Help with Furnishing Airbnbs

[Aaron Bihl]

A little background.  I have three active Airbnbs, bought my 4th last week that is currently being furnished. Am starting a flip next week that will eventually be refinanced and kept as an Airbnb and am about to pick up two more houses to arbitrage (and plan to pick up the pace and keep growing). 

The struggle I have now is with furnishing/decorating on a budget. I’ve previously hired some friends who buy mainly from Craigslist/Facebook/thrift stores/estate sales who have helped me furnish and decorate the houses on a budget. 

I was wondering if anyone had go-to resources for this.  I would love to be able to furnish/decorate a whole and buy it all from amazon(or something similar) and it be designed tastefully and turned around quickly. 

Any thoughts? 

[Megan Webb]

Hi, Aaron!  You are speaking my language. I have decorated on a budge my whole life and have furnished a VRBO in southern IL at the Lake of Egypt on a shoestring.  I spend time online shopping at Walmart.com, Kohls, Wayfair and Amazon, checking prices and Walmart usually has the best deals on beds, amazon on mattresses that can be shipped directly to the property. I buy the Olee Sleep Brand queen mattresses for under $200!!)   I catch Kohl's sales (30% off with Kohls cash) for Big One sheets and towels plus clearance bedding. I buy quilt sets instead of comforters because they are easier to wash and can be switched out if someone spills something.  Coleman Furniture online had great holiday sales on living room furniture last year and it's shipped directly to the property, no asking friends to borrow a truck. It takes time but the deals are out there! I have not heard of a one and done solution for cheap. There are online designers but I haven't had experience with them.  

All the furniture items can be shipped to the property and you may need to hire friends or college kids to assemble furniture or meet the delivery people (that takes the most time) 

If you took some time and got the major pieces in place, a friend with the "decorating gene" could fill in with reasonably priced decor from my favorite stores TJ  Maxx or Homegoods with a modest budget.  I'd do it for you if I were closer, lol!  I bet you know someone that would love to shop for you. It doesn't take a lot of decor to make a home really cute and cozy. I always think less is more at a VRBO.  If you want to see my rental and how I decorated it on a budget, here it is  www.vrbo.com/1042127 .  When I see a sale, I will always pick up hand towels, kitchen towels, quilt sets, throw pillows and update as needed, guests are hard on fabrics.  I have found yard sale night stands and small tables and given them a fresh coat of paint and a pop of color.  It's just the little things that bring it all together.   If I can help you in any way with you decorating dilemmas, just let me know!