Tag: home repair

How to prepare for your first Airbnb guest

Booked in your first guest? This handy guide should help.

How to prepare for your first Airbnb guest

Your flat’s in an ideal spot, the photos were taken when the sunlight in the living was just right, and you’ve got your first Airbnb booking. What now?

If your first Airbnb guests are booked in and looking forward to their stay, it can be both intimidating and exciting. You have nothing to worry about though, because this is the complete guide to preparing for your first Airbnb guests, and it’s guaranteed to impress them.

Clean to a hotel standard

Just because someone’s staying in a home, rather than a hotel room, doesn’t mean their standards slip. They still expect dust-free skirting boards and a pristine bathroom.

Major hotel chains like the Marriott give their housekeeping staff a strict cleaning routine, including checking picture frames for dust, wiping surfaces with specific cloths, and making sure the room smells “neutral” before they leave.

Just like the Marriott, create a list of everything that needs to be done before your guests arrive. Tick it all off and both you and your guests will sleep soundly.

Fix the little things you’ve stopped noticing

If there’s a little bit of carpet that persistently stands up in the corner of the living room, or dodgy plastering in the bathroom, your Airbnb guests will notice. Little things like this won’t necessarily ruin their stay, but they might think your hosting skills are lacking. Perish the thought.

Some essentials that are easy to forget about:

  • Lightbulbs.
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
  • Rugs and carpets are firmly stuck down.
  • If the oven’s clean and ready to use.
  • Appliances function correctly (your guests won’t know if the washing machine has a strange quirk).

Ask an Airtasker to clean for you

With such impeccably high standards, your to-do list is going to be as long as your arm. You can charge your Airbnb guests a small cleaning fee, which can pay for cleaning supplies or the help of an Airtasker.

An Airtasker can help with Airbnb cleaning, including vacuuming, making the bed, laying out fresh towels, and more. Your Airbnb will be ready for your guests and looking its best. Two posters, Angelos and Melody, did just that!

How to prepare for your first Airbnb Guest

Make a 5-star bed

Choose quality sheets
Once you’ve slept on a high thread count sheet, you can’t go back. If consistent 5-star ratings are important to you, invest in some quality cotton. When you change them, wash at 60 degrees and air dry so they’re easier to iron.

Keep spares for different seasons
Goose feather, memory foam, hypoallergenic. High quality hotels will offer a choice, and it’s a nice touch if you can too. Keep blankets, a summer duvet, and extra pillows in the wardrobe in case your guests are too cold or too warm.

Fold the sheets just like they do at Claridges
The housekeeping staff at the famous Claridges Hotel in Mayfair make the beds with hospital corners. It involves placing a flat sheet over the top of a fitted sheet, and folding the edges into a neat, 45-degree angle. YouTube is full of tutorials and guides if you want to take your bed making game from an acceptable 7/10 to a faultless 10/10.

Write out the rules

Without being too dull about it, there are some things your guests need to know before they start unpacking. Every home is different, so it’s entirely up to you what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

  • Parties and loud music
  • Pets and animals
  • Smoking and vaping
  • When and how to check out
  • Your contact details

The 5-star extras

Maps for local attractions

Use your knowledge of the local area to give your guests ideas for their stay. TripAdvisor is useful for overall scores and ratings, but personal recommendations are a lot more meaningful. They’re also specific and bespoke – you know when the traffic is particularly difficult and which tiny, unassuming restaurant does the best with Greek food.

Spare toiletries

Forgetting your toothbrush is extremely annoying. Have spares of all the essentials – cotton pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner. Your guests might not need them, but it’s the thought that counts.

If you’ve got some you don’t use anymore, leave phone chargers out for your guests. iPhone and mini USB, ideally.

Snacks in the fridge

An empty, buzzing fridge isn’t very welcoming. You don’t have to spend too much, but bottled water (London tap water can be a shock), milk, butter, and some snacks will make a big difference.

If your guests are coming from abroad, they might like to taste some British favourites. They’ll definitely remember the Airbnb that introduced them to Monster Munch…

Looking for cleaning help for your airbnb booking? Find trusted professionals on Airtasker

How to deal with annoying home repairs

Owning a home is a huge achievement. But after the excitement wears off, you'll realise that the upkeep is constant with cleaning, gardening, and home repairs.

How to deal with annoying home repairs

Some home repairs are simple and fairly easy to resolve while others are a little (or a lot) more complicated – it all depends on the building quality.

Here are some of the more annoying home repairs and how to deal with them:

Leaking roof

Check the condition of your roof at least a few times a year, even if there are no obvious signs of leakage.  Hail storms, shoddy construction and UV damage can weaken the structure of your roof and allow water to seep in.

Water leads to water damage, and water damage leads to electrical damage. If you find a leak, fix it ASAP or you may need to call in an electrical handyman.

It’s best to leave this one to the professionals. Hire a roof specialist or qualified handyman to check and repair your roof.

roof home repairs
Source: Wikimedia

Squeaky floor boards

Floorboards are easy to maintain, but hearing them constantly creek and squeak as you walk around can get a bit annoying.

For a quick fix, use some talcum powder in between floorboards to stop the rubbing. If that doesn’t do it, you’ll need to secure them properly.

Door damage from pets

Whether your pets are well trained or not, it’s almost guaranteed that they can cause damage to your doors.  It could be by scratching up the wood or slashing through the door flap.

If it’s a small rip, some clear nail polish will do the trick to keep it closed until it needs to be completely replaced.

For shallow door scratches, you should be able to sand them back and paint over or stain again. However, if the door is really damaged over time, you may need to consider a replacement.

Remove wall paper

Removing worn wallpaper is something that you can easily do yourself with a steamer, removing agent, knife and perforator.

Dripping taps

Nothing is worse than trying to sleep to the sound of a dripping tap. First thing to try is to replace the washer if it’s worn out. If that doesn’t do the job, check the manufacturer’s website for any specific instructions on how to repair it.

Clogged drain pipes

After a big storm, it’s important to make sure your gutters are clear of debris and rubbish so water can drain easily. You’ll also need to check that it’s not pooling, which you can easily do with a garden hose. If it is, you might need to adjust your gutters or even replace them.

Unfinished home repairs

A pet peeve for new homeowners is having to repair unfinished work. Nothing is worse than having unfinished DIY and home repair projects staring you in the face every day.

bathroom tile home repairs
Source: Lowe’s

Patching holes in the wall

If you don’t have experience doing this before, we’d recommend you hire an expert and don’t attempt it yourself. You’ll save yourself a tin of goop and a lot of frustration.

wall home repairsSource: How To Specialist

If you’d like some help with annoying home repairs, why not try out the services of an Airtasker handyman? They’re readily available and will get the job done in no time.

Tape measure tricks for all handymen and renovators

A tape measure is one of the most practical inventions ever. Read on to find out more on how to make the most of this highly useful tool.

Tape measure tricks for all handymen and renovators

How skilled are you with a tape measure? A tape measure is one of the most useful items when it comes to DIY home improvements. But are you really making use of all it has to offer?

To tap into all the features of this essential tool, here’s a list of  all the things (other than the obvious!) that your tape measure can do:

The ‘screw grab’

You may already be aware that you can hook (or clip) the end of a tape measure over the edge of a surface and walk backwards to extend the tape out. But have you ever wondered what that little slot in the metal hook is for?

That little slot is a ‘nail and screw grab’, which neatly slips over the flat head of a nail or screw. It’s hugely helpful as it holds the tape in place when you’re working alone.

tape measure nail screw grabSource: diy house help

The scribing tool

Another handy feature that makes home repair and DIY projects easier is the serrated edge of the metal hook on a tape measure. By dragging it back and forth on a surface, you can mark a measurement down to the millimetre.

Not all tape measures have this, but it’s worth investing in one that does if you do a lot of DIY work.

tape measure serrated hook
Source: AXMINSTER Tools & Machinery

The hook has ‘play’

Clearly, the hook of the tape measure is highly valuable and here’s one more use for it. You’ll notice the hook on the end of the tape has some ‘play’ or wiggle room on it, and the end centimetre of the tape may be slightly smaller than a true centimetre.

Depending on whether you’re measuring on the outside or inside of something, you’ll want the hook thickness to either be counted as part of the measurement or not. There is movement each way of about a millimetre or so. A professional handyman would refer to this movement as ‘play’.

Most tape measures are already calibrated for accurate measurements. For a critical measurement, you may want to check how much ‘free play’ is allowed and get the measure tape calibrated.  Get a few quotes for this and other handyman help on Airtasker.

tape measure hook play
Source: AXMINSTER Tools & Machinery

The length of the tape measure ‘housing’ counts

The housing (i.e. the hand held container that ‘houses’ the tape) can actually be a very handy sidekick for home repair jobs. If you’ve ever tried to measure the inside length of something, you’ll know it can be quite difficult.

Luckily the housing of the tape measure is often marked with a measurement of length (e.g. 10cm) that you can use to make life a bit easier. Instead of trying to measure the inside of something corner to corner by bending the tape, position the tape measure inside and draw the length of the tape out from surface to surface.

Next, take note of the measurement on the tape (e.g. 65cm) and add it on to the length of the tape measure housing (65cm + 10cm = 75cm)… and voila, accurate measurements!

tape measure body inner length cornersSource: AXMINSTER Tools & Machinery

Not all tape measures are made equally

There are different lengths of tape measures available that are more suitable for some jobs than others. For example, an 8m tape is great for small home improvement jobs such as cabinetry. For bigger jobs such as outdoor or construction, you may need something longer and possibly stronger.

You can get tape measures with magnetic hooks, blade locking mechanisms, and ones that can do a ‘stand out measure’ for hooking objects far away (i.e. you stand in one spot, and use your hand to extend the tape; it holds its weight and extends horizontally).

tape measure range
Source: Pro Tool Reviews

Have you got any other tape measure tricks to add to our list? Let us know in the comments section below.

For help with handyman services in London, find a DIY expert on Airtasker.

Top renovation mistakes to avoid

Renovating your home? Read on for our list of the top renovation mistakes to steer clear of before starting.

Top renovation mistakes to avoid

Whether you’re going down the DIY route or getting the help of a professional handyman, home renovation mistakes can be easy to make. No amount of experience can guarantee a completely seamless renovation experience.

However, there are certain things you can do to reduce the renovation stress. Here’s a list of some of the common renovation mistakes to avoid:

Ready to go with your renovation? Find expert handyman help on Airtasker to help you construct and install your dream shelving unit.

Renovating on impulse

An impulse renovation is never a good idea. A quick decision could lead to a hefty investment later down the line. For instance, do you really need to completely remove and replace that bathroom sink, or can it be repaired by a professional handyman? It’s best to investigate an issue before you start making any changes.

When you’re about to start renovating, consider whether you have the expertise to complete the work yourself or if you should get some handyman help. Don’t start an ambitious renovation project if you don’t currently have the budget or skills to get it done.

Design without intent

It’s important to design with a clear intent. Do you want to renovate to increase your property value, or do you intend on renovating the place for your own use?

Try to set a clear objective for your renovation project before you start. It can be easy to get swept away with inspirational Pinterest boards and Instagram pages, but you need to be realistic about the purpose of the renovation, what you can afford, and whether you need it.

Not enough planning

As with most building work or services, the quickest way to a renovation nightmare is a lack of planning. You can avoid this by putting a bit of time and effort into setting a clear goal and working out a plan. Think about sequencing, your timeline, and your budget.

It’s also wise to have an in-depth renovation checklist to help you focus on what exactly you need to get done.

Rules and regulations

Check out any building and renovation regulations with your local council before you get started. You need to find out which tasks require a license, and if there are any specific times you need to schedule work in for. Local council planning approvals and application fees may be required for certain renovations.

You may also need to enlist the services of a council building inspector or independent building inspector.

Temporary living arrangements

If you’re living in a place you want to renovate, you may want to consider temporary accommodation while the work is going on. Renovating can be a stressful experience, and living in that environment may just add to that stress. If you have a friend or family member you can crash with during this period, we’d highly recommend it!

No wiggle room in the budget

One of the most common renovation mistakes that many people make is going over their budget. To avoid this, speak to a professional handyman or friends who have had similar renovations. They’ll be able to help you get a better idea of costs.

Research the work that you’re going to be doing and try to think of any unexpected expenses you might encounter. Put contingency funds aside so if you run across any issues, you’ve got spare funds to resolve the situation and move on.

Handyman arrangements

paint brush on floor

If you’re going to hire a handyman  or hire a builder to do the work for you, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

  • Get a few quotes before you decide on the handyman for your task.
  • Review the quality of their previous work.
  • Know who is doing the job – them, or do they contract it out?
  • Know who their suppliers are – some handymen only use specific brands.
  • Make sure they’re officially licensed for any renovations if required.
  • Ask for a breakdown of their quote.
  • Be clear on any deadlines and specific requirements.

For expert assistance with your renovations, get instant Airtasker offers from people offering handyman services in London.