This forum is dedicated to connecting hosts with other hosts. Sign up to get the latest updates and news just for AirBnb hosts! Note that we are not affiliated with Airbnb - we are just passionate hosts!
I’m completely new to AirBnB, and just got my listing up. I’m going away for 2 weeks in february, and renting out my apartment while away. I’ve already got two requests for that time, but I’m struggling with finding out how to rent out to several guests while away. If one guest want’s to rent for 5 days, and the next guest wants to rent for 7 days. This will not be possible, because how am I going to clean up and prepare the apartment for the second guest after the first guest has been there? I’m obviously not home in this 2 week period. How do you do it?
Also - if I get two request in the same dates, but one wants to rent for a longer period of time: how would you turn down the other one?
If you insist on renting the space while you are gone, you are obviously going to need to find someone – family or friend – who will check guests in and out, and clean the place between guests. Chances are you’ll have to pay them something.
You cannot get two requests for the same dates. The AirBnb site calendar won’t show a second guest that those dates are available if there is an Inquiry or Request to Book
Hire a cleaning service to come in or if your market has it there are hosting services that will do the change over for you.
I’ve been a host almost 3 years and never rented out while gone until this last fall. I made my house sitter a co-host. Now in the future when I’m gone and she’s here watching my dogs she will get a cut of the business in return she cleans over the room and handles issues or questions.
Yes it’s possible to connect with a hosting service in my area - only problem is they offer two “packages”. One where they meet and deliver keys to my guests, which I don’t need since i have a lockbox. This they take 20% of the income. Second package is with cleaning and change of sheets and everything, but they take whoppingly 45-50% of the income for this!!
Cleaning business would be OK, but really expensive here I live. Maybe I should co-ordinate with a friend to do it for me for some money.
If you have a friend do it, be sure they know how to clean to your standards and that they are dependable. Keep in mind that is something goes wrong and you aren’t available, the unhappy guest can contact airbnb and get a refund. Personally I wouldn’t just start out on airbnb and then leave on vacation.
One more option might be to try to hold out for a single longer booking for all or most of the time you are gone. Trying to get two bookings to fill the whole time might be more trouble than it’s worth.
I would block out the dates while you are away until you are much more comfortable about hosting guests through AirBNB.
What will you do if your friend doesn’t do a good job, what will you do if your guests create problems, what will you do if your oven or heating breaks down?
I’ve been a host for 7 years and renting when you are away can be fraught. On NYE at the stroke of midnight I was writing to Air, the guest and my house sitter trying to resolve issues from 10,000 miles away while corks were popping and fireworks were going off. It’s a challenge even for experienced hosts and it can stress you out while you are trying to enjoy a holiday.
The simplest solution I have found would be to have someone ( friend or family member) , who you can slowly train to host in your place and agree with them on a set amount or part of the booking fee, you can then also up your cleaning fee or overall night rate to balance out this expense.
I would strongly advice to train and explain all steps from arrival/logistics, common issues and questions to this person before you go travelling, that way they will be the filter between you and your guests and ideally will be able to handle 90% of the issues without contacting you, that way you can enjoy your vacation.
IMHO, friends and family is a good idea (and probably the cheapest). You can also try a couple of Airbnb management companies, but they usually handle the property if you have it available for 6 weeks min, the exception is only Leavy co who are okay if you have it available for a weekend (so if you’re going away for 2 weeks, it would work).
It depends on your location though, as some companies only work in big cities.
