Creating a rentable office space is easier than you think.
First of all, if you’re already hosting on other short-term rental platforms, that’s great! There’s no need to choose one or the other — you can supplement your income by offering your space up in multiple places!
Plus, you’d be surprised at how easy it is to set up a rentable office space that will be perfect for remote workers and provide you with some extra cash.
To get started, you just need to nail the basics. It's surprisingly easy and affordable, which can deliver potentially significant returns on your investment.
It's up to you how much you want to spend on the basic items, though we’ve covered some upgrades in this post for when you’re ready to take things up a notch and really lean into creating a memorable experience for your guests.
And if you’re looking for a bit of additional inspiration, check out our Pinterest.
Here are four things you need to create a basic office and/or meeting space:
There are a few ways to think about this. Do you have a smaller space that’s better suited to host one working professional at a desk? Or maybe your space can accommodate small meetings? Depending on the space you have and its amenities, you’ll attract different types of workers — and at different price points.
A meeting table or living room area or desk.
If you’re creating a solo workspace, you’ll need a desk and a chair to start. Your chair doesn't need to be the most expensive thing on the market, but consider the kind of chair you'd enjoy sitting in for a full workday. Match that with a roomy desk, big enough for a laptop, pad of paper, and coffee and you've got your workstation down. And the more workstations you include, the more people you can host at a time!
If your space is also really well suited for hosting meetings — like maybe you have a great living room with a TV for presentations, a roomy dining (er, conference) table, or even an outdoor patio for people to use, just make sure seating is comfortable and, well, see below for the other three requirements!Reliable, fast internet.
Nothing makes Zoom calls worse or productivity go down more than a glitchy internet connection. Not sure if your internet is fast enough? Check your speed here. That should give you a good indication of where you’re at. Just make sure you run the speed test in the actual space you’ll be renting out (your WiFi may behave differently in different areas of your property).
Privacy.
Meetings are a fact of remote work life and there’s an expectation that what happens in the space stays in the space. Make sure your listing is quiet and has a door that can be closed—or at least is removed enough so that others are not within earshot.
Access to a clean bathroom.
Yes, all that coffee fueling your guests’ workday has to go somewhere! Make sure there's a bathroom close by that doesn't require a walk through a kid's fort or by a barking Chihuahua. If your space is fortunate to be near a local coffee shop, you might be able to sneak by without an on-site bathroom (just make sure to be SUPER clear about this in your listing). Also keep in mind that walk to a cafe is certainly less enjoyable during an April shower. Remote working still requires one to look put together (from the waist up at least)!
That’s it. Check off these boxes and you're ready to go. Easy peasy, right?
Once you’ve nailed the basics, head over to this post and read about some additional things you can do to upgrade your space and create a truly memorable experience for your guests!
Radious is launched in Portland, Oregon and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!
If you’re in another geography but you are renting your space out on other short-term rental platforms, adding a great workspace will only help you generate more income from your listing. Digital nomads and people going on “workcations” are looking for great accommodations spaces that are also conducive to great work.
By outfitting your existing short-term rental with great workspace amenities, you’re likely to attract more professional guests. We truly believe that you will benefit from having those additional tools for business travelers, and then, once we’re fully launched in your area, you’ll be that much closer to being able to list with us as well.