some areas appear to be a slightly different color from the others, depending on which way they’re facing and how far they are from any source of light? Weird, right? And if you want to see something even weirder, check back again either in the morning or evening. I bet they’ll look more different than before!

Color is actually light that is made visible, and light, as you may know by now, shines at many different levels.

Color never does its own thing – it always relies on a light source. That’s why your walls look so different at different times of day. Both the atmosphere of the air and the quality and quantity of light in the room controls how we perceive color. So when you’re choosing a paint color for your room, it’s critical to take the surrounding light in all its forms into account.

grey colored room
I’ll spare you any “fifty shades of gray” puns, but see for yourself just how various the wall color is in this room! Every wall, every nook, is different! Source: http://lightsharehome.blogspot.com/2015/03/use-right-lighting-for-fabulous.html

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Support Your Neighbors, Shop Made-In-USA!

matto@gordonswd.com Leave a comment

One of the biggest reasons we are proud to be American is just the sheer amount of greatness that occurs when you support your country. And while our factory is some 2,600 miles from our customers all the way in California, we know that we are all truly neighbors. The way we treat each other and the decisions we make will determine what direction we push ourselves as an entire nation.
Which is why we would really like to take this chance to stress the absolute importance of buying products that are made in the USA. This simple act makes a world of difference for the buyer, the seller, and the economy as a whole.

What Happens When You Buy Made-In-USA

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The American Home: 1776 – Today

matto@gordonswd.com Leave a comment

When you live to be 239-years-old, you’re bound to go through a few phases. And I’m not just talking about your hippie phase, your punk phase, and so forth…I’m talking about interior design phases! From the conception of the United States all the way up until this very day, household style trends have undergone some intense changes. And as with most trends, sometimes what goes around does truly come around!
In honor of the United States’ most recent birthday as well as our Star Spangled Savings Event, we’re going to take a look at some of the most poignant moments in US home décor history!

Let’s start in the late 18th century, when the US was in its infancy.

American Colonial or Early American décor was inherently practical, since resources were relatively limited. Wealthy homes featured wainscoting, natural mahogany, or wood painted in earthtones. Wallpaper remained far too expensive for most people, and your average home usually had planked wood flooring.

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http://accokeekfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Laurel-Branch-interior-2010-3.jpg

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Easy Ways to Make Any House a Beach House!

matto@gordonswd.com Leave a comment

Summer is here! And with summer come the beach and its many decorative inspirations. Who doesn’t feel at ease surrounded by shells, sea glass tones, and a light breeze? Today we’ve got some beach-inspired style tips, for whether you’re landlocked or the waves are knocking right at your door. Enjoy these mermaid-approved décor ideas this summer or all year round!

It’s the little things:

The easiest way to add a little bit of the beach to your home is to decorate with beach findings:

  • There is a LOT you can do with driftwood! Get creative with paints, or leave it plain as a statement piece above your fireplace! Screw in some hooks or funky looking dresser knobs to create a coat or jewelry rack!

    diy-driftwood-key-holder-0
    http://www.shelterness.com/pictures/diy-driftwood-key-holder-0.jpg

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