The Secret Ingredient Real Estate Investors Miss in Vacation Rentals or airbnb's (and How to Fix It)

Suzanne
May 11
3 min read

When real estate investors jump into the vacation rental game and decide to list their property on AirBnb to start, they often bring with them all the right instincts: renovate the property, upgrade the kitchen, choose trendy finishes, and make everything look polished.

And yes — those things matter. But they’re not what makes a guest fall in love with your space.

In fact, after working with dozens of vacation rental owners and investors, I can confidently say this:

The biggest thing most real estate investors miss is the experience.

They design a property, but forget to bring it to life.

Why the Experience Matters More Than the Finishes

It’s easy to assume guests are choosing based on price or photos alone. But today’s travelers are booking something much deeper — especially when it comes to short-term rentals.

They want:

To feel spoiled, like this trip is a treat
To feel relaxed, with spaces that ease their stress
To feel immersed, with small surprises and local flavor
To feel connected, not just to your space, but to your story

A hotel offers a bed. Your vacation rental should offer belonging.

And that can’t be achieved with subway tile and a neutral couch alone.

What Real Guests Are Looking For

When I walk through a vacation rental property, I look for the “feeling” more than the finishes. Because that’s exactly what your guests are doing too.

They’re not asking “Is this on-trend?” They’re asking, “Will this feel like a true escape?”

Here are a few clues that a property might be missing the secret ingredient:

It feels generic, not rooted in place or purpose
There’s no obvious theme or personality
It looks good in photos but feels cold in person
There’s no story being told — just a series of rooms

And when that happens, bookings can suffer. Or worse — guests don’t leave 5-star reviews, and you’re left wondering why.

How to Bring a Property to Life

Luckily, fixing this doesn’t require a massive budget. It requires intention.

Ask yourself:

What is the feeling I want guests to have when they walk in the door?
How can I surprise and delight them throughout the stay?
What makes this place special — and how can I highlight that?

Here are a few ideas that I use when co-hosting or coaching investors:

Create a cohesive theme that ties the property together
Add small, local details: books, artwork, snacks, or scents
Provide a thoughtful guidebook that shows you care
Add cozy touches that guests don’t expect — a record player, a beach blanket, a handwritten note

*Remember: you’re not just furnishing a home. You’re curating a stay.

What I’ve Seen Firsthand

At Welcoming Wow, I work with real estate investors in two ways:

✔️ Coaching – for hosts who want to learn and launch the right way

✔️ Co-Hosting – for those who want a partner to manage the guest experience and operations

In the past year alone, I’ve grown from 4 to almost 20 co-hosted properties — not because I take on every opportunity, but because I help each property stand out through thoughtful design, storytelling, and guest-first hospitality.

And when you do that, guests notice. They leave glowing reviews. They come back again. They tell their friends.