We had used Airbnb as travelers and wondered about becoming hosts.
This post originally appeared onValuePenguin.
Of course, hiccups do happen.
Not having air conditioning or a sparkling-clean bathroom would end up costing us with some of our initial visitors.
(We also lucked out becauseNew York City only barredthe renting of whole apartments, not single rooms.)
The numbers make it sound seamless, but we made more mistakes along the way.
Creating a ListingHow Do You Get Started with Zero Credibility?
A neighborhood, even the Alphabet City section of the East Village, doesnt sell itself.
We would charge our first guest, an international student named Bohan, $51.
Like the nightly rate, the listing itself represented an opportunity for us to stand out.
I consulted Airbnbs reams of online guides as a first step.
We also went above and beyond traditional hotels, offering anytime check-ins and -outs.
These characteristics simplified the reservation process, leading to more reservations.
It turned out to be easy to rack up reservations at low prices for single travelers.
Targeting a different throw in of Airbnb user preceded actually learning how to host.
Michael and I were not ready to think beyond welcoming guests into our apartment.
I will leave you a key on the ledge above our front door.
We figured guests who actually wanted to be hosted would tell us as much, and they did.
But there was more preparation to be done before each guest even arrived.
OK, almost always.
One who is upset may feel responsible to warn other users about a hosts listing or behavior.
More often than not, home-sharers have an experience that falls somewhere between these extremes.
Why do they offer reviews and star ratings across six categories then?
Prodding email reminders from Airbnb help.
Of course, a review is different from actual feedback.
But every once in a while, we received detailed reviews containing advice.
Its valuable and shouldnt be discounted.
Here are tips, from quick to complex, that we received from our visitors.
They suggested we have a one-fan-per-one-guest policy.
Their second night was a cooler one.
The electric bill goes up, but so does their satisfaction.
Providing the login before check-in made it easier for both them and us.
Deep-clean the bathroom before arrival:Multiple guests have complained about the conditions of our bathroom.
Its more work for us, but the guests appreciate it.
Being responsive to past guests improved the experience for the next batch.
Airbnb Hosting: What We Did Right and Wrong in Our First Nine Months| ValuePenguin
Image byJoseph Albanesevia Unsplash.
