One way you can get more Airbnb bookings is if you attract more professionals to your Airbnb by making your rental more work-from-home friendly. In the past couple of years a lot of jobs went and stayed remote. Many people have been taking that opportunity to travel and see different cities and these guest tend to book longer stays which is very desirable. In this post I'll give you some tips and suggest products to make your Airbnb more attractive to guests that are planning to work from home.
I'm going to break down the WFH setup into 3 levels, Basic WFH, Advanced WFH and Video Conferencing WFH and within each of those levels, I'm going to suggest products that fit different budgets from low to high to cover different needs. Keep in mind I'm writing this at the end of 2022 which will affect the prices I mention.
You don't need to spend a lot for a WFH Airbnb setup but I would try to match the budget with the furnishings, area, and guests you are already targeting.
Basic WFH Airbnb Requirements
You may think it's enough to have a dining table and chairs for your guests to work from but the problem is that they'll need to clear off the table to switch between meals and work. If they're their with their family meal times and work might overlap so it is a nice bonus to include a dedicated workspace in your short term rental.
At a minimum, these are the 5 things you'll need for a work from home friendly Airbnb:
- good internet and WIFI setup
- a desk
- an ergonomic desk chair
- a surge protecting power strip
- and a task light
How much bandwidth for an Airbnb WFH setup?
The more bandwidth you have the better but you don't want to pay extra for bandwidth you don't need. Video conferencing might take up 3Mbps, streaming movies in HD around 5Mbps and 25Mbps for 4k video. I would get a minimum of 25Mbps and add 10Mbps per additional guest and 25Mbps per 4k tv. Most basic plans can handle this. If you can get a fiber service like Verizon FiOS go for that because the upload and download speeds are the same. With cable you'll get less upload bandwidth than download which might affect people that need to upload large files.
Best desk for Airbnb
Your Airbnb WFH desk doesn't have to be too elaborate. It doesn't need a lot of storage or shelf space that someone would use if they used the desk on a longer term basis. It just needs to have room for a laptop and some papers.
If you're looking for affordable desk for your Airbnb, use whatever nice desk you have or can find cheap locally. Anything can be a computer desk as long as it has a 28-30" flat surface above the floor and enough legroom to sit comfortably under it. If you need a good budget desk to buy this Coleshome computer desk comes in different sizes and finishes to fit many spaces.
If you have more money to spend, a stand up desk elevates your WFH Airbnb setup. This FEZIBO standing desk is a good, off-brand option from Amazon. It's available in a variety of colors and sizes to fit your space.
For higher-end Airbnb rentals you'll want to get an Uplift V2 or similar standing desk.
Ergonomic Chair for Work From Home Office
If someone is using your short term rental to work from home, they'll be sitting at their desk for hours each day. You want to give them something a little more comfortable than an old dining room chair. Just like investing in a good mattress will avoid bad reviews, a comfortable chair will do the same for the WFH travelers. I wouldn't try to save money by going used because seat cushions will compress over time and make the chair uncomfortable. Also avoid any PU, polyurethane or bonded leather chairs. Mesh and fabric chairs will last longer.
If you're not looking to spend a lot of money, look for an armless, mesh task chair under $100 like the KOLLIEE armless office chair. For a little bit more you can get this one that has arms.
In the mid budget I would look for a nice off brand high-back mesh chair like the GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh Chair for about $250 or this Merax Ergonomic Chair which is similar but about half the price. I'm currently sitting on a Merax chair I've happily owned for years.
If you have a luxury Airbnb your ergonomic chair should reflect that. Think Uplift Vert, the popular Herman Miller Aeron Chair, the HAG Capisco Adjustable Standing Desk Chair that Joe Rogan uses, and if you really want to stand out the Herman Miller Embody Chair will make sure people remember their stay.
Surge Protector
A surge protecting power strip that also has USB charging ports is also essential to make charging their laptop, cell phones and other devices convenient. When it comes to surge protectors I like to stick to brands I recognize.
On the low end the APC PE6U2 provides 1080 joules of protection with 6 AC ports and 2 USB. For about $10 more this Tripp Lite TLP606DMUSB is similar but this surge protector mounts to the desk. If not having your guests bend down to plug things in sounds good this APC Desk Mount Power Station PE6U4 also mounts to the edge of the desk but looks cooler.
Task Light
Not everything is digital and once in a while we need to read and write on paper so having a desk lamp that can provide some light on the desk is very important. There are a wide array of lamps you can choose from to match your décor but if you're looking for a nice, sleek looking desk lamp, I like the BEYONDOP LED Desk Lamp because it has a high CRI and is dimmable.
Advanced WFH Airbnb Requirements
Providing your Airbnb guests with a chair and desk to put their laptop on is nice but its nicer if your guests can plug their laptop in and have access to a full size monitor, keyboard and mouse. For an advanced WFH airbnb experience you'll need the following in addition to the basic desk and chair:
- a USB Docking Hub
- a Monitor with monitor arm
- a Keyboard and mouse
- and a Laptop Stand
USB-C/Thunderbolt Docking Station
A docking station is a device that connects to a modern laptop and then allows that laptop to connect to other devices connected to the docking station such as an external monitor, keyboard, mice, wired network, etc. It will be the central point of connectivity for all the computer peripherals so your guest should only need to plug their laptop into it provided. Most newer laptops will work with a docking station.
The laptop's USB-C charging cable plugs into the docking station then the docking station plugs into the USB-C port on the laptop, providing power and connectivity. Technology changes fast but right now, to be the most compatible, it's good to look for a docking station that supports Thunderbolt and USB-C.
A popular and affordable choice for a docking station at only $35 is the MOKiN JP-HUB-83 which can connect to PCs, Macs, Chromebooks and laptops running Linux with a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C port with Display Port Alt Mode. It has 2 HDMI ports that support up to 4K@60Hz, 1 DisplayPort, 1 USB-C Power Delivery port, 1 USB 3.0 Port, 2 USB 2.0 ports and an SD/TF/Micro SD Card Reader and 100W of power.
For a mid-tier docking station I would consider the TOTU TT-HB029 which has 1 HDMI that supports 4k@30Hz and 1 VGA port that supports 1080p@60Hz, 1 USB-C Power Delivery port, 1 USB-C 3.0 port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet port, 3.5mm audio/mic and an SD and Micro TF card slot.
On the more expensive side is the TOTU TT-DC002A which can support more monitors.
Monitor
A good, affordable monitor for your Airbnb work from home setup would be something in the 2k, 22"-24" range such as this LG 24QP500-B. I would try to stick with monitor brands such as LG, Samsung, ASUS, Acer, ViewSonic, Dell, HP and others that I've heard of before.
For the intermediate tier monitor something in the 27" range with 2k-4k resolution like this Lenovo L27q-35-2022 would be a good fit.
For the luxury rentals a dual monitor setup might make sense but a 32"+ ultrawide, curved display like the LG UltraWide QHD 34-Inch Computer Monitor 34WP65C-B will really impress and make for a productive display. A curved monitor mounting arm will be a good addition to this.
Keyboard and Mouse
Just like your bed and desk chair, the keyboard is something your guests are going to be touching a lot. I've been a big fan of Logitech keyboards because of their quality, longevity and feel. That's why all my WFH Airbnb keyboard recommendations are from Logitech.
The Logitech Media Combo MK200 Full-Size Keyboard and High-Definition Optical Mouse is a reliable and affordable choice if you don't want to deal with batteries on wireless keyboards and mice.
If you want a nicer keyboard, you have to go wireless. The Logitech MK545 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo is a good choice for around $50.
Luxury Airbnb's should consider a keyboard and mouse that stands out a little more. The Logitech MX Keys Advanced Wireless Illuminated Keyboard paired with the Logitech MX Master 3S or Logitech MX Anywhere Mouse makes quite a statement.
Laptop Stand
Since you can use the laptop monitor at the same time as the external monitor, it makes sense to raise the laptop up on a stand to bring the monitors closer together. You don't have to get to fancy as it's a simple device. Any basic laptop stand should do but you might want to pay a little extra for an adjustable height laptop stand.
Video Conferencing Airbnb WFH Setup
To make your Airbnb better suited for Zoom, Teams meetings and other video conferencing add the following to the advanced setup above:
- a decent webcam
- a nice sounding microphone
- a key light
- and pc speakers
Which webcam for video conferencing?
The budget camera is the Logitech c505e has a decent picture and comes it at less than $50. It has a 60 degree field of view (FOV) which means it won't show too much of the surrounding space and instead will focus in more on the face. That also means it won't distort the face as much either.
The mid tier camera is the Logitech Streamcam at around $100 it blows away a lot of similarly priced cameras in terms of picture quality and ability to get white balance and exposure correct.
If you want to get a webcam that approaches the quality of the picture you get from a DSLR camera, the Insta360 link is for you, if you don't mind spending close to $300.
Which microphone to use for video conferencing?
All the webcams listed above have microphones but the sound quality won't be as good as using a dedicated mic that's positioned close to the speaker's mouth.
If you're on a small budget the Samson Q2U is a great microphone for only $60. The Q2U has USB as well as XLR outputs along with the associated cables. The USB output is very good, especially for video conferencing but the sound would improve going to XLR with something like the $45 Behringer UMC22 Audio Interface. I think that makes the setup too complicated though.
The Samson Q2U comes with a desk stand but for $20 it's worth it to get a boom arm to clear up desk space and get the mic closer to the mouth. $9 for a pop filter is a good idea too for this microphone which works better than the included wind screen for diffusing plosives.
For a nicer sounding mic and experience the Shure MV7 is also a dynamic microphone with both USB and XLR outputs. It costs about $250 for just the microphone but the USB sound is very similar to the XLR output.
This is where I think most people should stop as both the Samson Q2U and the Shure MV7 are more than capable of delivering great sound for video conferencing. If you are going to be catering to podcasters or creators then you might want to go with one of the next two mic setups but it's going to involve additional hardware that will increase the cost and might be confusing to some guests.
One of the most popular mic's for broadcasting and recently podcasting is the Shure SM7B which runs about $350. You'll also need a Cloudlifter to increase the gain as it's a very quiet mic and the Focusrite Scarlet Solo is a frequently paired audio interface for around $110. Don't forget a nice Gator boom arm with integrated XLR cable.
Recently Logitech came out with the Blue Sona Active Dynamic XLR Broadcast Microphone which is similar to the Shure SM7B and costs about the same, but it includes a built in preamp so you can save $150 by not buying the Cloudlifter and extra XLR cable.
Should you get a key light for video conferencing?
It's very important to have good lighting for flattering videoconferencing. Low light makes any webcam perform worse and bad lighting makes the subject look bad. The overhead light that's behind the guest isn't going to do them any favors.
If you're trying to stay low budget for a key light I would go with the ALOCIAM AL-08 for about $20. It mounts on the monitor so it can get close, it's dimmable and the color is adjustable which can help those working later in the day. It's a decent size for the price at just over 7". It's not going to be the softest light but it will be pretty good. If you want to spend about 2.5 times more for a name brand light that's similar the Logi Litra Glow is pretty good at producing a bright and fairly soft light for it's size.
On the higher end, the Elgato Key Light is bright and well regarded but costs $200. I would personally go for the Neewer Desk Mount LED Video Light which is larger and brighter and about half the price. Both can be dimmed and the color changed to a warmer temperature which is useful at night. These larger lights will also work better with a green screen if you choose to include one.
Which PC speakers for work from home office?
Laptop speakers suck. Almost any external speaker will be a big improvement. The Creative Pebble V2 is an affordable speaker for less than $30 with very good sound for the price.
An upgrade will be the Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers for about $100 and if you really want to blow people away with your choice of speakers get the Bose Companion 20 Speakers but they're about 3x more.
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