FIVE MONTHS, FIFTY GUESTS, TIME TO REFLECT

[Shaun69]

We have two listings in Hurstpierpoint near Brighton UK, we are fifty bookings in after a five month period so I thought it would be a good time to reflect!!!!!!

PRO'S

1. Good exposure internationally for very little expense.

2. Always paid on time without any issues.

3. Forty nine good guests and only one bad one and that was 50% my fault as I had just started.

4. Returning guests already booking for next year.

5. Have really enjoyed meeting guests from around the world and have broadened my education.

6. Have learnt loads from fellow hosts in this CC.

7. Good income stream.

CON'S

1. Do not trust AIRBNB PLUS partner companies (enough said).

2. You are easy pray as a new host and guests will take advantage.

3. Group payments were bad, its great they have gone.

4. Airbnb is a US company with US rules and regulations which do not fit in with European ways of working, you have to adjust to accordingly.

5. Only contact AIRBNB help as a last result, sort things out yourself.

6. Do not use just one platform, ie do not put all your eggs in one basket.

LESSONS LEARNT

1. Make sure you really understand AIRBNB policies and rules don't just assume you do.

2. If in doubt ask fellow hosts in this CC.

3. Never trust AIRBNB PLUS partner companies.

4. Always use AIRBNB for extra payments from guests, never go it alone you will get your fingers burnt.

5. Always, always, always keep your calendar up to date, daily is best.

6. Make sure you use AIRBNB for any emails to guests so you have records and even more important AIRBNB do.

SUGGESTIONS FOR AIRBNB.

1. All new hosts should have to complete an online course on how AIRBNB works, they should then have to complete a test of some kind to ensure they understand. I wish that had been available when I started hosting it would have saved me making loads of mistakes.

2. The super-guest programme is a good idea and should be seriously looked at, content and perks depending!

3. SORT OUT AIRBNB PLUS partner companies they are unprofessional to say the least.

4. Do not lose track of what made AIRBNB special, do not become so corporate that the unusual is no longer welcome.

OVERAL.

AIRBNB has been good for us, I do not regret becoming a host and I appreciate the business it has provided. The only exception is AIRBNB PLUS partner companies who are totally unprofessional and should not be used.

[Luiz80]

@Letti0, Thanks for the tip Letti, I had overseen it.

I wil have to create the second calendar an see how it works. I expect that changing either one the other(s) will follow. You have to manually do it everyday (I do instant reservation so something can happen before I am aware, although I check pretty often). Cheers

[Sk10]

Great experience ..I have started I Sep 18 but still my house is vacant though it is newly built with all amenities..I m dishurt to c business...😑😣 how could I get booking ?

[Kate-and-Paul0]

Thanks for sharing!  As a new host (first guests arrive next month!) I'm interested to understand what mistakes you made or things you think new hosts should be particularly aware of...anything stand out that might help me make the same ones please?!  Thanks in advance for sharing!

[Shohreh1]

Do not accept guests with s lot kids , or if you do make sure you secure your precious stuff from rooms if you keep your belongings in there. I had some guests from China and no offense , but their culture is different , and some of them do not know English or they do not care enough , they had 5 kids in my house and it was bad and one of Mother’s put my conventional oven on ( always on ) setting for tosting a bread and the oven was almost on fire when I got home , she simply said I did not see the the toaster , 😂😏which was so crazy. If you do not have too much financial distress , Do not rent your whole house to foreigners , some of them really destroy house , and it is in their different setting of cultures. 

Always ask them as one of your rules to at least change their  bedsheets and take their trash out , the day they check out , because even some Americans think that we are a hotel and act so disrespectful and rude that they trash everything 😏😂 and I am so mad at some of those peoples. Now as one of my house rules I always ask them to clean after themselves.

[Kate-and-Paul0]

Thanks for the advice!

[Anisoara1]

I have a vague idea what Airbnb plus is, but who are the partner companies??? Nothing found on google ...

I am new as host, very useful post, thank you!

[Shohreh1]

What is AIRBNB partners plus and what they did wrong to you and or guests ? I like to know 

[Shohreh1]

Great article.

[Shaun69]

@Kate-and-Paul0@Shohreh1@Anisoara1 Hi Folks, Its Great to see you joining our community, I wish you the best of luck hosting and I would like to stress that 95% of your guests will be great. However there is the 5% of guests that will know you are new hosts and will try to take advantage of you! Do not be worried about this, simply be smart and stick to the rules of AIRBNB, do not try to take cash payments or deviate from your house rules. Regarding AIRBNB PLUS PARTNER COMPANIES I was shafted by the company that was meant to do my home visit and photographs, I have posted "The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" which list my experience, I have complained to AIRBNB about this company and are awaiting their response.

Regards Shaun