Furnishing or Staging an Airbnb

[Tim Bergstrom]

Hey BP!

Just want to toss out a question here about furnishing/staging an Airbnb. I'm researching different options to accomplish this for a couple Airbnb listings I'm looking to potentially post in a couple months.

I wanted to ask how any of you with Airbnb/VRBO/vacation rentals have gone about furnishing your spaces? Did you buy all furnishings retail? Buy through a wholesaler? Rent the furniture? Craigslist? One of my listings will be 2b/1b, the other will be 4b/2b so the cost of buying all new furnishings for both properties will be costly and I'm trying to figure out the best option. I have a design background and am not worried about choosing the right aesthetics, simply the cost of setting everything up. If anyone with experience/perspective is willing to share I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

[Blair Russell]

I put a lot of money into furnishing my places. I do go looking for bargains or things I find on CL or the side of the road whenever I can, but I want my place to look comfortable and nice. I don't like when I stay in IKEAbnbs and don't want to provide that for other people. Guests have noticed the difference so it's worth it to me, and the stuff has held up.