AIBU to put my house on air b&b

[Chillychili]

Our house is in a state of repair, kitchen living room bathrooms and bedrooms all okay, but dining room has floor boards missing (hole in the floor), we had a leak which is now repaired but just waiting for it to dry out. There is a table in the kitchen; so you can eat in the house and we just keep the dining room door shut.

The house is a large detached 4 bedroom (can sleep 7 people) with parking in cornwall 15 mins drive away from the popular beaches. Within walking distance of the train.
We are going away on holiday for a week (just uk camping) but because of maternity leave money is tight. We were wondering if people would want to stay? Should be bother putting it on air b&b, we were thinking of putting it on for £300. Does that seem reasonable. Don’t want to be cheeky fuckers (we also have two cats that would need feeding).

Hard to say. Where is the hole in the floor? You would probably need to lock that door or else you might be liable for an accident. You would also need to check with your house insurance and mortgage provider. Honestly I wouldn’t be bothered with the hassle for £300.

As above, couldn’t be bothered with the hassle for £300. Not worth it really. Where would you put all of your stuff? Could you trust people with it all. I don’t think I would bother.

It won’t worth it for a one-off. Once you’ve had it professionally cleaned to the sort of standard holidaymakers expect, purchased liability insurance, and paid AirB&B their commission, you won’t make a great deal and will have a load of hassle.

Arranging a house swap with friends might be easier. They stay in your house, and you go to theirs another time

Unless you’re prepared to buy I a disproportionate amount of work you’ll just get complaints. People are desperate for holiday accommodation but still expect a reasonable standard. And not to have to feed your cats.

I wouldn't

• Mortgage and insurance
• deep clean before and potentially afterwards
• don't know what covid rules are but may need gap between you leaving and them arriving and vice vwrsa
• risk of damage to your possessions
• Possibility of cats being teased or scratching a child or not getting fed
• registering for Air B and B taking g nice photos, paying commission etc. etc.

All seems a huge amount of hassle and worry for £300

I'd advertise more informally, do you have a group chat with school friends or other people who might now people living outside of Cornwall who would rent it informally for cash in hand?
My friend puts his on Insta!

I definitely wouldn't. It's not in a condition someone would want to stay in as a holiday and it's not worth the hassle for £300

The hole in the floor would bother me less than the cats. I love cats but I wouldn't want to be responsible for someone else's pets for a week, what if one got sick of injured and needed vet treatment?

Thanks for quick replies I hadn’t thought of paying commission, being liable for accidents, and extra insurance (baby brain). I will get a friend to feed the cats.
The hole is in the floor in the dining room. It means there is a 5ft drop though. It’s an old Victorian house with suspended floors. We are just letting the joists air out before reboarding it. When you live with something it just feels normal I suppose, but not many people would feel comfortable with such a big hole in the house

Not with cats to care for and a hole in the floor, no.

It will cost more than £300 in your money/time.

Is your home hotel clean?
Do you have adequate free wardrobe, drawer space etc available, or will you need to empty your own wardrobes and store your clothes elsewhere?
Are the cupboards/fridge empty, or will you need to throw food away/store it elsewhere?
Is the dining room locked and will it be made clear that the floor is dangerous?
Mortgage/insurance
People won’t pay to petsit, I have a cat, shes great, but I wouldn’t pay to stay somewhere if that meant being a pet sitter.

I would go down the route of someone you know or friends of friends etc. Air bnb would be a massive faff.
I’d definitely stay and look after your cats.

You genuinely wanted to rent out your house with a hole and five foot drop in the living room? It’s like you wanted to get sued by someone falling though.

Where would you put all your stuff? Air bnb isn’t you move in with someone’s stuff all there.

Dining room, sorry.

I wouldn't this time but would seriously consider getting it ready to let out next year - I have a friend in Devon with a 4 bed detached house (very nice but normal family not show-home type) and they let it out every summer and make a bloody fortune plus also have a cat who comes part of the package. They visit friends and family, go away themselves, camp - basically become like nomads for 5 weeks and get paid for it.

They have definitely made some tweaks over the years (including bikes & bbq; clearing away more personal items; paying someone to do the cleaning and linen change and getting some really good photos done) to increase their income but from memory they get about £2,000pw so well worth it.

I wouldnt pay 300 pounds to stay in a leaky house where I had to feed someones cats and drive to the beach. If I could just step out the house and the beach was there then I might.

Essentially, you want someone to pay for the privilege of looking after your cat?

The insurance you would need would cost that much.

You want cat sitters and you want them to pay you?

We booked a last minute stay in Manly, Sydney and paid £1.5k and had to cat sit. Scruffy house but great location. I reckon you should lock off dining room. Surely you could easily get £1k if 15 minute drive to beaches. That’s half what some caravan parks are charging. Agree with trying informally but even worth it on air bnb I reckon. Could alway erase account and restart next year or year after once you have fixed nigfles if people are fussy.
But I reckon just advertise it as “lived in” but great base to lovely places

@FrankButchersDickieBow

You want cat sitters and you want them to pay you?

Indeed!

You would trust complete strangers with your house, possessions and pets??

God no. £300 is not worth it. I would rather side hustle the money than go to this effort