I mean, you guys know I’m a designer, right? Of course, I’m going to tell you that you need me. But I get it, hiring a designer for your vacation rental is an investment, and sometimes it’s just not in the budget. You can get started on your own, make some money, and plan to level up when it’s time to replace things that wear out. That’s what I did, and here’s what happened.
The best way to work in phases like this is with a plan. Book a strategy session with me, and we can map out what you need to do now, what can wait, and the best way to do that without wasting money.
What Happened When a Professional Interior Designer Redesigned My Vacation Rental?
Yes, the professional was me. I know it’s confusing; read on.
Going Pro
Jump ahead a few years. (If you missed part one, it’s here.) I’ve finished my master’s degree in Interior Architecture, I’ve got a design job at a big-deal hotel design firm, and I’m starting to think about taking on some side gigs. Fantastic, I think. I’ve already got a portfolio!
Except…I started reviewing the photos of my rental with my designer’s hat on. Some were okay. Some, uh, did not like the work of an interior designer. They look like the work of a tired person who found a cheap sofa somewhere and stuck some stuff from Home Goods on the wall, and called it a day.
The Home Goods stuff is on the wall you can’t see, and those plants died about 5 seconds after I walked out of the room.
That citron color definitely looked better in the 3” swatch.
Know this: Buying new stuff’s way less stressful when your rental has earned enough to pay for it.
Round two went much more smoothly. This time, I had a detailed plan, a realistic budget, and a schedule, and I was able to get a good contractor to call me back and get the work done with minimum disruption to our rental calendar. Oh, I also had money in the rental account so that my vacation rental business could pay for its own updates.
After the work was complete, I hired a photographer to re-shoot the entire house, since I knew that even though the old photos looked ok, they wouldn’t match the new ones once the remodeled areas were photographed. (Thinking you need to update your photos, too? Whether you hire a pro or do it DIY, we have tips for you.)
I bumped up our prices, updated our photos, and crossed my fingers. I hoped for an uptick in bookings but wondered if the increased rates would cancel out the more appealing photos.
Ah, that’s better. Scroll up, scroll down; which would you book?
The new furniture looks great at twilight.
I replaced the generic wall-filler art with something more brand-appropriate.
But daytime is pretty good, too.
Here’s what happened.
The result was immediate and long-lasting. The year after I re-designed the outdoor area and living room, our bookings went up by 34% and our revenue by 43%. I could cover the refresh cost in the first six months of bookings after the new photos went up. My husband now believes in the power of design, and I do, too.
Compare and Contrast
I hear it all the time from owners, “I really appreciate a well-designed space, but I don’t know if guests really care.”
Here’s the thing. Will they tell you that they care? Probably not, because when you ask a guest what they want in a space, they’ll list features. “A pool, 3 bedrooms, wi-fi…” but, whether they realize it or not, when guests compare one property to another, they evaluate how they will feel when staying there. Good design (and photography) telegraph to your future guests that they will love your place and that their friends and family will love them for choosing it.
- This property costs $20 more a night than the other one, but my friends will love it!
- They always trust me to find the Airbnb because I always find the cool ones. I think this is it!
- If I rent this place, I think the boys might come and want to bring their girlfriends.
- Look at that pool table! That’ll be a fun thing to do at night – until Rick loses, ha.
- Ugh, all I want to do is lie down on those pool loungers right now!
Did I add any features to my listing? No, I re-designed two areas and replaced the furniture. But by up-leveling the design of the two areas guests use the most – the living room and the outdoor space – I changed how guests felt about booking my place. How do I know? I increased my rates, and our bookings went up 34%.
