How important is Curb-Appeal for STRs in a small Metro market?

[Ethan Evans]

Hello, my fellow Short Term Rental investors!

What are your thoughts on using homes that might be a solid B-class or C-class SFH rental, and using them as an AirBnB? I'm looking at MLS properties that were just flipped or are already in great condition inside, but many of these properties look bland or worn-out and ugly on the outside. I know that I could create a great listing with excellent photos of the interior, but I'm afraid of a negative first impression on the guest when they pull up to the house and feel "less than impressed" or worried that the INside of the house might look like the OUTside.

It's January, 2022 as I write this, and we've had snow on the ground in Michigan for a few months - so I can't do landscaping right now, but spring IS right around the corner.  Would you think that re-siding a house and adding trim would be worth the investment if my competitor AirBnB listings are sometimes also NOT very attractive on the outside?

Next - let's talk about neighborhood and street activity.  How do you view a good house, that's surrounded by rental homes that aren't well maintained or are an eye-sore?  How do you factor those "atmospherics" into your analysis?

I live in, and starting to invest in the Lansing, MI area. I AM being intentionally think like an investor when analyzing deals by focusing on what makes sense on paper, and not just viewing a property for what I'd want to live in as a homeowner....but I also know that I'm trying to deliver a different kind of product and experience for my first STR, that I would if I were shopping for a LTR. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts, experience, and practical advice.