How to equip a short-term rental apartment: what guests actually value

Why the fittings decide your ratings

Guests booking an apartment by the night are not looking for a hotel. They are looking for somewhere that feels like home, only better. That means the fittings and amenities feed directly into ratings, repeat stays and the nightly rate you can ask for.

This article works through the specific categories, from the kitchen through the bathroom to the small details that make a difference, and says plainly what is worth buying and what is money wasted.

The basics whose absence earns an instant one star

Before the nice-to-haves, a few things that simply must be there. Without them you will get a bad review before the guest has unpacked:

• Working wifi with the password visible the moment they walk in. At least 50 Mbps, and check it regularly, because a router can degrade over months.
• Enough keys or codes. Every pair of guests should be able to get in without calling the owner.
• Clean bedding and towels. This is absolutely fundamental. One stain on a pillow is enough to sink a review.
• Heating and air conditioning that work properly and are easy to operate. Instructions for the remote are essential.

The kitchen: the space that raises the apartment's value

Being able to cook is one of the main reasons guests choose an apartment over a hotel. So the kitchen has to be genuinely usable, not a stage set with one pot and blunt knives.

What belongs in the kitchen?

• Crockery and cutlery for at least two more people than the apartment sleeps. Guests often invite friends for dinner.
• Two sharp knives: a chef's knife and a bread knife.
• A coffee machine, capsule or ground. This is one of the most frequently mentioned pluses in reviews.
• An electric kettle and a toaster.
• A non-stick pan and a pot with a lid.
• A chopping board, a bottle opener, a lemon squeezer.
• A dishwasher. If you have room, it is an investment that noticeably improves ratings on longer stays.

A small gesture guests appreciate: coffee, tea and sugar to start with. It costs a few zloty and is worth a lot in reviews.

The bathroom: details that make the difference

A hotel guest gets shower gel and shampoo. An apartment guest often gets nothing, or miniatures that ran out with the previous tenant. There is easy ground to stand out here.

• Proper towels. At least two per person: a bath towel and a hand towel.
• A hairdryer. Its absence is one of the most common complaints in reviews.
• Shower gel and shampoo in dispensers. Better environmentally, cheaper over time and they look professional.
• Spare toilet paper: at least two extra rolls visible and within reach.
• A large mirror above the basin, or a full-length mirror.

The bedroom: sleep is the priority

If the guest sleeps badly, nobody remembers the pretty photos in the listing. The mattress and the bedding are the most important investment in the whole apartment.

• A good mattress, not the cheapest one. Skimping on a mattress costs you twice: once on the purchase price, then again in one-star reviews about "a bed like a plank".
• Pillows of different firmness, so the guest has two options.
• Blackout blinds or curtains, particularly important in summer and in city-centre apartments.
• Power sockets and USB ports on both sides of the bed.
• Enough hangers and drawers. Guests do not like living out of a suitcase.

Living room and shared space

• A TV with access to a streaming service, Netflix or Prime. You can set up one account on a cheap subscription and share it with guests.
• A desk or a work table. More and more guests work remotely while travelling. A chair with decent back support is a bonus.
• A guide to the apartment somewhere visible: how the equipment works, the house rules, the owner's number in case something breaks.

Safety: do not skip this

Guests check these more and more often, and in many municipalities they are already a legal requirement:

• A smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm. An obligation, not an option.
• A first aid kit that is in date.
• A fire extinguisher within sight.

What is overrated?

Not everything that looks premium translates into better ratings. Before you spend money on gadgets, check that you have the basics covered:

• Expensive decoration. Guests value tidiness and cleanliness, not the number of ornaments on the shelves.
• Smart speakers and smart home gadgets. Fun, but they rarely decide a booking. Fix everything fundamental first.
• A mini bar and drinks displays. In short-term rental these are more often a logistical problem than a real plus.

How to prioritise spending

If your budget is limited, use a simple rule: invest first where reviews report a problem. Read through your guests' feedback. Three complaints about blunt knives tell you more than any guide.

If you are just starting out, begin with four things: a good mattress, clean bedding, fast wifi and a coffee machine. These appear in positive reviews most often and have the biggest effect on the final rating.

A good apartment is one the guest leaves saying they would like to come back. That is not a matter of luxury fittings. It is a matter of thinking every detail through from the guest's point of view rather than the owner's.

What do your guests value most? If you have something in your apartment that always draws good comments, write to us. We would be glad to add real owners' experience to this article.