How does airbnb work for hosts

How Does Airbnb Work for Hosts? 5 Things to Consider Before You Sign Up

People all over the world are generating extra income by becoming Airbnb hosts and renting out part or all of their homes to travelers for short periods of time. Is it something you should consider doing to make extra money?

In this article, we’ll look at how Airbnb works, talk about who the service is right for and try to answer questions that you might have before you sign up as an Airbnb host.

Thinking About Renting Out Space on Airbnb? Here’s What You Need to Know

Table of Contents:

1. What Is Airbnb and How Does It Work?

Airbnb started in 2007 when its two co-founders advertised a night on an air mattress and breakfast in the morning (“Air Bed & Breakfast”) to attendees of a design conference in San Francisco.

Airbnb connects millions of hosts with travelers all over the world looking for something other than a boring hotel room to stay in during their trips.

Very simply, people with anything from single room to an entire mansion can list their property for rent using the service. Airbnb’s website and app then allow people looking for a place to stay in a particular location to sort through those listings to find something that meets their needs. In many cases, you can stay at an Airbnb with more space and amenities than a hotel room at a significantly lower cost.

Airbnb boasts over seven million listings in more than 100,000 cities worldwide and claims that on any given night there are two million-plus people staying in an Airbnb. The company recently introduced Experiences and Adventures, unique activities and multi-day trips led by local guides.

2. Are You Allowed to Host an Airbnb Where You Live?

Most people who are paying a mortgage on or outright own a single-family home should be fine renting it out on Airbnb. If you’re in a condo, apartment or townhome, there may be some occupancy rules that prohibit such transactions.

Additionally, some cities and towns have laws that regulate hosting paying guests for short-term stays in private residences.

“Some cities have laws that restrict your ability to host paying guests for short periods. These laws are often part of a city’s zoning or administrative codes. In many cities, you must register, get a permit, or obtain a license before you list your property or accept guests. Certain types of short-term bookings may be prohibited altogether.”

When you agree to Airbnb’s terms of service, you are certifying that you will follow your local rules and regulations. Ultimately, it’s up to you to do your homework so that you don’t run afoul of the law.

3. What Is the Sign-Up Process Like?

Once you’ve ensured that you’re in the clear legally to be an Airbnb host, you’ll need to sign up for the service. That involves four primary steps:

Let’s walk through them in order.

1. Inputting your personal and property information

When you head to Airbnb.com, you’ll see an option in the main menu to “Host a home.”

The next page allows you to estimate how much you might be able to earn by entering some very basic information about your property.

Clicking “Get started” there will take you to a page where you can log in with your Facebook or Google credentials or create a new account from scratch. We recommend you start from scratch by clicking “Sign up.”

When you do that, you’ll be taken to a page where you’ll be asked to enter your email address, name and birthday (you must be at least 18 years old), plus create a password.

Next the site will ask you some questions about your property, like whether it’s a house, apartment or secondary unit. You’ll also need to indicate whether guests will have the entire place or just part of it and whether it’s set up as a dedicated guest space. Make sure you have a clear picture of what space you want to offer up to guests before you enter this information.

You’ll also tell Airbnb how many guests the space can accommodate, how many bedrooms are available and what the sleeping arrangements are like. You’ll account for the number of bathrooms, as well. It’s important to be honest about your layout and avoid inflating these numbers.

After that, you’ll enter your property’s location. Guest won’t be able to see the actual address until after they’ve booked a reservation.

Once you’ve confirmed the location on a map, you can let the site know what kinds of amenities you’ll be offering. These can include:

You’ll also describe any common spaces like a kitchen, gym or pool that guests are allowed to use.

As you might imagine, the more amenities you offer the more attractive your home will be to potential guests.

2. Posting photos and a description of your property

The next step involves giving potential guests a better sense of what to expect if they book your property. First, you’ll upload photos.

The importance of taking great pictures of your home’s exterior and interior is such that a whole photography cottage industry has popped up and Airbnb supports it. People have made careers out of just taking photos of rental properties.

If you plan on doing the photography yourself, some photo tips you’ll want to consider include always brightening the photo and shooting corners to show more space.

Then you’ll be asked to add a brief (500 characters or less) summary of what you have to offer. You can supplement this with information about:

You’ll also create a listing title for your property — ideally a catchy one — and provide a photo of yourself that will be visible on the property page.

3. Establishing your booking settings

After you have your property photos and description set, it’s time to set your rules for guests. You’ll be asked to indicate whether you will be allowing small children, pets, smoking and even parties.

Then you’ll work on your booking calendar. This includes:

You’ll also be able to block any dates on the calendar that you don’t want to host guests.

Next, you’ll determine your price per night. You can set a base price that everyone will see or establish minimum and maximum prices and let Airbnb determine the best rate for any given dates based on demand. The site will even give you recommendations for pricing based on your particular property.

At this point, you have the option to turn on a special offer for your first guests. This is a great way to get established as a host on the site.

4. Publishing your property

Finally, you’re ready to publish your listing.

Make sure you’re really all set, because as soon as you hit that red button your listing will be visible and people can start booking!

4. How Much Can You Expect to Earn as an Airbnb Host?

How much you can earn hosting an Airbnb is of course going to vary depending on several factors, most notably the type of property you have, how many people you can accommodate and your location.

There are some property owners that make six figures annually on Airbnb — but they’re typically investors with second and third homes. People who list their primary residences can add thousands of dollars a year to their wallets, but it takes time, preparation and realistic expectations.

It’s a good idea to find out what other properties in your area are renting for. This requires not only browsing similar listings on Airbnb but a general knowledge of local real estate prices. Airbnb’s own earnings estimator is also useful.

Here’s an example of how much renting out a private room suitable for two guests in downtown Cincinnati could earn you, according to the site:

Keep in mind that according to Airbnb itself, “How much you actually make may vary with your pricing, type and location of your listing, actual occupancy rate, season, demand, local laws, and other factors.”

Remember, too, that Airbnb calculates your payout as your nightly rate minus the host service fee, which is generally 3%.

5. What Protections and Support Does Airbnb Offer?

If you’re concerned that opening up your space to strangers on Airbnb is going to be a huge hassle, you are justified in that concern. Not all guests are going to treat your property as they would their own.

With that in mind, Airbnb offers two kinds of protection for their hosts.

They also offer what’s called Host Protection Insurance, which covers liability claims against hosts for bodily injury or property damage suffered by guests during their stay.

In the case of any problems, hosts are able to contact Airbnb around the clock via phone, email or live chat.

The support team is able to help with things like:

What Else Do You Need to Know Before You Sign Up to Be a Host?

Finally, here are a few more things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about becoming an Airbnb host:

Final Thought

As we said earlier, becoming an Airbnb host is not for everyone. If you’re interested in taking the plunge but worried about how much work might be involved, consider this perspective from Team Clark’s Kim, who hosted for a number of years in the 2010s:

“We chose Airbnb because they do everything for you. They handle the money, give you an insurance policy and keep your calendar — it was incredibly easy to get started.”

Hosting provided Kim with extra income to travel more — and stay at other Airbnbs around the world. Imagine what you could do with all that extra money each month…

Have you hosted on Airbnb? Share your experiences with us in the comments below!

Everything You Need to Know About How Airbnb Works for Hosts

July 17, 2018

Q4Launch understands Airbnb is an integral part of your booking strategy to stay relevant in the current hospitality industry. Though we recognize their presence throughout the space, our marketing strategy is designed to drive traffic to your website. This will not only increase your brand outside of online travel agents, such as Airbnb, but also collect bookings through your property management software to save on any added commissions from listing on those channels. Want to learn more about getting direct bookings and how to be less dependent on OTAs?

Considering channel management?

What Is Airbnb?

Airbnb was started in 2008 by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, two industrial designers that recently moved to San Francisco. Unable to afford the rent for their loft at the time, the pair decided to make up the money they needed by renting out their apartment to people who couldn’t find hotels to stay at while attending nearby trade shows. They set up air mattresses in the apartment’s living room for their guests to sleep on and cooked homemade breakfast in the morning. Since then, Airbnb has become one of the trailblazers of peer-to-peer property rental.

What Do They Do?

Airbnb is based on a peer-to-peer business model. This makes it simple, easy to use, and tends to be more profitable for both parties. The model also gives you the opportunity to customize and personalize your guests’ experience the way you want.

Who Books on Airbnb?

Knowing your demographic is imperative when deciding on a new booking site. The general traveler booking on Airbnb will be a young, tech-savvy millennial; it is estimated that millennials account for roughly 60% of all guests that have ever booked on Airbnb. These travelers are particularly attracted to authentic, local properties. They believe accommodations listed on Airbnb will provide them with more cultural experiences, which is a top priority for them when they travel.

Its popularity stems from the fact that not everyone who is traveling can afford to stay in a hotel, much less find a hotel room in a busy, urban area. Airbnb provides them with a simple — and often less expensive — alternative.

How Airbnb Works for Hosts

Integrations for bed & breakfasts:

Integrations for vacation rentals:

Airbnb Hosting FAQ

1. What Is the Cost?

With acquisition costs as low as 3%, getting bookings on Airbnb is generally half as expensive as other listing sites. Airbnb also absorbs all credit card processing costs!

2. How Do I Get Paid?

All payments are processed securely through Airbnb’s online payment system. Guests are charged when a reservation is made, and hosts are paid 24 hours after check-in. How you collect payment is up to you; you can set up direct deposit, PayPal, or a number of other options.

Tip: Taxes are not automatically collected by Airbnb.

3. Do I Need to Lower My Rates to Be Competitive on Airbnb?

On average, rates for an entire home on Airbnb are the same or lower for the cost of a single hotel room. However, there are luxury properties listed.

Airbnb Host Requirements

fIf you’re thinking about being a host, keep in mind that you must provide Airbnb a minimum of 30 days of availability over the next 12 months for each listing. Make sure the rate type you associate has pricing for at least 30 days for each listing.

Airbnb Host Rules

There are also some basic Airbnb host requirements:

Make Sure You’re Getting the Most from Your Marketing Strategy

Now that you know how Airbnb works for hosts, it’s time to find out if it’s best for you!

Q4Launch understands Airbnb is an integral part of your booking strategy to stay relevant in the current hospitality industry. Though we recognize their presence throughout the space, our marketing strategy is designed to drive traffic to your website. This will not only increase your brand outside of online travel agents, such as Airbnb, but also collect bookings through your property management software to save on any added commissions from listing on those channels. Want to learn more about getting direct bookings and how to be less dependent on OTAs?

How Does Airbnb Work For Hosts

How Does Airbnb Work For Hosts?

Costs, Commissions & Inclusions

Are you a home owner considering hosting on Airbnb?

Do you need to know how it works for you as a prospective host before signing up?

Founded in 2008, there are now more than 6 million property listings in 81,000 locations across nearly 200 countries.

‘Hosts’ rent out shared rooms, private rooms, entire properties, unique spaces, B&Bs or hotel accommodation to travelling guests from anywhere in the world.

Approximately 500 million guests have travelled with Airbnb since 2008 with an estimated 100 million nights booked in 2017.

How Does Airbnb work?

Airbnb is an online peer-to-peer marketplace connecting travellers (guests) and local short-term accommodation providers (hosts).

Travellers from around the world search the platform for available properties or experiences.

How much does it cost to list on Airbnb?

It’s free to list a property on Airbnb.

A host service fee (commission) is only charged upon confirmed bookings. Fees are deducted on a pay-per-booking basis.

How much does Airbnb take from a host?

The standard Airbnb host service fee is 3% per checked-in booking.

This covers the cost of processing payments and is deducted from the host payout. This can rise to 5% for some hosts in Italy or if the host has a ‘super strict’ cancellation policy (by invitation only).

VAT or GST may also deducted from your payout and is based on the total host service fee.

‘The service fee for guests/travellers is anything up to 20% but is usually between 6-12%. It is shown to guests upon the booking checkout page.

Hosts can now choose to absorb these traveler fees in order to make rental prices more attractive to guests.

VAT (or JCT/GST) will also apply in countries where this is payable and is charged upon the total booking cost.

For Airbnb Experiences, there is a 20% service fee for the host. Guests are not currently charged a service fee to book Experiences.

What’s included in an Airbnb listing?

As well as the standard listing for your property across the Airbnb network, your listing will automatically come with the following:

What kind of property can I advertise on Airbnb?

Rental owners or managers can list almost any kind of shared accommodation space.

These include aparthotels, apartments, B&Bs, barns, boats, boutique hotels, bungalows, cabins, campers/RVs, campsites, castle, casas particulares, caves, chalets, condominiums, cottages, cycladic houses, dammusos, dome houses, earth houses, farm stays, guesthouses, guest suites, heritage hotels, hostels, hotels, house boats, houses, huts, igloos, lighthouses, lofts, nature lodges, pensions, planes, resorts, ryokans, serviced apartments, shepherd huts, tents, tiny houses, tipis, townhouses, treehouses, villas, windmills and yurts.

Hosts can match their property suitability to the new/upcoming Airbnb ‘Collections’ categories which include family, work, honeymoon, weddings, social stays, dinner parties, one-of-a-kind and group getaways.

How do I become an Airbnb host?

If you decide to list your property on Airbnb just sign up at Airbnb.com and follow the steps below.

How to register: Sign up for an Airbnb Account

• Sign in with Facebook, Google or your email address.

Add a birthday to show you are over the age of 18.

• Sign the Airbnb T&Cs and agree to non-discrimination equally regardless of age, race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender, disability or sexual orientation.

How to register your property on Airbnb: The Basics

• Add space type, maximum number of guests and location.

• Add property type:

Guest Numbers, Rooms & Beds
No of Bedrooms (Studio, 1-50 bedrooms)
Bed Types (Doubles, Queens, Singles, Sofa-beds)

• Add number of bathrooms

• Add property address

• Confirm map pin location

Wifi, shampoo, closet/drawers, TV, heating, air-conditioning, breakfast, coffee, tea, desk/workspace, fireplace, iron, hair dryer, pets on site & private entrance.

• Add spaces on property for guest use

Pool, kitchen, washing machine, dryer, parking, elevator, hot tub, gym.

Set The Scene

• Add property description.

• Add name of place.

• Add mobile number (and verify).

• Review guest requirements.

• Set house rules.

• Review availability calendar message.

• Confirm if you are a new or existing host. How often do you want to host.

• Add notice required for bookings. Check in times.

• Add how far in advance can guests book.

• Add how long can guests stay. Minimum & maximum.

• Add pricing. Smart Pricing. Base rates.

• Add special offers for first guests.

• Add long term discounts.

• Review local laws and taxes.

FAQs For Airbnb Hosts

How and when did Airbnb start?

Airbnb started in 2008 when 2 friends, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, began hosting guests in their San Francisco apartment.

What does Air b and b mean?

Airbnb originally referred to ‘Air bed and breakfast’ and was the former website name (airbedandbreakfast.com) before it was shortened to the present-day Airbnb.

The founders rented out airbeds to their first three guests — Kat, Amol and Michael —in their San Francisco apartment during the nearby International Design Conference to raise extra cash to help pay their rent.

Who can host on Airbnb?

Pretty much anyone who owns or manages an accommodation space to be shared with others.

What are the Airbnb host requirements?

Airbnb hosts are required to write detailed listings to satisfy clear property expectations and set guest identification verification requirements.

Hosts are also expected to supply safety equipment like an information card, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, working smoke alarm(s) and carbon dioxide detector(s).

How Airbnb host payment works?

Payments are made to hosts one day after guest check-in. Hosts that offer local ‘experiences’ for guests have funds released 24 hours after said experience.

If the host has chosen PayPal as their payment method the payout should be received the same day.

If the host receives payment by bank transfer, this can take up to 5 days.

‘Host Early Pay’ is available for bookings in the US whereby payout can be initiated 48 hours after a booking is confirmed. A small fee is added for this facility.

What is the Host Guarantee?

It automatically covers every booking on Airbnb so hosts don’t need to do anything.

It is not insurance and does not cover cash/securities, pets, common areas or personal liability so hosts should explore extra cover for the aforementioned.

What is the Host Protection Insurance?

The coverage is issued by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London and Zurich Insurance/partners and is currently available for hosts in the Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the UK and the US.

Who cleans an Airbnb property?

The host is responsible for cleaning a property. Many hosts employing a local cleaner or property management company to carry out housekeeping duties.

Is Airbnb legal?

However the legal ramifications of home-sharing are constantly changing and some countries have set strict laws for renting vacation/holiday rentals by a maximum number of days. A few cities and islands have gone one step further and actually banned short-term home sharing altogether.

Most countries/regions/towns are simply going down the route of legal regulation of Airbnb-style accommodation spaces and may require hosts to obtain official licences to become an a short-term rental provider.

Prospective Airbnb hosts should enquire about any local/national rental restrictions

If you are a tenant and considering subletting a rental home on Airbnb you will need to get permission from the property owner, check insurance coverage and liaise with other neighbours if in the same building.

What is the Airbnb host cancellation policy?

Hosts can generally choose from 3 default cancellation policies: Flexible, Moderate and Strict.

Each differ in timescales for full and part refunds to the guest.

A 48 hour grace period will apply to ‘strict’ cancellation policy bookings from April 2018. This will permit guests to cancel a booking within 48 hours penalty-free if the stay is more than 14 days away.

Cleaning fees are always refunded if the reservation is cancelled before arrival.

The Airbnb service fee is refundable, up to 3 times per year, if cancellation is made within 48 hours of booking.

Hosts can see the number of reservations a guest has cancelled over the previous 12 months when the guest submits a request to book.

What are the top ranking factors on Airbnb?

Knowing how to rank your property higher is important, especially as Airbnb claims that there are ‘nearly 100 different factors for every listing in every search‘.

For many of these a host will have no control over but applying the following factors will help to position your listing higher on the search results pages:

How long will it take for my Airbnb listing to become active?

It takes between 6-24 hours for a listing to become active and visible on search.

How does Airbnb make money?

Airbnb charges a host service fee of 3-5% and a guest booking fee of 6-12% for every booking confirmed on the platform.

Accommodation hosts who offer a paid local Experience are charged a service fee of 20%.

The sheer scale of exponential growth and bookings confirmed have made Airbnb the Goliath it is today and as funds are generally only released on the day of check-in, the company earns interest on holding funds from the time of booking.

Who are Airbnb’s leading competitors?

The leading competitors to Airbnb are Booking.com, the HomeAway network and TripAdvisor.

Please note that all information is correct at time of publishing however this is subject to immediate change so hosts should check all of the terms and conditions when listing a property on Airbnb.

41 Airbnb Hosting Tips – The ULTIMATE List

What are our 41 tips for Airbnb hosting? The truth is: there are many “styles” for hosting out there. What is the perfect Airbnb style? How do you stand out above your competition? What works for one host may not work for another. No matter what out of the 50 tips we guarantee you will learn something to improve your bookings.

1. Be Upfront

Every city, building, the landscape has difficulties. Whether your Airbnb has 100 steps, the toilet clogs or your wifi is choppy.

Let your guests know exactly what to expect before arriving. Mention the difficulties in your listing description or message your guests. If you’re upfront then your guests know what they are getting into and will be ready for any surprises.

2. Be Flexible With Check-In and Check-Out T imes

It is definitely tough to be flexible if you have same day guest turnovers. Changing your bed sheets, cleaning the bathroom, and vacuuming takes time.

We are not saying let your guests check-in a day earlier or a day later is fine. If your Airbnb listing is prepared and ready, letting your guests store their luggage at your place or even checking in an hour early will go a long way.

3. Read All Reviews

By reading your guest reviews, you will find out instantly if they have misbehaved during any of their previous stays. Airbnb host reviews are normally very honest and will save you many headaches.

4. Response No Matter What

Regardless if it’s an inquiry, spam, or a simple question, just reply. A simple “No” is adequate and not replying at all will affect your response rate and could stop you from getting Superhost status.

5. Give New Guests A Shot

Every guest has to start somewhere and at the beginning, this will mean no previous reviews. We all started somewhere. Give those guests a shot, but remember to ask them further questions.

Message them via Airbnb App asking politely “what are you coming for?”, “is this your first Airbnb stay?”, “What time are you planning to arrive?” or “who are you bringing with you?”. These questions will get you a better feeling if the guest is good for your Airbnb.

6. Have Your Number Available

Almost everyone has a cell phone these days, but not everyone wants to pay the extra fees for service. One of our tips is to put your phone number and or address on a keyring.

If you don’t use a smart lock then a keyring is the perfect spot. You may not feel comfortable adding your full address onto a keyring. We suggest only adding your phone number due to privacy and it normally fits nicely onto the ring.

7. Co-Hosting Is Awesome

If you have a spouse helping you with your Airbnb then great. It can be overwhelming replying to all the inquiries and messages, especially if you have multiple listings.

A co-host can help if you ever travel to a country where you have no data…. or just want to enjoy your vacation in peace. Airbnb has plenty of options for co-hosting. Just remember in this tips for Airbnb hosting you will need to trust the co-host

8. Go One Step Further Than Your Competition

Some other ideas are lending your gym membership or handwriting a personalized note for your guest. Whatever it is, your guests will feel welcomed.

9. Share A Meal, Story, Coffee, Or Drink With Your Guests

This really depends on what vibe you are getting off your guests and if you are living in the same property. Some guests want complete privacy, others would love to share stories and enjoy your company. This will change from guest to guest.

10. Give Your Guests Space

On the same topic as sharing a meal and on the other spectrum. If you get the vibe that your guests are introverted or shy then give them space. Do not push that awkward conversation.

11. Leave Notes On Complicated Devices

Every home is built differently, some have hidden surprises that your guests won’t understand right away. For us, in one of our listings, one light switch needs to be turned on in order for the dining room table light to work. It is confusing so we place a note above that switch telling our guests to leave it on.

12. Send Your Guests A Message As Soon As They Book

A friendly message such as “Thank you for booking with us, we will have everything ready upon your arrival” will decrease the chances of your guests canceling on you, even if they find a better Airbnb.

13. Send Your Guests A Message 48 Hours Before Arrival

Not everyone is comfortable with traveling or living in a stranger’s house, especially if they are using Airbnb for the first time.

In our tips for Airbnb hosting, we recommend sending your guests a simple message 48 hours before the check-in. We send a standard message “Safe travels and we are looking forward to hosting you”. You can go further and ask what time they were expecting to arrive.

14. Instructions To Any Complicated Electronics

Your Airbnb guests will be of all ages. Some tech-savvy and others brand new. If your smart t.v. has many steps in order to connect to Netflix then leave a short instruction manual.

15. Use Energy-Efficient Products

Use energy-efficient light bulbs, timed switches, toilets, etc. It may save you a penny now, but a dollar over time.

16. Leave A Guest Binder For Your Guest’s

Adding a guest binder filled with your home instructions, front door code, wifi password, details on where to find extra supplies, contact information for emergencies, nearest restaurants, grocery stores, attractions and anything else you can think of will pleasantly surprise your guests.

17. Greet Your Guests If Possible

No matter where we travel, the first day is always stressful due to our new surroundings. If you do live at your place, greet your guests so they know who they are being hosted by and can feel at home faster.

18. Neighbor Relationships

Keeping a good relationship with them may stop you from getting noise complaints and the cops called. Give your personal number to all nearby neighbors and ask them to call you first.

19. Use A Key-less Lock Pad or Key-box

In every single one of our Airbnb properties, we use keyless entry. On numerous occasions, our guests have lost keys, plus there is a security issue.

With a keyless pad, you are able to change the code whenever you want. It’s a great option for any Airbnb property. We wrote a full review of our top 5 smart locks for Airbnb.

20. Automate Messages To Save Time

Your initial message after your guest’s book, special instructions such as where to park, and your 48 hours before your guest’s check-in message will be very similar. After you host a few times, save everything on your phone for easy references.

21. Become Verified

A benefit for a guest becoming verified is the ability to instant-book if a host allows it. With host or guest verification, it gives your account credibility and you become trustworthy.

22. Have A Friendly Profile Picture

This can’t apply for everyone, but guests love to stay with couples more often than not. It isn’t a deal-breaker either, but if you can get a picture with your loved one then do so. Another option is taking a picture with your pets as a profile picture.

23. Only Upload Great Quality Pictures

Whether it’s your profile picture or listing pictures, anything you upload onto the Airbnb app should be of high quality. Most phone cameras will work perfectly.

24. Keep Your Place Organized

Make sure everything in your Airbnb has been put there for a reason. Overstocking could decrease the value of your listing. We try to keep our listing with as few items as possible which makes it easier to organize.

25. Give The Gift Of Entertainment

We love to leave books and classic board games in our Airbnb living rooms. They bring a homely feel to any property.

26. Leave Your Guests With Emergency Supplies

No matter what your situation is you want your guests to be protected. If you have a power outage then a flashlight is needed, if your place gets rain then provide an umbrella.

Your location will be new to most guests. The location and different kinds of food bring unknown dangers. Leave your guests with a first aid kit and Benadryl for allergies.

27. Remember Extra Supplies

Our ratio is one towel and toilet paper roll for every two nights a guest stays with us. Also, leave your guests an extra set of bed sheets and blanket in case of an accident. Other items can be supplied.

28. Add Selling Features In Your Airbnb Listing

If you live close to a grocery store, liquor store, a pub, coffee shop, etc then mention them in your listing. Your potential guests will look at those details and could be a deciding factor.

29. Set Your Pictures Up To Be Visually Appealing

Here is a trick I have not heard mentioned. When you upload your Airbnb pictures showcasing your place, make sure they tell a story. For example – If you have a basement suite then the first picture should be the stairs. The second picture will most likely be the living room.

With each picture include part of the previous one, the living room should have part of the stairs in it, and the next picture should have part of the living room in it. Make your pictures tell a story so your guests can visually picture your Airbnb listing.

20. Take Your Airbnb Pictures With Great Lighting

Great lighting doesn’t mean going out and buying equipment. Simply using a decent phone camera and take pictures in the daytime. Open all your blinds for the natural sunlight.

Another option is Airbnb’s photography service. It does cost money and the fee will be taken off future bookings. Airbnb sends a professional photographer which also provides an extra verification for your profile.

21. Make Sure Your Pictures Are Accurate

Guests will surely complain in your reviews if the pictures aren’t exactly the same as your Airbnb listing. If a picture is on the wall, leave it there, etc.

If you change or add something to your listing then update your pictures. We have seen some negative reviews from alterations.

22. Fill In Your Airbnb Picture Titles

Having titles can guide your guests and explain exactly what they are looking at. Right below each picture you can add a description. This is a chance to tell your guests a little more about your listing and convince them to book.

23. Add Pictures Of Your Local Road, Restaurants, Flyers, Etc

We go out to our local restaurants and grab menus. Then we take one picture with all the menus together. Sometimes we add an area map which our guests have enjoyed.

24. Have A Competitive Price At The Beginning

Just like guests who don’t have any reviews. Neither will you as a new host. To kick-start your Airbnb listing check-out your competition and become slightly lower in price per night. Lowering the price will initially get you bookings which in return reviews and trust with future guests. Your Airbnb listings will book faster this way.

25. Do Not Use Airbnb Recommended Pricing (Smart Pricing)

We have always found the price Airbnb suggests to be significantly lower than the going rate. Their recommended pricing doesn’t normally adjust with regard to upcoming events. If you are aware of yearly events that bring travelers, adjust your pricing manually to increase your profits.

26. Make Sure You Have All The Basic Amenities

Your guests may not always use everything during their stay, but giving them the option is impressive.

27. Try To Get Tickable Amenities

Airbnb itself has an amenities page that can increase your search volume. They allow you to check off certain items which will be included in your listing description

Try to check off as many as you can. Guests can filter there search filter to include some of these amenities which increases your views.

28. Test Everything In Your Airbnb Property

Whether it is old or new, make sure you take the time to test your Airbnb like you are a guest. This includes checking the functionality for all your appliances, couches and chairs.

Even go one step further and sleep in your Airbnb beds to make sure they are comfortable for your guests.

29. Be Responsible With Your Listing

Know the Airbnb policies. Educate yourself on all necessary permits and city by-laws. Study in-depth all the Airbnb rules and regulations, particularly about cancellations.

Have all phone numbers handy in case you need help beyond what’s available in the Airbnb help section.

30. Do Not Cancel Reservations

You are allowed to cancel up to three bookings a year, without penalties. Too many cancellations will hurt your Airbnb rating and stop you from receiving Superhost status.

On a side note, if you have a good reason for canceling after the third time, call Airbnb and they will most likely wave the penalty.

31. Quick Responses Wins Over Airbnb

Responding quickly is appreciated among guests trying to plan their vacation. A response rate within Airbnb means replying to any inquiry and is needed for Superhost status.

32. Leave Snacks For Your Guest Check-in

One of our tips for Airbnb hosting is to leave snacks that were made locally. Our community is well known for salted nuts and coffee. Leave a note and explain what the company is about.

33. Reach Superhost Status

You are able to forfeit the travel voucher for Airbnbs professional photographers. With our tips for Airbnb hosting, achieving Superhost status isn’t hard, you just have to be punctual.

34. Message Your Guests After Their First Night

Give your guests a day to test everything you provide out. Message them via Airbnb app asking how their first night went and if they need anything. This small gesture will help your reviews greatly.

35. Ask For A Review

Contrary to most Airbnb host thoughts, asking for a review isn’t bad. It’s how you ask that can be bad. What works well for us is messaging our guests a few hours after they leave.

Hope they had a great stay with you and that their travel home is safe. Ask your guest for a favor and to give a review. Even ask for a 5-star review. Mention that it helps you get higher up on the Airbnb rankings and helps them with future hosts.

36. Allow Instant Booking For Your Airbnb

Instant booking is where verified guests can book your place without you approving them. Guests can filter their searches for instant booking only which will increase the number of views your listing receives. Plus you get a cool thunder icon in the map view.

37. Understand Both Mobile & Desktop App

We have found it fairly difficult to do the same things on Airbnb mobile and desktop. The interface in some ways are similar and others completely different. Take the time to test both, figure out the comparison.

38. Do Not Pay Attention To Certain Statistics

Both views and booking percent are different between mobile and desktop. We recommend focusing on statistics that count. Anything in regards to Superhost status for the benefits.

39. Get Insurance

Especially if your place has a pool, or in a location that is accident-prone. Get in touch with an insurance agent and inquire about a policy.

40. Offer Self-Check-In

First time Airbnb travelers could be skeptical. Installing a keypad which varies in price is a great option. Offer a self-check-in option. Some people want hotel privacy without the hotel price.

41. Do Not Let Guests Check-in Early If Your Place Is Dirty

No matter how much they beg or say they don’t care, they will. Guests will remember the negative things and ultimately it will affect your reviews. We found this out the hard way. Be considerate, but not too much.

Check Out Our Other Articles On Airbnbuniverse.com

5 Airbnb Secrets That Will Get You Better Reviews

Airbnb Bathroom Essentials: Everything You Nee d

17 Cleaning Products To Use In Any Short Term Rental

About Us – What Airbnbuniverse.com is

How To Contact Airbnb: All 5 Ways

Final Thoughts

Becoming an Airbnb host is easy. You need a place to list and a device to take pictures. Becoming a Superhost or capitalizing on bookings is harder. We guarantee you will learn something to improve your bookings with our 41 tips for Airbnb hosting. With them, you will be well on your way. Happy hosting!

How Do Airbnb Payments Work? [2022] Payments from a Guest and Host Perspective

**As an Amazon Associate, Rentalrecon.com earns from qualifying purchases.

When I first started thinking about hosting an Airbnb, I wondered how the payment process works. I was unsure if I would have to process payments or if Airbnb would handle this for me. I also wanted to make sure of when and how I would get paid for my bookings. I did some research to find out exactly how Airbnb payments work.

Airbnb collects all payments at the time a guest submits a reservation request. In this way, the host knows that the funding is there for the property to be booked. The funds are released to the host approximately 24 hours after the designated check-in time for each booking. There are several modes of payment a host may choose from. Airbnb also takes care of collecting security deposit money.

There is no reason that the host should ever have to process payments. Hosts should never consent to accept payments through any means other than booking through Airbnb. This takes a lot of work and hassle out of the process as well as protecting the host’s financial interest and the guest’s financial information.

When Does Airbnb Charge Your Credit Card? Does Airbnb Charge You Right Away?

Guests must submit payment information at the time that they submit a request for a reservation. Payments will be drafted when the host accepts the guest’s reservation.

At this time, the amount for the entirety of the stay is charged to the card the guest has put on file with Airbnb.

When Does Airbnb Take Payment?

Airbnb holds this amount until 24 hours after the expected check-in time before paying the host.

This is true no matter how far in advance the property is booked. If the property is booked only days ahead of time, the payment is held by Airbnb until 24 hours after check-in. The same goes for reservations made months in advance. If a guest’s reservation request goes unanswered, they can book with another host, and their card will not be charged for the first reservation.

If a guest is booking for over 28 days at a time, the first month is deducted at the time the reservation is confirmed. This is considered a down payment. After that, the guest’s card on file will be billed monthly for their extended stay.

Airbnb Payment Methods for Guests

Airbnb accepts Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, and JCB. Debit cards that can be run as credit cards may also be used. Other specific payment options may be available depending on the area in which the guest is booking an Airbnb property. The payment options available to a guest will show up on the checkout page.

How Hosts Receive their Payments

At approximately 24 hours after check-in, Airbnb releases the payment to the host’s account or pays them according to their preferred payment method. Airbnb holds the money until this time so that both the host and the guest have time to make sure that things are going to suit each of them. The guest has time to evaluate the property and the host has time to see that the guest is not creating any problems.

When it comes time for the host to get paid, there are a variety of payment options he can choose from. The time it takes for funds to show up in a host’s account will depend on the mode of payment they have chosen. Standard modes of payment include direct deposit, a bank transfer, PayPal, Western Union, or a Payoneer prepaid debit card.

Security Deposit Payments on Airbnb

Airbnb decides on security deposit amounts for some properties. If a security deposit is required for a stay at a certain property, prospective guests will be able to see the amount required before booking. In the case of a security deposit requirement, there is a hold placed on the account that has been chosen for payment in the amount of the security deposit.

The account will not be charged, but those funds will not be available for other purchases. If there were no problems, then Airbnb releases the hold on the account and the funds are once again available to the cardholder 14 days after check-out.

If there are not enough funds available to cover the security deposit in the mode of payment the guest has entered into Airbnb, then the reservation can be canceled 36 hours before check-in. This is a way for Airbnb to be sure that a guest has enough funds on hand to cover the security deposit. In this way, Airbnb makes sure that the security deposit is paid if the property is damaged.

If a reservation is in danger of being canceled for a lack of security deposit funds, Airbnb will send the guests a notification email. Then the guest has 12 hours to enter another mode of payment before their reservation is canceled. If valid card information is not provided within these 12 hours, Airbnb will refund the cost of the reservation to the card on file.

Check Out Our Other Articles on Rental Recon:

What is the Airbnb Service Fee?

The Airbnb service fee goes to support the platform and help Airbnb continue to render the services that it does to hosts and guests all over the world. The service fee is typically less than 13% of the subtotal upon booking. Airbnb collects this fee and adds it to the total at the time a guest submits a reservation request. Those booking should anticipate this fee to be included.

Payment Refunds

There are times that a guest may be refunded if they need to cancel their stay. If the guest cancels up to 48 hours ahead of time, the total cost of the booking will be refunded through Airbnb. Cleaning fees associated with the booking will also be refunded. Airbnb will refund its service fee 3 times annually if the bookings are canceled at least 48 hours in advance.

Rental Recon Tip: Neither guests nor hosts should cancel bookings unless it is necessary. Canceled reservations make you appear less legitimate and less appealing when it comes to future bookings.

All refunds are issued through Airbnb. This is not the responsibility of the host. Hosts neither have to process payments or issue refunds. Using Airbnb as a booking platform can save hassle, time, and money for the host.

Related Questions:

Can a Guest use Multiple Credit Cards to Pay When Booking an Airbnb?

No. Airbnb will not divide a guest’s payment between different credit or debit cards at the time of booking. There is an option called “pay less upfront” that is available for certain bookings. If a guest chooses this option, he can pay the initial payment with one card and go back in and submit another card for the next payment.

Can PayPal be Used to Pay for Booking an Airbnb?

The answer to this depends on the country you live in and the currency you use. There are some areas in which PayPal is accepted as a mode of payment. If PayPal is an option for you, it will show up on the checkout page. If you do not see PayPal listed as an option that means you will need to choose a different mode of payment.

What Should a Guest do if his Card is Being Declined?

Airbnb is not privy to the reason a card is being declined, and they cannot provide this information to the person who is trying to book. If your card is being declined, it is a good idea to make sure you have entered the numbers correctly. If that does not fix your problem, you should contact your bank or credit card issuer.