Turning a guest house on the property into an AirBnb?

[MItel0]

We have a guest house that's about 25-35ft away from our Main house and I was wondering if anyone has this situation where they rent out the guest house through Abnb and still live in main house.  Are there any issues that arise from guest that might stay there?  I just don't want it to be an uncomfortable thing, and have issues if they know owners are nearby?  I'm a little hesitant but would love to do it as our guest house sits empty and could provide us some much needed income.  Thanks in advance!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@MItel0 we list 3 apartments that are attached to our house. We make this clear in the listing and suspect it saves us from people planning to party as they know we are on-site.

[Normen0]

@MItel0 Sounds like a very nice set up.  We have an apartment we rent in our building.  It is attached.  I still have to let people know (because not all read) that we live on site and it is not suitable for parties or even some friend gatherings.  Some decide not to come and some we decide not to host.  Just be sure to make it clear what the location is in relation to your place and read between the lines.  I would not recommend using Instant Book.  You need to properly vet guests.  

[Kia272]

@MItel0  You should approach this as a winning situation.  I host a cabin on my property that's about 75 feet from where I live. I explain this very clearly in my listing, so that guests know that I'm an on-site host. I have a fenced yard that's attached to the cabin, so there's clearly defined outdoor space that's theirs. 

The driveway is shared, and I'm very clear that I will go on living my life even with guests in residence, so there are no surprises on either side. I say that they might see me in my side of the yard, and that I may even have guests at my place during their stay. 

This has helped incredibly with never having had guests trying to throw a party or  sneak in extra guests, or pets. 

It gives me the opportunity to interact with guests, (although I totally give them space), and also to do things like shovel the steps and put rock salt down when the weather is snowy or icy. Honestly, I think it's the best hosting situation possible. 

I would say just be very clear that you live on the property, and also that they will see you going about your business even during their stay. Of course I refrain from doing things that might disturb guests, so I frequently have to delay yard work, running a chain saw, and other similar things. Entirely worth it if you ask me. 

I've also done some landscape planting that will create a sort of privacy screen between the two houses, and that will be nice when it grows in in a couple of years. 

Good luck, and go for it! Kia

[Tony2098]

What about bathroom access? Does your cabin have a bathroom/shower? Or do they use your home?

[Kia272]

@Tony2098  No, they don't use my home for anything!  Could you imagine strangers coming in and out to use the bathroom? Yuck!

My cabin (the rental) is completely autonomous. It's actually nicer than the house I live in, lol. I'm just very clear about the fact that I live across the driveway. It's a benefit in every possible way when it comes to STRs. 

Whatever your set-up, always be as candid as possible about everything. It's all about managing expectations. 

[Tony2098]

I actually Airbnb one of the rooms in my house. I don’t mind at all if they’re in the same space. I have a second bathroom they can use. But I also have a cabin outside that I’d like to turn into an autonomous rental - I just don’t have any bathroom facilities outside the house…

[Heather133]

We have a similar set up. It allows us to be very responsive and 98% of our guests have been very respectful. Best of luck to you!

[Ruth413]

As others have said, a perfect set up.  We have something similar but our guest house is attached to our cottage and we have a cabin in a separate part of the garden.  We have had no problems with guests worrying about us being there and have had reviews that say although we are on site the properties feel really private.  

We have put up hedging and fencing to make the garden areas defined and private and as long as you clearly state in your listing what is a private area and what is shared (our only shared area is the driveway and parking) you should be absolutely fine.

On a side note, in busy times, we do try and block off a few days each month so we can have some alone time. 

Good luck with your journey.

[Nina75]

It depends on where you are. In Los angeles this is not allowed, you can only book it for 30 days or longer.

[Trude0]

I’ve hosted a guest house on my property for several years, and guests don’t seem to have had any issues with the setup. And my guest house is even closer to my house than yours. 

As others have said, you just need to be clear about what you are offering, so you attract guests who are happy with the setup. Maybe have a look at the listings for the hosts who have replied, to get inspiration on how to explain/describe things?

There are many advantages with hosting next door to where you live. I’ve never had anyone try to sneak in extra guests or pets, or be loud outside. And being close makes cleaning easy, plus it is easy to fix issues quickly - like a blown fuse. 

Good luck!