Monthly electric bill is so high.

[Huy13]

Hello everyone! I have a question that needs some advice from other hosts. How can I control the number of electricity guests use? I met some guests who used a lot of electricity and my monthly electric bill was high even though I had pasted the notes "Please turn off all lights and electric devices before going out" on the walls and doors. Should I remind them? And how to tell them delicately?

[Huma0]

@Huy13 

Yes, this is a problem for many of us. Are you able to install smart devices?

There is some useful information here from Pat: https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Smart-Plugs-amp-Smart-devices/td-p/1694408

I also know that @Debra300 has a system whereby there she sets a (generous) energy usage limit and takes a deposit which is for usage that exceeds that. She says that guests never exceed it so she is always able to return the deposit. It's perhaps a good incentive to make them a bit more energy conscious. 

I am afraid that people in general do not care if it's someone else's money they are wasting!

[Sudsrung0]

@Huy13 

It's a big problem for everyone, Last month in my own house we used less electric but the bill was higher,

Charging guest for electric is a bit of a problem I used to do it, we didn't hide anything it was on the listing in a couple of places and on the contract we get the guest to sign on arrival and we used to read the meter together and take a photo, we were getting bad reviews over it, some guest were good switched everything off but other left everything on and then complained on check out, so I did increase the rates,

Leaving the aircon on constantly is the problem even more annoying is leaving the doors and windows open, thats just plain stupid.

It's difficult to know whats the best thing to do, all you can do is increase you daily rate, what I have done and this is the first time I have ever done it is added a cleaning fee hopefully it will offset some cost, 

I have seen that before what @Huma0  said, allow a certain amount of use and charge extra if they go over that.

Not only electric has gone up but everything else you need to run a airbnb has gone up, 

[Huma0]

@Sudsrung0 

Yes, it's a tricky one. Some guests are going to be annoyed if you say anything at all about their energy usage because they think that if they rented a place they can do whatever they like and get offended if they are restricted in any way. 

I personally have not introduced any extra fees. I did put my nightly rate up a little to try to compensate for the energy price increases, but I fear it will not be enough to cover it.

You are right that everything has become more expensive, even toilet paper! Where I live, the price of toilet paper has gone up substantially within the last few weeks...

The thing is, the cost of living is just higher. The cost of running an Airbnb is just higher. So, the nightly rates should be higher, but if most hosts are not putting up their prices, then where does it leave us?  Unless the general cost of accommodation goes up (across the majority of airbnbs) guests will simply see hosts who raise their prices as bad value. It's only when the majority raise their prices that it will seem like the norm.

[Sudsrung0]

@Huma0 @Huy13 

We have many bookings through till next February I had already increased the rates quite a lot as DEC/JAN/FEB is our high season, so I cant add anything to them, not even the cleaning fee, 

I was doing a bit of research at other properties in my area and almost all of them have added a cleaning fee, it seems Im in the middle some higher some lower,

The project I am in it's half hotel/condo's and their prices are almost double mine I dont know if they are getting bookings the calendars seem empty, we will be ok.

[Gillian166]

@Sudsrung0  i've held off opening up December, just looking at doing it now and the bonus is that the few competitors we have are already booked. If you want to rent a house for 6, bring your dog and enjoy the pool..... we are 1 of 1! (of course that doesn't stop ABB from showing all the others that might suit, but with "missing": p̶o̶o̶l̶, p̶e̶t̶s̶, f̶a̶r̶m̶s̶t̶a̶y̶,  lol)   it's a very comfortable place to be sitting 10 weeks out from school hols. I wasn't able to put up my prices much in winter and we got slammed by large bills, esp firewood which actually increased in price throughout the season.

I put up my base price by $5/day which should be enough to offset energy costs. @Huy13  you need to look at your energy bill and work out what your daily rate was, and has increased to, and that will let you know how much to increase your prices.  

[Huy13]

@Sudsrung0 @Huma0 Thank you so much for your advice. I still consider the higher price to charge for the electricity. I agree with all of you that people sometimes do not care about someone else’s money and one thing maybe we should do that put a higher price to cover that fee in some ways. Anyway, thanks a lot for sharing with me your experience! 

[Sudsrung0]

I was thinking about making a sign to put in the unit,

Something along the lines,

"Please Help to Save the Environment"

@Huy13 @Huma0 

[Huy13]

@Sudsrung0 Actually, I did that but it still does not work until now. I’m afraid that someone will read it but someone doesn’t. They still use the electricity in the way they want.

[Sudsrung0]

@Huy13 

I looked at my highest bill then divided it by 30 as in days and added that to my rates, 

[Huma0]

@Sudsrung0 

There was a post on here a few months ago from a host who made some cute little signs RE being environmentally conscious. Personally, I do not like having signs stuck up around the place, but I think if it's done in the right way, it can be effective (even 5* hotels these days are doing that in terms of reducing laundry of towels and the water and energy that goes into it). It might not work with all guests, but it could help with some at least.

[Sudsrung0]

@Huma0 

I have seen myself in hotels, about reducing the changing of towels and bedding, not doing it everyday, I should have taken a photo of it,

Im the same dont want to put signs around the place, 

In our villas I had to put some signs up, one at the front door about washing the sand off before entering the villa,

Another near the BBQ about cleaning up and not leaving food lying around overnight, not unless you some snakes coming,

[Sudsrung0]

@Huy13 

Another thing you can do is have a keycard system like they have in hotels were you drop your card to turn on the electric, They are not expensive,

A good electrician can install for you, all you do is bypass the fridge that stays on but everything else goes off.

[Huy13]

That's a very great idea. Thank you so much for your recommendation. I will work on it very soon to this problem. 

[Sudsrung0]

I asked my husband what to do, Here in Thailand about $90 with 3 keycards.

Im guessing you have keys to your property? put the keycard on the key ring and glue it on so they cant take it off, That will do it, and only give them one,

If they lose it charge them.

@Huy13