@Mark4137 I have been a home share host since 2016 (although I closed for 2 years due to Covid and am just getting back into it). My experience has been pretty much entirely positive. But it really depends on first of all, whether you are the kind of person who doesn't mind having others in your space. Also if you can easily converse with people- if a guest is doing something that is bothersome, it's crucial to be able to mention it right away rather than let the behavior continue and stew in silence, counting the days until the gust leaves- easy going communication is key in home shares.
Here are the things that I think have made my home share successful and non-problematic for both me and my guests, some of which may not be possible for you, but I'm just letting you know.
My guests have a private entrance to their room. It opens off the upstairs balcony (as does my own bedroom door). So they can come and go without interacting if they choose.
They have their own private bathroom attached to their bedroom.
I only host one guest at a time. I have found that solo travelers tend to be self-sufficient, not fussy complainers, adaptable, and easy-going. They like getting recommendations from a local for good places to eat, local things of interest, etc.
I have a 3 night minimum (don't want to clean for less than one night) and a 2 week maximum. 2 weeks is plenty to have a stranger in your home and if they are objectionable in some way, you won't have to put up with it for too long. It also keeps it from feeling like you have a roommate. If you find you get along great and like having them around and they ask to stay longer, you can always let them extend if you have availability.
Guests share my kitchen with me. While some home share hosts have had issues with guests not cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen, or taking it over for hours cooking elaborate meals, so the hosts feel pushed out of their own kitchen, I have never experienced that- all my guests have been respectful.
Some of my guests have been very sociable and we'll end up chatting over coffee, or a bottle of wine in the evening. Others are more private, eat out and seldom use the kitchen and I may not see much of them at all. I try to take my cue from the guest as to how much interaction they are comfortable with.
I am lucky in that I live on the outskirts of a touristy beach town- guests come here on holiday, so they are going to the beach, surfing, checking out shops and restaurants, etc. They aren't just hanging around the house all day.
While home-share hosts don't have the same kind of issues that entire house hosts do (no one can throw a party in a home share, or sneak in extra people or pets, for instance), you should try to be clear about expectations. Such as the cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen and maybe arranging a cooking schedule if you want to have the kitchen to yourself to prepare your own meals. Such as quiet hours. If you go to bed at 9PM, you don't want guests who stumble home drunk at 1 am, slamming doors or making noise in the kitchen. So it's important to market towards the type of guests who will be a good fit for you, your place, and your lifestyle.
It isn't necessary to make the whole house aside from your bedroom available to guests. For instance, my guests have use of the kitchen and outside terrace in addition to their room and bathroom, but they don't share my living room or bathroom.
If you like, you can click on my profile here and take a look at my listing and how I describe the living situation, my lifestyle and interaction with guests, and and market towards the type of guests who are a good fit.
