@Adele46 The two things to be aware of:
1. Damage caused by pets is very explicitly NOT covered by Airbnb's Host Guarantee.
2. Even if you put a "security deposit" in your listing, it's effectively nonexistent because Airbnb does not charge or hold it against the guest's payment method. So in the event of pet-related damage, the only way you're likely to get compensated through Airbnb is if the guest voluntarily agrees to it.
There are a lot of discussions here about pet incidents. Here's a recent one that had mixed results: the host got some compensation because the guest was willing to take responsibility, but it doesn't appear to be nearly enough to properly repair the damage.
It may be that the benefits still outweigh the risks for you, but the questions I'd ask to make that assessment are:
- Would you be willing to keep Instant Book disabled so that you can pre-screen pet requests and decline those that don't earn your confidence?
- Do you live close enough to the property to monitor the outdoor area? Or are there neighbors who would be disturbed if dogs were left barking in the backyard?
- Are your surfaces and furnishings tough enough to withstand sharp claws and repel urine stains? Or would they be affordable to repair/replace if you had to do this out of pocket?
- How much would you expect to be compensated for the extra cleaning time typically involved with pet hair (aside from incidents of damage or neglect)?