Starting an Airbnb can seem like a simple process and, fundamentally, this is true. You are welcoming guests into your home for a predetermined amount of time and for a small cost. There are a number of ways this can happen, with successful hosts offering anything from an entire house to a single room. However, if you want to ensure that you have ongoing success with Airbnb, making it a pleasant experience for both you and your guests, then you will need to consider some basics.
Coming And Going
Before listing a stay on your profile, you should first consider its accessibility and the compromise that having others come and go would have upon your routine. A spare room that is often empty, for example, can be a great source of extra income. However, if the presence of guests will disrupt your personal or professional routine, it might be worth considering its eligibility.
Some hosts will only choose to rent out a room when they know that it won’t cause disruption, while others will seek alternative options. External structures, such as annexes and log cabins, can be ideal solutions for hosts, since they offer a guest room that can be accessed without needing to pass through personal living space. This ensures guests can arrive and depart independently.
Facilities
Once you have decided upon the viability of a space, it’s time to consider how functional it will be. Sharing a residential space with guests means opening your kitchen and bathroom utilities up to strangers, which can be a challenge for some.
Some hosts mitigate this by installing facilities inside a guest’s space. Mini fridges and kettles can be a great starting point, whereas en suite washroom facilities offer a more complete and independent experience for visitors.
Style
To keep the positive reviews coming, a good host needs more than utility. This is where interior design comes into play. The space in your home that is opened up to guests should feel welcoming and comfortable. Be sure that you go the extra mile with your decorations and decadence. Small embellishments, whether high-quality materials or a fresh lick of paint will make a wonderful impression upon guests and ensure that your profile remains popular.
Neighbours
Consideration should also be given to neighbours, especially if you are opening your doors to guests in a residential area. If they are not made aware of your practice, they may become uncomfortable at the comings-and-goings of so many strangers.
Review Your Utilities
You might already be certain that the money made from your hosting covers the cost of extra electricity and water but this doesn’t mean that your checks are complete. It is important that the capacity of your utilities meet the extended needs, such as the bandwidth of internet services, and that you are familiar with repair workers should an emergency occur.
Clean Everything
Your standards of cleanliness are important but you should nonetheless consider your guest to have the utmost scrutiny when it comes to cleanliness. A significant number of poor reviews on Airbnb are due to homeowners failing to properly clean their properties, leaving mess or dirt that upsets guests. So, before you open your doors, be sure to clean everything!