He just hosted a sweet family last night. They checked out about 10 AM. (listing states by noon.) They were a nice couple and with a quiet and shy little girl who only knew French, about 5 years old… Between 4 and 6, for sure. The parents spoke both English and French. They had excellent communication regarding arrival time. It was set at $ 40 / night, plus another $10 for any guests after first 2 persons. So, they paid out $50 and we already each left good reviews for each other. (although I gave only 4 for cleanliness) but 5 for everything else and recommended them.
We’re not an optimal location, but I do good job of cleaning up after every guest, offering several variety of breakfast items, kitchen space and dishes, being very friendly hostess, being here for them to answer questions about area, and have one of those mag holders with tourist info in the bedroom, and so on.
The young girl did have a urine accident, so I had to do some extra work to wash ALL of the bedding, not just the sheets. THANK GOODNESS, this happened on the only bed that has a water proof mattress protector on it. The parents I’m sure were embarrassed and quite apologetic about it happening and told me she really doesn’t do that anymore. The girl was eager to show me cell phone video / pictures of their beautiful Samoyed dog, they left dog at home.
My in-laws visited for the past weekend, and we even got new (but cheap) sheets, and put on some matching bedding, because one of the ones we were using had a tiny old stain. (I will soon update a picture of this for listing) I told my mother-in-law, who raised 3 kids, and she just said "that’s what washing machines are for "
We are still new at this, and actually appear to be right on the edge of earning superhost status, although I don’t think we will quite make it for this quarter. I know people are looking for great deals. But, am I still charging too little? It seems like the effort I put in to host them, my time, water and power to wash all of the bedding mattress cover and blanket too, offering some breakfast foods … might be borderline ummmm very tiny profit.
*** Should I add a clearly stated household rule that any guest under the age of ??? (eight ???), sleep on the bed that has the waterproof cover on it?
*** Should I invest in buying a 2nd waterproof cover, just because of the possibility of this happening again?
*** Additional rate for children? and extras people?