Airbnb Plus is the latest offering from Airbnb. They describe it as “a new selection of only the highest quality homes with hosts known for great reviews and attention to detail.” Right now, it’s an invite-only program in Nashville, though at some point they may begin taking applications again.

To be eligible for Airbnb Plus, you must have:

• Maintained an average rating of 4.8 over the past year

• No canceled reservations over the past year (unless there were extenuating circumstances)

We’ve put together a clear, user-friendly checklist of the amenities and features that are currently required to be accepted into the Airbnb Plus program. If you received an invitation or just want to get your listing ready for when applications open, this list is for you!

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Your Listing Must be Well-Equipped

Bedrooms

Airbnb Plus listings must offer at least one private bedroom (or studio) for guests. Each bedroom must have:

• Mattress that doesn’t sag or squeak

• Bed frame or covered box spring that elevates mattress off the floor

• Top sheet, bottom sheet, bedspread (or duvet with cover, comforter, or quilt), all correctly sized and matching

• 2 pillows for single beds / 4 pillows for full, queen, or king beds

• 1 luggage rack, drawer, or shelf for guests’ items

• Space for the guest to hang clothes with at least 4 (non-wire) hangers

Bathrooms

Airbnb Plus listings must offer at least one full bathroom that is private for guests. All bathrooms must have:

• Hot and cold water with strong water pressure

• Large mirror (cannot be handheld)

• At least 2 rolls of toilet paper

• 4 hand towels

• Hand soap, single bottle or new bar

• 2 bath towels per guest (minimum of 4 bath towels total)

• Shampoo and conditioner, 2 separate bottles

• Body soap, single bottle or new bar

Kitchen

Airbnb Plus listings must have a kitchen (if entire home) or kitchenette (if apartment, studio, or guest house) stocked with:

• Large knife for food prep, bread knife, and paring knife

• Cutting board

• No less than 4 utensil sets (set contains a fork, knife, and spoon)

• No less than 4 plates, bowls, glasses, and mugs

• Spatula

• Sponge or cleaning brush

• Dish soap

• Garbage can with bag

• At least one roll of paper towels

• Bottle opener and wine opener

• 2 pots and 2 pans of any size (if full kitchen)

• Stove top with at least 2 burners (if full kitchen)

• Microwave, stove top, double burner, single burner, or hot plate (if kitchenette)

• Full-size refrigerator (if full kitchen) or mini refrigerator (if kitchenette)

• Dedicated sink

• Hot and cold water with strong water pressure

• Bottled or filtered water (Brita suffices)

• Coffee, coffeemaker, and extra filters

• Sugar

• Salt and pepper

• Cooking oil (if full kitchen)

Equipment basics

• TV with functional cable or streaming capabilities

• WiFi with download speeds of at least 5 Mbps

• Iron and ironing board or steamer

• Air conditioning that sufficiently cools the space

• Heater or space heater that sufficiently heats the space

Guest check-in

• Digital check-in instructions featuring at least one photo of the check-in process

• Printed house manual containing emergency contact info, host contact info, WiFi login, and checkout procedures

• 24/7 check-in available after the guests’ check-in time via lockbox, keypad, doorperson, smartlock, or nearby host

Privacy and safety

• Entry to listing has a lock

• Entryway is well-illuminated

• Entry door closes and locks easily

• All bedrooms have a solid door with a lock

• Windows in bedrooms and bathrooms provide privacy, such as frosted glass or window coverings

• Smoke detector

• Carbon monoxide detector

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Your Listing Must be Well-maintained

• Furniture, decor, carpet, rugs, bedding, towels, and appliances are impeccably clean, in good condition, and free of stains, tears, and signs of wear

• All walls, floors, ceilings, windows, mirrors, finishes, fixtures, paint, and trim are free of visible cracks, chips, scuffs, mildew, and damage

• No signs of pests

• Lighting, appliances, and electronics are intuitive to use and work as intended

• Wires and cables are organized and hidden from sight

• Shower heads, faucets, cabinet handles, and other fixtures are properly installed, fully secure (not loose or cracked), and function as they should

• Outdoor spaces are free of clutter, dead plants, and excessive weeds

• Outdoor furniture is clean, undamaged, and fully functional

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Your Listing Must be Thoughtfully designed

• Each room has a 
cohesive style; furniture and decor are intentional and inviting

• There are design elements that reflect your personality and create a space that’s full of character

• Rooms are neither sparse nor cluttered

• Everything visible is aesthetically pleasing or useful to guests

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We hope this comprehensive and detailed list of Airbnb Plus requirements has been a help to you. We wish you much success on your hosting journey!

If you’re looking for management services, let’s talk.

In a recent post, we talked about a few myths and fears about Airbnbs and other short-term rentals (STRs) in Nashville. One of the city’s residents’ biggest concerns is that STRs can bring a certain amount of unrest to otherwise peaceful neighborhoods. Residents picture their nice, quiet streets overrun with bachelor and bachelorette parties. It is our job as Airbnb hosts to change this perception over time.

Being community-minded is still vital, even if you own a property that functions as a business for you.

First, after neighbors have signed your paperwork acknowledging that they understand they’ll be living near an STR property, make sure to follow up. Consider popping some chocolate into mailboxes with your business card (or that of your property manager) tucked into a handwritten note about your constant availability for concerns or questions that arise.

Make sure neighbors know that guests are screened and will respect the neighborhood.

In your note, be sure to mention that measures are being taken to ensure that safety and good behavior are priorities. You may even consider giving them an idea of the types of rules you intend to enforce, keeping the neighborhood a safe and happy place to be.

Make your guests aware of their responsibilities by creating a clear list of house rules.

Be clear with guests in the listing that your house and your neighborhood are to be respected. Be open about the fact that they’re staying in a residential neighborhood. Remind them that you love your neighbors and if they are loud or inappropriate in any way that disturbs the neighbors, they will be evicted immediately. Consider house rules that will still offer good guest experiences while safeguarding neighbors. For example, no smoking (even outside); enforced quiet hours; no additional guests besides those in the reservation; and absolutely no parties on the property.

Celebrate your neighbors and go the extra mile just like you would if you lived in the home.

Be intentional about putting small gifts (like candy or even just cards) into mailboxes during the holidays. If there are block parties thrown, be sure to attend and interact with neighbors. If you happen to know any of them personally, hear of a baby being born, or a wedding taking place, acknowledge the event any way you see fit.

In 2016, Nashville was voted the friendliest city in America by Travel + Leisure, and featured on Huffington Post for the same reason. In the end, this is about preserving Nashville’s core values of kindness and respect for others—the people who live here and our guests.

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Still have questions about making your neighbors happy with their relationship with you as an STR owner or struggling with other things that have popped up? Don't hesitate to contact us now. We'll work together to see how we can solve any issues stemming from managing your STR! 

In a town like Nashville, there’s no end to the rumors that circulate. And when it comes to Airbnb and short-term rentals (STRs) in Nashville, it seems the rumor mill has been churning at an alarming rate.

Trust me, I’ve heard some doozies. So if you’ve been told things that have left you scratching your head, I’ve got you covered. Today, I’ll walk you through the four most common myths floating around and give you the real facts so you can help stop the madness.

Myth: Nashville may ban all Airbnb properties.

Owner-occupied STRs have never been in jeopardy. Yes, Metro Codes has proposed a ban on non-owner occupied STRs, but on October 3rd, they deferred the vote until January. A sub-committee has been formed to research and review the STR situation, and make a recommendation on the best way forward in January. As a phase out of non-owner occupied STRs is still possible, it’s incredibly important that you reach out to city council to voice your support of homesharing and personal property rights.  

Myth: The majority of STR owners are out-of-state investors.

This is simply not true. In fact, a whopping 88.8% of owners live in Tennessee. The majority of Airbnbs are run by people who not only live in the community but also care deeply about what happens in the community. They offer authentic local experiences to visitors and point them towards local businesses and independent restaurants, which supports and stimulates our city’s economy. By and large, Airbnb owners are not unconcerned outsiders but active, engaged, responsible members of the community.

Myth: STRs are causing a housing shortage in Nashville.

Nashville is a booming city—it’s experiencing all the typical growing pains that accompany this type of exponential growth. A shortage of affordable housing is definitely a concern, and it’s one that Mayor Barry has made a priority to address. However, it’s almost fashionable to blame STRs when folks can’t find exactly what they’re looking for on the housing market. The fact is, though, non-owner occupied STRs comprise just .4% of all housing units in Nashville. That’s certainly not enough to be causing the housing shortage.

Myth: STRs cause significant problems in neighborhoods.

This is one I hear frequently. Why? In part, because Nashville has become a wildly popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties. I’ve heard claims that these groups of visitors cause frequent complaints and police visits. While there are definitely problem guests (and, dare I say, problem hosts), the scale of these issues has been sensationalized beyond belief. In truth, STR homes comprise only .2% of all complaints to police and Codes.

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Undoubtedly, the STR industry is great for cities, and Nashville is no exception. As I shared in a recent post, in Nashville alone, $477 million has been generated in economic impact through STRs in a single year. This industry also helps drive traffic to local businesses: 50% of Airbnb guests spend directly in the neighborhood in which they’re staying. STRs have created more than 5,000 jobs and have generated $152 million in wages and benefits. These are all great things.

No matter how much truth we try to spread, rumors fly, so if you hear anything else wild, just shoot us a message. We just might address your question in a future blog post or ezine.

For more information or to get started with your own short-term rental, check out our new ebook. It's filled with great information on getting up and running with your STR in our awesome town. Check it out here!