Preparing a flat for nightly letting is not just a matter of putting in a bed and hanging curtains. The first reviews decide where the listing will sit all season, and guests write their reviews about the small things: whether there were enough towels, whether there was a hairdryer, how the wi-fi works and whether it was easy to get in at night. Below is the checklist we use to prepare flats in Batumi for their first guests.
In short
- Start with the question “who is your guest”: it decides the beds, the kitchen and even the lighting.
- Renovating for letting means durability and easy cleaning, not designer flourishes.
- Keep at least three sets of bedding and towels for every bed.
- Professional photos and self check-in by code bring more bookings than a discount.
Where to start: who your guest is
Batumi has three main kinds of guests: families with children in summer, couples on weekends and short holidays, and people who come for a month or two to work remotely. A family needs an extra bed, a washing machine and dishes for everyone. A couple needs a good bed, a view and atmosphere. A remote worker needs a desk, a comfortable chair and fast internet.
Decide who the flat is for, and work out the capacity, furniture and outfitting from that. If you are not sure which letting mode suits your property, start with the article daily or long-term.
Renovating for letting: where the money should go
A flat let by the night lives at the pace of a hotel: dozens of stays a season, suitcases, wet towels, sand from the beach. So the money is best spent on what stands up to wear and cleans quickly:
- hard-wearing floors and washable paints in the hallway and kitchen;
- separate circuits for the air conditioners and enough sockets by the bed and the desk;
- heavy or blackout curtains in the bedroom;
- a tray-free or low-rim shower, which is easier to clean;
- bathroom extraction: in a seaside climate, damp appears within a season without it.
We break down such a budget in the article on what a renovation costs. If the flat is still a frame, start with an apartment renovation planned for letting.
Furniture: what matters most
The most important thing in a rental flat is the bed. Guests notice a good mattress straight away, and a bad one ends up in the reviews. Next in importance: a roomy wardrobe with space for suitcases, a dining table for all the guests, and a sofa bed if the listing promises more than two beds.
A custom kitchen and wardrobes beat ready-made ones not only on precision but on repairability: a front or a hinge can be replaced in a day. That is what our furniture workshop does.
Outfitting checklist by area
| Area | What you need | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Mattress, pillows, duvets, mattress protector, bedding, hangers, bedside lamps | Bedding — at least 3 sets per bed |
| Bathroom | Towels, bath mat, hairdryer, holders, laundry basket, first-aid kit | Towels — 3 sets per guest |
| Kitchen | Dishes, glasses, cutlery, pans and a frying pan, kettle, coffee maker, knives, chopping boards | Dishes — for the number of guests plus 2 |
| Living room | Sofa or sofa bed, dining table, chairs, TV, router | Chairs — one per guest |
| Appliances | An air conditioner in every room, washing machine, fridge, iron, vacuum cleaner | A drying rack — a must |
| Hallway and balcony | Coat rack, mirror, shoe shelf, table and chairs for the balcony | — |
| Consumables | Toilet paper, soap, shampoo, sponges, cleaning products, bin bags, coffee and tea | Enough for 2–3 stays |
All of this can be put together for you turnkey through outfitting a flat for rental: purchasing, delivery, assembly and photographs for the listing.
Photos and the listing
The first photo decides whether the listing gets opened at all. A professional shoot in daylight pays for itself faster than any discount: the picture should show space, light and what people come for — the sea view, the balcony, the bed. The description is better written honestly, drawbacks included, such as the climb from the beach or street noise: that means fewer disappointments and fewer bad reviews.
Check-in and keys
Guests arrive at any hour: night flights into Batumi are normal. Self check-in with a code or a key box removes half the problems. Leave a short guide in the flat: the wi-fi, the air conditioning, the water heater, rubbish collection, house rules and a contact for emergencies.
Cleaning and linen between stays
Cleanliness is the number one topic in reviews. Between guests you need more than a clean: a checklist inspection — fresh bedding, towels, consumables, working appliances, no hair in the shower. Linen is better sent to a laundry than washed in the flat: it stays white and there is always a spare. That is what turnover cleaning covers, with a photo report after every check-out.
How long the preparation takes
If the renovation is done, outfitting with purchasing, delivery, assembly and the photo shoot takes two to four weeks. The listing should go up early: summer bookings in Batumi start coming in during spring. If the flat is to start earning in June, it should be on the platforms by May.
Common mistakes
- Promising more beds in the listing than there are comfortable beds.
- Saving on the mattress and pillows.
- Keeping one set of bedding and washing it between guests.
- Photographing the flat on a phone in the evening.
- Meeting every guest in person and missing check-ins when flights are delayed.
Questions and answers
How many sets of bedding does one bed need?
At least three: one on the bed, one in the wash and one spare.
Is an air conditioner needed in every room?
Yes. In Batumi in summer, a bedroom without air conditioning means bad reviews, and in winter the air conditioner works as heating.
Can the flat be prepared without me coming to Georgia?
Yes. Purchasing, delivery, assembly and photos all happen without you; you approve the estimate and receive a photo report.
When should the listing go up?
Two to three months before the season: in spring for summer, in autumn for the New Year holidays.
If you want the flat to work without your involvement, after the preparation it can go straight into nightly letting management: listings, guests, cleaning and a monthly report with the income transferred.