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Maximise your rental income!

Airbnb My House

Listing your home on Airbnb can be a great way to earn extra income by hosting travellers, but preparing your space adequately beforehand is key. By making your home inviting and comfortable, and meeting guests’ needs, you can attract bookings, earn positive reviews, and create an enjoyable hosting experience.

airbnb my house

This comprehensive guide will provide an overview of essential steps to get your house ready for Airbnb, from initial evaluations to setting up your listing, preparing the space, and considering important details like safety and finances.


With some planning, creativity, and effort, you can successfully turn your house into a welcoming Airbnb rental.


Getting Started


Assessing Your Home's Potential

Before listing your property, objectively evaluate its potential as an Airbnb rental.

  • Consider the size and layout - does it have enough space and privacy for guests?

  • How many bedrooms or bathrooms can you comfortably offer? Some hosts offer the whole house and other hosts just a spare room.


Walk through and note any repairs or upgrades needed. Pay attention to cleanliness, décor, and amenities. Photograph each room to review its strengths and areas for improvement.


Research Airbnb listings in your area to identify popular features, average nightly rates, and occupancy levels. Make sure hosting aligns with your local zoning regulations if you’re in the US. If you live in a rental property, check that you have permission from the landlord and that short-term rentals are allowed.


Setting Up an Airbnb Account

Create a hosting profile that builds credibility and trust with potential guests. Pick a profile name and photo that convey professionalism. Verify your identity by adding a profile photo, confirming your email and phone number, and connecting other social media accounts.


Read Airbnb’s full terms of service, policies, and hosting requirements so you understand your responsibilities.


For example, many locations have laws around collecting occupancy taxes, which Airbnb can handle automatically. You’ll also need to disclose any security equipment like smart locks or surveillance cameras.


Preparing Your Home


Cleaning and Maintenance

A spotlessly clean home is a top priority for Airbnb guests. Do a deep clean of every room, scrubbing bathrooms, kitchens, walls, windows, floors, furniture, and appliances thoroughly. Wash all linens, towels, pillows, duvets, and blankets. Vacuum carpets and upholstery. Clear out clutter and personal items.


After hosting, reset the home by laundering used linens, taking out rubbish, wiping down surfaces, and performing routine maintenance. Develop a reusable checklist so cleaning is complete and consistent.

Schedule periodic deep cleans every few months to keep your space pristine.


Furnishing and Decorating

Provide essentials like comfortable beds, wi-fi, hangers, lighting, mirrors, and rubbish bins in each bedroom. Furnish a few public spaces where guests can relax.


In the kitchen, include dishes, utensils, cookware, coffee maker, microwave, and standard appliances.

Decorate in an inviting yet neutral style. Use painter’s tape for removable wall art. Add plants and flowers for freshness. Display books, magazines, or games for entertainment. Provide plenty of towels, extra pillows and blankets, and amenities like shampoo. Minimise clutter and make drawers and closets available to guests.


Add fresh flowers on the day guests are due.

apartment with plants

Listing Your Property


Crafting a Compelling Description

Your listing’s description provides the first impression of your rental. Highlight the best features and anything that makes your home special, like a great location, amenities, or recent upgrades. Use engaging language and maintain a warm, approachable tone. Include plenty of details about each room, the bed configurations, available technology, and nearby attractions.


Address common guest concerns around cleanliness, accuracy, or comfort. Descriptions must be accurate. Don’t claim there are great views if your property looks out over a car park, for example.


Taking Quality Photos

Great photos attract guest interest and bookings faster. Shoot images in bright natural light using the widest angle possible to showcase the space. Capture views from multiple angles: living spaces, bedrooms, garden, exterior. Edit images to optimise lighting, colour, and clarity.


Choose photos that convey the personality and lifestyle guests can enjoy.


Pricing and Booking


Setting the Right Price

When pricing your rental, research average rates for similar listings in your area. Factor in size, location, demand, seasonality, and any special events. Set a competitive base price, then use promotions and discounts to strategically boost booking rates during slower periods. Update pricing regularly based on occupancy trends.


Managing Bookings

Set clear availability rules specifying the minimum and maximum stay and lead time required for bookings. Block out dates when the home is unavailable. Review each booking request and guest profile carefully before accepting. Communicate with confirmed guests about check-in procedures, house rules, and directions. Handle any cancellations or changes politely and according to your policies.


Ensuring a Positive Guest Experience


Check-In and Check-Out Procedures

Provide detailed check-in instructions specifying your preferred process, key pickup or codes, parking, and what to do upon arrival. Greet guests warmly on arrival when possible. For check-out, share your policies regarding check out time, cleaning expectations, and how to leave keys. Leave clear signage with your contact information for questions.


Providing Amenities and Extras

Supply basics like toiletries, fresh towels, laundry supplies, coffee, bottled water, snacks, umbrellas, and maps. Provide useful extras like phone chargers, beach gear, hiking supplies, or toys and books for families. Share your favourite local restaurant guides and activity recommendations. Handwritten welcome notes and small gifts also add thoughtful touches. Guests love nice treats like locally-made jams, cakes, and similar.


Write a guide to the property, local attractions and amenities. Leave a stack of leaflets for attractions and telephone numbers for essentials like local doctors, dentists, and veterinarians, etc.

chair, small table, tripod

Safety and Security


Ensuring Guest Safety

Install smoke detectors, carbon monoxide monitors, fire extinguishers, and well-lit exit routes. Share emergency numbers and safety card detailing protocols, meeting spots, and your contact information. Keep first aid supplies on hand and disclose any potential hazards on your property. Follow all local pool safety requirements if applicable.


Protecting Your Property

Take measures to avoid theft or damage by keeping valuables and medication locked away. Consider smart home security features like outdoor cameras or motion sensors. Clearly explain your house rules regarding smoking, pets, parties, extra guests, etc. Report significant concerns immediately to Airbnb. Require a security deposit and purchase Host Protection Insurance as an extra safeguard.



Legal and Financial Considerations


Understanding Local Laws

Research specific regulations in your jurisdiction around short term rentals, taxes, and insurance requirements. Some cities like London have strict limits on how often a property can be occupied as a short-term let.


Adhere to occupancy limits. Report earnings and remit taxes in accordance with local guidelines.


Managing Finances

Track income and expenses carefully using accounting software or spreadsheets. Factor in costs for cleaning, supplies, repairs, improvements, utilities, and Airbnb service fees. Set a budget and price your rental competitively to turn a profit. Save a percentage for maintenance, repairs, and periodic upgrades. Take advantage of Airbnb’s free photography services and smart pricing tools.



Work with an Airbnb Property Management Service

For hosts who want to optimise their Airbnb rental while minimising hands-on work, partnering with a property management service like UpperKey can provide major benefits. These companies handle the end-to-end process of running your Airbnb, from listing creation to maintenance to guest interaction. This frees up your time and takes the stress out of hosting remotely or managing multiple properties.


A key advantage is access to experienced staff dedicated to maximising your occupancy rates and revenue. Property managers offer professional listing services with stellar photography and marketing. They field all booking enquiries and vet potential guests thoroughly. Cleaners ensure the property sparkles between rentals. Local contacts allow quick resolution of any maintenance issues. Many provide 24/7 guest support.


With their industry expertise, property managers identify profitable listing configurations, optimal pricing, and opportunities to boost bookings during slower periods. They implement proven strategies to earn more 5-star reviews. Their market data and reporting provide helpful insights.


For hosts focused on expanding their rental portfolio, management services enable efficient scaling. Working with professionals can improve the hosting experience and profitability. The service fees are usually a worthwhile investment in exchange for the time and revenue benefits.

working space with a laptop and view

Conclusion

Preparing your home thoughtfully before listing it on Airbnb takes effort, but the rewards of extra income and memorable experiences hosting travellers make it worthwhile. Focus first on ensuring your property is legally compliant, clean, comfortable, and meets guests’ essential needs. Provide plenty of details and high-quality photos in your listing to attract bookings. Manage pricing, availability, and communications professionally. Add special touches to exceed guest expectations. By emphasising hospitality, safety, and attention to detail, you can successfully become an Airbnb host.



FAQ

Is my family home suitable for Airbnb?

The best way to determine if your family home is suitable for Airbnb is to evaluate the space, amenities, location, and local regulations. Homes in locations close to attractions, transportation, dining, and entertainment tend to attract more interest.

Can I make a good income from using my property as an Airbnb?

Is Airbnb allowed in all cities and countries?


Determine your property's rental value with UpperKey as your tenant

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