The White Smith House - Part I
The Transformation . . .
The White Smith House is finally completed and up and running!
This has been a project five months in the making and I’m SO excited to share what we’ve done with you all!
Since we purchased our property six years ago, I’ve been dreaming about transforming the garden level apartment into something special. . .
Fun Fact - built in 1929 by the daughter of famous Biltmore Estate Architect, Richard Sharp Smith, the apartment was originally the husband’s renowned violin making workshop.
This place had seen several remodels since then and, oh boy . . . the last was not the best. “Supposedly” a tile layer owned the home in the 1980’s did the last remodel (hence, all the pink and green tile - Eeeek!!). I knew the place had all the makings to be real retreat but that it would also come at a pretty penny.
With all the recent Airbnb craze (and Asheville being voted one of the most popular Airbnb destinations in the Southern region) I knew that was the direction we should go in. I’m also obsessed with the Airbnb brand (I prefer to use it when I travel) and have decorated/started several others for clients.
I love to travel. I love hospitality. I love places of interest that have compelling narratives. I love creating places that I WOULD WANT TO STAY.
And WAHLA, the birth of the White Smith House began . . .
Overall, the project took about 5 months to complete. If you’re thinking about remodeling a basement, attic or outdoor dwelling to be a short term rental, make sure you have the finances to do so. This needs to be a “go BIG or go home” investment. It’s a terrifying commitment, but trust that you are investing in a solid long term $$$ maker! We were very conservative with materials and made economical choices, but it was still really expensive (roughly 50k for just the interior). Keep in mind, we were dealing with a 1920’s house so we had to update electric, plumbing and deal with several other #oldhouseproblems. I choose to save in some areas so I could splurge in others (for example ,I had to kiss my wood tile flooring throughout the entire apartment goodbye in order to have a super sweet bathroom). I would advise anyone before jumping into something like this to DO YOUR RESEARCH! Ask folks who own an Airbnb in your city how often they are booked and at what rate they charge? Do a little exploring on the Airbnb website and see what your neighbors are doing. Don’t expect to set your prices the same as a fancy downtown loft if you live in the suburbs! Set goals for yourself: do you want to make an extra $500-1000/month or are you wanting to make anywhere from $3-5k/month. Do you live in a city that can support your goals? What are the local short term laws? That will help you determine what kind of responsible investment you can make for your future Airbnb.
We knew we wanted to go ALL IN. The place needed it, like completely gutted down to the studs, and using a platform like Airbnb seemed the best way to justify taking on such a heavy remodel. The other positive is not only does the remodel alone add value to your property, but a short term rental with strong rental history adds tremendous re-sale value.
Okay, so back to the Transformation . . .
The Game Plan:
Make an Entrance.
TIP: Creating an attractive entrance immediately sets the tone. We took a dated looking Bay Window and opted for modern sliding doors that really showcased the exterior property.
Kitchen vs kitchenette:
TIP: Offer what your audience is looking for. We legally couldn’t have a kitchen but still wanted a nice space with plenty of prep room for folks to make coffee and cook with our hot plate and other kitchen equipment. If you are Airbnbing a smaller space, like an apartment, for two people it may not be worth the financial trouble to offer a full blown kitchen. If you’re located in a city known for good food - again, may not be worth financial trouble of building a kitchen. Whole houses and destination places like a cabin or beach house where a group of people get together most certainly is worth it.
TIP: Small Spaces really shine with Open Shelving. We acquired more lower storage to make up for removing the upper cabinets and island.
To Tub or Not to Tub? That is the Question.
TIP: People are usually more impressed with walk in showers. Most folks vacationing are going to use a shower over a tub. However, if you’re remodeling a cabin or somewhere more remote, than a luxury tub may be the way to go. If you’re appealing to families than you might want to go with a tub (kids are usually bath people!). Think about your audience and who you are targeting to help make this decision. Personally, I really wanted to “wow” people with a shower. I spent most on materials in the bathroom.
Low Rider - how to deal with low ceilings.
TIP: If you’ve got lower ceilings always go with can lighting. Ours are exactly 7’ tall. Never ever do a flush mount unless it’s a over a table or kitchen island and even then I wouldn’t be inclined to say “do it”. Smooth out the ceilings - the least attention you can draw to them the better. Lastly, paint the ceilings the same color as the walls to really make the space feel more open.
They don’t call it curb appeal for nothing!
TIP: Create an inviting and tranquil place for guests to enjoy outside. Unless you are located in a super urban area or an apartment building with no patio, THIS SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER! Folks are staying at your place to have an experience. Give them one with a delightful outdoor oasis!
TIP: Spruce up the exterior of your house. Our house was looking like a scary haunted house (are you seeing these pictures?) The front yard fence was falling over, the back steps were falling apart. We didn’t necessarily want to spend the money but it was super important that people weren’t afraid to pull up to our house. We took extra landscaping care and wanted to property to look as appealing as possible. Remember, the exterior is as much a part of your business and brand as the interior.
