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OPEN CONCEPT IS HERE TO STAY When the kitchen, living, and dining rooms are all open, it enhances the space, making it appear bigger and more inviting. Knocking down walls will make your contractors happy as well! In the dining room, use as big of table as you can because everyone gathers around food. Plus, business guests have commented on how great large tables are for meetings. See picture 2. MAXIMIZE BUDGET Kitchens and bathrooms are where you want to absolutely maximize your budget if you are rehabbing a property. Only about 10 percent of guests ever actually use the kitchens; yet, everyone wants a gorgeous, updated one! Granite countertops, soft-close cabinets, and tiled backsplash are wonderful additions that won’t break the bank and won’t go unnoticed by guests. And, dishwashers are absolutely a must! High-end appliances are not necessary but welcomed, and fingerprint-proof appliances keep a clean look. In bathrooms, it’s all about fun functionality! Spending a little bit more money on nice tile and shower heads will make for very happy guests. The bathrooms need to have as much light as possible and several electrical outlets as well. Keep the décor simple in bathrooms but
PRACTICALITY PAYS For the entry ways, rugs, shoe holders and coat hangers are a must. Encourage guests to leave their shoes at the door to help keep properties cleaner and make it easier for the cleaning staff. In the bathrooms, utilize decorative hooks in place of towel racks, and make sure you provide several hooks. At least one signature lighting fixture is a must. In this example, three rooms are all open, so we chose three fun, glitzy light fixtures all in the same line for each room. See pictures 2 and 3. Also, research has shown that people always want additional lighting in bedrooms, both for their personal home and when traveling. It’s always good design practice to include nightstands and lamps in bedrooms. COMFY IS KEY Guests enjoy a large couch in the living room. Provide a cozy area to gather and watch TV and movies because people enjoy this at home and on vacation. Couches that fold out into a bed are a great addition; however, the space and budget dictate if that’s possible. Make the space extra inviting with a lot of throw pillows, blankets, and a large rug. See picture 3. KEEP IT BRIGHT
GO LOCAL Support local artisans when decorating your properties. This example shows a great piece of resin artwork done by a local Indianapolis artist. We display her pieces throughout this property and allow our guests to pur- chase them. See picture 4. Make your guests feel special by keep- ing their experience in mind when they stay in your property. It’s so rewarding when we get additional communica- tion from guests that love the property even more when they check in — when they get to see, feel and touch the care that went into make it not just another vacation rental, but truly a one-of-a-kind experience. •
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incorporate some type of canvas or resin artwork and some greenery. GO GREEN Incorporate greenery whenever possible, and you can use both artificial and real plants. Guests are loving that we have real plants in our properties — plus they are healthier for the home. See pictures 1 and 2. CLASSIC WHITE IS ALWAYS RIGHT In bedrooms, you can’t go wrong with white — lots of white — white bed linens, duvets, and duvet covers. White is clean and guests know the linens have been laundered. Incorporate color with pillows, blankets, and artwork to really make the bedrooms sing! See pictures 1 and 4.
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Elizabeth Maora Sickels is a farm girl from Indiana. A Purdue graduate, she had a rewarding corporate career and traveled the world. In 2016, she "retired" from her planning/
strategy position at Ford Motor Company to strike out on her own! She traveled for six months, and via Airbnb hosted her condo in Michigan. Having a great experience being a host, she has built a full-service hospitality and property management business for vacation rentals. Elizabeth is also a licensed Realtor ® , real estate investor, and philanthropist.
86 | think realty magazine :: september / october 2019
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