Travelogue: AirBnb in Netarts Bay
I’m in Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast. The magical, delightful, rainy, expansive, restorative edge of the continent. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share my experience and offer some unsolicited advice. As a former Airbnb host myself, and as an interior designer, there are some things that make me go hmmmm. Where is the quality control? Well, there isn’t any (unless you apply for AirBnb Plus, which in my opinion should be the baseline, not the exception). Unless you privately hire an inspector, as some vacation rental companies do, there is nothing baked into Airbnb that offers a standard, at least one that holds hosts accountable. I’m not alone in wondering where the QC is. According to Sam Kemmis at Nerd Wallet Airbnb has become terrible. I share his unpopular opinion. I, too, have stayed in more questionable spaces than aspirational ones.
I was a host pre-Airbnb on a site called Room Exchange Network, circa 2008. We rented out a spare room in our home to help make the mortgage, and hosted a variety of out of town guests. We are still in touch with a Brit who visited for over a month to do a Shadow Yoga training. She's rad. My humble guest room had a quirky PNW theme with thrifted vintage decor. I provided earplugs, fresh linens, local visitor guides, and shared meals with our guests. It was a different time.
We hit pause on the guest room on and off, and eventually upgraded the bedding a decor a bit. It was nothing fancy, but it was thoughtful and clean. Circa 2010? All new organic bedding, a coffee, tea and water station, a new curtain, and a cute Virginia House vanity that I refinished. A fresh set of towels was provided, along with local bike path guides, restaurant guides, earplugs, fresh flowers, a soft rug at the bedside. The art on the walls was by artists within our families.
I’m trying to not feel sad about this space. I have an ocean view, within walking distance to a spot my dad and I used to frequent when he’d come to visit, called The Schooner (which I always thought was Schooners…) and the walks on the beach at low tide towards Oceanside are stunningly gorgeous. I have truly enjoyed myself! BUT. I had to wash lots of dishes that I did not get dirty, and that is not relaxing.
At the bare minimum, it needs to be clean. I won’t go into all the gory details but suffice it to say that dried scrambled egg on the spatula gave me pause about the level of cleaning that went into the $150 cleaning fee. Surfaces were dusty, fabrics were stained, and linens were synthetic shiny. It didn’t give the overall vibe of cleanliness, so I kept the windows open a lot. The sound of the waves and fresh air did wonders.
Choosing appropriate materials that are durable and cleanable is super important. However, the cleaning products are available, (yes, luckily products were available!) and contained chemicals of concern, particularly allergenic and asthmagenic ingredients. I checked them through the EWG app because I’m a materials health nerd and I care about how interior environments affect health. Of particular concern are the anti-microbials commonly found in surface cleaners, but also can be included in building materials like shower pans.
Here are some accessible tips:
Provide a first aid kit. I would have really appreciated access to a band-aid when I sliced my finger cutting a bagel when the thin, slippery plastic cutting board slipped on the laminate countertop. Don’t want to provide such amenities? Use a service like Host Co. to upsell to guests. Tell Annie I sent ya ;)
While you’re at it, how about a wooden cutting board?
Hold your cleaning crew to a higher standard. Hire an inspector to make sure your operations are meeting those standards. Hosts ultimately are responsible for QC. Sand on the sofa and long dog hair is unacceptable.
Provide personal care, cleaning products, and furnishings that are non-toxic.
Provide a guest guide with local attractions. Duh.
Simplify decor. While a bowl of sea shells is lovely, a box of tissue and somewhere to set your drink is a better use of side table space.
Prioritize functionality. Where and I supposed to hang my coat when I come in? You know I love a good hook. #renegadehookinstallation
Invest in better bedding. Please. If your pillows are pancake flat, it’s time to replace them. Check out Parachute, Linen Society, or Avocado.
Use throw pillows that have removable covers that can be washed. Wash them regularly along with any throw blankets.
Use a designer to help unify and harmonize your design elements, to create a cohesive, functional, and comfortable space with attention to detail you might overlook as a host. We can’t all be trained designers! Elevating your space can be simple and easy!
The more I research this, the more I realized that the space I had was relatively great. While there were some minor repairs needed, and some cleanliness issues, it really wasn’t that awful. Would I give it 5 stars? No. Was is plus worthy. Maybe? Considering that the checklist for Airbnb plus seems so basic, in my opinion. Still, it’s great to know that vetted spaces are an option. For more guidance refer to the enhanced cleaning guides and the AirBnb Plus.
This space was thoughtfully put together, it just needed some refinement and minor upgrades. I would absolutely recommend this space! What I learned by looking into this is that most of this guidance already lives on Airbnb’s website, a host only has to take the time to read through and implement the guidance. I think this is where regular inspection would be useful, or working with a designer from the beginning to bring more intention and care to your set up.
If you visit Netarts, be sure to check out Seaworthy Coffee on 131.
