Airbnb has come to Cape Town in a big way, and as we ready ourselves for the massive influx of tourists many locals are looking at making a quick buck.

Of course it helps to have a decent rating, and everyone has a tip or two to offer when it comes to sprucing up your rental.

We’re going to politely decline the wisdom of that neighbour who never seems to have any visitors, and instead we’ll head over to IOL and hear what they have to say.

Apparently you want to “make sure that the first impression is a good one and appeals to all five senses”, and here’s how you do that:

1. Visual

Yellow, orange, green and blue are the interior colour trends. You don’t have to redo the whole space – just introduce elements, such as cushions, a lick of paint to one wall. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.

2. Smell

Introduce fresh flowers into the space – but make sure they won’t cause allergies. Flowers to avoid include daisies, goldenrod, chamomile and sunflowers which are among the worst for allergy sufferers. Flowers that are allergy friendly are begonia, daffodils, hydrangea, roses and tulips.

3. Taste

Tantalise your guests’ taste buds and introduce a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit in the kitchen area.

4. Sound

Music is food for the soul, play tranquil music softly in the background of a common area

5. Touch

Ensure you have everyone’s favourite, a – soft to the touch – blanket to take away the evening chill, after a day out in the sun.

Then of course there’s the cleanliness, which should probably feature atop this list:

Make sure your listing is always clean and tidy. There is no better time than spring to clean your linen, curtains, carpets and furniture in preparation for the summer months. Don’t forget that guests get to rate the cleanliness of your listing.

So, you plan on popping in after guest and cleaning the place spick and span? Nah mate, you organise for the professionals over at Domestly to spruce the place up good and proper – all on their app, all done in the matter of a few minutes.

Then you sit back, enjoy, and watch those foreigners spend that crazy overseas currency like a boss.

[source:iol]