Good rental photos are what attracts the guests’ attention when browsing through listings, but what will get them to book your place is a nice set of amenities—and that includes appliances. Appliances will make your guests’ life in the rental easier and more enjoyable, that is, if you pick items that are actually useful.
Our simple guide can help you select the best appliances for Airbnb and navigate the buying process to suit your property and budget.
Essential Airbnb Appliances
- Refrigerator
- Range/oven
- Dishwasher
- Washer and dryer (set or a combo)
When equipping your short-term rental, these are the appliances that should be at the top of your priority list. Naturally, your guests need a refrigerator to keep their food, drinks, and snacks cool and fresh. It’s recommended that you get one with a freezer for frozen goods and pastries.
Many guests choose Airbnb because they want to save money on food—which means less eating out and more cooking. That’s why you need a range with an oven, so they can prepare their meals.A dishwasher might not be a must-have, but if you have a fully equipped kitchen and a rental that accommodates lots of guests, it falls under essentials. No one likes to go on vacation and spend hours washing the dishes by hand. Win over the guests who plan to cook with this amenity.
Having a washer and a dryer in your rental goes both in your and your guests’ favor. You can clean all the linens in no time when bookings line up, and your guests won’t need to carry home a bag full of dirty clothes.
Optional Airbnb Appliances
These appliances can be a nice add-on for your guests, or a suitable alternative if you have a smaller rental.
Euhomy Mini Fridge with Freezer
For example, a mini fridge is more than enough for one- or two-person rentals. Your guests can store their drinks and some snacks in it. It will also take up less space as you can place the fridge in the corner or on the counter.
A toaster and a microwave can also come in handy for rentals that don’t have a stove. Your guests can use the toaster to make pop-tarts or toast for a tasty breakfast, and they can prepare a frozen pizza in a microwave.
Having a vacuum cleaner in your rental may be essential for you or your cleaners, but a compact handheld vacuum can be useful for your guests. This handy appliance can encourage your guests to keep the space tidy. If they like their space to be nice and clean, they’ll be happy that they have this useful device at their disposal (instead of being doomed to live with crumbs and dust).
Superhost Airbnb Appliances
If you want to spoil your guests, you can consider getting these appliances. For starters, a rice cooker can make cooking rice much faster, and it will really be useful if your guests cook a lot.Now, just imagine how lovely it would be for your guests to wake up to the smell of coffee (aim for an appliance with auto brew functionality) and sip on their smoothie while they make waffles or pancakes (an electric griddle is great for that). That’s what we call a 5-star experience!
Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker
If you buy a coffee maker, don’t forget all the extras you’ll need such as coffee filters, coffee pods, coffee creamer, and some attractive coffee mugs.
What Do I Need to Check Before Buying an Appliance for Airbnb?
Buying appliances shouldn’t be an impulse purchase. They are quite an investment, so you need to think through your decision. Here’s what you should consider before you buy an appliance:
Budget – Think about how much you can spend on appliances at the moment. This will dictate your shopping list of items as well as how many bells and whistles you can look for in appliances.
Durability – Consult the reviews to see what customers are saying about durability. Most of the appliances in your rental will be used frequently, so you need the ones that can handle that. Also, check the material. Stainless steel and similar indestructible materials are best.
Size – Measure the space where you plan to place the appliances before you start looking for the right model. There are lots of compact appliances, so even owners of smaller rentals can fully equip their property.
Purpose – Do you need a full-size refrigerator for a small city apartment that doesn’t have an oven? Probably not. If your rental doesn’t have a fully equipped kitchen, and your guests don’t cook, you can buy a mini fridge and save money.
Warranty – The longer the warranty, the better! Having the option to get the appliances fixed for free if something stops working properly can save you lots of money and give you reassurance in the appliance’s durability.
Installation – Check what kind of tools you need to set up the appliance. If you’ll need to hire a handyman, count that cost in your budget. In addition, you should consider what you need to set up the appliance. For example, do you have hookups for water for the dishwasher in that corner where you want to place it? Details like this need to be figured out beforehand.
Should I Look for Energy-Efficient Appliances for Airbnb?
If you want to cut costs and contribute to conservation, then the answer is—absolutely yes! Appliances that are Energy Star-certified use less water and electricity so you won’t need to fear racking up enormous utility bills. Energy-efficient appliances also tend to use less detergent, so you won’t need to restock the supply as often.
When Should You Replace an Appliance?
When you’re torn between repairing or repurchasing an appliance, use this simple formula: if the expense of repair costs more than 50% of the price of a new appliance, replace it. Also, if the appliance rebels against working properly every now and then, and your handyman has become a regular visitor at your rental, that’s a sign that you should buy a new one.
Final Thoughts
Guests choose short-term rentals over hotels because of the amenities they offer and the at-home feel they provide. Buying useful and reliable appliances is what defines that line between your vacation property and hotels—and convinces guests to book your rental!
Being able to wash their clothes when they need them or store groceries in the fridge so they can cook meals is one of the many reasons why guests will prefer your Airbnb over any other. Pick the appliances that your guests will benefit from the most, and your shopping can begin!
