Airbnb hosting

So, you might be thinking…what?! Didn’t she just write about her first Airbnb experience as a guest? Why, yes…yes I did. You can read about it here…My first experience with Airbnb! To explain my life right now would take a bit more time than just this blog post, so let me be brief.

My husband and I are embarking on a new adventure, starting a business that combines both our love for travel together with all of our life experience and training. I’m excited and scared as crap!! (Please excuse my lack of a better word.) You’re probably wondering by now, unless you know me personally, what does this have to do with Airbnb?

Well, let me just say that Airbnb hosting is all a part of the plan to gain the experience for this business endeavor we plan to start very soon. We don’t necessarily need this experience, but it is definitely beneficial. Okay, so here’s the break down so far:    

Airbnb hosting:Get your house in order

Thankfully, our house is on the market. So, I had already done a lot of de-cluttering. We also had photos of our home ready to use because of it being listed for sale. (Yes, we are moving…location will be announced soon!) The following is a list of things I would suggest doing in addition to Airbnb Hospitality Standards (Click on the link provided for details).

-Remove all personal items such as family photos and any important documents (such as bills, mail, etc.). Also, all items that have personal value should be stored away (such as jewelry, heirlooms, etc.).

-Purchase bed bug and waterproof mattress covers for all beds! Better safe than sorry, right?! Also, consider buying new pillows. I bought very inexpensive ones, and plan to wash them in between each booking.

-Quality linens are a great way to make guests feel pampered. At the very least, use sheets that are well taken care of (no holes or tears).

-Buy a few sets of plush towels to make guests feel that you’ve thought of everything down to the minor details to make them feel welcomed. 

 List your home on Airbnb

Okay, now that you have your home mostly in order, upload quality photos of your home and list away. Click on the following link…How to host on Airbnb! Once you confirm your first booking (it took us about a week), prepare for your guests arrival:-)

Tip- Airbnb suggests responding within 24hours, my husband has put the expectation for us to respond within an hour. As a frequent traveler, I agree with him completely!

-Clean, clean, and more cleaning!!!!

Airbnb suggests cleaning, obviously, but doesn’t specifically get into the details. Clean in and under stove, couches, under couches, under beds, windowsills, fans, check for ceiling and wall dust or cob webs, clean out the fridge thoroughly, down and around the toilet (why do people forget this at times? Gross!), bleach or buy a new shower liner, clean out drawers and under sinks….yes, the list goes on and on and on!!!! My OCD friends are getting excited, I can tell, haha! For the rest of you, maybe you should hire a professional, lol! Cleanliness matters and to get excellent cleaning reviews, you have to be completely thorough.

Thanks, mom, for teaching me your ways…they have been very useful!! *Kisses*

-Stock your home with toilet paper, napkins, hand and dish soap, etc. Also, consider leaving some toiletries such as shampoo, soap, toothbrush, etc. just in case they have forgotten these items. Again, anything that would make your guests feel welcomed and cared for. We want excellent reviews, right?!

-Buy bottled water, coffee, or tea (or all). We left a small supply of these along with a welcome pineapple for our guest. We also left a thank you note with some details about our home to include the wifi code.  

 You’ve welcomed your guests to your home upon arrival, now you can breathe! Good job! Go treat yourself to a coffee, you deserve it! Don’t get too relaxed though, communications are important. Check in with your guest the following day to see how things are and ask if they need anything.

Okay, so now you might be wondering how things went? Was it a successful first booking? Did they trash the place? Well, I’m not completely sure yet. They actually asked for a two day extension (yes, this made me feel like a hospitality genius, haha!). So, I will find out tomorrow when they check out. Eeek!! I’m so eager to see how things went, and hoping for a good first hosting review!! I’ll let you know in next weeks post.   

Do you or would you consider being an Airbnb host? What questions do you have? Comment below…