Renting out your house as a vacation home or short-term rental property? Even if you’re just getting started as an Airbnb host, it’s never too early to start thinking about where you’re going to store personal and valuable belongings when preparing for guests. Check out these nine storage tips for vacation rental owners—including the best places to keep your belongings while renting out your home!
Buy a Home Safe
Hidden safes are an easy storage solution for keeping personal belongings, jewelry, important documents, and other valuables secure while you’re renting out your property. This practical home storage idea keeps you from damaging or losing essential items since you don’t have to move them out of your Airbnb listing. From deposit boxes and small lock boxes to wall safes and home vaults, there are a variety of safes to meet your personal storage needs. No matter which option you choose, make sure you never leave the key to your safe in your rental home!
Use Under-the-Bed Storage
Clothing, accessories, linens, photo albums, and more can easily be tucked out of sight while you’re renting out your home. If you don’t plan to take these items with you, consider using under-the-bed storage totes or drawers. In case a guest decides to go looking for extra bedding, towels, or other belongings you want to be kept just for yourself, you may want to consider adding labels to the top of your storage containers that say “Private” or “For host use only.” Adding under-the-bed storage gives you a place to stash personal items and allows you to clear your closets, cabinets, or dressers for Airbnb guests to use, so they don’t have to live out of a suitcase.
Opt for an Owner’s Closet
Though you’re using your home as a short-term rental property, that doesn’t mean you have to give guests access to every nook and cranny! An owner’s closet provides a secure storage space in your vacation rental property where you can store your own items. You could use an actual closet, pantry, armoire, or under-the-stairs cupboard. With this convenient home storage solution, Airbnb hosts can tuck away family photos, vacuum cleaners, cleaning supplies, basic tools, and other things you might use or take back out in between renters. Just remember to keep this closet locked whenever tenants are staying in your home.
Consider Your Cabinets & Cupboards
If you need extra personal storage or don’t have a full closet you can keep guests out of, try using cupboards and cabinets. These could be organized kitchen cabinets, cupboards under the sink, or bathroom cabinets. Though smaller than a closet, these areas are perfect for stowing non-perishable food, cooking utensils, medications, and personal hygiene products you don’t want guests using. There’s a variety of simple cabinet locks you can attach to the doors to keep these items private. If you feel keeping cupboards for yourself doesn’t leave guests with enough storage, you can also buy inexpensive stackable drawers or a rolling storage cart for their use.
Tuck Items Away in the Basement
Planning to use your basement as a storage room? Get some plastic totes, tubs, or other storage containers to take full advantage of your home’s storage potential! Even if you have a finished basement that guests will spend time in, you can use hidden living room storage furniture like ottomans and lift-top coffee tables to stash non-valuable belongings or frequently used items like blankets. If you have an abundance of items to store, you can use stackable storage bins neatly in a corner or against the wall, and hang a clean sheet or set up a room divider, so guests know these boxes are off-limits. If your home doesn’t have a basement, another similar area to think about utilizing is an encapsulated crawl space.
Move Belongings to the Attic
For an even more out-of-the-way storage solution, use the space in your attic as storage. It’s very unlikely Airbnb guests will venture into this space, so your attic is an ideal spot for storing large or rarely used items that you don’t need sitting out—including seasonal decor, extra furniture, family heirlooms, and other items. Just be careful when storing temperature-sensitive items like electronics and musical instruments in the attic, since this area of your home is more susceptible to heat, cold, and humidity!
Utilize Outdoor Spaces
Offering garage access is optional for Airbnb hosts, so if you choose to lock it up and keep the garage door opener with you, you can use your garage for storage to keep your rental house free of clutter. Your garage space can be used for tools, outdoor decor, recreational gear, and even crafting supplies. Investing in a backyard shed is another home storage idea for keeping bikes, yard equipment, non-sensitive furniture, and extra decor safe. Use waterproof plastic storage bins to keep smaller items protected in your garage or shed. If you don’t have a garage or your HOA doesn’t allow a shed, a smaller backyard storage solution is a patio storage box—these are often waterproof, come in many sizes, and are just right for storing toys, pool gear, and grilling equipment.
Store Items at Another Residence
If the home you’re renting isn’t your primary residence, you can always move your belongings from your Airbnb rental to your other home. If your vacation rental property is your primary residence, consider asking friends or family if they have extra storage space available in their home for storage. Keeping your belongings at another house is a simple solution, but you may need to supplement this approach with a more permanent storage option for larger items.
Rent a Self Storage Unit
Have large items that won’t fit inside an owner’s closet, cabinet, or other home storage spaces? Reserve a self storage unit! Self storage is a top option for Airbnb hosts because storage facilities are secure, have convenient amenities such as climate control, and offer a diverse range of storage unit sizes and storage lockers. Plenty of facilities offer both short-term and long-term storage options so you can rent a unit for whatever length of time you need.
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