Furnishing a short-term rental so it survives the third guest

A short-term rental is furnished for two audiences: the camera that sells it, and a rotating set of strangers who will not treat it the way an owner does. Durability first. Performance fabrics and darker upholstery. Solid surfaces instead of veneer on anything that gets a wet glass. Commercial-grade mattress protectors and duvet covers that go through a washing machine rather than a dry cleaner. Two or three complete sets of linen per bed so a same-day turnover never depends on a dryer cycle. Furniture heavy enough not to be rearranged. Then the photographs. Lighting does more than furniture: lamps in the corners, warm consistent bulbs, and windows that are actually clean. One strong feature per main room rather than decoration spread evenly. And a floor plan the camera can read from the doorway. The details guests mention in reviews are consistently small and cheap. Enough bedside outlets and a USB point per side. A kettle and a decent pan. Blackout in the bedrooms. Somewhere to put a suitcase. A fan. Safety is not optional and is inspected in some jurisdictions: working smoke and carbon monoxide detection, a fire extinguisher, clear egress, and the address posted somewhere a guest can read it to an emergency operator. Keep a written inventory with purchase dates. It makes replacement predictable, it supports a damage claim, and at tax time it is the difference between a documented asset schedule and a box of receipts. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and every deal is different — check your own case with a licensed professional. Alberto Zaltzberg — Adonait · adonait.com