5 Best Practices for Airbnb Inventory Management

As an Airbnb host, you’ve probably got your finger on the pulse of how to best manage and maintain your vacation rental homes. Managing one property is already a lot of work and preparation, so maintaining several can be quite a challenge without the right tools and plenty of organization.

Part of that organization is ensuring your property is fully stocked with everything your guests need to make them feel comfortable and at home. Here’s what you need to know about Airbnb inventory management best practices to ensure a five-star review at the end of your guests’ stay.

The Importance of an Effective Inventory Management System

Keeping tabs on your Airbnb inventory is crucial for several reasons. Ensuring a short-term rental is fully stocked with high-quality inventory is one of the first things your guests will notice when they arrive. They expect their vacation rental to have everything they need for a fun and relaxing stay.

As a host, tracking inventory is essential to ensure turnovers go smoothly and quickly. Hosts often have to deal with inventory loss through things like theft or damage, so knowing how much in-stock inventory you have at all times can help you budget for buying more essential items.

To make this task easier, try creating an Airbnb inventory checklist. Whether you manage your inventory through a spreadsheet, inventory list, or software, doing so can save you time, hassle, and money in the long run.

Manage Your Inventory Items With These 5 Best Practices

Management and maintenance are two keys to success in the property management game. Working with your cleaning team and ensuring your property is well-stocked with all the essentials can help make check-ins quick and easy. Let’s look at five things that will help make tracking your inventory stress- and hassle-free.

1. Have an Airbnb Inventory Checklist on Hand

Just as you would make a grocery list before you run to the store, creating an Airbnb inventory list helps reduce the chances that you forget anything important that you need to have on hand. Having a well-stocked property is one of the first steps you, as a host, can take to ensure a positive guest experience. Create a master list and break it into sections by room so it’s easy to scan and edit. This includes all the essentials you’ll need for spaces like the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, among other areas.

One thing to keep in mind if you manage multiple properties is that your inventory lists may vary by property, depending on who you’re marketing to. If you manage a beach property geared towards families, your inventory list will look a little different than a trendy loft in the city for couples. In this case, you may want to create separate inventory lists for each property.

2. Always Stock Essential Items

Essential items are what your guests expect to have available to them upon check-in. Some examples of essential items that Airbnb recommends hosts provide include:

• Linens for each available bed
• One pillow and towel per person
• Toilet paper
• Soap and shower gel

How much of each item you need to provide depends on the number of people staying in the property and the duration of the stay. If you’re hosting long-stay guests, throwing in items like an extra blanket, towels, or toiletries can be a nice gesture.

Whatever inventory you decide to provide, it’s a good idea to mention these items on your Airbnb listing. Making this information available can help future guests select your property over others that have few or no amenities provided on their listings.

3. Go Room by Room

Go through each room and decide what inventory your guests need for that space. It’s a good idea to provide just the essentials for each room to avoid possible theft or damage. Your inventory list for each room should include the items and supplies you’ll need to restock often, like paper products and soap, along with bigger items that are one-time investments.

For example, your living room inventory list may include a TV, board games, and books. You’ll want to ensure this extra inventory is in place and in good condition before each check-in. They’re not essential items but things your guests will appreciate having on-site.

4. Take Photos

Taking photos is helpful for the cleaners who help you with turnarounds. Having photos for reference gives your cleaning team an idea of what you expect the set-up to look like each time a guest arrives. If you have a rotating team of cleaners, photos give them a visual of the property. You can provide photos or instructions on how inventory should be stored or restocked.

Besides helping out your cleaning team, taking photos of each room can come in handy if you have an issue with damage or theft to your property and need to make a claim later on. You’ll have documentation if you need to show that something was damaged or went missing.

5. Use Inventory Automation Software

Using inventory software, like TIDY, has several advantages. As a host, you can easily track your inventory and cleaning tasks using automated features and functions. You can customize your software to alert you when you’re running low on certain inventory items that need to be reordered. It also allows for easy communication between you and your cleaning professionals, connecting you to the help and service you need to keep your property in tip-top shape.

Never Be in the Dark About What You've Got in Stock

If you’re looking for the perfect inventory management system, TIDY has you covered. We’ve created software with property managers and service providers in mind, making it easy to manage all the essential tasks to run your vacation rental well.

Using TIDY, you can easily keep track of your inventory, manage your team, and contact the professionals who maintain your property. Several plans are available depending on your needs, and each can be tailored with the best features for your business.

Reach out to TIDY today to find out how to level up your short-term rental business from the comfort of your own home.

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