the washington post
.thursday, march
19,
2020dC
6Joanne and
Rosanne
Palmisano,
authors of
“Rock Your
Rental,” joined
staff writer
Jura Koncius
last week for
our Home
Front online
chat. Here is an edited excerpt.Q: I’m a renter in my early 20s
who rents one room in a group
house. I don’t want to invest in
things that aren’t good quality,
but I don’t want items just from
Ikea. I want to buy things I can
keep for a while so I’m not being
wasteful. How do I do this on a
tiny budget?
A: In our book, we give
suggestions for how to be eco-
friendly and still have great
designs. For websites, we like
Craigslist, Nextdoor and
Facebook Marketplace. Locally,
look at estate sales, antique
stores, vintage and thrift stores,
and architectural salvage. To
find quality, look for pieces that
have dovetail joints, real wood
and sturdy legs. Buy classic and
timeless shapes, and avoid
things that need new upholstery
unless you’re handy and can
follow an online do-it-yourself
tutorial. Many used items can be
restained or painted to be
beautiful again.Q: You should remove all items
such as photos and awards from
a room you want to rent, right?
What other sorts of things
should not be in there?
A: Edit for your guests. If the
space is only used as a vacation
rental, it should not have any
personal items, except maybe
one photo of you and your
family. If it’s a personal space, it
should be immaculate, and all of
your personal stuff should be
put away in baskets and closets.Q: I have so many ideas about
what I would love to do with my
space, but I only have a little
extra cash. Where should I start
to get more bookings? New
photos, fresh paint, new linens?
A: Paint is powerful. For a
limited budget and a bit of your
sweat equity, you can change a
space. It can be a classic white, a
bold color or, with some
patience and blue tape, a
pattern. Make an accent wall,
paint cabinet doors or furniture,
or paint a graphic or statement
wall that becomes
Instagrammable. New linens are
a must if your bed doesn’t look
amazing, clean and cozy.Q: I have an awesome little
beach house I could rent. It has
Saltillo tile that was not
properly sealed and has
permanent stains. Any
thoughts? I’m thinking of using
a big rug.
A: We love imperfection as long
as it’s clean. Maybe you can give
it an antique look by adding
more stains and sealing it. Or
you could whitewash it or use a
stencil to create a pattern on it.
Search Saltillo tile and patterns
on Pinterest to get some ideas.
Ta ke a photo of your tiles to the
paint store and ask what youroptions are. A big, beautiful rug
over tile is always welcoming
and comfortable.Q: Should you have plants in a
rental room? It seems like some
people may be allergic.
A: Plants are fine if you keep
them healthy and clean. I f you’re
concerned and getting feedback
from your guests about allergies,
you should remove them. That
said, millennials seem to love
lots of plants. Know your
audience.Q: What is the most comfortableand nonirritating bedding for
most guests, and how many
embellishments should be on
the beds? I have gone to hotels
where there is so much stuff on
the bed, such as pillows and
throws, that most of it ends up
on the floor.
A: Guests equate the color white
with cleanliness. Get crisp white
sheets that have limited
wrinkles and more high-end
linen for a romantic, cozy look
and feeling. Knowing your guest
is important. Spend money on
high-quality, beautiful bedding.
We’re not crazy about a ton ofstuff on the bed. We recommend
a couple of washable pillows and
a throw/blanket at the end of
the bed.Q: What should you provide in a
rental bathroom? Do you need
to provide cleaning supplies?
A: Yes. We recommend extra
toilet paper, antibacterial hand
wash and cleaning products
under the sink or in a basket. If
there’s a shower, at minimum we
require a refillable body wash.
Clean everything. Sit on your
toilet and look around. Is there
dust or dirt in the corners or on
the tile? Is there mold or stray
hair?Q: How do I use design to help
market my vacation rental?
A: There are so many ways to do
this. Let’s say you have a cozy
window seat with a view that
you have decorated with
beautiful fabric and pillows.
Stage it with a book, a throw
and a steaming cup of coffee.
Ta ke a beautiful close-up
photograph (with no people) of
this area. You want your guests
to imagine themselves in this
spot, relaxing with a good book.
Use this photo on your hosting
page, website and social media.
Describe the image a nd use
hashtags. For example: “Enjoy
our cozy window seat
overlooking the Golden Gate
Bridge in San Francisco. Curl up
with a cup of coffee, a book and
just take a nap. It’s your perfect
spot.” #goldengateview
#sanfrancisco #cozywindowseat.”
The design has created an
“experience,” and you should
market that experience.Q: Should you create a coffee
bar for your guests? How much
should you let them into your
kitchen?
A: We can’t function without a
cup of coffee. It’s a great
amenity, but it’s also an
opportunity to create a specially
designed space. Imagine: a cute
coffee maker on a black-and-
white tiled tray with little jars of
sugar and a mug with a saying
on it and a funny sign related to
coffee. These things make
people smile. Letting guests into
your kitchen is a personal choice
and depends on the layout of
your rental. Ideally, you could
create the coffee bar in their
private space.
[email protected] Also at washingtonpost.com
Read the rest of this transcript and
submit questions to the next chat,
Thursday at 11 a.m., at
live.washingtonpost.com.LIVe Q&AAuthors of ‘Rock Your Rental’ give advice on renting your space
Rosanne, left,
and Joanne
Palmisanolindsay selin
Joanne and Rosanne Palmisano recommend the addition of a coffee bar for your guests.Home