Most people have heard of or used Airbnb, and if you haven’t, have you been living under a rock for the past few years? It is a short-term rental marketplace that allows people to rent out empty rooms, houses, and other property online. It was founded in 2008 and has grown exponentially in popularity. It now has over three million properties on its books in more than 65, 000 cities worldwide.
If you have extra space, whether it is an unused room, cottage, or downtown apartment, and want to make some extra money, launching an Airbnb business is worth looking into. Let’s take a look at how to make a profit from it.
Add your property and take decent photos of your property
The first step in becoming an Airbnb host is to sign up your property with the page and send photos and detailed descriptions of the space you have available for rent. Travelers can look for a property based on its location, availability, price, number of beds, luxuries like hot tubs or swimming pools, and other nearby facilities. Certainly, the more alluring it appears in photos and sounds in the description, the more likely it is to be rented.
Allow your guests to check themselves in
After what could potentially have been a long and difficult journey, your guests want to get straight in and relax, so avoid them having to hang about waiting for you and the awkwardness of having to meet you while feeling disheveled. Allow them to check themselves in, with a lockbox for keys or an electronic smart lock, which sends you a notification when accessed.
Lay down the ground rules
While you do not want to be too rigid about what your guests can and cannot do on your property, you also do not want them bringing a gaggle of zoo animals or throwing crazy all-night parties. This not only increases the probability of your property being wrecked, but it may also ruin your relationship with your neighbor or get you into trouble with the authorities. To overcome this, look at noise systems. NoiseAware’s system helps you in dealing with unreasonable noise complaints.
Make sure it is clean, safe, and welcoming
While Airbnbs are, by definition, self-catering, you may want to add a few homely touches to make it more comfortable and welcoming. Of course, it should be perfectly clean – hire a professional cleaning service if necessary – but consider providing a few necessities, such as coffee or tea, sugar, bread, soap, and toilet paper. This will allow them to have a hot drink and take a shower when they arrive. No one wants to have to head immediately to the grocery store or unpack, especially after a long journey or if it is late at night. You could also add a few nice little luxuries – a bottle of wine or some chocolates, some fresh flowers, or a little breakfast hamper.
If properly managed, Airbnb can be a profitable and comparatively passive source of income. Take these steps to protect and keep it clean, safe, and secure, and you will be well on your way to earning some extra money.