Any Airbnb hosts here?

If you have experience starting an Airbnb site in your home, please share tips here, or PM me.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

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I actually found my year long renter by putting in an ad with Airbnb, whom I was told about through a friend with a large empty house doing it and having good luck. I personally wouldn't want to have to make coffee and clean up after strangers, but yes, it works. Folks give their info. to Airbnb, all done online. ...for me a renter is easier, but it works, and is great for travelers staying a day or two.

Live consciously....

I provide the renter with an entire, furnished kitchen of their own, with starter supplies of coffee, tea, cooking oil, salt, pepper and sweeteners. So, no work for me there. Private bedroom and bath, private kitchen, sitting room with fireplace (also private) private patio and yard backing to parkland. Totally furnished down to utensils, , free laundry, iron and ironing board. Free parking at front door. Very high speed Internet plus huge cable TV package. I will hire a good friend as a cleaner, at the local "living wage."

4 blocks to bike share station and express bus service into central DC or 5 minute drive to parking at Metro Rail station. Jogging and bike trails nearby.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Oh man, wish I could be your renter. That sounds great! Hope you find the right person.

Kim

Sounds like the Airbnb route provide a much nicer clientèle, than the usual CL grab bag.

I am not an Airbnb host, but interestingly - in my city there was a local Airbnb host who just murdered a college girl. Not related to his rental - but scary! His rental was in his basement.

I used to host on Airbnb but not anymore. I still host on couchsurfing sometimes.

Yesterday I found, and ordered, a few items to make AirBnB life easier for both my guests and for me: a luggage rack for the bedroom (no need to live out of luggage that is always open on the floor); a new deadbolt lock for the front door that has a programmable key pad; 2 wall-mount fire extinguishers; a few small items to make the suite's kitchen a bit more user friendly for folks from diverse countries of origin. My local handyman is scheduled to install the lock and mount the fire extinguishers next Tuesday. Also on my list: more skirt hangers; a coffee maker (local charity shop often has great ones at modest prices and I have a garage shop 1 block away in a few days); some additional artwork to brighten up the place (Home Goods, here I come) ; a three ring binder and tabs to create a folio about local public transit, running and biking trails, tips for local TV and radio services, how to use the appliances, plus some maps and brochures for tourists. I am sure that the notebook will grow a lot over time as I discover more about what interests my guests.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Sounds like a great place wales. I love how you are anticipating your guest needs.

I always had fresh flowers on the nightstand, offered two bottles of water, fresh linen, metro maps, a referral code for uber/lyft and the wifi code.

Been a VRBO host for over 18 years and an Air host for eight so far. Four of my homes over the years and now manage another home for a family.

Well, I have stayed in tons of B&Bs plus Airbnbs, in the US, Britain, and Europe, since the late 1980s, and learned a lot about what may be needed by finding that it was not supplied!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I don't personally have experience, but a good friend of mine keeps snapping up property along the Jersey shore, fixing it up and renting it out on Airbnb. He has made a lot of money, hasn't had any major issues in the several years that he's been doing it and combined with his dream job of being a promoter, he's well on his way to success at under 30. I'd love to have the money to invest in something like that.

Shopping the South Jersey Shore

I love staying at Airbrib and VRBO and the 3 ring binder is a must. It sounds like you are organizing well and the place sounds beautiful. I appreciated that the last host had some conditioner and shampoo for the guests. Nothing fancy but not super cheap either. Fresh flowers and home-baked cookies are always welcoming.

Don't forget to have plenty of outlets for computers and/or phone chargers, or have a power strip available! Most places I stay are lacking in this regard.

@walesmaven wrote:

Yesterday I found, and ordered, a few items to make AirBnB life easier for both my guests and for me: a luggage rack for the bedroom (no need to live out of luggage that is always open on the floor); a new deadbolt lock for the front door that has a programmable key pad; 2 wall-mount fire extinguishers; a few small items to make the suite's kitchen a bit more user friendly for folks from diverse countries of origin. My local handyman is scheduled to install the lock and mount the fire extinguishers next Tuesday. Also on my list: more skirt hangers; a coffee maker (local charity shop often has great ones at modest prices and I have a garage shop 1 block away in a few days); some additional artwork to brighten up the place (Home Goods, here I come) ; a three ring binder and tabs to create a folio about local public transit, running and biking trails, tips for local TV and radio services, how to use the appliances, plus some maps and brochures for tourists. I am sure that the notebook will grow a lot over time as I discover more about what interests my guests.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

@teriraia wrote:

I love staying at Airbrib and VRBO and the 3 ring binder is a must. It sounds like you are organizing well and the place sounds beautiful. I appreciated that the last host had some conditioner and shampoo for the guests. Nothing fancy but not super cheap either. Fresh flowers and home-baked cookies are always welcoming.

Now that Expedia has taken them over, the fees are exorbitant. We're looking into the Inspirato Pass for next year. Anyone have experience with them? Pricey, but it seems you get a lot of bang for the buck.

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams

What is VRBO?

Shortly after my last post, I found a long-term renter for the apartment and cancelled the AirBnB plan.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Vacation Rental By Owner
There’s a website to search for rental properties.

@ceasesmith wrote:

What is VRBO?

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