Jordan and I LOVE to travel. We spent five weeks last summer backpacking through Europe, and we loved all the fun people we got to meet, beautiful places we got to see, and amazing food and drinks we got to try. During our trip, we stayed almost exclusively in Airbnb’s, doing everything from staying with people in their homes to renting out private apartments. We had such a fun experience and loved how we experienced a more “local” feel of the cities that we stayed in. It also saved us a ton of money (which we of course spent on more fun things like delicious food and German beer).
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
If you’ve never traveled with Airbnb, you should check out this post I wrote a few weeks back about how to use it! I go through all the details of creating your profile so future hosts will accept you and what to look for when booking spaces. Okay, you’ve read that and are still interested in hosting? Let’s get going!
Once we got back and moved into our new house (you can see a tour of our house here!), we decided to put our guest room on Airbnb and see if we’d get any travelers wanting to visit on little corner of the world. Within a day we had our first reservations, and the reservations haven’t stopped pouring in ever since! During peak travel months (like summertime), we’ve had guests about 4-5 nights a week. And at $50/night, that can add up to between $600-$800/month. Not bad for doing a couple extra loads of laundry and making some small talk!
If you have a spare bedroom and aren’t too scared to meet new people, I encourage you to give this a try! It’s been such a great way to make a little extra cash and meet people. We’ve loved everything about it so far!
How To Make Money With Airbnb
Create a personal Airbnb profile.
Since people will be staying in your home, they’ll want to know you’re safe and “normal.” Fill out your profile as thoroughly as you can, including lots of details about what you do, hobbies, favorites, places you’ve traveled, etc. People are much more likely to stay with you if you seem like a normal person! You can check out my Airbnb profile here for an example. You will also need to provide several forms of ID verification so Airbnb can verify you are safe for future guests, so make sure to verify in as many ways as you can!
Create your listing.
Once you’ve fully filled out your profile, it’s time to create your listing! In the upper right corner of your dashboard (like the homepage), you’ll see a button to List Your Space. Click it and get started. Here are a few tips:
1) Give basic information about what guests can expect in your space. Is it a private room, shared room, or whole home? Is there a private bathroom or will guests be sharing the bathroom with you? Are there pets or children in the home? Give as many details as you can about the logistical aspects of your space so people know what to expect. Airbnb has a space to check what basic amenities are available (like wifi, washer/dryer/ free parking, etc), so make sure to fill out this space as well.
2) Give details about the surrounding area. Where is your home in relation to other things that might interest your guest? Are you close to downtown or major transportation hubs like airports, train stations, or bus stations? Are you close to any major freeways? Are there lots of stores, restaurants, etc nearby or are you more isolated? Do your best to sell the best features of your space while still being honest so guests know what to expect. If you’re a 20 minute drive from downtown, make sure guests know this so they aren’t surprised when they arrive!
3) Clearly describe some house rules and expectations. What you do here is totally up to you! If you have specific check in/out times that work for you, make sure to say that. If guests must be home by a certain time, say that too. Think about what will work for you and your family and make sure guests know that ahead of time!
4) Upload clear and bright pictures. Include pictures of the guest room, the bathroom (even if it’s shared), the main living/area and kitchen, and any other spaces guests are able to access. This is a big part of guests being attracted to your listing, so make sure to get some pictures that accurately show the size and offerings of your space. Check out our listing below for an idea of how to do these first three steps!
Cozy, Bright Room with Private Bath – Houses for Rent
House in Kansas City, United States. Our home is a great place to stay on a road trip or visit to KC. We live 5 min off I-435/I-35 & 15 min from downtown KC. Enjoy a quiet, peaceful home, a beautiful deck w/woods view, & easy access to many local highways, restaurants, and stores. … View all listings in Kansas City
5) Choose a price per night. Airbnb has a tool that will help you figure out what other listings in your area are charging, but it might be helpful to do a little exploring yourself and see what seems normal. I’d recommend starting out by charging about 20% less than other similar Airbnb’s in your area so new guests will have a reason to stay with you even though you don’t have any reviews. We started out at $40/night until we got some good reviews, moved it to $45 once we were getting pretty consistent business, and just upped it to $50 now that we are Airbnb superhosts and have lots of good reviews! This is still comparable to other local listings but makes it more worth our time to host people.
6) Figure out your payment preferences. All payments are handled through Airbnb, so guests will never pay you directly. Guests pay Airbnb, and then Airbnb pays you via check or direct deposit. This makes it more secure and helps avoid any sort of awkward interaction with guests. We just have Airbnb linked to our bank account so we the money just gets deposited in our account 1-3 days after our guests check in. This is super easy and definitely what I recommend!
7) Publish your listing and wait! You should start to see some reservation requests rolling in soon. If you don’t, you might need to reevaluate your listing and see if you need to add more details, include better photos, or lower your prices.
Make Your First Reservation.
Our Airbnb in Munich, Germany
Once you get your first reservation request, you have a few options. You do NOT have to accept every reservation! Read through the message the person sent with the reservation (if they didn’t send one, this is a red flag and we usually decline). Check out their profile and see if they have other reviews from previous hosts and seem like someone who could be a good fit. Then, make the call and do one of the following things:
1) Message them back for more info: If the guest didn’t give any information about when they’d be arriving/departing and you need to know that, ask! Ask any followup questions you might have if you aren’t ready to book the reservation.
2) Decline the reservation: There is NOTHING wrong with declining a reservation. We often decline reservations if the people don’t send a polite message or haven’t filled out their profile. We also often decline reservations of people staying for multiple days, since we usually don’t want people just hanging at our house during the day. You don’t have to explain why you’re declining unless you want to. Just send a polite message back explaining you’re unavailable (even if you are available), thank them for their interest, and decline!
3) Accept the reservation: If the person seems like someone you’d enjoy having your home, accept the reservation! Figure out when they’ll be arriving/departing and give them any information they need to know about directions, parking, etc. Then just wait for their arrival!
Open up your doors!
I could write a whole post (and probably will!) about how to be a good host with Airbnb, but it’s really just ol’ fashioned good hospitality. Make sure to have clean sheets and towels and give them information they might need like your wifi password, phone numbers, etc. Beyond that, try to anticipate things your guests might need: toiletries, q-tips, extra toilet paper, etc. We also have a sheet in the room with a brief explanation of the different parts of Kansas City they could visit and some of our favorite restaurant recommendations in each place!
Our Guest Room
We also provide a light breakfast in the mornings. Nothing fancy, but we always set out some granola bars, cereal, and bananas, and tell guests there is milk, yogurt, and juice in the fridge and coffee in the pot if they want them. Our guests consistently comment on this in their reviews, and even though it’s a “B&B” and you’d expect some breakfast, we’ve been amazed by how many hosts don’t provide it. This is a great way to make your guests feel welcome and go that extra mile!
Once they leave, make sure to leave a review so future hosts are more likely to host the guest. They can’t see your review until they review your space (and vice versa) so once you have both completed the review or over 14 days have passed, you’ll be able to see what they thought of your place! Hopefully they will have lots of good things to say!
What are you waiting for?
We have LOVED using Airbnb to travel and have loved using it to host! We’ve made over $1700 since we started using Airbnb in March, and it has been a great way to make a little extra cash for pretty much just doing a few extra loads of laundry and making a little small talk. Airbnb is a great company with a mission we love, and if you have an extra bedroom and the desire to make some extra money and meet new people, I hope you’ll give it a try!
I’d love to answer any questions you have about how this all works, so feel free to email me or comment below with any questions!
I sometimes link up to Just a Girl And Her Blog, Life on Virginia Street, Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholics Anonymous, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Cupcakes and Crinoline, Home Stories A to Z, Sand and Sisal, Kleinworth & Co, Coastal Charm, Between Naps On The Porch, A Fresh Start On A Budget, Mad In Crafts, New Nostalgia, Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, Mabey She Made It, Memories By The Mile, Ladybug Blessings, Hope Studios, Posed Perfection, Common Ground, Anderson and Grant, The Charm of Home, Dwellings Amaze Me Monday, Sugar Bee Crafts, and Elizabeth and Co Vintage, The Charm of Home, Sweet Little Ones, Friday Letters, Meet-up Monday, Common Ground,Share Your Style, This Is How We Roll, AKA Design,Creativity Unleashed Thursdays, The Painted Drawer, Live Randomly Simple, Imparting Grace, Embracing His Will, A Life In Balance, Purposeful Faith, A Fresh Start On A Budget, What Joy Is Mine, The Beauty In His Grip, Strangers And Pilgrims On Earth, Soul Survival, Me Coffee and Jesus, Women With Intention, A Little R & R, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Coffee For Your Heart,Serving Joyfully, 3D Lessons 4 Life, The Deliberate Mom, Dance With Jesus,Missional Women, Busy Being Blessed, Live Free Thursdays, Whole Hearted Wednesdays, Thriving Thursdays, Christian Mommy Bloggers, Still Saturdays, and Modest Mondays.
Your adventurous spirit always inspires me, Lauren! And oh that guest room of yours … LOVE!
;-}
Linda Stoll recently posted…In Which I’m Indulging in 2 Massive Pageturners
Thanks, Linda! You’re so sweet. 🙂
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
How interesting and fascinating! I’ll have to tell my brother who loves to travel about this. So cool!
Thanks, Nichole! We love it!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
I’ve always considered using Airbnb but never really had a chance to. I remember first learning about it and thinking that it was an awesome concept. Thanks for sharing your tips; will keep in mind…
Thanks, Hiba! We’ve had only positive experiences with it. I hope you’ll give it a try!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
You’re braver than me! I don’t think I’d feel comfortable having strangers chilling in my house + I like to walk around in my underwear (JK…maybe).
Hahaha my hubby is more the one I worry about when it comes to that part. 😉 We mostly only have guests over who arrive later in the evening and leave early the next morning, so most of the time we don’t even really see them! It’s easy to just forget they’re even there!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
I don’t think our home will be vacant long enough to rent on Airbnb anytime soon, but I think it’s such a great way to make some extra money. Your listing looks great! I would definitely have clicked on it.
Miranda @ Miranda Writes Blog recently posted…Fall Dreaming
Haha yeah, we’ve had to sometimes have our actual friends who pop by last minute sleep on our couch or in our basement. That might be the only downside too it! And thanks for that…we’re pretty proud of it! 😉
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
This sounds like I great way to earn a little extra cash! I have never really read about AirBNB so thanks for introducing me!
Diana recently posted…Try It! Carapex Eye Cream
Of course! I hope you have a chance to try it someday, whether as a guest or a host!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
Wow. I’ve never heard of this before. Maybe once the kids are older, we could do something like this but I don’t think anyone would want to stay with my three boys. It is a great idea to check out if I’m traveling, though. Thanks for sharing.
Shann Eva recently posted…Laundry in a House of Boys with ESPRO
I can totally understand that for hosting when you have kiddos in the house. It could be really great for traveling though, because you could rent whole apartments with a kitchen, which would make traveling with kids a lot easier! You’ll have to let me know if you give it a try!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
This is such a cool thing! If we had an extra bedroom I would be all over that! We’ve never traveled with them either but next time we do I am totally checking it out!
Sarah J recently posted…A Teal Bridal Shower : Decorations & Menu
Thanks, Sarah! You’ll have to let me know how it goes if you try it!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
This is such great information! I’ve always wondered how this worked and now I’m totally going to encourage my husband to look into this with me when we buy our first home next year!
Chelsie recently posted…How to Create an Outfit around Shoes!
Thanks, Chelsie! It’s definitely a great way to make a little money and meet some people, especially if you have an empty room that’s not doing anything for ya!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
What a great idea and way to make some extra cash! Thanks for sharing~
I came over on Motivational Mondays, and I’m glad to find your site. I pinned you here: https://www.pinterest.com/melredd/blog-link-parties-and-blog-link-ups/
I hope you have a blessed day~
Melanie
Melanie Redd recently posted…Help! There’s a “DIVA” in this Relationship (and it might be me)!
Thanks, Melanie! 🙂
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
We keep meaning to try renting a room out with AirBnB – thanks for the tips!
annabelt recently posted…Is Housework Exercise? Review of The Stepford Wives and Clairobics
Love this idea! I’m also in the KC area :). I would definitely be open to doing something like this. However, the paranoid/worst-case-scenario side of me would also be on edge that eventually someone who seemed very nice would end up being the opposite and scouting out our home/family. We also have two kids–do you ever feel like you’re walking on eggshells in your own home just to make an experience enjoyable for the guest, or do you find that guests are mostly just grateful to have a cheaper/nice place to stay and fairly laid back? Have you ever had an awkward/weird experience? Sorry for all the questions–I’m just legitimately interested in trying this occasionally and think it would be fun/interesting!
Tessa recently posted…Rosemary-Mint Latte
Hey Tessa – aka fellow KC friend! 🙂 Of course that’s always a slight chance, but Airbnb takes so many precautions and you have total control over who actually stays with you. We really only book people who are arriving later in the evening and leaving early the next morning, so for the most part we only chat with them for a minute when they arrive, then they go out to eat dinner, come home and sleep, and leave early the next morning! We like that way the best so we don’t feel like we’re on eggshells.
Most guests are wonderful! I’d say most people who would use Airbnb have a pretty friendly nature and are open to meeting new people and being flexible, and we really haven’t had too many weird experience (minus the occasional person who wasn’t very good at making small group, so we just moved on quickly to a house tour and then let them get settled!).
I love all the questions! Feel free to comment back or email me if you have any questions. I’m happy to help!
Lauren recently posted…Six Reasons I Struggled To Find Friends After College
Awesome! Thanks for the quick response :). I definitely think we would opt to book people who wanted to come later and leave early, as well–that would make things much smoother. Great to know all the options and hear personal feedback from your end!
Tessa recently posted…Rosemary-Mint Latte
This s ounds truly like a lot of fun. I had a blast reading about it. I will look into it!
Suzie@homemaker-mom recently posted…Hormel Back to School Giveaway
Maybe I’m too old-fashioned, but I would never sleep with strangers in my house. My imagination would run wild with thoughts of robbery or worse! I’m glad you’ve had such great experiences, and have shared them though. I’ll stick to living vicariously through your stores. Thanks for sharing!
Steph recently posted…2 Sure-Fire Steps to A Great Flight with Your Little One
When you re just starting our, get references from friends who have used AirBnB as hosts or guests to vouch for you and your hospitality. If you ve linked your Facebook account, AirBnB will show you which of your Facebook friends are already using AirBnB and you can send them a reference request.
I would LOVE to do this someday, I so enjoy having people in my home. We don’t have a spare bedroom right now(because kids:p) but in the far future that would be such a great way to earn some extra cash and meet new people:).
This is super inspiring. I have always thought about using it, but have been nervous about the worst case scenario. I think this is a really great way to meet people though! Thanks for sharing!
xoxo,
Lexi
http://www.downrightpositive.com
OMG I love this post! I was checking out Air BnB a while ago to find a cheaper place to stay in another city….and I totally didn’t even think to rent out my own space. This post is total gold. Thank you!
Did you see that they JUST changed their terms of service for the year?! We have a vacation home we rent out (er… formerly rented out via Airbnb) but now they’re taking a massive cut of your price, to the point it’s not worth it. For us, anyway. It used to function like a craigslist; now it will function like having a property manager, who takes a massive cut of your rent/income. Boo!
If you decide to stick with them, do you think you’ll have strangers in your house after the baby arrives?
Paige @ An Uncomplicated Life Blog recently posted…Little & Mighty Baby Style
Oh really? I need to check that out! We actually just temporarily deactivated our account. We might go back to it one day, but I think I just don’t love the idea of having people in the house when there’s a little one. When it’s just me and husband I feel safe, but with a little one in another bedroom I didn’t feel super comfortable with it. So maybe we’ll go back to it one day, but we will take a break for now!
This is such an awesome way to make a little extra and meet fun new people. It kinda makes me wish we had a guest room… Or that we lived somewhere people actually wanted to travel to. 😉
Susannah recently posted…Ways to Enjoy the Superbowl Without Really Watching {Giveaway}
Hi, great article, I have been using airbnb since jan 2011 and have hosted over 300 bookings…. it’s just like having family around who you have not seen since god knows how many years, 299 great experiences and always that Uncle who is a pain in the arse. all part of life but Judging by the reviews I have had the guests think the same.
But you have to let go… it’s just a house, It’s just furniture….but my guitar, that was the hardest thing to share, now I make it a feature of it, who travels with a guitar?
Now I know how crappy I am at playing guitar, but have had some awesome house concerts.
Live from the Swiss Alps Bill Weir the Alpinegeordie xxx
Great post! My roommate and recently started hosting on Airbnb. We have a studio apartment attached to our home. Since it is a private unit, we don’t have much interaction with the guests aside from checking them in and if they happen to be in the backyard when we are. We have had some fantastic guests, some plain guests, and some boring guests but no bad ones yet. Fingers crossed it stays that way! We live in Honolulu and rent is really expensive so this has been a great way to make living here a bit more affordable. It’s great to hear that other people are also having a good experience with this! Happy travels!