Starting out questions

[Simon232]

We want to let one bedroom in a 4 bedroom London house with garden. We're usually away 4 days a week. A guest would have most of the house and garden to themselves most of the time (but not guaranteed if we needed to be in London unexpectedly for example); and we wouldn't want guests straying into our private spaces (office/our bedroom/attic etc). So can anyone advise whether all this might work OK on AirBnB?

[Vanessa-and-Kurt0]

@Simon232

It should work fine. Make sure you are absolutely clear in your description. Probably don't put it on instant book-make a guest inquire then you can tell them if you will be home during that time so they can decide if the situation works for them before committing. Put key locks on the doors you don't want them to go in.

[Simon232]

Thank you very much! So do we advertise the house as 4-bedrooms (which it is) or 1-bedroom (which is what's available)?

Thanks again.

[Vanessa-and-Kurt0]

If ony 1 bedroom is available to guests, list it as a 1 bedroom. Only post photos of areas that are available to guests.

[Aogán0]

Hi @Simon232,

Yes, be very clear with the guests as to what they'll get - if there's only 1 bedroom for them to use, advertise it as a 1 bed place. That way, only people looking for 1 bedroom will find your place. We thought long and hard about our private spaces, in the end the entire house is available to them, and our private space is just outbuildings, but great tips above, only show photos of what they can access and put the info into the advert (but accept that a number of guests simply won't read those!). We email our house rules again to guests shortly before their arrival, and make sure they understand them. That avoids any difficult conversations after they've checked in. Finally, do make it clear that you will be there during some stays - I only ever book Airbnb stays where I can have the entire place, ie not sharing with hosts, but it's definitely a personal preference....

[Simon232]

Thanks, that's really helpful.