Among all the online resources offering travelers intermediary services in finding an apartment or house in the private sector abroad, Airbnb accommodation booking site is one of the most popular and is a big competitor to hotel booking services. Its functionality is quite simple, but a little instruction for those who for the first time decided to independently choose a roof over their head on a voyage abroad will be useful.

Some useful tips About, how Airbnb works are supported by illustrations, so it won’t be difficult for you to do everything exactly as it should and go to (or somewhere else), already knowing exactly what there will be somewhere to lay your head. To do this, you just need to go to the website and fill out the search form.

1. Registration

If you want to rent an apartment on Airbnb, then you must go through the registration procedure on this Internet resource. Many people are not too fond of showing their contact information to the whole world. In the case of Airbnb, the bitter pill is sweetened with a bonus: $25 gift upon registration . It can only be spent on, or rather in 190 countries around the world. Based on the average prices offered for accommodation, they are enough to spend one night in a comfortable apartment.

2. Search for housing

Further renting apartments on Airbnb It begins with a procedure quite usual for the World Wide Web - filling out a search form. You will be required to indicate your destination, expected check-in and check-out dates. You must indicate how many people are traveling. After that, press the red button "To start searching" and you find yourself on the preliminary results page.

3. Weeding out unnecessary housing

What you see may not seem very attractive to you, because the most expensive offers will be first on the list. To rent an apartment on Airbnb on your terms, use additional filters. The main one is the expected price range. By moving the right slider to the left, you can stop at the maximum reasonable prices. The left one is needed in order to weed out very low-cost options that are clearly unsuitable for the comfort offered.

4. Useful filters

Once you have decided on the price, move on to the amenities offered, location and other options. To do this, click the button "More filters". Airbnb will ask you to choose the number of bathrooms and toilets, the presence or absence of the Internet (more about), a washing machine. When you see this wealth, try to be practical. If you are traveling on business, you cannot do without the Internet. Staying for more than three days without a kitchen may seem unnecessarily extreme. But the presence of a swimming pool is a pleasant, but very expensive and not entirely appropriate bonus.

You can always expand the range of Airbnb accommodation options offered by clicking the triangular icon to the right of the main set. For example, in the graph "Facilities" first they will only show you "Internet" "TV" And "kitchen". By clicking on the triangular icon on the right you will see options "intercom", "fireplace" and others. By checking all the boxes next to the desired options, you will reduce the number of offers. The rest will be exactly what you would like to receive. By using all types of filters, you will be convinced that Airbnb prices quite accessible to most travelers.

5. Selecting offers on the map

Now you can deal with offers “in person” by seeing their photo (on the right side of the Airbnb page) and location (on the map on the left). The map scale can be changed in the same way as in the Yandex service. If you're interested in a specific area, click on it to get your final selection of rental properties. There is a button at the bottom of the map "Language and Currency". By clicking on it, you will be able to choose both in ruble price format and in local currency.

6. Detailed review

You can get acquainted in detail with each housing option you like on Airbnb twice: both with the house itself and with its owner. By clicking on the thumbnail of a house, you will be taken to the page with its full description and a small photo gallery. Reviews from guests about its owner can be read by clicking on the avatar, which is located below the thumbnail. If the information is submitted to and you find it difficult to translate, look for the red inscription "Translate to Russian", Airbnb service will translate everything for you. Remember: any inscription that is highlighted in red hides additional information. Don’t be lazy to click on it so that there are no surprises when you move in.

7. Final point

Once you have decided on your final housing option, start booking an apartment on Airbnb. The procedure is just as simple, but you must follow the algorithm.

If you are still hesitating, but do not want to lose sight of the option you like, then add it to the list of acceptable ones by clicking the button "Save to Wish list".
If there is no information that only the owner of the house can provide, click on the button “Contact the owner.” Be prepared for the fact that he may or another language that you understand.
When all doubts are overcome, press the button "Request booking". In the window that opens, fill out the fields containing information about you and your bank card. There you can ask the owner about something again.
Having indicated all personal and banking information, put a “tick” in the box opposite the inscription “I agree with all conditions”, after which the button "Continue" will become active. Click it and wait for the owner's response.

The transaction for renting and renting housing on Airbnb will be considered concluded if its owner responds within 24 hours. Approximate waiting times can be found in reviews about it. Money will be debited from your account only after the landlord's final consent.

Possibility to rent Airbnb accommodations around the world imposes certain obligations on the borrower. The community principle that unites members of this resource states that “Anonymity harms trust.” Therefore, on your profile page, follow the link "Trust and Confirmation", and then press the red button "Verify my profile". After that follow step by step instructions. Those who have passed the verification procedure can count on a quick and objective resolution of controversial issues.

You can read reviews about Airbnb in the comments, and don’t be lazy and add your own :)

I remember my first independent travel- straight up the Stone Age. It was necessary to check with the hotel or with partner companies, at the airport counter, or look for accommodation on the spot, because there was no convenient payment online. However, in those days everyone used paper air tickets, and electronic ones caused mistrust. It’s good that everything has changed, although some Southeast Asian countries, for example Myanmar, are still at this level.

What is Airbnb?

Features of AirBnB

6. Help from the owner

In my rental cases, all the apartment owners were very helpful. For example, in Turkey they painted landmarks and walking routes To see everything, they recommended inexpensive restaurants with vegetarian food and helped us book transfers. And all this without imposing services like “buy an excursion from me.” The owner of my apartment in Phuket meets guests at the airport and helps as much as possible. Check with the owners, clarify all the details: is it nearby, what infrastructure surrounds the house, how fast the Internet works. Live communication always helps. There are owners who mark recommended restaurants, attractions and entertainment on the map under the description of the accommodation. I would say that Airbnb hosts, in a sense, can replace your guide and help you navigate unfamiliar city and will tell you how to best spend your time. Hotel reception desks are mostly staffed by visiting people who have little interest in the tourist component and sometimes don’t even know the city’s transport patterns. So on Airbnb, a good host is a traveler's friend.

7. Long stay

Depending on the apartment, there are long-term stay options available on Airbnb. For example, renting a villa for two to three weeks will cost the same as for a month. Check with the hosts for details and ask for a discount for long-term stays.

8. Airbnb is ideal in big cities

Disadvantages of renting a home through Airbnb

1. This is not a hotel

Living conditions in private apartment Compared to a hotel room, they have their disadvantages. For some apartments and villas, cleaning is charged separately and is included in the final bill. In apartments, sometimes maid service is not included at all or is provided only once a week. You won't always be served breakfast. When moving into an apartment, check the serviceability of the air conditioner, TV, plumbing and integrity of the furniture. It happens that the previous tenant broke something, but the owner did not notice. In such cases, when leaving, it will be impossible to prove that it was not you who did this. In some cases, the owner takes a deposit for the safety of the property, which is blocked on your card and returned 48 hours after check-out. I would say that such a deposit is not a minus, since all the details are spelled out in the description of the property. Compare that some hotels also take a deposit, but do not write about it on booking sites. It’s better to know about the deposit in advance than to be notified about it upon arrival.

2. Response speed

Another difference from booking sites is the speed of confirmation. The owners usually respond within an hour or two, but sometimes I wait a day for messages from them. For urgent reservations, if you have already decided on accommodation, select the option " Instant confirmation"In other cases, you need to search and find out details in advance. Once I spent a whole week discussing the details of renting an apartment in Bali.

3. Internet users are uneducated

Sometimes the owner does not fully understand the functional part of the Airbnb system, and there will be serious errors on the apartment page. For example, the lack of written information about additional bills for electricity and water can become an unpleasant surprise upon arrival. Or the owner incorrectly filled out information about the cost of living for the second and subsequent guests. Check these details if you are going to rent an apartment in Thailand. Some hosts fill out information about housing in their native language, of course, the built-in translator will help translate, but in situations with Korean, Chinese and other Asian languages, it seems that something is missing.

4. Airbnb commission

7. Cancellation

In rare cases, the owner may cancel your reservation, although there is a penalty for doing so. You can see all the owner's cancellations in his profile. Please read the cancellation conditions on your part carefully. There are several of them, it all depends on the conditions and time of cancellation.

As you can see, the pros of renting a home through Airbnb outweigh the cons. It is worth noting that the system presents more than a million unique options - there is always a choice. In my opinion, the options for renting an apartment in Phuket are superior to hotel rooms in cost and comfort. Tell us about your experience of renting a home through Airbnb in the comments.

My review of the website Airbnb.ru, where I often rent apartments when traveling. Learn about booking accommodation, getting discounts and taking precautions.

I travel 10-15 times a year and often book accommodation on Airbnb.ru. I like this service. In this review I will tell you how to use it safely and profitably. And using the link below, any new user can receive a discount on their first booking.

What is Airbnb

Airbnb is the world's largest private travel rental service. Service statistics: 800,000 accommodation options, 190 countries, 34,000 cities, over 17,000,000 guests who have booked accommodation in this service.

The service operates in many countries, there is a version in Russian: Airbnb.ru.

Through Airbnb you can rent apartments, houses, villas, rooms, rooms in guest houses, residential boats and bungalows, castles, tree houses, campers.

Our apartment is in an old half-timbered house in Rouen, France. It cost 28€ per day.

My review of Airbnb: pros and cons

I have been using this service for seven years now and have rented dozens of different properties around the world. In my collection: houses in the Azores, apartments in Prague, St. Petersburg, Tbilisi, The Hague, Paris, Rouen, Cane, rooms and guesthouses in Barcelona, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Why I like Airbnb:

Interesting. A huge selection of accommodation, more interesting than simple hotels. I try to book authentic apartments with cool design and preferably in houses with history.
Inexpensive. Often renting an apartment on Airbnb.ru is cheaper than renting a hotel room. For example, in France we saved a lot by living in apartments for 28-50€ instead of hotels for 100€. For a family or group of at least 3-4 people, it is almost always more profitable to book accommodation rather than hotel rooms.
Practical. Living in an apartment with a kitchen is very convenient and profitable - you save on food.
Privacy. I’m an introvert, so I love privacy: in an apartment and house that is completely at your disposal, there is more of it than in hotels.
Excellent support in Russian: they work quickly, they always help.
Convenient system of reviews, ratings and filters allow you to choose best accommodation.
Simple and clear website design.
Safety. You pay by card on the service’s website; you don’t need to bring cash with you or settle financial matters with the owner.
Visa eligible. All consulates accept bookings from Airbnb without any problems, I received 4 or 5 Schengen for them.

I have never had a bad experience booking on Airbnb. I am completely satisfied with the service, I can only find fault with the little things.

What I do not like:

Service commission when renting housing - 10-15%. However, everything is fair, they must earn money.
There is a risk of bumping into a bad owner. But this is a human factor, the service is not to blame here. But there is a system of reviews of other tourists about Airbnb accommodation and a support service. Next, I will tell you how to choose a reliable host and good housing.

Our authentic apartment in an old house in the center of Tbilisi - for only 1,700 rubles per day.

Choose apartments with reviews and highly appreciated(4-5) is a guarantee that everything will be fine with housing. Reviews on Airbnb cannot be faked, so all good hosts try to please their guests in order to get good ratings.

Read reviews - people can report important things: for example, the Internet or heating is not working well, noise from the street is disturbing at night, and so on.

Reliable owner:

has a verified profile,
a lot of positive reviews,
I registered for the service a long time ago.

In case of problems, always write or call support. Our apartment in France was once poorly cleaned and we had to sweep the floor ourselves. I thought it was fair to ask Airbnb to refund us the money for cleaning - they returned it the same day. If the housing does not correspond to what is stated in the description, complain and the service will either give you coupons for a discount of $50-100, or provide better and more expensive housing in the same city.

Our cozy apartment in Paris for 50 euros per night.

About prices

The cost of housing almost always depends on the season: in the high season there is high demand and prices are 2-3 times higher. I try to travel during the low season so as not to overpay.

Airbnb charges a service fee, the amount of which depends on the amount of the reservation - usually around 10-15%.

Hosts often include a separate cleaning fee in the bill, but you will see this amount before booking.

Sometimes municipal taxes from tourists are included in the bill (in Italy, for example).

In rare cases, the owner may take a deposit for the safety of property - this is typical for respectable apartments and apartments, where there is something to spoil, destroy and break. In my practice there was only one such example.

The amount you pay when booking is final. When you meet the owner, you will not need to pay anything else.

A house on the ocean is wonderful! My best accommodation, rented through Airbnb.ru. We lived with friends and paid 1,700 rubles per person. Flores Island, Azores, Portugal.

How to book a place on Airbnb

Everything is very simple. Briefly, it looks like this: you go to the Airbnb website, look for accommodation in the desired city for the desired dates, choose, contact the owner, book, arrive, live and be happy. Now more details.

Stage 1. Registration

Fill out your profile: add a photo, link to your Facebook page and phone number, write a few lines about yourself - all this is necessary to confirm that you a real man, and give future landlords the opportunity to get to know you. It is advisable to upload a scan of your document to confirm your account and make it reliable. This is for safety reasons.

After registration, you can invite your friends and receive a new bonus - $17 for each friend. Not a bad and nice discount!

Stage 2. Choosing housing

Now you can start looking for housing.

Airbnb is a convenient and simple service, you can easily figure it out. Enter the required information into the search box: destination, dates and number of guests. A page will open with the available options and their location on the map. There are search filters at the top. You can limit the price range, select the area, type of accommodation, and more.

Open the pages of the accommodation you like. Read the description, reviews, look at the photos. Compare and choose the best option.

Once you have chosen your accommodation, you can book it immediately or write to the owner first to ask any questions you may have. Do what is most convenient for you.

This is what the Airbnb.ru website looks like.

Stage 3. Payment

To book accommodation you will need a bank card or PayPal. Payments are processed through a secure protocol. Recently, it became possible to pay half the amount, and the rest later, about a week before arrival. Please double check the dates and number of guests before paying.

Once you book an apartment on Airbnb, the host has 24 hours to approve your request. If he doesn't do this, the money will be immediately returned to your card. This happened to me once.

The service has accommodation marked “instant booking” - the reservation is made automatically, confirmation of the owner of the accommodation is not required.

AirBnb is best service for rental housing, with which you can easily and safely rent apartments and houses in many countries around the world. On the website, homeowners post advertisements for housing for rent, and rent it to those people who need it. It's simple. All advertisements are posted with a description, photographs, and a list of what is and is not in the apartment. Moreover, Airbnb is not limited to apartment rentals; on the service you can find excellent houses on the ocean, rooms, yachts and even medieval castles.

Renting a home on Airbnb takes place in several stages:

Direct search for housing
Correspondence with the owner, in which you can find out everything down to the smallest details
Payment
Arrival and check-in
After your stay, you can leave a review about the accommodation (this is optional)

Renting apartments on Airbnb is no different from renting a house, a separate room or a yacht. The process is the same. The service itself has proven itself on the positive side, it has been operating all over the world for many years and its popularity is growing every year, which is worth the numerous ones, in addition, it is completely translated into Russian, so knowledge of a foreign language is not necessary. Compared to hotels, booking an airbnb apartment costs on average 2-3 times cheaper than a room in a three-star hotel. And if you are traveling with family or friends, then Airbnb is what you need, because hotel rooms are usually designed for 2 people, and you have to book several rooms at once to fit everyone in (especially for groups of friends of 4-8 people ), and by renting an apartment on Airbnb, you can all stay together.

Why you should rent a home on AirBnb:

You will see the real condition of the property from numerous photographs.
You are guaranteed rental security, i.e. You will not be scammed; all homeowners are verified by the service.
You can find out reliable information about housing from reviews that are written by people who have already lived there.
Each ad contains a list of available devices (Wi-Fi, washing machine, TV, air conditioning, etc.).
You can set your filters by price, type of housing, amenities, etc., which will allow you to find exactly the housing you want.
The site is very easy to use, it is translated into Russian.
The site has received thousands of positive reviews from travelers all over the world.

How to choose the right accommodation on Airbnb

Knowing some of the features of the service, you can find airbnb apartments at the most low prices and with a high level of comfort. Often beginners do not know these “rules” good search” and find not the most comfortable housing. Especially for such beginners, here are tips for booking airbnb apartments.

Read reviews about accommodation carefully. The reviews were written by those who have already lived in this apartment/house/room, so they reflect the real situation. Choose accommodation that has more than 5 positive reviews.
Give preference to properties with verified photos. Photos of some apartments are marked with a "Photo Verified" label. This means that the owner of the property provided comprehensive information, professional Airbnb photographers came to him and personally photographed the rooms.
Find out all the details from the landlord. Don’t be shy, if you want to know what the Wi-Fi speed is, how long it takes to walk to the city center, whether the windows face the sunny side, what pattern the rug in front of the entrance is - feel free to write to the owner, he will be happy to answer all your questions.
It is better to book accommodation with a host with a verified profile. Each host has their own profile on Airbnb, review it before booking, if the profile is not verified, it is better to find another accommodation option.

Comparison of Airbnb and hotels

Is Airbnb safe?

Don't worry, renting an apartment abroad on airbnb is absolutely safe. The service is a rental guarantor. When you have found a suitable housing option, then transfer money to the airbnb service, and not the owner, as payment, which eliminates the possibility of the owner “disappearing” after transferring money (and this happens on some foreign services). Only after check-in does Airbnb transfer money to the host, and you can relax and enjoy life.

But there was also a fly in the ointment. The service is safe and in case of problems it guarantees that you will not be left in trouble without help, but some owners can be cunning and provide false information about their housing. But you can easily identify such hosts and not book anything with them. Be sure to read the article about that, and then you will be protected to the maximum.

Airbnb and visa confirmation

An Airbnb reservation is suitable for proof of accommodation, which is required when obtaining a visa. You will just need to print the payment receipt from the website. There is no difference between confirmation from and Airbnb, all embassies accept both.

If you are not traveling alone, then when booking accommodation on Airbnb.ru, write down the names of all the people who are going to live with you in these apartments and they will also be indicated on the receipt. If suddenly you did not do this at the time of booking, then contact the support service, write down the names and surnames (as in foreign passports) of all guests, and then the service staff will correct the receipt and send the corrected version to your email.

Some embassies also require a copy of the apartment owner's passport: a page with his photo and a page with his signature. You can find out exactly whether these additional documents are required for your visa or not only at your embassy (call them or write to them by email). If you still need copies, then simply send a letter to the owner with a request (if you don’t own English language, then you can translate the letter using an online translator) send copies of the pages and within a few hours or days (depending on how) you will receive them. It is almost never necessary to obtain copies of the apartment owner’s passport.

Instructions

Figuring out how to use the AirBnb website is quite simple, but... Knowing a few tricks, you can find very good and cheap housing.

AirBnb is the best travel rental site. Travel and enjoy life! All the best!

Get ready for a long post. In this article, I tried to take into account all the nuances and answer all questions about renting out your apartment using Airbnb. This information is based on my personal experience and the experiences of my friends. So practice, practice and more practice. Go!

How to rent out an apartment through Airbnb?

Imagine the picture:

You boarded a plane to relax in some wonderful country, for example, Greece. You've been lying on the beach all week, enjoying the sun, sea, life and fresh seafood. You met new people, ate delicacies and got a good tan.

And so you returned home, checked your account and were glad that you had a good time and managed to make good money while you were basking in the sun.

But wait a second, is this even possible unless you're a venture capitalist?

Every year more and more people rent out their homes to travelers. Some of them earn six figures.

To make money with Airbnb you need 3 things: an empty house, a room that sits idle or even a sleeping place, openness in communicating with people and the desire to earn money.

The idea of Airbnb is simple - you rent out your home to travelers (often more expensive than daily rent apartments to your fellow countrymen), and travelers rejoice at the opportunity to live in comfort and feel “like a local.”

By helping tourists experience the day-to-day life of their destinations, Airbnb's founders have created a $30 billion company. This service covers 190 countries and 60 million tourists as its clients.

Good news - you can get your piece of this huge pie.

If you prefer to first thoroughly familiarize yourself with a new situation before rushing headlong into the pool, this article is for you. Everything you need to know to successfully make money by renting out your home to tourists is described here. And the basis was personal experience renting an apartment through Airbnb.

How does Airbnb work?

Airbnb is an online home rental platform that offers an alternative hotel business. This is also a good opportunity to make money for those who are open enough to let strangers into their home.

Airbnb connects tourists in need of affordable or unique accommodation with hosts offering a free bed or fairytale palace depending on your capabilities.

Tourists use Airbnb when:

hotels are crowded (for example, during a festival);
hotel prices are unreasonably high;
They don’t like hotels a priori and prefer to live “at home.”

They can come to you either for a couple of days or for several months, all this is agreed upon in advance on the website and we will move on to the technical aspects a little later.

Airbnb retains a small commission from both tourists and renters.

Why rent out your home on Airbnb?

Airbnb has become a very popular platform among renters because it allows you to earn additional money without spending much time and money. But this does not mean that this type of business does not have negative sides.

Opening your home to strangers is always a risk.

Firstly, renting out housing is also a kind of income generation, which is subject to tax by law. For non-payment of tax (if you are caught, of course), you will have to pay a fine.

Secondly, we've all heard horror stories about homes that have been destroyed or stolen by tenants. Statistics show that such cases are less than 1%, but they also occur.

But if you have the courage to let strangers live in your property and resolve the issue of taxes for yourself, then Airbnb can be a profitable business for you.

If you like to communicate, then this service will help you make many new acquaintances around the world. Airbnb is used by many business people, and you will have the chance to meet people from different social circles.

Not to mention that an empty home is a big source of expense if you don’t use it in any way. So why not bring benefits to people who will also pay you for it.

Airbnb Rental Requirements

Initially, to rent out your home on Airbnb, you need to create an account. It's free, both for tourists and for you. To register, you will need an email address, or a Facebook or Google+ account.

Legal aspects

If you live in Russia, then you do not need to make any additional movements. If you, as a decent citizen, are going to pay taxes, then you have 2 options:

pay personal income tax as an individual. face;
register as an individual entrepreneur.

Choose the option that is more profitable for you, keep in mind that the individual entrepreneur also has insurance contributions to the Pension Fund.

If you live in another country, check this point in your legislation.

Personal space

By registering on, you must accept the rules of the game - here it is customary to respect personal space. And if you have security devices in your home, such as CCTV cameras, then warn your guests in advance.

Otherwise, the guest may terminate your agreement and request a refund, and you will receive a penalty in Airbnb's system.

Time spent

If you are serious about making money with Airbnb, then be prepared to spend several hours a week on it.

You need to visit Airbnb's official website frequently to interact with your potential guests: answer questions, make arrangements to convince travelers to stay with you.

You also need to confirm the reservation and simply clean up after the guests. Of course, you can delegate the latter to a cleaning company.

Get permission from the owner

If you are a tenant yourself, then obtain permission from the owner to sublease all or part of the premises, specified in the contract, so as not to have problems in the future.

Responsibility

The Airbnb community is built on reliability and trust. Therefore, it is very important to accurately and correctly describe the housing you are renting: provide real photographs and normal living conditions (electricity, heat, running water and cleanliness).

Otherwise, you will be left with negative reviews, your offer will have a low rating and tenants will avoid it.

How to get good reviews

Hospitality is the key to success. Airbnb has hospitality standards. Therefore, if you want to earn good money in this service, then try to comply with them. This will help you get good reviews, which means your services will become more in demand.

The math is simple: good reviews = more guests = more money.

To get good reviews, you need to pay attention to the following aspects.

1. Always update the availability of your rental property. It is important that the platform and future guests know when your property is occupied and when it is available.

2. Provide future guests with information in a timely manner. Be approachable and check in with Airbnb frequently so you can answer questions in a timely manner, tell us more about your property, check-in/check-out times, etc.

Sometimes it happens that after booking accommodation with an unscrupulous landlord, a traveler actually finds himself on the street in an unfamiliar city. In such a situation, he tries to quickly find a replacement for him, and here you are online.

3. Be proactive. Always prepare your home for new guests. If for some reason you have to cancel your reservation, then do it in advance so that the tourist does not find himself in the situation described above, and he has time to calmly find a new home.

4. Be honest. Provide real information about your accommodation so that travelers' expectations do not diverge from reality. Otherwise, your account may be blocked.

About security

The question of security arises for every sane person who encounters a previously unknown phenomenon, and Airbnb is no exception.

There is always a risk that you will come across an unreliable person. Airbnb hosts have had various situations where the house has been turned upside down after a party, property has been damaged, and in some cases guests have changed the locks and refused to leave.

In Russia, this kind of thing is quickly resolved with the help of the police, but in England, for example, serious problems can arise. They have such a thing as “squatting”. This is when strangers can move into an empty house without asking, and they can only be evicted from there by a court decision, and the legal process is a long process.

Incidents like these got Airbnb into serious trouble in 2011, so they have since implemented a sophisticated vetting system that has become a benchmark in the home rental industry.

You can't be anonymous, and the review and rating system works both ways, keeping both guests and landlords within the bounds of decency. Those. you can only allow trusted people with good reviews into your home.

Before confirming a reservation, parties may only communicate through Airbnb. All messages containing a phone number are automatically blocked. Of course, there are workarounds, for example, sending the number in parts, but do you need it?

Moreover, bank cards participants are also confirmed by the system. You can exchange contacts with the guest only after the reservation has been paid, so that you can call and communicate in a more convenient way.

All payments are made within the system using online banking. When a guest makes a reservation, he must enter his card details or pay through PayPal, which also takes care of user security.

Payment is credited to your account the day after the guest checks into your property.

Another important thing is that you always have the opportunity to refuse a booking request if the guest does not seem reliable to you. There will be no sanctions for this; you have the right to accept only those you trust.

If you need Additional Information, Airbnb has a Facebook Connect feature that allows landlords to ask for recommendations from a guest's friends.

If these security measures prove ineffective, the landlord will be paid a guaranteed insurance of $1 million. You will be able to use insurance if your damage does not exceed $1 million.

If you have any problems, you can contact Airbnb and request a refund. Please note that insurance does not cover all property or personal liability, so you may be better off purchasing separate insurance.

How to properly register an account on Airbnb

Filling out information about housing on Airbnb is quite simple. The platform itself is intuitive, so filling out an account won't take much time. But if you want to stand out from the crowd, here are some tips for you.

Heading

Many people underestimate the importance of a bright and catchy headline, and write something like “Bright and modern two-room apartment in the city center.” This is not bad, but there are thousands of such headlines.

To stand out from the gray mass, you need to be a little creative, you need to be remembered. For example, in Minsk there is a “taxi with a squirrel”, everyone in the city knows it. It’s just a man driving his clients in an inexpensive foreign car, and a real tame squirrel lives in the interior of his car. It's a small thing, but it's cool.

There is no need to indicate your city in the title, this is already clear. Travelers first choose a city, and then apartments from the proposed options.

If your home is located outside the city, this is worth mentioning.

Description

The description is simple; it is best if you write about your home clearly and, most importantly, honestly. Include as many important details as possible so guests know exactly what to expect. Do not make false or exaggerated statements.

To look more professional, translate your description into at least English, I recommend also Spanish and Chinese, but this is optional. This way you will generate more trust by your effort to be understood.

Photos

Photos are very important. Most often apartments are rented from good photos. The logic here is simple: the higher the quality of the photos, the more bookings.

Take photos during the day, natural light is best. You can only upload 10 photos to your account, so choose those that will give guests a clearer idea of your space: what it looks like, what size it is, what bed, bathroom, etc.

For ideas, I advise you to contact your more expensive and popular competitors. See what angles they choose and do the same.

Airbnb also provides its own photographers. Photography is free. A badge will appear on your photos that they were taken by an Airbnb employee, which means they are reliable, which will add to your trust. Just find out if this service is available in your area.

Set the rules

Airbnb allows all hosts to set their own rules for guests. Consider your needs, the needs of travelers and your neighbors. For example, do not make noise after 11 pm, do not smoke. Indicate the number of people you are willing to let into the house. You may want to assign them some responsibilities around the house, for example, taking out the trash after yourself, watering the flowers.

Your profile

Your profile is one of the most important elements of your account. People trust people. This means you must appear in the eyes of travelers as a person worthy of trust. Fill out your information so completely and clearly that guests know what to expect from you as a host.

Price

Another important aspect that everyone pays attention to when choosing housing is the price. Before you set your prices, look at your competitors' rental prices. Take into account their location, photos and analyze how successful they are (based on reviews). Look at hotel prices.

While you are a beginner, set the price a little lower than your neighbors for approximately the same housing option. Take into account that you will need to pay an Airbnb fee, buy small things like toilet paper, and possibly pay for the services of a cleaning company.

If you're serious about making money by renting out your home on Airbnb, be flexible with your pricing. Look at market demands and raise or lower prices depending on the tourist season.

Lifehack. It’s very easy to evaluate the season, go to wordstat.yandex.ru. Check "Query History" in the purple search bar. In the line write “hotel Moscow”, instead of Moscow write your city and click “Select”. You will see a graph from which you will understand how often tourists look for accommodation in your city depending on the season.

These are very easy to use; if you know that demand is expected to increase next month, then raise your prices. On the other hand, if you don't have many guests yet, lower your prices until you get at least 2-3 positive reviews.

If you don't want to go through such a tambourine dance, Airbnb has a built-in pricing tool. It will automatically adjust your price based on demand in your area. You can set a minimum and maximum price per day.

Landlord checklist

So, you have set up your profile according to all the rules and even received your first reservation. What's next? Now you need to prepare your home for receiving guests.

Regardless of the level of comfort your accommodation provides, you should always welcome your guests in a clean and friendly manner. Think of your property like a professional hotel, trying to maximize guest experience and good reviews.

Check your accommodation

Remember that your guests' expectations should not differ from reality. Think about how your furniture performs its function. It’s good if there is a washing machine, but if it’s broken, then it would be better not to have it.

Do not overload the space; less furniture is better than more. Ikea minimalism is just right. But you will have to worry about the safety of fewer things.

Get organized

Before renting out your home, do a thorough cleaning. Clean up the kitchen, bathroom, and hallway. Basically, anywhere your guests can get to.

Dirty apartments are what killed many fledgling Airbnb businesses. Nothing supernatural is required from you, just:

Vacuum the carpets and wash the floors;
Wipe off the dust, even in places you usually don’t go into;
Clean your bathroom until it shines. Have you ever heard the phrase: “the toilet is the face of the owner.” Rough, but to the point.

Fix what's broken

Broken wires, flimsy steps, broken furniture - fix or throw away anything that could injure your guests due to its malfunction. Good reviews are important to us, right?

Change the bed linen

This tip may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many hostels neglect it. Change bed linen after each guest. If you are too lazy to wash often, buy several sets. This way you will avoid bad reviews. Who would like someone else's hair on their pillowcase?

Empty the refrigerator

This is a “destroy all traces of previous guests” rule. And it seems to be just as unobvious to many hosts as the previous point.

Nobody likes someone else's half-eaten pizza in the fridge. But if you buy salt, pepper, frying oil, etc., your guests will be pleased.

Scrub the bathroom clean

Any good Airbnb host offers their guests 3 basic things: a clean bed, a clean kitchen, and a clean toilet. Always keep these 3 points in mind and you will get good reviews, which means even more guests. I hope this motivates you to be a good landlord.

It would also be a good idea to buy towels, toilet paper, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste and anything else you see fit. This is not a waste of money, but an investment.

Keep track of valuables

If you rent out a room in your home or have guests staying with you for more than a week, make sure your valuables are in safe places. Keep money, jewelry, personal documents and albums with family photos where your guests do not have access.

If necessary, you can even purchase a safe to give you peace of mind regarding your belongings.

Give guests a separate key

Make sure you have at least one spare key for guests. Never give them your only keys, in case they lose them.

There is always something that can be done better. If good reviews are important to you, here are some helpful tips to consider.

Added Value

It is important to understand that the more attentive you are to the comfort of your guests, the more travelers will rent an apartment from you. If you're serious about making money with Airbnb, think about the added value you can provide to your guests, at least at the beginning of your business.

If you pay attention to the reviews from your popular competitors, you will notice that tourists really appreciate the little things that their rental owners have taken care of.

I know many people who are too lazy to bother with all this, and I understand them, but their results are appropriate.

Don't keep guests waiting

Always greet guests, and if you don’t have time, ask your friends about it. Keep in mind that travelers may arrive at night and will need somewhere to stay.

You can be sure that you will not receive good reviews, if you force your guests to hang around a closed door for hours waiting for guests.

Meet them at the airport

The first impression is the most memorable. The best thing you can do for your guests in this case is to meet them at the airport or train station. Firstly, in this way you will not only significantly reduce the number of SMS with questions about how to get there, but also make life easier for travelers. Believe me, they will appreciate it.

If you don't have the time or inclination to take rides, provide guests with detailed information on how to get to your location. public transport or taxi. Communicate the fares and provide signs to help them know they are on the right track.

Help them navigate a new situation more easily

Create a “Welcome Card” (print it on a piece of paper or whatever your imagination allows) and put in it information that might be useful to them. For example, your contact details, list best restaurants, museums in the city and things to do.

The next day, check how your guests are doing. Do they need anything else? If you have time and desire, you can spend it together and show tourists the city. Still, renting out through Airbnb is not quite the same as with a regular home rental/rental; to some extent, it is also a community.

Stand out from the crowd

Try to offer your guests something special to stand out from your competitors. Dinner at a restaurant free excursion, homemade cookies. I guarantee that your guests will be satisfied and recommend you to their friends.

Ask for feedback

Starting any new business is not easy. This is true for your Airbnb business as well. If you are new to the site, you will have a hard time finding your first guest. People usually choose places where others have been before and talked about their experiences. They want to know what to expect, and that's okay.

The good news is that if you are new to the Airbnb platform, you can ask your friends or family members to leave a review. Pay for your accommodation yourself at a minimal price. Yes, you will lose a little money on service fees, but it will be much easier for you.

What to do if you do get negative feedback

Sometimes, even if you tried your best, things can go to hell. It’s only a matter of time before you have your first negative comment on your profile. No matter why guests gave you a low rating, you need to remain calm and try to resolve the situation quickly and tactfully.

Apologize to your guests for what happened. Even if you don't agree with the review. Business is business, and the customer is always right. Let your future tenants know that you regret what happened and will make every effort to ensure it doesn't happen again. If you believe a guest is at fault, you have 14 days after check-out to provide them with feedback.

If the negative review was too negative, then write a public response to the review and explain what happened, tell how you corrected the situation and assure guests that they will not have to deal with this in the future.

All reviews remain forever, so do not give in to emotions, even if you really want to and remain professional, regardless of whether you communicate with the guest in person or resolve issues online. Always admit your mistakes and consider feedback as friendly advice on how to improve.

Don't forget that good communication can always prevent a bad review. Always communicate with your guests and try to make their stay with you as hassle-free as possible.

Often bad reviews are written due to a simple misunderstanding. Therefore, try to be understood correctly.

What's the best way to exchange keys?

The exchange of keys is the first contact with the guest. Try to make it leave a good impression. If you don't have time to greet your guests in person, here are a few ways you can hand over the keys to them.

Ask your friends

The most common way. If you can’t do it yourself, then ask relatives, friends or neighbors. Give tourists the phone number of the person who has the key.

Leave the key at a nearby store

A nearby store or cafe is also a great place to leave your key. But in this case, you must be completely confident in the reliability of the workers. Also make sure that your guests arrive during business hours, otherwise you will only create a new problem.

Use a key safe

Perhaps the easiest way to exchange keys if you constantly don’t have time and don’t want to disturb your surroundings. Buy a small key safe with a combination lock. Then your guests will be able to get into the apartment at any time of the day. You can attach it directly to your door, or you can place it in some secret place.

You can also install an electronic lock that can be controlled remotely using your mobile phone. Or you can give the code to your guests and change it every time they check out.

Surephost icon

If you have received at least 10 guests in a year, then you have a chance to receive Superhost status. To do this, you need to fulfill several requirements. You must respond to at least 90% of booking requests and have over 80% of your reviews being 5 stars.

By receiving the Superhost badge, you will become more visible among competitors, and you will have your own advantages and bonuses.

Results

If you are a hospitable person and are ready to let strangers into your home, then Airbnb may be the service for you. good source additional income. But you need to initially find free time to do this business.

Is it profitable to rent out an apartment through Airbnb? The answer is clear - yes. Firstly, renting an apartment by the day is always more profitable, and secondly, foreigners pay more money.

Many people have managed to create a permanent source of income for themselves by renting out several residential properties and earning six figures a month. And you can too, if you like to host guests and you have read this article carefully.