Pet-Friendly Hosts...How do you collect a pet fee?

[Suzanne302]

I am just curious as to the different ways hosts collect pet fees. After realizing it's easier to get a guest to accept a refund (via change reservation) than it is to request extra money, I build my pet fee into the cleaning fee and simply change the reservation to $25 less if a guest is not bringing a pet.

This has worked quite well, but I've always wondered if:

1) I miss out on some bookings from guests without pets, because my price will seem high in a specific date search. (although I had 100% occupancy in June and 91% for July)

2) If this method screws up my stats, because in order to change the reservation, I can only adjust the "per night" price and a $40 night suddenly goes down to $15 per night for a one-night booking.

Thoughts?

I'd love to see other ways hosts handle this just to compare. (I've searched the forum as well) This would be sooooo much easier if ABB would just add a freakin' pet fee button already!

And for the record, I love hosting guests with dogs!

[Suzanne302]

Since I first made this post, I've played around with several pet fee options and have found that a flat $25 per dog requested via the resolution center works best. If the pet fee hasn't been paid within 3 days of arrival, I remind the guest that the dog will not be allowed on the property until the pet fee has been paid. I've only had to send a reminder once. And my next step would be to not give out the keypad code if they ignore the reminder. Thankfully, I haven't had to do that.

I also send a list of rules with the pet fee request:

**PETS: DOGS ALLOWED BY PRE-APPROVAL ONLY and ADDITIONAL $25 PET CLEANING FEE.

*$25 Pet Fee must be paid prior to check-in or your dog will not be allowed on the property.
*Your dog should be friendly and house trained. Dogs that utilize pee pads are NOT allowed.
*Your dog must be supervised by you at all times or crated in the room if left alone.
*Any dog that becomes disruptive will need to be removed immediately.
*You will be charged for any damage caused by your dog
*Limit of one dog. An additional dog may be considered on a case by case basis.

By accepting dogs, you accept risks. I've had a couple carpet accidents, but overall, the dogs have been good, and the guests really appreciate the fact that I allow dogs. I think due diligence up front discourages "bad" pet owners from booking or bringing their dog.

[Fletcher-And-Janet0]

I love your Pet rules! Thank you for sharing! 

[Bryon4]

I charge a one time $25 pet fee - requested close to the day of arrival.  (Regrettably I frequently forget to collect!) . 

[Chris773]

I'm the same as Bryon4. 😄 I'd actually collect it just after booking, but half the time, Airbnb won't let me send a request for money because the guest hasn't yet paid the booking in full (and then I forget later). Annoying that make it so difficult; HomeAway allows me to specify a dedicated pet fee that is automatically added if the guest selects that they're bringing a pet, and it works beautifully. No idea why Airbnb won't get off their butts and make this easier.

I like what Suzanne302's verbiage says and I may have to incorporate that into my House Rules and messaging to my guest. I've so far had no issues with pets in the two listings I can allow them in (the others have HOA/COA rules that prohibit renters from having pets) and as others have said, travelers who own and bring pets tend to be more responsible and easier to deal with than most other travelers. 🙂

[Chris-and-Hinky0]

Dear Chris773, 

When we receive a booking request, we ask if they will have pets.  if yes, we simply let them know we charge 50.00 per pet after the request is accepted.  After we message the guest of the fee, they have a chance to reply and this triggers us the ok to proceed with the 'Accept'.

After accepting the first request, we edit the reservation and select 'Change Reservation'.  We add the pet fee to the total amount.  We do not change the rate, we simply add it to the total.  it then goes back to the guest to accept/decline or they allow it to expire.  either way, we made sure it is defined in our description and communicated prior to us accepting a request.  

Bottom line is, its in the listing description and we allow the guest to make the final decision whether the take it or pass on it.  Their informed upfront.  

[Chris-and-Hinky0]

I meant to add, don't bother with 'Requesting Money' after-the-fact.  Do this ahead of time by adding it to the total and that way, the total amount is all in place when the guest accepts your alteration.  I sure hope this 2 cents worth helps.  I was a headache before we figured out this was the best option to take.  

[Kent76]

What i would like to know is when will @Airbnb add a built in option for pet fee like VRBO does?

[Chris-and-Hinky0]

I think that Airbnb doesn't want to add it because it would add another tier of liability for them to pay out for damages, where-as for now, it's listed in the contract that they do not cover any pet damage.  

I'm like you though, I don't know why they do not add it.  

[Chris-and-Hinky0]

When we receive a booking request, we ask if they will have pets.  if yes, we simply let them know we charge 50.00 per pet after the request is accepted.  We edit the reservation and select 'Change Reservation'.  We add the pet fee to the total amount.  We do not change the rate, we simply add it to the total.  it then goes back to the guest to accept/decline or they allow it to expire.  either way, we made sure it is defined in our description.  

Some may think that 50.00 is too high, but you have to consider what we have done after someone leaves with pets.  We never know if the next guest are allergic.  We completely go over every inch of the home while cleaning.   We never want a future guest to have any indication that pets were there.  

Bottom line is, its in the listing description and we allow the guest to make the final decision whether the take it or pass on it.  Their informed upfront.  

[Christine1522]

I charge $75

[Kent76]

I do the same thing, but it could be created far more efficiently.

[Pete2785]

This could all be solved if AirBnB added an option to charge a fee. I'm new to the Vacation Rental industry, but have owned residential rental properties for a decade and a half. Am I the only one who finds that this very simple feature not being available is absolutely asinine,  especially when there is a very clear need by host?? It's so simple to implement an optional pet fee which get's applied at the time of booking when guests select the option at properties which allow pets.

AirBnB, why has this not been implemented? This feature should have been a feature of v1.0, and you're still ignoring repeated  questions about it from multiple hosts? We're your bread and butter, and this type of wanton failure to respond is amateur hour Bush League.  Give us the features we need, and we'll do our part and keep Guests happy.

[Christine1522]

They should 100% add a pet fee button!  That’s how VRBO works and it’s perfect that way. 

[Christine1522]

Does AirBnb ever respond to these inquiries?

[Hunter72]

No response from ABNB on pet fees.  I have inquired 10x times.  a real mistake by air bnb management.