@Lizzie, great topic! Listing a private room in your home certainly can have both its challenges and rewards. Like @Paul1255, I think it's very important to clarify your house rules and boundaries so that there is mutual respect and understanding between guests and hosts.
Here are my top tips:
1) Trust: this is my number 1 tip. Some of my friends think I'm crazy to invite complete strangers into my home, especially being a single female. However, I find the best thing about doing Airbnb is the trust it engenders - I have to trust my guests and my guests have to trust me. Being an Airbnb host constantly reminds me that 99.99% of people in the world are good people, which is so essential when we are continually bombarded by media examples of people doing awful things.
2) Be clear on your listing that it is a shared space and a functioning home. I agree with Paul that you need to live your life as normally as you can. When I first started hosting, I felt like I had to tiptoe around and not have anyone drop in, but this is not sustainable. So I have now written on my listing that this is a functioning home and that friends may drop in from time to time, etc. so they know up front what to expect.
3) Greet your guests when they arrive and give them a personalised tour of the room and the house. I show them their room and its features, the bathroom and toilet and the kitchen, including the tea and coffee-making facilities. Like Paul, I offer them a cup of tea or coffee when they arrive to help break the ice and get to know them a little.
4) Explain clearly what areas of the house are accessible to guests - I tell them to feel free to use the kitchen, dining table and outdoor areas. After some time hosting, I realised I didn't really like guests using my living room as it is the only room in the house (apart from my bedroom) that I still have to myself. And I find there is literally nothing more awkward than watching TV with strangers! I have now stated in my listing that the living room is not available to guests 'unless specifically invited'. I still occasionally get guests (usually solo travellers or older couples) who ask if they can 'watch the 7 o'clock news', but then spend the rest of the evening watching TV. I am yet to find a polite way to let them know that this isn't included in the listing...
5) In the guest room, I provide a few things to minimise them having to access other areas of the house, including a bottle of filtered water and glasses, a bin, a box of tissues, extra towels and bedding, a first-aid kit, and a hairdryer. I also have put in a ceiling fan and heater so the temperature is comfortable for them and they won't feel the need to spend time in other areas of the house. The guest bedroom is right next to the front entrance to the house, so I have installed a privacy blind, one that lets in the light and they can see out of, but prevents other people from seeing in.
6) Written information: I also have a manual of information in the guest room with things to do and see in the area, maps, tours, takeaway menus, etc. On the first page is my Wifi password and basic house rules - I am hoping by putting the Wifi password there, they will then be prompted to read the rest of the page!
7) Bathroom use: I try to give my guests priority use of the bathroom in the mornings. Because I work from home, it doesn't really matter if I don't shower until later in the day. I think it's important that guests don't have to wait around to use the bathroom when they have limited time.
😎 Bedroom door lock: @Susie5, I put a door lock on my bedroom door that I can lock from the inside as well as with a key from the outside. This gives me peace of mind if I ever have a male guest I feel uncomfortable about (which hasn't happened yet, thank goodness). It also means that if I am away for the night, I can put any valuables into my room and lock my bedroom door from the outside.
9) Be respectful of your guests: I am a bit of a night owl and so if I am up late watching a movie or listening to music, I make sure the doors are closed and the volume is turned down so they are not disturbed. I make sure to enter and leave the house quietly if my guests are still sleeping. I also make sure that the bathroom is always left clean after use.
10) Be open and neutral: your guests will come from all walks of life and have different world views and politics. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn as we don't often get exposure to people from different backgrounds. Never automatically assume that your guests have the same politics as you - for example, if I have a guest from the US, I won't just assume that, like me, they don't like Trump! Stay neutral to start with and let conversations evolve naturally.
Looking forward to hearing other people's ideas!
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