Being an Airbnb host (or similar)

[Aussie Willy]

I am thinking to earn a bit of extra money to do Airbnb with my spare room. We have summer coming up and I live in a bit of a tourist hotspot in Australia and it is anticipating that accommodation will be in short supply. I only have the one bathroom so would have to share it with guests. I know that most people are usually just after a room for the night while they do touristy things during the day.

I have used Airbnb a lot and have had good experiences as a guest.

The room has a sofa bed but I am thinking I would need to get a proper bed. I also have three cats which live indoor.

But interested for those who have done it and also whether with this situation it is feasible. I assume the cats would be a negative although some people who love cats probably wouldn't mind.

 

[once_upon]

When I look for an Air BandB I would want one that has a private bath and private entrance.

I've only used one, that is a stand alone house, rented with other couples and we absolutely want a private bath for each of us. Plus facilities to cook and other amenities.

Sounds like you are wanting to do a couch surfing type of experience - http://www.couchsurfing.com/about/how-it-works/

 

[MsZem]

I think Airbnb started out as something closer to what you want to do, but like once_upon, I've also ruled out this sort of shared accommodation when looking for places.

I don't know if you can get any information about who tends to go for just a room rather than a whole property, but I'd start there and see if you'd be comfortable inviting such guests into your home. It could be a lot of fun, but it could just be... a lot.

 

[Deleted member 221]

I agree with others that your set-up is more conducive to couch-surfing than Airbnb.

If you do Airbnb, keep in mind that your set-up is going to attract a "low rent" profile / clientele and basically be an alternative to a hostel. I think you will probably have to beat hostel prices in order to get guests. You are probably also not going to be able to collect security deposits or have great odds at recovering damages if someone damages your home.

Since you are living there and sharing a bathroom with someone, be prepared for things like hair in the shower, pee on the toilet seat, leftover residue in the bowl, spills on your kitchen counter, trash piling up or separated incorrectly, people who haven't bathed or use deodorant in days, etc. Many people are slobs. Especially if you're not used to living with someone, you may find the daily aggravations maddening.

Check also your homeowner's insurance and any local / HOA (if applicable) rules. You may find yourself in a precarious situation if the renter causes serious damage or destruction to your property. E.g., they're secretly smoking crack in the bedroom and burn down your house. Or if items of yours go missing.

My gut instinct on this is that the aggravation and risk are unlikely to be worth the benefit.

 

[PRlady]

We rented out our whole apartment in Jerusalem on AirBnB for a couple of years until CoVID. We had a professional manager and a lot of longer-term stays of several weeks or months (it’s near Hebrew University and convenient for visiting professors.) we had no real damage and the apartment paid for its own taxes and upkeep.

But I’d never rent out a spare room while living there. I’ve had enough of most houseguests after a few days!

 

[genevieve]

I am someone who frequently has used the type of accommodation you could offer - staying in a room in someone's home while they live there. The audience is smaller, but it's there. And if your city is a big tourist destination, an affordable place to stay could be a big draw.

My recommendations:

• Keep the cats! You are right that it will be a plus for the right person. But make it really clear in the listing, and make sure to do very thorough cleaning in that room, perhaps keep them out prior to bookings?
• How comfortable is the sofa bed? I was going to say an actual bed is a must, but sofa beds have come a long way. I did stay on a friend's sofa bed that was more comfortable than most beds. The quality of the bed can impact the amount you charge.
• While most people visiting a city don't spend a lot of time in their accommodations, understand that you may have guests that want to prepare some meals there. Is that okay with you? In general, think about what beyond the room itself you are willing to consider common space.
• Offering coffee/tea is a very big plus. You could even set up a kettle, cups, and coffee/tea in the room if you want to encourage the idea that they should be in the room more than the kitchen
• Excellent wifi is a MUST for travelers
• putting together some sort of guide to your city, things to see, how to get around is a very nice touch. Some hosts have a transit card for guests to use, or some sort of pass - something that isn't a high cost to you but saves the guest the trouble of figuring it out, is really cool.
• I love when hosts have a guest book - prior guests write in the things they liked about the location, good restaurants nearby etc.

I just saw Louis' post, and while I will gladly own the "low-rent" traveler label, I strongly disagree that you need to price lower than a hostel. Shared-home Airbnb is what we do when we don't want a hostel! Also, pricing it above hostels will keep out the folks who are doing things as cheaply as possible and don't really care where they are or how they impact their surroundings.

I think the biggest adjustment will be that you are going to have strangers in your home - what is the level of engagement that you are comfortable with? Yes, there will be annoyances like hair in the sink, possible cultural misunderstandings, a broken mug. But think about what you want out of this and create an environment that would be attractive to the market you want. And create a clear profile.

I suggest cruising around Airbnb and look for other shared-housing listings to see how others have positioned their rental for ideas. That should also give you an idea of pricing if you look in your city.

ETA: I know there's a Reddit forum for Airbnb hosts - can probably get some good information on the hosting side of things (both good and bad), if there is no one on FSU who's done that.

 

[Stefanie]

I know I'm paranoid, but what do you do if the person renting a room from you just doesn't leave? This probably isn't a huge possibility, but you never know. Like do they have "squatter's rights?"

 

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks for all the suggestions and reality checks. Really appreciate it.

I think being upfront and honest is the way to go in an ad that you put on. People get peeved when what they see doesn't match up to expectations.

I will check out the couch surfing sites.

 

[genevieve]

Couchsurfing.com has gone downhill - the up & coming replacement is couchers.org

To be clear, couchsurfing is a hospitality exchange, where no money changes hands, and there can be an expectation of spending time with guests - if that's not your jam, it's probably not what you're looking for.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Couchsurfing.com has gone downhill - the up & coming replacement is couchers.org

To be clear, couchsurfing is a hospitality exchange, where no money changes hands, and there can be an expectation of spending time with guests - if that's not your jam, it's probably not what you're looking for.

Thanks for your replies. They are most helpful.