So, you’re interested in earning some extra pocket money and figure Airbnb is the best way to go about it? Or maybe you’re always off traveling for business or recreation and are looking to have your home pay for itself while you’re gone? While Airbnb can be a great income generator, you’ll need to take care of the following three keys to success if you want to earn the big bucks.
First things first
Before you do anything else, make sure you and your property are properly protected; these are strangers that will be staying in your home after all. Make sure you have the proper insurance, and if you need a permit to operate in your area, apply for it well in advance. Once you’ve got the paperwork out of the way, make sure you have somewhere secure to store your valuables while your guests are present.
Next on your list of essentials should be a set of Airbnb integrated smart locks to secure all entry points. This type of lock will allow you to grant access to your home by providing a secure code rather than a physical key, thus boosting security and adding a personal touch your guests will enjoy. Not only will these steps protect you from potentially costly losses but guests also enjoy knowing they’re safe, so keeping everything above board and tidy will make them feel more at home, and therefore more likely to leave positive feedback. If the reputation-building aspects aren’t enough to convince you, consider what would happen if someone with sinister intent found the keys you left for your guests? Your entire life would be compromised. These precautions are the minimum standard you should apply when getting started.
Setting the stage for success
Now that you’re protected, it’s time to get properly set up. Airbnb guests generally want 5-star hotel quality with a homely feel, so staging your house in just the right way is paramount if you want to pull in a decent income from your venture. Fresh flowers go a long way to improving your rating, as do clean towels and sheets which have been set up nicely for your guests. You still want your home to be styled to your liking but even small finishing touches, such as having bottled water or little chocolates on arrival, can significantly boost your reputation and by extension, the amount you can charge for a stay at your casa.
What’s so special about your place?
Last but not least, you need to have a unique selling point. There’s probably going to be competition in your area, so knowing and highlighting what makes your home different from other offerings will help your listing shine. Look at what other local Airbnbs are offering and match or beat them if you can. Perhaps you have a more picturesque pool, or you’re within walking distance to great local attractions; maybe it’s simply the fact that you offer thousand thread count sheets for guest use. If you’re unsure what features to showcase, have a look at what other listings further afield are promoting and see if your home has any of the same features.
Mastering these three tips will have you well on the way to earning big as an Airbnb host. You’ll need to tweak things as you go along, but once you have a few ratings and reviews, the areas for improvement should become fairly easy to identify. Remember to keep your listing up-to-date and check guest ratings before agreeing to a stay, and everything else should fall into place.
