Following the summer months, it might be difficult for some Airbnb property owners to drum up prospective guests. With the autumnal winds of change on the horizon, it is a great time to take advantage of what makes your property unique. For some who are surrounded by the deciduous trees of Fall, the promise of a picturesque getaway is enough to have anyone swooning and heading to your doorstep. But for those in areas where the autumn season is mild and green, there is still hope. While the spooky October season has always heightened the spectral radar of even the most conservative Airbnb guests, within the last few decades the interest in paranormal activity and messages from beyond has experienced an uptick. With hundreds of shows and podcasts that feature paranormal investigations, psychics and modern day ghost stories, there is no time like the present to monopolize on this ghoul mine for the STR host. While your Short Term Rental property might not be located in Halloween Town, there are still many ways to attract guests seeking “the strange and unusual”. At FIX Linens we have gathered some ideas and inspiration to make any property a Hallow delight!
Dive Deep into History
Is your Airbnb property an older home or situated in a historic community or district? Or maybe you live adjacent to a century old cemetery that just screams "explore me!”. October is the perfect time to highlight the legends and lore of your area. Bring your property’s history to life by hanging pictures of the original home owners or the founders of the local town or community above the fireplace, in the bedroom or in a dark entryway. Any sepia toned photograph or gilded framed portrait from the 1800’s can set the stage for eerie possibilities! Print and frame articles about the heritage of your town- especially if they include events of historical significance. An age-worn hand draw map of the area can be the perfect work of art to adorn the walls and provide an amazing conversation piece for your guests. Include pictures of the house or surrounding areas as they appeared centuries ago. Guests will love learning about the property during their stay. Have a strange story that might lead to some spooky conclusions? Tis’ the season of ghost hunters and busters. Giving your guests the history of your property can help them collect clues and connect the dots during their “ghostly” adventure.
If you’re not sure of the history of your property or its surroundings Arcardia Publishing, has created countless historic guides for thousands of cities and small towns. These guides would be the perfect reference to help you learn more about your town’s past, but they are also the perfect seasonal accessory for your STR’s coffee table. Want to dig deeper? Check out your local archives or historical society, which are usually stockpiled with information, knowledgeable storytellers and are great resource for those aforementioned maps and pictures. There is no telling what you might uncover!
The Blue Veil Manor, a historic Victorian era estate and funeral home turned Airbnb in Dresden, Canada and hosted by Heather, uses original blueprints of the property as well as Victorian portraits to adorn their walls and create a spine tingling and jaw dropping esthetic
Take Advantage of Add-Ons
If your property doesn’t have an intriguing story of its own, see if there are any historic buildings or graveyard tours in your area; good if they feature older buildings and centuries old graves, better if they might have experienced paranormal activities. Highlight any of these tours or features within your listing or provide contact info or pamphlets in your welcome packet. Better yet, property, historic site, or graveyard tours can be a great add-ons for your guests’ visits. Organize a tour yourself or contact outside tour companies, escape rooms, haunted houses or psychics to see if you can establish an affiliate relationship that will throw more business their way and provide a chance for you to build a menu of services and add-ons.
Catch the Spirit
Even if your property wasn’t built in the last century, there are still ways you can capture that spooky vibe. Provide your guests with experiences that nod towards the unknown. Some property owners create themed rooms or properties that echo a well known scary movie or pay homage to a local historical figure. Carefully curated furniture and decor are used to complete the look and the vibe and earn many of these properties rave reviews and increased web traffic.
Wednesday Lair in Lincoln Illinois and hosted by Elizabeth goes fullbore with an entire home inspired by Netflix’s Wednesday series.
The Horror Themed Cabin in Big Bear, California and hosted by Unique Stays Club features a bathroom inspired by The Shining and includes both built in escape room experience as well as lots of on theme entertainment options.
Want a more understated route?
A bit spooky and a lot of fun, a deck of tarot cards or astrology/symbology books are great bookshelf additions- especially if they are mixed with other oddities. If your property is a bit more light-hearted, a Magic 8 Ball or a vintage Clue game can be the perfect living room accessory. You could also consider adding versatile statement pieces like a vintage radio, player piano, or an antique phonograph complete with scratchy hits from the 1920’s- cool and creepy. These small touches make a huge difference in your guests’ spooktacular experience.
Photo credit -The Horror Themed Cabin AirbnbDon’t Stay in the Shadows
Once you have all your ravens in a row, get the word out. Consider revising your listening for the season. Adding buzz words like spooky, historic, or gothic, will grab the attention of your ghost chasing guests. Include photos that highlight low lit corners of your property that scream for exploration. That attic bedroom with a small dormer window might be the most sought after accommodation- especially if captured under the light of a Super Harvest Moon. Property surrounded by corn fields? Even better. Use those socials to your advantage and electrify your listing. Create shorts or reels back-tracked by classic Halloween hits or eerie instrumentals that feature that bedroom with the flowing white curtains, a living room with an aged corner rocker, or that moonlit wrap around porch with a wind blown porch swing.
The listing for Manor Master Chamber located in Saint Paul, Minnesota shows how specialized photos using different light and angles can be used to attract visitors to your property. Host Sean also includes the history of this 1883 manor in his listing, and offers guests the option to book paranormal investigations and murder mysteries for an additional fee.
In short, October should not be a month that has short term rental hosts screaming in terror. Lean in a little to the fun and novelty of it all and make tweaks to your listing or property that fit your comfort level.
Want to find out how you can keep your property relevant throughout the year. Check out our other blog posts to get more helpful hits and property owner tips.
Written by: Cary Ballard - Freelance Writer for FIX Linens