Do you travel a lot? Or do you maybe have a spare room in your home that you just never use? Maybe you have already thought about renting out your room or apartment, but you just don’t know where to start? Airbnb hosting is not nearly as scary as it might sound, and if you are not sure how to get going, here are some tips that will hopefully answer any questions you might have.
What rules should I set?
This question is probably the most important one and deserves a lot of pondering. Your rules only partially depend on what you want. A very important thing to consider is your neighborhood and the rules of behavior that apply to your building. If you live in a building that has a “no loud music after 10 p.m.” rule, then that has to be one of the rules for renting out your apartment. Other rules can include things you personally want, such as no moving of the furniture, no parties, no extra guests and everything else you might think of that you wouldn’t like your guests to do. You might think that having as few rules as possible will make your listing more desirable for potential guests, but actually having only a couple rules might make your guests think of you as irresponsible, so try to achieve a balance and include all the rules that are important to you.
What if I get a guest I don’t like?
Before letting a stranger into your apartment, you can exchange as many messages with them as you want and find out more about them, what their plans for the trip are and anything else you might want to know. Everyone is scared that they will end up with a guest who will destroy their place, make a mess or get into some trouble; but in reality, most of the people looking for accommodation through Airbnb are just avid travelers looking to experience their trip from a more local perspective, or people traveling for work who want a more quiet environment than they would get in a hotel.
Is my place too small to rent?
No space is too small! Airbnb is not there just for renting whole houses or rooms with a separate bathroom. People also rent out couches and beds in their living rooms, or in shared rooms. Sometimes you will rent just one room, and sometimes a whole apartment, but make sure to have two separate ads and mark them correctly when the places are available. A welcoming atmosphere is much more important – and much more appreciated – than the bed that your guest will be sleeping in. You can always check out other apartments listed for example cozy and cheap apartments in Memphis, Miami or any other city and get the idea of how it should look and what kind of guests should you expect.
How should I price my listing?
That depends completely on you. Of course, the cheaper your place, the more likely you are to get booked, but you also don’t want to be giving it away for virtually free. If you plan on getting into the accommodation renting business seriously, then you might want to consider some investing. Find the best mattress for the money and make sure you have a clean bathroom. Everything else comes after that. Some things people might appreciate are access to the kitchen, WiFi, and towels. If you can provide all that, you are well on your way to become a part of the wonderful Airbnb world.
Hosting will probably be one of the most interesting experiences in your life, even more so if you interact with your guests. You will meet new people from all over the world and learn things about cultures you might never get a chance to experience yourself. The second best thing to exploring the world is opening your doors to it.
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