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BEFORE and AFTER Photoshoot +Tips


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Katerinka12 4 years ago

The forum doesn't allow to post pictures easy, so I am posting just few ones and I hope you got an idea how the quality was and impression as well.

The funny thing is that my area is high demand, even with this kind of pictures it will be booked. BUT I am getting more inquires and other benefits, such are less questions from the guests, hopefully better reviews, etc. And since the photoshoot was just done, we will see with the time real true benefits of it, but I can assure you, that there will be many!

Irregardless, if you are ready for professional photoshoot or no, there are many ways to IMPROVE your listing (and therefore to attract more guests), I will be sharing with you my experience along with pictures.

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

BEDS:

The first and very risky decision was to put 2 queen in one studio room. No one in my area had it before and of course now people copy me :) My heart was beating fast when I took the risk, but I was believing that I follow the rule MAXIMIZE your space. And it worked.

Considering that I am in Asia and families are big here, many people started to book. Foreigners were also not left behind, because many travel in a group or with kids, and it's CHEAPER for them to stay in one place, yet to have a real good bed instead of sofa.

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

BED SCARVES:

I think they are really necessary. Guests will not use them (from my experience), but they make pictures very adorable and show that the host is professional and really set up the place for guests. 

In old ages they were used as the place to put the luggage, but let's go in our modern times. I chose the blue color, because it appeals to any age and gender. It looks refreshing, not tiring to the eyes and associates well with relaxation and ocean (though we are in the middle of overpopulated city). 

I chose the fabric (made in Turkey) myself, and found someone to sew. It didn't cost much, but if you are running on small budget, you can use colorful scarves for women or put colorful blanket in such a way that it will look like bed scarf :)

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

BED LAMP:

The lesson is do not use unnessesary items, as they might make the place look not clean and be a reason for additional complaints (bad reviews). I chose the lamp, because my guests told me it's a nice to have one (it's nice to have the guests who love to read too!) and there are many pluses:

1) has real use

2) makes the space cozy, romantic and homey

3) serves as an art

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Mr. Phouy Sonaroth 4 years ago

The room was very proper managing and the decoration was acceptably loved it but just only one thing I would suggest here for the cable to a TV was not a nice view.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Mr. Phouy, welcome to the Partner Community.

Unfortunately, Katerinka12 does not contribute any more....she had marvelous ideas and her help and humour were unbeatable.  She has inspired me....I miss her contribution so much...

Please rememer to edit your profile in Community...add photo....add your property link.

Have a nice day.

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

WELCOMING GUESTS:

I made a note "Enjoy your stay", cost me almost nothing. Just printed it the note, and placed it on colorful paper using glue. Ribbons are also so inexpensive, and I put them everywhere I can. It's important to make the guest feel that someone is waiting for him here and someone cares. It was a nice experience to see those ribbons on the bed lamp, when the lady guest left the place it looked untouched with "thank you" in form of ribbon on the lamp :)

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

FIRST PICTURES:

First picture is an Invite for a guest to click and book. Everything you can you should display on the first picture. And next 4 pictures are important as well. It was easy for me to do that with professional photographer as his camera catches the most of the space.

We put toilet paper, because... guests do really ask about it. Like how many toilet paper we will provide for 4 people for 3 days? The only thing we didn't expose here is drinking water, because we are getting abused with that. We are in the hot country and water is expensive here, so complimentary amount of water is limited to 1 night only. If you provide whatever you provide- water, fruits, etc - expose everything on the first pictures.

 

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

HAIR DRYER and TOILETRIES:

Hair dryer is a wise investment (at least for us, as our country is super hot, electricity is extremely very expensive, so majority of the hosts do not provide hair dryers).

If I am the guest, I would like to see what kind of toiletries will be provided. At least the picture should answer my question: Do I really need to bring my own toiletries?

I decorated again with the same ribbon from towels and put the flower that I found on the street :)

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

WIFI:

You know that WiFi is number 1 thing the guest do ask for, so somehow it should be exposed on your pictures. The most important for the guest to know, that the password is in visible place and they don't need to guess where is the password or contact the host again for it. It happened to me one time, when I checked in the host went home to sleep and didn't provide me a WiFi password. So, exposing the password is the good idea. As you can see, it's blurred and can't be used by neighbors, but potential bookers are happy to see that the password is well taken care of.

I used cheap plastic stand for photo pictures and red carton for the heart. It's cheap and looks adorable for everyone and goes well with Airbnb!

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Full of creative ideas...

You have done a lot of work Katerinka12...

I wish all the best for the season...

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

MINIBAR:

It was my idea ever since, but since I manage long distance, it was up to my cohost either to organize minibar or not. I don't really know how she does it, since we are in airport area and our guests can leave whenever they want to, but I will post the updates, if you are interested.

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

KITCHEN:

We did Airbnb style, where you can see what exact appliances and kitchenware will be provided. Again, guests do not read about that, so pictures are more preferred. I put a "human touch" to make a presence of a human being such as 2 cups and towel. Many places look so artificial, do some things to make them look homey. Teapot is a nice idea, but we don't provide one (country is too hot, people don't drink tea here).

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

DINNER TABLE:

I forgot my 2002 Don Perignon in the car and had no extra time to get it. So, I replaced champagne with wine and do not regret about that, because my place is 3 stars, not 5 stars!

I exposed plates and showed they are good for 4. Used some creativity in decoration. I cut some colorful paper and put it into the glasses together with white napkins (nowhere to buy colorful napkins in my country!) and added some tree flowers, from the street. 

I used bracelet (from Duty Free in Instambul :)) as a napkin holder. 

As you can see, the decorations can be very cheap or even free. The table runner is not used by my guests. Even if I leave it on the table, they put it in the closet, being afraid to damage it.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

No bubbles??? Oh my God!!!

Michael will be very disappointed with you Katerinka12...

I like your decoration,the bracelets, the flowers....little touches....so sweet...looks that you have spent time to make your place look nice, simple and homey.

Wine is perfect...after all who likes bubbles??  

Love your touches....

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

NOTES FOR THE GUESTS:

So easy, so cheap and so welcoming! I found this picture on Internet (you can use Etsy for ideas as well), printed it and glued it on the colorful paper. That's it! I already had colorful folders, but if you have to buy those, they are cheap. Again I printed the titles and created the heart shapes. Adorable and goes well with Airbnb :)

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Your note books are a fantastic idea. I like it very much. It’s very creative....

 

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

ROSE PETALS:

In my country the roses are so, so expensive that since no one is buying them, they fall into petals just the moment you bring them home. It was a pleasant surprise, that helped me to decorate not only dinner table, but beds as well. Isn't it romantic?

As much as you can, use flowers or leaves or anything that nature created, because nothing can beat the beauty of nature!

 

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Rose petals!!!

Wow!!!! love them. I spread them also on dinner table. A romantic touch!!!

Hope guests are not allergic to flowers.  My daughter is allergic to flowers but that doesn’t stop me of loving them.

I guess if someone is allergic to them they can take them out.ha....ha....

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

COMPUTER TABLE:

I am not sure if computer table is really necessary (think: will it add more bookings or increase the price?), but I was able to find inexpensive one and hopefully I will be on the Business listings of Airbnb soon. My other property is on Family group, and it helped with bookings a lot

 

CHESS:

The original plan was very long: chess, checkers, dominos, puzzles and even toys for kids (the question is who will clean them?). I decided not to put many and I was able to find inexpensive chess. I honestly didn't know that they will look so classy on the computer table. The photographer was the one to put them immediately on it.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Computer table and chess are very nice. I think your guests will appreciate it.

Cheers!!!

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Katerinka12 impressive all of your photos.

If I may, I would  prefer to see the napkin hanged. I think it would look much better.

Have a nice evening.

 

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

COOKWARE:

No one thought it is really important, but I insisted on exposing cookware as well. Majority of my bookings do come from women (wives booking for their husbands), so I do receive such questions on what king of cookware will be provided. I hope this picture shows it all. Again I added "human touch" - cups and kitchen towel (Belarussian flax:)) and put some lighting to expose, that we have one and to make the kitchen look romantic, cozy and homey

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Katerinka12 your cookware are excellent. Romantic, cozy and homey.... you gave me fantastic ideas...

Thanks for sharing....

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

ALTERNATIVE GUESTBOOK:

That could be fun for kids and adults as well. Frames are very cheap nowadays, so think of posters, guestbook or old pictures of your city... they can be found on Internet. This picture shows videophone with reception and security guards as well.

 

NUMBER OF PICTURES:

I have noticed that women like to see more pictures and they are more into details than men. But men do also adore pictures. And do not worry, if they don't like, they will not browse them all. But NUMBER of pictures makes your listing to appear in the search higher!

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Katerinka12 thanks for tip about pictures. Didn’t know that. I have about 38, do you think that’s too much???

My ? 

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

GUESTBOOK:
 

Finally my hands created this guestbook! I hope it will be functional... If not, it creates additional value to the pictures and invitation to book. So, I used scrapbook (you can use any notebook), put some abaca leftover from flower decorations, again the heart and small houses used for scrapbooks since I didn't have time to cut them myself.

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

IRON and IRONING BOARD:

This picture speaks for itself. Showing iron, ironing board and hangers is the must

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

UMBRELLA:
 

Well, we do have rains here often, so cheap umbrella is never a bad idea. You can think of that small, but important details too. 

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

PAINTINGS:

This picture was not included in the photoshoot (just to show you the painting), but most probably you have noticed that I decorated the place with my paintings. I can't say that the paintings are the cheapest way to decorate your place, but just one big painting can put the whole difference to your place, your competitors would be scratching their heads deeply thinking where did they go wrong :)

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fluff 4 years ago

What a difference from the old photos!!!

Skill using a decent camera and the makeover have turned bland into stunning.

Well done and thanks for sharing.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Hi!!!Katerinka12 you have done incredible job. Your place has been totally changed.  It’s fabulous....

Have an incredible day ....