So you have finally made the decision to list your home on Airbnb – and now you’re looking for the best way to host? That’s amazing and congratulations on this new exciting venture! Here I will essentially “spill the beans” on how you can appear like an experienced host right from the gate! Don’t make these rookie mistakes and most importantly – have fun with this!
1. First Verify with your City that Short Term Renting is Allowed.
In a nutshell – it all comes down to city zoning. Before you list your home you want to be sure that you are operating legally. You could technically choose to operate illegally – but if your neighbors catch wind of what you are doing and they are disturbed by it, prepare to shut everything down. Also, in general it’s way less of a headache to know you are operating legally and will prevent any possible issue in the future. Some cities will also slap you with a $20,000 fine! Many times, your city will have a site to check for zoning but you’ll want to go to the city to get the exact details. For instance, in St. Pete FL, you must be zoned Hotel or Motel to be legal and those usually only occur on main roads and not within neighborhoods. There’s also different rules for living on site vs not living on site. For instance if you have a guest house on your property you still may be able to rent it out by registering your home as a bed and breakfast.
2. It's Time To Decorate!
Go onto the Airbnb App and search homes fitting your homes criteria and check out the competition! Are you in the mountains? Near a popular beach? Decorate accordingly and check out how other “Superhosts” have designed their homes. How do their pictures look? What is their nightly price and cleaning fee? You’ll want to stick to light color palettes to exemplify the cleanliness of your home. Add your own unique character to your home. Are you an artists? Get a bit creative with your space it’ll help your home stand out among the rest. I recommend purchasing as much as you can second hand. Visit thrift stores, Goodwill and Salvation Army!
3. If You Are Not Savvy With A Camera Definitely Hire A Professional Photographer
I can’t tell you how many times I have passed up homes when looking for an Airbnb based on crumby photos alone. If you have a newer smart phone you should be able to take some decent photos. Open all curtains, turn on all the lights and get creative with certain angles that show off all the best features of a room. You’ll also want to photograph highlight amenities that you offer as well. Plush pillows? Washer and Dryer area? Coffee Maker? Beach Gear? You’ll want to photograph every amenity that is available to your guests. Don’t just take photos and post them. Edit them as well with a editing app. I recommend Lightroom – I use it for all my social media photos.
4. Hire a Reliable Cleaner - Or Clean It Yourself.
Turnovers are 85% of the business. If the home isn’t clean to the utmost standard then you’ll need to prepare for negative reviews and loss of income. Cleaning the home yourself is a great option for those that want to make extra income. You can expect to make an extra thousand dollars or more a month in cleaning fees if you opt to clean the home yourself. In my experience, most guests have left my home really clean and easy to turn over. If you hire a cleaner be sure to pay them top dollar to care for your property. It’s also really important to provide cleaning products for your guests in case an accident happens during their stay.
5. If You Have A Full Kitchen - Provide All Kitchenware and Appliances
Some folks will book places just to have the option of a kitchen. If you have a kitchen you must carry all the normal kitchen appliances and spices. Think a toaster, microwave, spatulas and the like!
6. Leave Extras On Site - It Will Add A Better Experience For Your Guests
I have several beach homes that I manage. Therefore, I provide beach towels, chairs and an umbrella for my guests! I have even provided some beach floats and a cooler for guests to enjoy. If you have nothing fantastic to offer like a beach front property you can offer other extras like a snack basket, coffee and cookies, little treats or even a TV with Netflix on it! What kinds of things did you enjoy on a past trip that have made it more enjoyable? I’ve had hosts spoil me with local gifts for my birthday or simply provide small breakfast items in the home.
7. If You Have A Cheap Bed, Guests Will Leave It In Their Review
You can purchase everything second hand but you’ll want to go a little “over the top” for the beds. Always be sure to wrap your mattress and pillows with a protector to keep bugs and other stains off.
8. Invest In A Ring Camera
This is a great tip for those that are OFF site. If you live in another state or live off site a ring camera will always come in handy. Don’t forget to always disclose cameras to your guest and simply let them know that the camera is there for safety reasons.
9. Design A Guidebook
Guests are traveling for vacation and who knows the area better than you? Be sure to leave recommendations in the home for places to visit, restaurants and other traveling tips for the area. This will always go a long way with guests and they usually always write about my guide book in their review.
10. Pay Attention To Events and Holidays and Increase Your Nightly Rate Accordingly
Don’t forget to adjust your rates for holidays! I’ve made that mistake before – it hurts your pockets ALOT. If you have a special event or concert happening nearby that also calls for a price adjustment! You can list your price for whatever you want – just be sure its competitive with other listings. Whenever I have a few dates not filled in my calendar I search my area for the same dates and price my home competitively.
