Best STR Host Supplies for Mountain Cabins — What We Actually Stock

We’ve hosted hundreds of guests across two dog-friendly cabins in the North Georgia mountains with riverfront and river access on the Toccoa River. In that time, we’ve learned one thing clearly: the supplies you choose shape the reviews you get.

We stock our cabins the way we’d want to find them as guests. Guests have noticed. One VRBO guest put it simply: “Best equipped cabin ever. Everything was perfect.” A great shampoo gets mentioned in reviews. So does a fully stocked kitchen. The right supplies are not invisible — guests notice what is there, and they tell people.

This is exactly what we stock, why we chose it, and where to get it.

STR Ordinance: Non-Negotiables

Before you worry about thread counts and shampoo brands, make sure you have what your jurisdiction legally requires. These are not optional. Some are required by local ordinance, some by your platform, and some by both. Buy them first.

• First Alert SMCO410 Smoke & CO Combo Detector — Here is the full story, because it illustrates exactly why you need to stay on top of your local ordinance. When Fannin County passed its STR ordinance in April 2023, it simply said “smoke detector.” We put in Alexa-connected detectors — battery powered, AA batteries — so we could get phone notifications. That met the requirement at the time. Then in August 2023, the county updated the ordinance to require a 10-year sealed lithium battery. We replaced everything with X-Sense detectors because we could not find a smart detector with a 10-year sealed lithium battery that also connected to our monitoring system. We searched for two years. Then in August 2025, the First Alert SMCO410 finally arrived — smart, 10-year sealed lithium, Ring integration. We switched immediately. Our second guest after installation burned a steak in the kitchen and Ring called us and sent a notification simultaneously. We called the guests directly on the cabin landline to confirm everyone was OK, while on the phone with Ring on our second phone canceling the fire department before they arrived. No false alarm charge. No panicked guests. These work. Do not settle for a standalone detector that nobody monitors.
• Kidde Fire Extinguisher — required in most jurisdictions. Mount it visibly in the kitchen. Check the pressure gauge at every turnover.

There is a larger issue here that the STR community should be talking about. A standalone smoke detector that only sounds inside the cabin is designed to save lives in the cabin — and that matters. But if guests do not hear it, or if the cabin is vacant, nobody knows. No owner alert. No fire department notification. By the time a neighbor notices smoke in the North Georgia mountains, the fire may have already spread to the Chattahoochee National Forest. At that point you are no longer talking about a cabin fire — you are talking about a wildfire threatening other properties, other cabins, and other lives. Connected detectors that alert owners and can trigger emergency response are not a luxury for remote STR properties. They are a public safety necessity.

We also want to say this directly to anyone involved in writing STR ordinances: check whether compliant products actually exist before you write the requirement. When Fannin County updated its ordinance to require 10-year sealed lithium batteries in August 2023, no smart detector with a 10-year sealed lithium battery existed on the market. Hosts were forced to choose between meeting the battery requirement with a dumb detector, or keeping smart monitoring with older battery technology. The ordinance created a compliance problem that had no correct answer because the product did not exist yet. The First Alert SMCO410 did not arrive until August 2025 — two years after the requirement was written. Ordinance writers owe it to the hosts they regulate, and to the communities they protect, to verify that the market can actually supply what they mandate.

The best way to fix bad ordinances is to be in the room when they are written. STR owners are stakeholders in these decisions — you own property in the county, you pay taxes, you employ local cleaners and vendors, and you bring visitors who spend money in the community. You have standing. Use it. Attend county commission meetings. Join your local STR association if one exists. If one does not exist, start one. When ordinance changes are proposed, show up and speak. Bring data. Bring product research. Bring the perspective of someone who has to actually comply. Ordinances written without host input are ordinances written against hosts. The people in the room when the rules are made are the people the rules get written for.

STR Insurance: Non-Negotiables

Your STR insurance policy has requirements. Most hosts never read them until they file a claim and find out they were not in compliance. If your property has river access, lake access, or a pool, water safety equipment is almost certainly required. Read your policy. Then buy the equipment.

• BAND-AID Portable First Aid Kit — Airbnb requires it to be visible and accessible. One of our guests noted: “they had little extras such as a first aid kit that made me think they really thought of everything.” Keep it where guests can find it. Keep a second one in your locked supply cabinet — more on that in the Stock a Spare section below.
• Prepared Hero Fire Blankets — mount one near the stove and one near the grill. In a real fire, who actually remembers how to operate an extinguisher under pressure? Everyone knows how to throw a blanket. Keep the extinguisher too — it is required — but the blanket is the one a guest will actually use correctly in an emergency.
• Life Ring Buoy — if your property has river, lake, or any water access, your insurance policy likely requires a throwable flotation device on site. Ours does. Mount it visibly near the water.
• Life Jackets / PFDs — one per occupant is the standard. Store them in a visible, accessible location and label the storage area clearly.
• Swim at Own Risk Sign — post this at the water access point. It documents that guests were warned. This is not just a nice-to-have — it is a liability document.

Bedding: Where Reviews Are Won and Lost

Bedding is the most-asked-about category by hosts we talk to. Guests sleep in it and wake up forming their final impression of your property. We’ve tested several brands and these are what we stock.

• California Design Den 400TC Cotton Sateen Sheets — soft, machine washable, holds up over repeated laundering. The 6-piece king set includes four pillowcases, which matters for turnover efficiency.
• AllerEase Mattress Protectors — guests don’t see them but they protect your investment. Maximum allergy protection and machine washable.
• AllerEase Pillow Protectors (4-pack) — moisture wicking with zippered closure. Stock more than you think you need.

Kitchen: Stock It Like You Live There

Guests cooking at the cabin is a feature, not a nuisance. Make it easy for them. Multiple reviewers have mentioned our kitchen specifically. “Kitchen is set up to cook like your own home” is not an accident — it is a decision.

• Corelle Vitrelle 18-Piece Dinnerware Set — chip resistant, lightweight, and dishwasher safe. Looks clean even after hundreds of uses.
• Mikasa Oliver 65-Piece Flatware Set — hammered satin finish looks upscale. Guests notice nice flatware and it costs you almost nothing extra.
• Pyrex 3-Pack Measuring Cups — anyone cooking a real meal needs these. Have them.
• Serving Bowls — guests asked for them. We added them. A set of three or four handles everything from pasta night to snacks on the porch. This is how you earn “best stocked cabin” in your reviews — you listen and you add.
• Royal Craft Bamboo Cutting Boards — doubles as a charcuterie board for the wine-and-cheese crowd. Mountain cabin guests skew toward that.
• Ziploc Variety Pack (190ct) — guests use these for leftovers, trail snacks, and bait storage. Stock them.
• Zeppoli Cotton Dish Towels (15-pack) — buy in bulk, wash easily, blue color hides stains better than white.
• Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil — guests always need it. We have had guests walk in, open a drawer, see foil, and say “you have aluminum foil — we need it for the grill, that is awesome.” Have it.

Bathroom: Products Guests Ask for By Name

Guests notice the bathroom. We have had guests contact us after checkout to ask what shampoo and conditioner we use because one guest’s wife loved it. That is not a coincidence — it is the result of a deliberate choice.

We stopped using single-use bottles years ago. They are wasteful, expensive at scale, and make the shower look like a hotel that is trying too hard. Instead, we use refillable 16.9oz pump dispensers mounted in the shower, filled from gallon jugs. One refill per month instead of restocking bottles every single turnover.

• Ginger Lily Farms Moisturizing Shampoo — Fragrance-Free, 1 Gallon — fragrance-free and gentle for all hair types. Guests with color-treated hair, curly hair, and sensitive skin all handle it well.
• Ginger Lily Farms Moisturizing Conditioner — Fragrance-Free, 1 Gallon — pairs with the shampoo. Buy the gallon jug, not the retail size.
• Ginger Lily Farms Nourishing Body Wash — Fragrance-Free, 1 Gallon — completes the trio. Same brand, same dispenser, cohesive look in the shower.
• Shampoo and Conditioner Dispenser Set — Refillable, Clear, Set of 3, 16.9oz, with Waterproof Labels — fill from the gallon jugs and mount in the shower. This is what we put the Ginger Lily Farms products in.

Dog-Friendly Essentials: The Details Guests Actually Rave About

If you welcome dogs, go all the way. We welcome dogs and are often booked when our competitors are not. Half-hearted dog amenities don’t earn mentions. Intentional ones do — and they show up in reviews more than almost anything else.

• Gorilla Grip Dog Bowl Set with Silicone Mat — stainless steel, BPA-free, slip-resistant mat with high-edge spill containment. Dishwasher safe.
• Milk-Bone MaroSnacks — leave a welcome treat out for dog guests. Gets mentioned in reviews more than you’d think. Costs almost nothing.
• Bounce Pet Hair Dryer Sheets (180-count) — essential for getting fur off linens between stays. 3X pet hair fighters.
• Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags (120-count) — stock these near the door. Guests forget their bags constantly, especially for cabin trips. Small but noticeable touch.

Provide for Guests, Conserve Resources

Going green at your STR is not just good for the environment — guests notice it and they appreciate it. One of our guests said it without being prompted: “We know the extra towels in the zip-tied clear plastic bags are clean and you are not unnecessarily washing every single towel between guests.” Exactly right. Less water, less laundry detergent, less wear on the washer, dryer, and septic. The guest figured it out and respected it.

• TasticTotes 40L Clear Storage Bags — zip-tie extra linens and towels inside these and leave them in the closet. Guests can see the contents are clearly unused. You are not washing linens that were never touched. When you factor in water, detergent, and appliance wear across hundreds of stays, this is one of the highest-ROI purchases on the list.
• Refillable Shower Dispensers — single-use hotel bottles are wasteful and expensive at scale. Gallon jugs filled into refillable dispensers means one refill per month instead of restocking every turnover. Guests have specifically asked which brand we use. See our Bathroom section for the exact products.
• Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil — stock it in the kitchen. Guests need it for grill packets, it costs almost nothing, and they love that you thought of it.

The Starter Pack

Your listing says “starter pack provided.” That is not an accident and it is not a loophole — it is an accurate description of what you provide. You are not a grocery store. You provide enough for guests to get started. If they run through it, they resupply. When a guest messages saying they ran out of toilet paper on day four, your response is easy: “As noted in our listing, we provide a starter pack. The nearest store is [X] miles away.”

• Paper Towels — one roll per day of the stay is a reasonable starting point.
• Toilet Paper — same rule. Enough for the stay, not an unlimited supply.
• Laundry Detergent Pods — enough for one or two loads. Guests doing laundry mid-trip is common on longer stays.
• Coffee & Filters — enough for the stay. Running out of coffee before checkout is a real grievance. Include filters even if you have a pod machine.
• Charcoal — if you have a charcoal grill, provide one bag. A guest who runs out mid-cookout is a guest writing a review about it.
• Propane — start each stay with a full tank. Keep a backup in your locked supply cabinet.

Smart Home: Run Your Cabin From Your Couch

The right smart home setup lets you manage your property remotely without relying on neighbors or a local co-host for every small issue. For a remote STR property, this is not a luxury — it is a requirement.

• Schlage Encode Smart Deadbolt — keyless entry with WiFi app control. Generate unique guest codes per booking and expire them automatically at checkout. One critical note: the Schlage Encode is sometimes marketed as Airbnb compatible, meaning you can grant Airbnb permission to access and manage your lock. Do not do this. Your lock controls who enters your property — keep that control with you. Still keep a lockbox on the property for when the batteries die or a guest cannot figure out the keypad.
• TP-Link Deco X55 WiFi 6 Mesh System — covers up to 6,500 sq ft. We run a separate admin network for cameras, HVAC, and smart home devices, and a guest network for guest use only. Guests with bad WiFi leave bad reviews. This is not optional.
• Kasa Matter Smart Plug (4-pack) — plug your mesh router into one. Remotely reboot it when guests have WiFi issues without driving to the cabin.
• Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium — full remote control with temperature guardrails. No guest is turning your cabin into a sauna at 80 degrees or destroying your system at 50. Set your limits and let guests control within them.

Security Cameras: A Setup That Pays for Itself

Security cameras deserve their own post — and we are writing one. But here is the version that matters right now.

We recently had guests attempt to turn off every single camera on the property. We caught the whole thing on video because each camera points at another camera. They could not get them all.

The setup: cover every entrance with two cameras — one solar, one plug-in — mounted from different directions at the same entry point. The plug-in does not record when power is lost. The solar does. Link them so motion on one triggers both. No blind spots. No single point of failure.

• Ring Cameras — we use multiple Ring models across our properties. Solar for outage coverage, plug-in for continuous power. Both linked. The goal is that there is no way to kill all of them without being caught doing it.

Leak Protection: The One Thing Hosts Always Regret Skipping

Remote properties and water leaks are a nightmare combination. A burst pipe discovered by a guest — or not discovered for days between stays — can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This is the single category most hosts skip and most regret.

• Moen Flo Automatic Water Shutoff (3/4in) — monitors flow, pressure, moisture, and temperature. Automatically shuts off the water supply if a leak is detected. WiFi app control from anywhere in the world.
• Moen Flo Smart Leak Detectors (3-pack) — place under sinks and near appliances. Pair with the shutoff for complete coverage. App alerts the moment moisture is detected.

Our Moen Flo system notified us at 7 AM on a morning the cabin was vacant. We turned off the water from our phone before we got out of bed. The plumber told us we had prevented a catastrophe. A neighbor said it was pouring like a waterfall. Without the Moen Flo, we would have found out days later when the next guest arrived.

If you own a remote STR property, the Moen Flo system is the single highest-ROI purchase on this entire list.

Stock a Spare: Your Locked Supply Cabinet

Our cabins are 45 minutes one way from the nearest hardware store. Amazon “2-day” runs four days in rural North Georgia. Walmart does not deliver to Suches, GA. Your locked supply cabinet is your warehouse. When something fails mid-stay, you are not driving to town — you are walking to the cabinet.

• First Aid Kit (backup) — one is out for guests where they can see it. This one is your replacement when the visible kit gets used or disappears. Always have one ready to put back.
• Batteries — AA, AAA, and 9V — smart locks eat batteries. A dead lock is a stranded guest at the door. Never be without spares.
• Light Bulbs — one of each size your cabin uses — a guest told us a bulb was out. There was already a spare in the drawer. They found it and handled it. That is the right outcome. See the next section for what to leave accessible to guests.
• TV Remotes — guests misplace remotes constantly. Keep a labeled backup for every TV. A missing remote is a two-star review waiting to happen.
• Propane (full backup tank) — guests run out mid-cookout. Always have a full tank ready to swap in.

Leave a Spare Out for Guests

Some spares belong in your locked cabinet. Others belong where guests can find them without calling you. A guest with a burned-out bulb at 9 PM does not want to send a message and wait for a response. They want to open a drawer, find a bulb, and move on. Let them.

• Light Bulbs — one or two of each size in a clearly labeled drawer. Guests handle it themselves. You never get the message.
• Batteries — same drawer. Remote controls, flashlights, and guest devices all need batteries eventually. AA and AAA cover most cases.

This post is part of STR Host Guide: Scout. Setup. Stay. Stream. — coming soon on Amazon.