Tips for your Airbnb
Airbnb has become a popular way for people to get extra money outside of their everyday jobs. If you are planning on listing your home or apartment on Airbnb or are planning on getting an investment property to turn into an Airbnb, here are some things to help you get started.
Before Listing
Listing your space on Airbnb is free. However, Airbnb does collect a 3% host fee per reservation and handles all payments. Before you list your home on the site, check the regulations regarding sharing your space. Some municipalities don’t allow short-term bookings or require you to register or obtain a permit. Enforcement varies and may include fines. Additionally, your landlord may not allow your place to be put up. Check your lease to see your building’s policy on the matter.
Look on Airbnb to see what your competition is, and what they are charging to see how to best position yourself. Airbnb states that their most searched terms are a pool, Wi-Fi, free parking, pet-friendly, family-friendly, and kitchen. If you have one or more of these, it puts you in a better place. If you don’t and want to add them, figure out how much it will cost you. Your home should also have smoke and CO alarms. Some municipalities will require you to have these in your home.
Identify your guests
Who do you want to stay in your space? Is it families, business travelers, backpackers? Knowing who is staying in your home and understanding their needs will help you to best decorate and list your home.
Decorating
Make the effort when decorating to create a perfect ambiance for your guests. Select neutral colors for your walls and wood for furniture. From there, choose accent pieces to make your home interesting. This can be anything from a painting, a colorful piece of furniture, or an interesting piece of pottery. Use the statement piece to add complimenting colors for the other items in the room. Hang mirrors strategically to add more light to your rooms and make smaller rooms seem larger.
Something that will make your listing more appealing is a high number of beds. Have a futon or pull-out couch in your living room, have two beds in a spare room, and get a big mattress for the master. You can also offer an air mattress or cot to add to the number of beds. Make sure to have clean linens and towels ready for your guests as well.
For finishing touches, make sure that your home has plenty of electrical outlets. Provide your guests with extension cords if your outlets are far away from beds or couches.
Try to avoid having any religious or political pieces in your home, as they can be polarizing and make your guest feel uncomfortable during their stay. Additionally, remove any family items, such as family photos, clothing, and toiletries. Finally, eliminate any clutter. You want your space to seem open and roomy, but clutter does just the opposite.
Comments are closed.