We decided to join the growing number of people becoming Airbnb hosts, turning parts of our home into rental spaces. Initially, we thought we needed a separate guest house or to rent out our entire home to be on Airbnb. However, we’ve realized that private guest rooms are very popular on the platform. These rooms are often more affordable for guests, especially those who don’t plan to stay indoors all day, and a friendly host can make the experience even better.
Hosting on Airbnb can bring in a significant extra income, anywhere from $300 to $5,000 a month, depending on location and the rental space size. To help with our housing costs, we started renting out our spare room, which allows us to save for other goals and projects. This new venture is challenging and sometimes overwhelming, so I wanted to share some tips to help others who might be considering becoming hosts.
First, having comfortable bedding in the guest room is essential. From my experience as a guest, I know that good bedding is crucial for a positive review and ensuring guests are well-rested. We recently invested in a high-quality mattress and bed frame from Amazon.
Privacy is also important, so we installed a lock and key on the guest room door. This small addition helps guests feel safe and gives us peace of mind.
While not required by Airbnb, we realized that adding special touches like a television, nightstand, and closet space could make our room more appealing to guests. We’re thinking of getting a Roku and a small TV through a local online marketplace. Other nice additions could include a microwave, hairdryer, towels, and a first aid kit.
It’s essential to protect our personal items and information. While we’re not moving everything out of the house, we’re reducing clutter and securing our personal belongings. Since we handle personal and work-related tasks from home, we’re finding better storage solutions for important documents. We’re also making the main bathroom more guest-friendly by moving most of our items to a secondary bathroom.
One thing I love about staying in Airbnbs is a well-thought-out welcome kit. We want to include things like house rules, the WiFi password, and local tips and tricks to add a personal touch to our guests’ stay.
We’re also tidying up our kitchen and organizing utensils, giving guests access to it while improving our own kitchen setup and tidiness.
Preparing your home for Airbnb can seem daunting, but being organized and clear about what you can offer makes a big difference. As a host, you control the atmosphere of your home and the rules you set. Start with a clear vision, make a detailed to-do list, and set deadlines to help you get everything ready for listing.
We’re excited about our new adventure with Airbnb, looking forward to meeting new people, and earning some extra money. Have you tried Airbnb? Would you consider becoming a host? Why or why not?