Brand new host — what do I wish I knew before my first guest?

Category: Getting Started

By: James Wu

Posted: 2026-01-23T18:25:44.113Z

Hey everyone! I just signed the lease on a 1BR apartment in Austin, TX and I'm planning to list it on Airbnb. I've been lurking on this community for a while and finally decided to jump in. I've furnished the place with basics but I have a feeling I'm missing a lot. For those of you who've been hosting for a while — what do you wish you knew before your very first guest checked in? Any tips around supplies to stock, things guests always complain about, or mistakes you made early on would be super helpful. Budget is modest (~$2K for the full setup beyond furniture).

Reply by David Okafor:

Great question — I've been hosting for 3 years now in Nashville and here's what I'd tell myself: 1. **Buy way more towels than you think.** I started with 2 sets and learned the hard way. Get at least 4 full sets of white towels (they bleach well). 2. **A lockbox or smart lock is non-negotiable.** Coordinating key handoffs killed me the first month. 3. **Stock basics guests forget:** phone chargers, a first-aid kit, a corkscrew, scissors, and a sewing kit. 4. **Invest in blackout curtains.** I got them after my 3rd "room was too bright" review. 5. **Write your house manual BEFORE the first guest.** WiFi password, checkout instructions, trash day — put it all in a binder AND in the Airbnb listing. Honestly the biggest thing: don't cheap out on the mattress. It shows up in every single review. If you want to create a proper digital guidebook, check out our house manual generator at https://strspecialist.com/tools/house-manual-generator — saves hours.

Reply by Chris Nakamura:

One thing people overlook: **noise.** If your place has thin walls, get a white noise machine. Had a guest leave a 3-star review because they could hear the neighbors. $30 fix that would've saved me. Also, check your smoke detector batteries and leave a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink. Some cities require it and Airbnb's insurance might not cover you without them. For noise monitoring that won't invade guest privacy, I've been using Minut (https://minut.com) — it only detects noise levels, not recordings. Great peace of mind.

Reply by Brandon Harris:

Congrats on taking the leap! Austin is a great market right now. My top tip: take your listing photos with your phone in landscape mode, during the day with all lights ON and all curtains OPEN. Natural light + artificial light = the combo that makes spaces look warm and inviting. You don't need a professional photographer right away — good phone photos with great lighting beat mediocre pro shots. Also, set your first few bookings at a 15-20% discount. You need those initial reviews more than the revenue.