They make what I do entirely possible.
Without a doubt, Airbnb has been one juicy, giant cherry on top of my sweet travels.
This post originally appeared onFY!S.
But Hold on, Are You Familiar With Airbnb?
So think unofficially and informally run hotel-jot down places.
Simply search by location and the dates youre going to check in and check out.
Why Use Airbnb for Long-Term Stays?
Theyre perfect for long-term rentals, too!
Outside of Airbnb, your options are hotels and hostels.
Hotels can pretty much set your bank account on fire and dance around its ashes.
Or a feeling of home.
Also, its a scary movie.
Airbnbs are just more cost-effective, plain and simple.
Treat a monthly Airbnb like youre paying monthly rent for an apartment back home.
Not to mention, theres no rental agreement.
Those are the good, of course.
1. double-check Your Profile Is Complete
Lets first talk about your Airbnb profile.
Do you have a photo?
Does it look friendly?
Do you have good reviews left by other hosts?
Are you brand new?
Can you prove youre not a robot?
In the world of Airbnb, you must first submit a request to book someones place.
Some hosts offer anInstant Book, denoted by a lightning bolt symbol, which is quick and painless.
There will be times when the host will shove your money back in your face.
So yeah, theyre not going to let the person behind some new, faceless Airbnb profile waltz in.
If youre brand new to Airbnb, add a nice, cheese-y picture.
(Everyonethinks the other person is potentially a psychopath of some sort.)
Checklist:
Did you add a profile picture and a little blurb about yourself?
If your account is new, be ready to provide extra info for your host.
Research, Research, Research.
Research the different neighborhoods of the city beforehand.
Use Google Street View (if possible) to get a feel of the area.
In addition, look at places and be ready to comb through the reviews of your host.
If your host has several listings, read those reviews too.
You have the right to be suspicious if the reviews are all five stars, but barely say anything.
They could be fake.
Just take a look at stories fromAirbnbhellto scare yourself into being extra cautious.
I learned this the hard way recently in Paris, too.
Airbnb cant do diddley-squat unless the issue is directly involved with the listing itself.
So yeah, research.
Did you go on sites like TripAdvisor to research an area or neighborhood?
Did you read through the reviews?
What about the reviews of the hostsotherlistings?
If there are fewer than five reviews, proceed with caution.
Check Your Weekly/Monthly Rates
Many hosts are willing to provide weekly or monthly discounts.
This subtotal does not count theservice feewhich is typically non-negotiable.
Ive seen the weekly/monthly discount range between 3% to 50%.
Season:Airbnb hosts tend to set their prices to go with the seasons.
Expect prices to be higher or discounts to be lower (or both) during a tourist hot season.
Popularity of the host:The more popular the host, the less likely theyll offer a decent discount.
The host:Some hosts simply dont do it or dont know about it.
It doesnt hurt to ask though.
Well go over this in the negotiating section below.
Did you set the Check In and Check Out dates to be28 nightsto check a monthly discount?
Will I have access to great food and restaurants?
Is itthe place to be?
and more Is the place awesomefor me?
To find that out, you should probably know what actually defines awesome for you.
Take a moment to write down your greatest needs.
Do you mind sharing an apartment (a private room) or want privacy (a whole apartment)?
Are you a smoker?
Do you’re gonna wanna be able to bring guests over?
Do you better feel safe?
Note these down and compare these crucial needs with the hosts description and listed amenities.
Read through it carefully so you dont end up asking redundant questions.
Lets take my own needs, for example.
Bonus points for a coffee maker.
Then Id like relative proximity to a grocery store and transportation.
Did you make a list of your most important needs?
Wi-Fi, a laptop working space, a hair dryer, a washer, a kitchen, etc.?
Cant always have everything, but list your top five.
Did you carefully read the description and what the host provides?
Dont think too much about things you cant predict before seeing the place.
Is it some quick side cash, a legit business, or somewhere in-between?
Just keep this in mind when youre sizing up the place.
or something like that.
Ask about whether its safe to walk around at night, for example.
Remember to be respectful, as hosts are real people, too.
Did you closely read the reviews and examine the pictures?
Did you keep in mind that sometimes hosts can be dishonest with pictures?
Did you ask very specific, clarifying questions?
Theyre just your everyday homeowners or apartment renters so they may be open to negotiations.
This Lifehacker article explains a few of the finer points of negotiation.
Informationis just as valuable.
The more you know, the better your position, Roth writes, and I couldnt agree more.
Well get to all of this shortly.
Altogether these are your leverage, and as the guest, you automatically have more power.
On Airbnb, hosts generally want their space occupied by hassle-free and courteous guests.
Of course, every host wants that.
Hosts also tend to want financial security from an occupied room.
Your main leverage is offering a huge sum all in one go and the promise that youll behave.
If youre a writer like I am, for example, offer a quick link to your blog/writing/portfolio.
When?Tell the host how long you should probably stay.
(They already have an idea of when youll arrive based on your Check In date.)
Why?Heres where you say why youre interested in the place.
For example, I like bright rooms with lots of natural lighting and a desk.
Note the lowest price for a place thatssimilarand keep that in your back pocket.
Dont be so frugal that you venture to squeeze everything, especially if youll be living with the host.
Otherwise itll just make things really awkward.
About 30 percent of the time, they may respond with a lower offer.
); or lower thecleaning fee(if its ridiculous).
Your success rate obviously will vary from host to host.
Some dont need your business, especially if theyre active and have a high booking rate.
Heres me doing negotiations very early on.
He responded by saying he give me a monthly discount of 10%.
This was a bit more aggressive of me.
Expect hosts to balk at negotiation attempts or ignore you, but thats the nature of negotiating.
Those are especially powerful, especially if the tourist season has dipped.
Heres a script you’re able to try using:
Hi ,
Im Stephanie from California.
I especially love the look of the room.
The desk by the window is perfect because I can concentrate and write.
In my experience, some of the hosts have kindly accommodated [were establishing a precedent].
Let me know, and thank you for your consideration!
Keep the message as short as possible and to the point.
Dont need epic yarns here.
And as they say, dont put all of your eggs in one Airbnb.
Send messages to a couple of hosts and compare.
Did you research the area to see what the general going rate was?
Did you double-check you were cordial when you negotiated?
Dont make a run at nickel and dime everything.
Itll make things awkward.
Did you message a couple of hosts?
Its rare to have your number one choice always be okay.
Should You Go With Superhosts?
Superhosts are denoted by a special badge.
Basically, these hosts are well-liked and fairly experienced.
Airbnb re-assesses host performance every so often to see if someone becomes a Superhost or loses the status.
Think of Superhosts as, like, the employees who go above and beyond on a regular basis.
The bad:Superhosts probably have a really high customer churn rate.
Its more likely that Superhosts wont be down with long-term stays.
As always, it doesnt hurt to ask.
One thing to play to your advantage is knowing that maintaining Superhost status can be very demanding and draining.
Not all Superhosts will be fine with long-term stays, but its worth asking!
Then they drop an external link and ask you to pay there.
This should immediately feel fishy to you.Dont tap on the link!
Above All, Dont Be An Asshole.
Even though youre renting someones place, youre a guest in a good friends house.
Make yourself at home, but treat things with respect.
This is more of just a courtesy so you dont spring surprises on the host and make unfair demands.
Leave a gracious review for your host whenever you could so that everyone wins.
Hope this all has helped.
