Take Your Office Space Up a Notch
You’ve got the basics of your rentable home office space down: a roomy desk, a comfy chair, and blazing fast internet. But to really create a great office experience for working professionals, there’a a lot more you can do. After all, working pros are looking for inspiring spaces that are far better/trendier/more ergonomic than anything they’d ever have at home. Here are some simple upgrades and choices you can make as a host to take your space up a notch and make it memorable, shareable, and to make people want to come back!
Got meeting space?
It’s one thing to have a great workstation for an individual to get their work done. But many of our hosts also have really great areas where small groups can meet for collaborative work. Do you have an outdoor patio setup where the WiFi is still strong? Or maybe you’ve got a super modern dining room that could double as a conference area. Add a white board and boom! You’ve got extra earning potential!
Now, let’s talk tech.
The technology aspect of every office space is really important, and therefore, it can feel overwhelming. But don’t stress, we’ll break down some basic tech upgrades that your guests would love to have.
An additional monitor or two - this has become somewhat of a staple for many people and we highly recommend prioritizing this upgrade. You can buy a new monitor, or you can pick up something used. You’ll want to let your guests know what kinds of cables you’re providing and the ports they’ll need so they can check compatibility and bring the right adapters if needed.
TV or projector - many of our guests rent spaces for team presentations, which means plugging a laptop into a TV or projector is highly desirable. If you offer one, please make sure to share in your listing the types of connections your device offers (HDMI is very common these days and some hosts offer AppleTV and Google Play as connections too) so your guest can check compatibility with their device before booking.
Additional keyboard and mouse - if you buy a monitor for guests to use, you might also consider providing a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse since it can be inefficient for workers to use the ones on their laptops. We recommend Bluetooth so you don’t have worry about how guests will hook these up, decreasing the chance of issues with wires/adapters.
Printer - Since folks are going to the office less and less (and to your space!) a printer will be a big plus for some workers. Make sure to do the setup for the printer though and provide easy-to-use instructions.
Lighting matters.
People can be very particular about the amount of light while working. You’ll want to provide options so that people can create the ideal space for their working environment. Here are some ideas:
Curtains - some professionals, like graphic designers, prefer a darker space so consider buying some blackout or dark curtains so that guests can adjust the amount of natural light.
Lamps - provide multiple lamps so guests can adjust the brightness of their environment.
Cleanliness and safety are obviously paramount.
We are all now hyper-focused on cleanliness and germs. By providing a few basic items to guests you can ensure they feel comfortable renting your space.
Disinfecting wipes / hand sanitizer - these are pretty self-explanatory and will go a long way.
Air filter - we have a place for you to indicate your HVAC filter in our platform, but you might consider providing a stand-alone air filter to provide your guests extra security, especially if the office space isn’t detached from your home/living space.
Compressed air - you’ll want to keep that Bluetooth keyboard you provided in good working condition. Keeping a can of compressed air around will encourage guests to clean up after themselves in case they happen to eat their lunch over your keyboard.
Micro-fiber cloths/screen cleaners - this will help keep potential fingerprints at bay on your monitor.
And that 8-Hour Work Day Fuel.
The one thing people actually miss from going into the office every day is the free coffee. The good news is that you can easily provide refreshments such as these to keep your guests happy, caffeinated, and fueled up for their workday.
Coffee - a single cup machine (such as a Keurig) will be very convenient for guests. And to help reduce your costs, buy a reusable k-cup and buy your coffee in bulk!
Sparkling water - this is a must for your millennial and gen z guests. Trust us.
Access to cold water and/or ice - encourage guests to bring their reusable water bottle and provide access to fresh water and ice cubes.
With the bits of office nice-to-haves.
Just like any other short-term rental, it’s the small touches that really make a big difference and keep the good reviews and repeat customers coming through. Here are some nice-to-have ideas to take your office up a notch:
Extra pens and paper
Desk calendar
Sticky notes
Paper clips et al.
Candles, plants, and other finishing touches
When upgrading your space, have a budget in mind that you want to stick with. You can also upgrade the space in phases — focus on tech first and then slowly move your way down the list. No matter what you decide to do, guests will love the extra amenities.
If you need some inspiration, check out our Pinterest.