Make $ Money On Your Guest Room! Here's how...

The spare bedroom. The bedroom in your finished basement. The attic guest room. The room above the garage. Or maybe it's a vacation condo you thought you would get visit more often.

Friends--that's MONEY waiting to be made!

Make your house work for YOU and have someone else pay down your mortgage. Plus, you might really enjoy running your own small business right from your own home!

Or from a home you wish you could visit more...

That's exactly what my husband and I decided to do with our country cottage In Lakeville, Salisbury, Connecticut.

It's super charming, has so many memories, and even though it's only an hour away from our home-- once the kids became busy with activities and sports it was no longer something we could regularly enjoy (or something they wanted to do) anymore.

We all loved the weekends of family hikes, and all that outdoor recreation in the fresh country air.

I had a little time on my hands one Saturday morning a few years back before driving the kids to sports and dance, and for kicks, I created an account on Airbnb and VRBO for the cottage. I described the rooms, the view of the backyard pond, ridge lines in the distance, and of course, the incredible hiking trails nearby. Then, I shared my favorite places to see, eat, shop and play and I published the listing.

Minutes after it was "live" I GOT MY FIRST BOOKING!!!!

Adrenaline rush.

Is this how easy it was to do???

Turns out, yes!

It's now been 6 years and that lonely little cottage has become a cash cow. We re-invest the money back into it and make improvements each year. It's allowed us to make new friends all over the world, and we have forged relationships with so many of our favorite guests from New York City, Boston and beyond.

After years of trial and error and cracking the "host" code, I am now an Airbnb Super Host and Fern Rock Cottage was selected to be an Airbnb Plus property:

So, what are you waiting for? YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!

Let's get you listed and on your way to making some extra cash.

Start with low nightly rates

I know, you want to hit the jack pot right out of the gate and make a fortune on your new listing. Well slow down, my friend. You have to earn the trust of the community first and remember: the more you charge the higher your guests expectations are going to be, and you still have a "hosting learning curve" ahead of you.

Keep prices low, get some great reviews, and then inch it up.

Beds should be comfortable, fresh and well appointed

This really isn't an option. The one thing a vacation rental needs is a clean bed that will offer guests a good night's sleep. I like to add a featherbed to mine (guests say they feel like they are sleeping on a cloud) and new pillows, unstained sheets (not.a.single.mark on them) that have been checked for hair (you'd be surprised, I almost take a magnifying glass to mine) and then make the bed in an inviting way.

Fun fact: I was taught by designer Bunny Williams herself, how to make beds. Friends that is starting from the top; she is the queen of bed making! I was covering a story for NBC Connecticut of how Bunny was helping to transform the Falls Village Inn, which is just down the street from her Connecticut home. When we went into one of the newly appointed rooms, she showed me how she wanted the beds to look. I was obsessed, and borrowed a lot of what she taught me, while adding a few variations of my own depending on the bed, and room.

If you too, want to learn from the ultimate pro, watch this:

Stalk your competition

You have to know what you're up against so you can beat them at their own game and attract guests before they do. Look at other vacation rentals in your town, or on your street. What are guests saying about the host and property? What does their listing offer? How does yours stack up? What does design in the area look like? Do other listings have amenities you don't? Are they waterfront, have a gorgeous view, or maybe a pet friendly option? No matter what, DO NOT OVERSELL what you are offering, you will be called out so fast and it's hard to climb out from under scathing disappointed reviews. Put your best foot forward and guests who truly like what you're offering will book instead of others hoping for a different experience.

Give Something Back

Everyone likes to feel pampered, especially when traveling for business or going on a holiday. Why not offer a bottle of wine-- I always ask, red, white, or sparkling? Make sure there is coffee/tea for the morning because you know you would want that too. If there are hiking trails nearby, leave out some trail mix they can pack in their bag for the adventure. Fresh eggs and cream for the morning is a nice touch and an inexpensive one. Or if you like to bake leave them some goodies for breakfast. Keep it super inexpensive and easy and just leave a little chocolate next to the bed as a nighttime treat.

Attention to detail (like, EVERY detail)

Make a "point" on the toilet paper, even if it's not a new roll it will look fresh. Roll up little face clothes and leave a couple on the bathroom vanity. They look "spa like" and will be ready for hand drying or a quick face refresh. Use white linens and towels because they are bleach friendly, so they are easier to keep looking their best. Leave out water for your guests near the bed whether it's bottled water, or a glass and pitcher. It's nice to have that throughout the night if they get thirsty. An Alexa, or some kind of voice command technology is a good addition so they can ask for directions, request music, or find out what the weather will be the next day. Have books on hand so visitors have something to help tire their eyes before bed, or to pass time on a rainy day. And don't forget the window coverings for privacy and a restful sleep.

Make sure your decor reflects the destination

There is nothing more disappointing than going somewhere and feeling like you never really left home. If your Airbnb is by the beach, incorporate that somehow. If it's in NYC, find clever ways to showcase some of things the city is famous for. I'm not saying go over the top and get cutesy and too literal; keep it subtle. Just come up with some careful creative ways your guests will know where they are and be excited to have gotten away.

Remote workspace

This has been especially true these last couple of years when people were looking for safe places to work out of the office, or during quarantine, or when their kids were home from school doing online learning. Now people have gotten used to the idea and still appreciate a rock solid Wifi signal, a spot to pull out their laptop, and a pleasant background for Zoom calls. Having these things will allow you to appeal to a wider net of potential visitors who want to work and play at the same time.

You can do this!

Just create somewhere you would like to stay yourself, and then capture that for your future guests. Attach great pictures (you can take them yourself or pay for a professional) and add a well-written description of what guests can expect and make sure it has no typos or misspellings.

No one knows your home better than you, and you know where you like to go, now share that with your new friends!

With the hard work behind you, sit back, relax, and wait for the bookings to come in...

If you have done this before share your secrets in our chat below!

Meet me in the comments,

XX Kerri-Lee