A Beginner’s Guide to Becoming an Airbnb Host

Beginning in the world of Airbnb can seem daunting to begin with, but after reading this article, you should have the basics of everything you need to know when starting out in this industry!

So what will this article cover?

• Is being an Airbnb host the right thing for you?
• How to list your property on the Airbnb website
• More about the Airbnb platform
• Why should you list your property on Airbnb?

So let’s get started, eager renters!

1. Is being an Airbnb host the right thing for you?

The first thing to consider on your Airbnb journey is whether being an Airbnb host is the right decision for you.

Here are some things that you may not have considered when it comes to hosting an Airbnb:

• Managing an Airbnb is a very time-consuming job. As Bnb Duck says, managing an Airbnb can be a lucrative business, but there is a lot of time involved in running this business. Some of the time-consuming tasks include responding to guest messages within 24 hours, cleaning your property between guests, setting up your listing on multiple Airbnb platforms, arranging Airbnb insurance, and maintaining your property in a good state of repair.

2. How to list your property on the Airbnb website

Okay, so now you’ve decided that renting your Airbnb property is the right choice for you, you’re going to need to learn how to list your property on the Airbnb website (as well as others).

Here is a condensed version of the step by step process of listing your property on Airbnb, according to Guesty:

• Search for airbnb.com and create an Airbnb account before you begin. Then click the ‘add listing' button, this will bring up a form where you can fill in details about your place (home type, number of guests, city your property is in).

• After filling in these details, you will need to upload some photos of your space, and include a brief description of the place, Airbnb SEO information, and other details. Make sure the first three photos you upload are the photos you think will appeal the most to future guests. Airbnb recommends the photo resolution for this pictures as 1024px x 683px.

• Next, you will need to create an engaging 35 character name for your listing and add a photo of yourself, the host, for guests to see.

• Now you can review the basic Airbnb Guest requirements and make changes to suit your preferences, such as the guest having to provide ID to you or the site only accepting guests that have zero negative reviews attached to their name.

• You can then go through your calendar and block or unblock specific dates (and even entire weeks and months) that you are unavailable/available to host.

• The last step before publishing your Airbnb listing is to potentially set a Smart pricing tool, which updates the price of your listing based on the demand in your area. To begin with you can set a base price, and Airbnb will suggest a price based on the information you have supplied, as well as other factors. Then you can set a minimum and maximum price and the currency in which the guests will pay in. You can also opt in or out of certain promotions if this appeals to you.

• Now you are ready to publish your listing! Woo-hoo, go you!

3. More about the Airbnb platform

It can come in handy to learn more about the Airbnb platform that you will be listing your property on. So how does this platform work?

Investopedia states that the majority of Airbnb’s revenue is made from service fees that are taken from bookings made with guests and hosts.

Airbnb's idealogy is based on a sharing economy (AKA peer-to-peer economy). This is a commercial/economic model which focuses on connecting consumers and sellers to share human and physical resources.

This sort of business model doesn’t provide goods and services directly to individuals. It works by connecting consumers and sellers together, and this is how they grow their revenue stream.

If you are interested in learning more about the Airbnb platform, then I would suggest you read our previous article: A snapshot of Airbnb.

4. Why should you list your property on Airbnb?

You may be wondering why you should list your property on Airbnb above all other platforms, so let’s dive into this! 

BedBooking says that:

• Airbnb allows you to easily reach new customers in any season, and this platform doesn’t ask you to pay a registration fee or sign any sort of long-term commitment to list your property on their site.

• Airbnb is a very supportive community, and it provides  its hosts with free webinars and meetings, protection when problems arise, and a great community forum.

• You can make a profit from your passion for renting out your property!

Conclusion:

I hope you feel so much more informed about Airbnb and the process of listing your property on the Airbnb platform now you’ve read this article. I know it can seem scary as a beginner starting out in the world of Airbnb, but the more you learn and apply these learnings, the better you will become at hosting (and the less scary it will seem)!

But if you would rather not have to worry about managing your Airbnb property and listing, then you could always consider the property management company Zodiak Management to manage your property and listing for you.

Zodiak Management will maintain your listings on Airbnb platforms, communicate with guests, and even clean your property after your guests leave, so all you need to do is focus on is watching your bank account expand!