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Renting my home on Airbnb when we travel is an amazing source of income that helps us continue to travel with a large family. In the past 2 years, we’ve made $20,000, while we were on vacation (we still lived in the home 80% of the year)! As I’ve shared this, friends have so many questions about how to make it work. “Are you worried about…?” “Isn’t it weird that….?”
Here are all the secrets from my bedroom (and bathroom) about renting my most intimate spaces with perfect strangers.
Questions about how to Host on Airbnb are listed in order of most commonly asked.
Aren’t you worried people will steal from you while hosting on Airbnb?
Honestly, Yes.
At first, we were.
We walked through our rooms and talked about what could be stolen and the value of each item. We realized that most of our ‘things’ aren’t worth much. Most likely they wouldn’t be appealing to guests
The chance of them being stolen was low. People paying $500 to stay in an Airbnb are typically not desperate enough to take my used T-shirts or food from my pantry.
Plus, the cost to replace items in our home is also low. Considering we make $500 per weekend, we can easily buy most of the items in our home with the help of one or two stays.
I am a very trusting person by nature. I assume most people are like me and would be overly respectful of others property. When I stay in an Airbnb and can see the family’s photos smiling down on me from the wall, I know this is their home and I’m grateful they shared it with me.
Airbnb also has insurance for items that are damaged or stolen. You try to work out a solution with your guest. If none can be found, you can make a claim.
People who are traveling and can afford to stay in an Airbnb are not typically people looking to steal. They have enough for their needs and are respectful of others. That being said, if someone really needed my kids toys or clothes or blankets I would let them have it. If someone was desperate enough to steal from my Airbnb I would assume they really needed it.
Personal Experiences of ‘stealing’ after four years of hosting on Airbnb
1. Some guest took our kids blanket home on accident. They immediately mailed it back to us.
2. We found a garage door opener in the mail after a guest stay. I didn’t even notice it was missing.
3. One guest let me know they accidentally took home our canister of salt! It only cost 42 cents so I told him it was on the house!
4. My electric blanket was taken. When I brought it up, they immediately sent me money to buy a new one.
I can say all of our guests have been honest and respectful!
It is more likely that your guests leave items at your home than having your own items stolen. When they leave items I ask if they want to pay to mail it back. If not, we keep it.
Where do you put important documents or valuables while you host on Airbnb?
We put a lock on our master closet. All valuables and documents go in the closet and we lock the door. We have a file with our personal documents and that stays hidden in our clothes in the locked closet. We also put in speakers, headphones, purses, and jewelry. I know if someone really wanted to steal from us, they could still get in, but they would have to be trying hard to steal. Our closet has never been touched in 4 years.
What do you do with your clothes in the drawers and closets?
Leave it! I even leave dirty clothes in the hamper (behind closed closet doors). If I have to evacuate my home everytime someone comes, hosting wouldn’t be worth it.
I never put my clothes in hotel drawers for fear I would leave it behind. So I assume with all the space in our home, the guests don’t need drawers or closet space. None of our guests have ever asked or complained about not having drawers or closets. The rooms are big enough there is plenty of space for luggage and storage. I do clear off the top of all dressers and bookshelves. I get rid of all clutter so they have space to spread out.
What do you do with the food in the fridge and the pantry while you host your home?
Leave it!
Whenever we go on trips we usually eat all the fresh food from the fridge and get rid of leftovers. I push all my food and condiments to the back and wipe out the shelves. I also let my guests know they are totally welcome to our condiments and any fresh food in the fridge. We still end up with guests leftover mustard and garlic, so I don’t think they are being used. I’m a mom of four kids; I won’t notice if my condiments are used or not.
I leave my pantry 100% the way it is. Most guests use the plentiful counters for their food.
Most parties come late Friday and leave early Sunday and typically go out to events and eat out. So often our kitchen isn’t used much at all.
One of my kids favorites parts of coming home after hosting on Airbnb is to see what food has been left in the freezer or fridge. We once found a 5 pound bag of unopened tater tots. They were thrilled!
Do you guests have access to your computer?
No.
We turn off our computer in two locations. Plus, there is a password protection if they do turn it on. We do leave our computer, printer, and speakers out in the 2nd living area, but it isn’t accessible. Yes, it could be stolen. It’s a risk we are willing to take so we don’t have to move it in and out of the living area. We back up our photos online so everything important is protected.
Where are your cars? Do you allow guest to use the garage?
Typically, we have our van in a parking garage at the airport and my husband’s car is in his work parking lot.
We did leave one car in the garage a couple of times but kept the keys with us. A remote start makes it pretty difficult to steal the car.
If you really want to make money, you can also rent your car out on TURO.com. Maybe you could offer a deal with your home and car in one? We haven’t branched into this area, but if your car it sitting around it makes sense to get money out of that, too! You can charge more for airport pick up and drop off.
Why Airbnb and not VRBO or another platform?
We rented a home in Paris on Airbnb. We absolutely loved our stay. The home had toys and was fully stocked in the kitchen which was so helpful. Since it was a family’s home it had everything we needed. We realized it was possible to rent our home. So we used the same platform. When we started I thought VRBO was only for vacation homes as full-time rentals. Plus, I don’t really view my home as a vacation rental. If you do try VRBO let me know how it works!
Who is renting a family home in suburbia?
We were unsure if anyone would rent our home. Its nothing special and not in an amazing location nor does it have vacation-like perks. But plenty of groups have loved our place.
Here’s what we’ve found. Several groups come for a girls weekend of sisters or friends. We have families with a couple siblings and parents that want to stay together rather than in separate hotel rooms. There are people going to football games or other events in Dallas or Fort Worth (which is 30 mins away!) and don’t want to pay the downtown prices. We’ve hosted people whose family lives a few miles from our home and they want to be close but have their own space. Families with young kids love the toys and baby-friendly options in our home.
All of the groups staying in our home are multi-family parties. Our home is $250/ night so it doesn’t make financial sense for one person or one family to stay. But if you want to hang out in a large home with your family, this is a perfect option.
What if the guest trashes the house or destroys something?
Airbnb has insurance for up to a million dollars in damage. If you can’t work it out with the guest to pay for any damage (usually you can), you make a claim with them. Considering our home and everything in it isn’t worth 1 million I think we’re covered.
What do you provide guests?
We always have clean sheets on bed and towels for each person coming. A basket of toiletries (like a hotel) is on the bathroom counter. We leave toothpaste, washcloths, extra toothbrushes, hairspray, razors, and mouthwash.
My guests have access to everything in my kitchen. We don’t drink coffee so we didn’t have a coffee pot. Our first 8 guests didn’t complain at all, but on black Friday we bought a $5 pot we pull out for our guests. explaining in our handbook that we don’t drink.
Our guests have access to our 2 TVs and DVD players. We don’t have TV service, but no one has complained. These days everyone has their own devices and subscription to services so it hasn’t been a problem. We just include this info in our home manual.
Most people travel with everything they need. But if they forgot something, I’m happy to be an accommodating host while renting my home.
I tell my guest they can use the laundry and the garage. I don’t know if many do. But they are welcome to it. Or you can make it off limits. You get complete control! Read more about customizing your Airbnb here {coming soon}.
How much did it cost to get started?
We spent $25 on a door lock and $25 on new sheets and pillows. You can rent your home exactly as it is. Taking photos and listing everything accurately is essential. If your guests know what to expect they will not be disappointed.
What do you leave in the bathroom?
I leave our soaps, shampoos, and conditioners in the shower. I take our private loufa’s and towel and put them in the cupboard. Other than that, I don’t mind if they use our products. They are nothing special and don’t cost much money. I assume most people who are picky bring soaps with them. Otherwise, they can use ours.
My philosophy is that it helps my guest out to use a tampon, or a razor or nail clippers, have at it! That is the benefit of staying in a home instead of a hotel!
Are you worried they will look through your stuff?
Did I look through the closets of my Airbnb? YES! We are naturally curious and wonder how other people live! This is why Instagram and Facebook are going crazy for live video! We want to know how other people live!
I don’t mind if my guests look in my closets! I just plan on it and anything that is personal or valuable I put away. Renting my home means I am ok revealing my life to my guests.
How do you let people know how to work things?
We wrote a house manual with information about all our appliances. It includes where to find cleaning supplies when garbage day is and expectations of exiting guests. The guest is emailed the manual when they pay for the reservation. We also leave a paper copy in our entryway.
How do guest check in and out?
We have a code on our garage door for guests to come and go. We are frequently traveling when guests arrive or leave so this works perfectly for them to have the freedom to do as they need.
What if you need something in your home?
Three times we have needed an item at home after our guests have checked in. We just ask the guests if we can come back and they have always been so kind and helpful. They always ask if it is weird that they are there and I tell them it is their house and to enjoy it! I think seeing my face and being a real person makes them that much more likely to treat my home with respect.
What if you can’t fly somewhere and don’t have a home to go to?
We have hotel points saved up and we would just go enjoy hotel pool, free breakfast and a stay-cation. I have a membership to a local museum and a community center gym and pool. Or we also have family a short 4 hours away, so we might go there.
So are you convinced? Don’t you want to take advantage of this amazing source of income? Sign up here. (I will receive a travel credit at no cost to you, once you host your first stay, so thank you!)
Read how I got started renting my home (and how to convince your husband, too!).
Find out 8 perks of renting your home on top of the amazing income!
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