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Are you thinking of turning your home into an Airbnb? Whether you plan to list your primary home or a rental-only property, Airbnb is a great way to earn extra cash. However, it’s not as simple as just listing your home on the site. From check-in to cleanup, hosting guests will require effort and forethought. With a little elbow grease and some small renovation, you can turn your home into an Airbnb dream destination.
How Do You Turn Your Home Into an Airbnb?
1. Declutter Your Home
The first step to turning your home into an Airbnb is to declutter the area you plan to rent. While part of the Airbnb experience is living like a local, your home should look more like a hotel than your personal space. Also, remove anything you don’t want guests to see or use while they are staying in your home. Decluttering will also help speed up cleaning in between rentals.
2. Clean, Clean, Clean
Next, you need to deep clean your entire home. While you can do this yourself, hiring a cleaning company is best. They will deep clean all the hard-to-reach places in your bathroom and kitchen. Plus, using a service frees up your time to focus on other aspects of listing your home on Airbnb.
3. Think About Upgrades
Hosting a successful Airbnb is also about style. Think about making upgrades that will make guests more comfortable – and more liking to stay with you. The most cost-effective renovations include bathroom remodeling, upgrading to USB outlets, and adding convenience appliances like espresso makers, water filters, and easy-to-use TVs. And don’t even think of making your home into an Airbnb unless you have great Wi-Fi!
4. Stuck Up on the Basics… and More!
Another important thing to consider when turning your home into an Airbnb is keeping it well stocked. This includes basics like soap, toilet paper, sheets, towels, and a hairdryer. Including things like coffee, water, and snacks is also a good idea. Another thing that can set you apart is a neighborhood guide with things to see and do and a list of great restaurants. Other options to think about include umbrellas, first-aid kits, or even bicycles.
5. Get Airbnb Verified!
You should also try to get verified by the website in every way you can. A great option is the verified photo service—Airbnb will dispatch a photographer to take photos of your space for the listing. This helps guests get a feel for your space and become comfortable with the listing. What’s more, it protects you from claims about false advertising—not to mention, it’s free.
6. Include All the Details in Your Listing
When setting up your listing, make sure you have an easy-to-understand check-in and check-out plan. Travelers’ schedules are rarely set in stone, so make sure your system is as flexible as possible.
List every rule and quirk of your home in a comprehensive guest guide. Your guest guide should repeat all of the house rules from your listing, and you should edit it as you get more experience as a host. Use it to break down all of the specifics of your home. Make sure you cover where to park, how to use appliances, how to work any electronics, what to do with trash, your smoking policy, and any other necessary information. In addition, your guests should always be able to contact you. Give them multiple means of reaching you, and do your best to answer quickly.
Your guide should be as fun as it is useful. Don’t just list house rules and amenities. Provide directions to major roadways, transportation advice, lists of tourist attractions, events, and places to eat.
7. Make It Personal
Make an effort to get to know your guests, and have them get to know you and your home. Highlight the best part of your location in your listing, and provide some details about yourself. Even listing your basic interests will help endear you to guests and make them more comfortable. As for your home, you should try to point out its best quality—whether it’s quiet comfort, proximity to tourist attractions, or just a good bargain. Be honest, but put your best foot forward.
As an Airbnb host, some of the best advice is to make the guests’ visit feel personal. Whether it’s inviting them to dinner or simply offering a handwritten note as a welcome, make sure your guests feel like you want them there, and they’ll feel like they’re in paradise.
Turning your home into an Airbnb could be a great way to make extra money and meet new people, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be a breeze. Creating the best Airbnb listing takes careful preparation and some trial and error. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can make money and help guests make memories.