Could someone talk to me about air bnb

[StealthPolarBear]

We are looking to advertise a house on air b n b. I've had a look at the site and it looks really helpful but it would be good to have some real people to chat to and ask silly questions.
Is it easy? Do you get the bookings?

I use air bnb at least once a month. I agree that Wi-fi is important although saying that I am staying somewhere next week that doesn't have any and it's not a deal breaker.

Other than that I look for places that have been rated clean by other guests.

I never look at leaflets or welcome packs. I usually just use google to find Things out.

Lots of Airbnb places do instant booking so the OP's comment about waiting three days doesn't stand - be aware you may reduce your bookings by not offering it.

@WinterHeatWave, there is an option to only select 'instant booking' so no waiting for response.

Sorry, I meant the pp's comment and it was autocorrected to OP's!

Sorry I don't know what you mean? I'm setting up an account but don't have to take bookings straight ysurely

Definitely would want instant confirmation and good in advert to have as much details as possible as to what's nearby and distance. When I booked through Airbnb it was instant though was for Australia not UK.

I use cottages.com in UK. We love a welcome pack and was a reason for us going back to one cottage - I would not include meat without asking as maybe vegetarian / religious. On the Instant Hotel programme they recommended a welcome pack of local produce. I love coffee / tea / milk / hot chocolate so can make drink on arrival, washing up liquid, soap, shower gel, toilet roll, bin sacks, cleaning products, kitchen roll. We also got biscuits, box of chocolates and that was lovely. Wouldn't use wine. I don't know if there's an option to add a bigger welcome pack - we would pay extra for one containing things like bread, butter, jam, eggs, bacon, sausage (but offer veg version) or a meal / snacks for first night.

I wouldn't expect eggs/bacon/wine. Is beire worried about salt and pepper, sugar, olive oil etc. Those are the things you don't want to have to buy and leave it pack up to take home.

or pack up to take home

If you're aiming at families with children, can you provide toddler/baby equipment like high chairs, travel cots & stair gates.
We stayed at a place a while ago which had a crate of Duplo, another of brio type stuff and another of Lego. A random assortment of each but my children were very happy to play with it all, even though their brio day's are far behind them. They also had a few board games. All well used but much appreciated.

What puts me off Airbnb is you think you are paying £70 a night and then at the end the cleaning fee + whatever else puts it up considerably sometimes. If it is worth £70 a night then charge £60 and then with extra fees you are still getting £70 per night.

Lots of holiday lets add a cleaning charge when totalling the bill though and tbh breaking it down shows you what it costs.

Yes the cleaning charge is fine when you go to a cottage for a week, but not so much when you are staying one night in an airbnb. I have never actually paid a cleaning fee in a cottage come to think of it and I always use the big companies.

Think about who your house would appeal to.

Decide who you don't want eg Stag/Hen etc.

If it's just me, my Sister/her/our friends, WiFi is a must.

If it's with my Grandchildren, I want a DVD player or ability to get YouTube on the telly.

Most groups want WiFi, but you're arranging that.

If your undergoing treatment/staying with someone who is, you want a Smart Telly, at least, but also a DVD player, for distraction.

Washing up/cleaning stuff, is always welcome. Big bags/carrier bags. I've been delighted to find kitkats/club type biscuits. When I've stayed in Scotland they've left traditional morning rolls. So something local is a nice touch.

Umberellas! Lightweight fleece type throws, for putting around my shoulders, because a dressing gown is too bulky to take.

Be prepared to take rubbish to the tip. That's been the main complaint by people that I know living by rentals. Renting out your house artificially increases the population, in ordinary streets. Does your Bin Collection now come under business, or will guests put the bin out/in?

Explain the area, bus routes, distance from train station etc. Shops/businesses. Facilities, parking. What it's close to. If its on the outskirts of anywhere major. For instance, many people stay in Kirkby/St Helens, to get into Liverpool, when an event is on.

House next door to me is a holiday home and the owner uses it occasionally, nice and quiet , respectful of neighbours living here full time etc but in between they sometimes let it as air bnb , you can tell straight away , inconsiderate parking , loud voices until late outside on the patio, loud music until late , dogs left to yap in the garden , calling / whistling dogs loudly from the backdoor early / late

With crockery don’t have just the right amount for people. If there’s 4 of us then 4 plates means no extra to serve cold meat or whatever on. It’s one of my pet peeves when we go away.

Corkscrew and bottle opener. A decent sharp knife and tea towels are also a must. Even if there’s a dishwasher a teatowel is a must.

It's more work cleaning for short stays though. You still need to clean the bathroom, change beds, clean the kitchen and do all the floors.

Yes I get that a one night stay still requires cleaning, but I don't want to pay the same amount for it as I would for a week, it massively pushes up the price.

There is not much difference in the cleaning after one night than after a week. The bed needs changing whatever, the bathroom and kitchen needs cleaning whatever.

Heating in the loo. Currently on hols in a converted chapel and there’s no heating in the loo. It’s like going in an old fashioned outside privy!

Think I’ll have chilblains in me unmentionables.

I've stayed in two airbnb where there was a dishwasher but they had run out of salt so didn't work. It's not something cleaners wluld check, not something I'd want to mention to the host but it does mean you can't use the dishwasher.

There will be a much more fundamental reason why you can't use the dishwasher here :)

Izzi I disagree cleaners wouldn't check - it's down to the owner/manager ensuring it's on the cleaner's checklist. The OP's house doesn't have one though.

I love a washing machine in any holiday accommodation as it means you can pack less and take home a case of clean clothes rather than dirty. Maybe I'm just a saddo though.

What do we need in terms of insurance etc? Boiler safety certificate presumably. Landlord insurance? Public liability?

@StealthPolarBear I don't know the answer to that but my friend who is a host suggests you ask the airbnb community

www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/1183/what-is-the-airbnb-community-center

good luck!