Thanks to AirBNB, the idea of making a little extra income on unused parts of your home, or leasing your home to visitors while you travel, has taken the world by storm. Not only is it a fun and affordable way to stay in a place that literally can “feel like home”, it can also be a nice money-making gig for certain homeowners.
We put together a quick how-to guide with the help of Rock Springs Storage Units for those interested in exploring this option. It can be a spare room and bathroom for a sightseeing couple, or you can rent out your entire house while you’re on vacation with the family!
Check with your HOA and city about renting regulations.
Before getting too far into the sign-up process, make sure to check with your Homeowners’ Association (if applicable) and city regulations to find out what the rules are for hosting on a site like AirBNB. Many cities are cutting back on the amount of renting that can happen–so be sure to check all of that before proceeding!
Sign up on AirBNB.com.
The first step is to sign up to be a host on the site. Fill out all of the verifications and include a clear headshot of yourself. This is the doorway into attracting guests to your listing, so make it a good, warm shot of yourself. Be engaging and friendly on your profile, so that potential guests will keep reading and find out if your place is a fit for them.
Set up your listing
Make sure that your calendar accurately reflects the dates that your space is available, because it will greatly affect your approval ratings if you are declining offers because the space isn’t actually free on all the days you’ve said it would be free. Take great pictures of your space (after picking up and cleaning a bit!) and use fun, creative descriptions.
Pro Tip: Don’t neglect to photograph and describe ALL the spaces in the rental, including the ones that may not be as stylish or updated. If guests are surprised by the state of some of the rooms, it won’t go well for your reviews! That old-fashioned bathroom could be described as “quaint” or “vintage”, and that neon bedroom can be “great for kids of all ages!”
Also, be careful to clearly address the downsides to your space, but try to state them in a positive way. For example, there may be a lot of street noise–you can talk about the rental being in “the middle of the hustle and bustle of the busy city” and provide a white noise machine in each bedroom.
Set up your space.
A few cosmetic things may need to be done to your space before beginning the hosting process. Many hosts find it helpful to invest in things like extra sheets for every bed to make the turnover time quicker, locks for closets and off-limit rooms, and places to put away valuable artwork or decor.
AirBNB does offer insurance for their properties, which offers a lot of peace-of-mind to potential hosts. A storage unit could be a great investment to put more valuable or irreplaceable furniture and decor safely away during longer times of hosting.
Become a Superhost!
The next step is to start hosting! A Superhost is one who responds to requests right away, doesn’t cancel on their guests (so keep that calendar updated!), leaves great reviews for guests who stay, and has someone to call (if out of the area) that can take care of potential problems quickly at the property.
Owning and operating an AirBNB may not be for everyone, but many families find it is a great tool to use when vacationing, or if they have an area or the house or a whole house that’s not being occupied, to generate income that pays for the trip or the mortgage on the property! For the safekeeping of your things and a more spacious look in your home, try using local Rock Springs storage units at Self Assured Storage–they are experts at their craft, and will have your home staged and organized, looking like the perfect host home! Give them a call today!
