Airbnb makes up a significant portion of many digital nomad families’ budgets. Choosing the right place takes a lot of time, patience, persistence and attention to detail. Hosts who are purposefully curating their listings for digital nomad families are seeing much higher occupancy rates. The occupancies also tend to be for longer-term stays, which lead to less property depreciation due to decreased guest turnover. However, with longer-term stays where families lead their every-day lives working, home-schooling and participating in sports and social activities, there are a number of steps that Airbnb hosts can take to make their properties significantly more attractive to traveling families who are not on vacation. A great home plays an important role in keeping a healthy routine while raising digital nomad kids. Here’s some Airbnb listing hacks:
1. Make sure your wifi is fast and reliable – everywhere in your property
Oftentimes hosts boast reliable wifi, but they neglect to mention that it works best in common areas or certain rooms. When every member of a family is dependent on fast internet access for up to ten hours a day, it’s critical that the wifi function reliably in every room in the property. Wifi extensions tend to work well and resolve many issues related to access.
2. Create working spaces and corners that accommodate working kids and parents
Never miss out on an opportunity to create a work corner that can be closed off or privatized to allow family members to isolate themselves and work. A small desk and a chair go a long way in kids’ rooms, while large dining room and kitchen tables allow multiple people to settle down and work without being too cramped.
3. Equip your kitchen and update your pots and pans
I don’t know how many times we have arrived in large family homes with kitchens that barely had functioning pots or frying pans. Teflon pots and pans that are falling apart are carcinogenic and need to be replaced. Stoves, ovens, toasters, water boilers and mixers should be in good shape and not present fire hazards. Refrigerators should be large enough to store food for families and ideally there should be an excellent coffee maker available. Remember, happy and energetic parents make happy and energetic kids!
4. Create a guide to your property, surrounding restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries and other points of interest
This is important for all Aribnb guests, but it’s even more important for non-vacationing families. Chances are high that vacationing families have already done a great deal of research on their destination and have specific itineraries planned for their short stay. Non-vacationing families settling in for longer-term stays need more advice and guidance to get to know their neighborhood – they seek more local know-how and need to feel savvy and confident in their new community. The role of the host is critical here.
5. Make sure your property is clean and uncluttered – even more important for families
When traveling longer-term, kids tend to take their most precious toys, books and stuffed animals with them. They are ecstatic to find space for their belongings and to appropriate personal space to the extent possible. When closets are filled or locked up, it’s difficult to feel at home – this goes for the whole family.
6. Natural light, peace and quiet
If your property has the above-mentioned qualities, make sure to include them in your property description. When working and studying from home, natural light becomes integral to your every-day functioning. Many hosts try to hide the lack of natural light in the pictures they display – this is not recommended when catering to families who will be spending a significant amount of their time on your property. The same approach is valid for the noise level of a property. When taking calls and exams on a daily basis, peace and quiet become critical and not just preferable for digital nomad families.
7. Sockets
Every family member will likely have an electronic device that needs to be charged regularly during the day, and a property with too few sockets can quickly become a hindrance to productivity. If sockets are missing, making sure that guests have extension cords available upon their arrival makes a big difference when settling into a new place.
8. Laundry
Being able to do laundry as often as necessary in a convenient manner and location becomes a matter of survival for most families traveling longer-term with a short supply of a change of clothes, especially for their kids. Having detergent available upon arrival is a thoughtful gesture.
9. Parks and outdoor spaces
If your property is near parks and open spaces, make sure to mention this in your listing. Playgrounds, accessible green public spaces and outdoor areas are integral to a family’s everyday existence. This is a huge factor in helping families decide which properties to favor when looking for longer-term accommodation.
10. Offer flexible cleaning services
Families often need impromptu cleaning services depending on their activities, and being able to call upon such services without too much hassle is important in their every-day lives. Most Airbnb rentals offer cleaning services for stays over a week long, but generally they are constrained to one cleaning per week. Giving guests a list of cleaning services, they can call upon for additional help is important for longer-term stays.
This is not by any means an exhaustive list. If I’m missing anything, please let me know in the comments. Would love to hear from digital nomad families who are embarking on their own journey!
