Your guests are going to be traveling with luggage and will need storage space. If they are just passing through, they will need some extra space to store their luggage while they relax or explore their surroundings. You can’t expect the guests to live out of their suitcase entirely the entire time in your short term rental. To let them settle down into your space, you have to provide options for them to store their belongings.

What option to choose for storage depends on the length of the general length of stay of your guests.

If the guests are staying for a long time then they need their luggage with them at Airbnb. If they are on a short stay, then hauling luggage becomes a hassle. In that case, they can use a luggage storage service.

Let us look at the solution for both these cases:

You have two options when it comes to offering in house storage. You can either get portable and cheap standalone options like organizers and storage cubes or you can get furniture like dressers, wardrobes, and cabinets. Furniture will be harder to move around and is a big investment. You need to save money, mark out space, and maintain them. Unless you have older furniture lying around this can be a lot of work. Organizers and storage cubes, on the other hand, are cheap and convenient to move around. Apart from the luggage inside the bags, the bags themselves need to be stored somewhere. A closet is usually the best option.

AmazonBasics Foldable Storage Bins: These fabric storage bins are a great low-cost option for giving your guests the flexibility of storing their stuff. The handles are sewn in so they should last. If you choose to, you can later upgrade by getting a frame for these organizers. They come with a 1-year warranty.

Lifewit Large Capacity Clothes Storage Bag: If you are catering to families, they will carry a lot of clothes with them. This clothes organizer is a good option for a large number of clothes. They come with reinforced handles, a sturdy zipper and well-ventilated material for the body.

SONGMICS 6 Cube Storage Rack: For around 20 dollars, this unit can fit into any room and be used to store the aforementioned storage cubes. It has a load-bearing capacity of around 100 pounds. The racks are modular and very easy to assemble, so they can be moved around to create different configurations. That way, they can fit into the space that you have with a little adjustment.

mDesign Extra Wide Dresser Storage Tower: This is a unit that is a happy middle between organizers and a dresser. It comes with fabric bins. It has a wooden top and adjustable plastic feet to protect the flooring. It can double as a nightstand.

Black Sonoma 5 Drawer Chest: This one is affordable and sturdy. It has all-metal roller glides so the drawers shouldn’t get stuck. It is made out of high-quality laminated composite wood. It requires assembly but that is a benefit when it comes to moving it around or storing it when unused.

For shorter stays, there are certain luggage storage solutions that locally store the luggage in lockers or shops. The services are usually paid. Find such a service near you. If it exists you can let the guests know in advance about the service and let them drop off their bags at such a location. That way, they are only traveling with essentials.

You can choose to provide secure storage like a safe for your guest’s valuables. Get something easy to configure and use. Keep the instructions that come with them. The guests could lock their valuables in your safe and forget the combination. In that case, tell them they owe you for the safe which will have to be broken into. Let them know they are using it at their own risk.

AmazonBasics Small Desk Drawer Safebox: This is a great option to store cards and money that the guests may have. It is slim and can fit into a tight space like a drawer. It has a programmable electronic keypad and an easy handle on the front. It comes with an emergency backup key so you won’t have to break it in case the guests forget the combination.

If you can find furniture with built-in storage options, that is great. Some may not be actually used though. For example, bed storage. It seems nice to have a bed with storage options but such storage is mostly used for infrequently used items. Travelers won’t be carrying items like that with them. Storing regular use items in the bed storage would be a hassle and hence would not even get used.

Precautions to take:

Get plenty of hangers and clothespins if you are going to offer a closet. Keep some desiccating agents handy to keep the wardrobe dry and to remove smells.

Fabric storage bins can get dirty easily with a lot of use. Plan on replacing them every year or so. Check regularly for termites if you have wooden furniture.

Remember that if you are renting out a private room in your house, you also need to move out of your things from the guest’s room. You can choose to keep it locked in the guest room but there have been instances of guests breaking into the locked closets. In that case, for your belongings, storage bins are a great option.

Do you need a bookshelf or media center or desk? These are nice to have, but not essential. They take up a lot of space and have their own functions. You should get them if they make sense for the type of guest that frequents your property.

Do a thorough check after each guest leaves. If guests leave something behind, you should keep it safe till they can pick it up themselves. If you have to ship it out to them, charge them the shipping fees.

Love,

Scooch and Steve