When we moved to North Carolina we ended up purchasing a house we loved, but with smaller acreage than we would’ve liked.
Therefore when the opportunity arose to purchase the house around the corner, with the backyard that butted up to ours, we couldn’t say no. My husband had always wanted to use his magical handyman skills to flip a house, so this seemed like the perfect win-win; flip the run-down house, and steal the backyard and garage for our own use.
The journey of flipping a house with two small children is a story for another time. This story is about how we decided to keep the house post-flip and turn it into an Airbnb rental.
First, we were excited that any visiting family members (which was all of them at the time, since no one even lived in North Carolina let alone Mooresville) would finally have a place to stay other than our house. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love hosting and enjoy making visitors feel welcome and have a great time. I just appreciate them having their own space.
Additionally, after looking at the Airbnb listings in our town we decided there lacked a less expensive option for small families. And we were hoping that being walking distance to our cute downtown would make our Airbnb listing more desirable than others. Thankfully we were right!
Our Airbnb has been going strong for three years now, and continues to make us a healthy side income. Guests have come from near and far. Some stop at the Airbnb on their drive through to the beach. Others come because we are Race City USA. And others have visited for weddings, graduations or other family events.
My husband and I clean our Airbnb ourselves to keep costs at a minimum. We kept the interior decor light, which guests seem to love as there is room for their stuff without all the normal tchotchkes associated with Airbnbs. And we chose a bunch of five star Amazon products to fill the Airbnb so it was ready to go with all the usual items someone could find in their own home.
Thankfully these Amazon purchases have held up, even with the wear and tear of weekly use from Airbnb guests. That is why I want to share them with you! Please see links below to the Amazon purchases that have been clutch in keeping our Airbnb ready for guests without having to constantly spend money on replacements.
Bedroom: master bed sheets, pillows, pillow protectors, mattress, mattress protector, second bedroom sheets, second bedroom comforter (can throw in the wash and dryer)
Bath: towels, wash cloths, make-up cloths, shower curtain, shower curtain liner
Kitchen: dish towels, dishes, cups, wine glasses, utensils, knives, cooking utensils, cutting boards, prep bowls
