Hoping to offset the high cost of airfare by renting out your home through a service like AirBNB or VRBO? Here are some tips we gathered from the experiences of friends who have done the same. Not only will they make your guests' stay more pleasant, they'll help make sure that you come home to a place that's just as great as when you left it (plus maybe a few extra bottles of good wine!).
• Clear out your home: Have a favorite vase you love? A knick knack that's silly but irreplaceable? Put it away in a closet or drawer until you get back.
• Strip your home down to its bare minimum: Clear surfaces, give plants that need TLC to a neighbor. You may find that collection of perfume bottles on your dresser pretty but, for the single guy who's renting out your home while you're in Europe, it's something he's got to move before he empties his pockets.
• Leave a clear guide to your home and the neighborhood: Whether it's that trick to turn the hot water faucet off, a guide to where to park, the address of the nearest grocery store, or the phone number to the only pizza place that will deliver, these details make sure that your guest is comfortable and that you don't come home to a huge water bill.
• Communicate what will cause the deposit to be forfeited: With services like AirBNB, you only have three days to make a claim against a guest. One friend makes it clear in her home guide that if any guest leaves the backyard ping pong table out to brave the elements, they will be charged.
• Leave out enough towels and washcloths: Most people use extra towels on vacation, taking an extra shower before dinner or when they come home after a day of sightseeing. If you don't have a place to hang up extras, leave them stacked by the sink or on the toilet seat or folded up on the bed.
• Make sure your guests have a place to put their clothes and luggage: Put out a luggage rack, make room in your closet, leave empty hangers. If your closet's overflowing (or stacked with the stuff you put away!), invest in one of those over the door hanging racks like this or this.
• Make sure essentials are easy to find. Toilet paper, paper towels, extra napkins, basic cleaning supplies, the soap for the dishwasher, the keys to the laundry room.
• Little touches make a difference: While many guests won't use them, leaving out small travel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bar soap will make your home feel welcoming.
Have you ever rented out your home? What was your experience? Share it with us in the comments!
Image: Bethany Nauert from Haley & Ted's Bright White Cottage
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about towels:the more you leave out, the more will get used, and will need to be laundered. We leave one set (bath, face, hand towels) per guest and have never had a complaint. Once we left unlocked our linen closet and the guests used every single towel in it - that's a LOT of laundry.
This came at a great time, thanks for the tips. I've just decided to rent out my home for a huge music festival in my village and wanted to be sure I've covered all the bases. Now, what about making sure there's no huge water bill afterward? I didn't get the connection. That's the one thing I fear the most, we pay through the nose for water here.
These are all helpful tips, as I've been contemplating putting my 1 bedroom apartment up on Airbnb. I've used Airbnb a few times myself, and I love it. I would add this to the list:
Be available — in person or by phone — or designate someone who can be if you can't: Your guests might have questions that only you can answer. It's great when you or someone you designate as manager can be reached easily to answer those questions.
On one occasion, I wanted to use one of the bicycles on the property, but I needed the combination to the lock. I called the home owner, but she wasn't there (she also lived 3000 miles away). The person she designated as property manager lived nearby, but was out cherry picking for the day, so I got voicemail. By the time my call was returned, I had already decided to walk.
I think it's important to have a dead bolt lock installed on a closet with shelves. It's important to put up all your breakables, booze, and anything else of value. Don't leave it out unless you are willing to part with it.
Also, with airline charges the way they are, it's no longer reasonable to travel with linens. But make it clear if they use your linens, should they strip the beds, wash the linens, remake your bed with clean linens, or leave the beds stripped but unmade. Same with the towels, should they be gathered, or washed.
We had rental/guest houses for decades. Even people you think you know well will take things. We had a pillow taken off a bed in a pillow case that matched all the linens in the house. The pillow was one thing, but the linens were unique, and we were forever short a pillow case. They were never invited back.
And to the poster with expensive water, count on your guests running up the bill. If you mention it, they might use even more. (It's the same concept, (from a different era) that when someone is waiting for a pay phone, the user will talk even longer.)
I once stayed with someone in Marin County who had very expensive water, and he followed us around the whole time. If we took a shower, he wanted both of us in at the same time, and out in two minutes. (We didn't shower.) We had to brush our teeth with cups. (It was like camping.) No running the water while you brush. No flushing unless, well you know. No using the dishwasher. Dishes were washed in water that was used over and over. I assure you, if we had been there alone, we would have used what we considered a normal amount of water, but he would have considered it EXCESSIVE. So what you consider normal is probably not a all what a guest would consider normal. (We only spent one night with our friend. My husband just couldn't take it.)
Hell would freeze over before I'd rent out my home.... YUK!! Honestly, to me it would be such a violation.
This is a very useful post. We hope to rent out our place in future and have learned a lot from renting places through VRBO. We've returned to (and hope to go back to) one wonderful apartment in Paris, which featured most of the ideas here and a few more. I've thought a lot about what made this place great, besides all the obvious things (Paris!). We've stayed at a couple of other places there which didn't have any of the allure of this place.
The apartment was clean and comfortable and provided adequate storage and we didn't see any really personal items like clothes, which were put in locked storage. But it did have some character and gave us a little feel for the owner's tastes and interests, so it didn't feel like a sterile hotel suite.
On arrival, we were greeted by a welcome basket, with a bottle of wine, bags of snack foods like cashews and chips, a good chocolate bar and biscuits. Not very expensive, but very appreciated for its thoughtfulness.
The stereo was pre-tuned to a great jazz station.
The kitchen was outfitted with all the necessary equipment and condiments, which are essential but expensive to accumulate for a short stay.
There was a folder with advice about how to navigate local transportation, get discounts, shop for groceries, bank, mail postcards, order a cab, etc etc. Also, a book shelf filled with local guide books and maps. Another with books about Paris or by people writing about it or France or French cuisine, etc. Invaluable.
Another excellent idea: a guest book which invites guests to share information about their experiences and recommendations. That provided us with a different kind of connection with the place, the hostess and the others who have stayed there before. It was fun and informative reading and helped us pick and avoid some sights and restaurants. More importantly, it made us really feel like guests, not renters.
One definite realization that came out of reading the guest book was that everyone appreciates being greeted on arrival by whoever the designated 'property manager' is. Ours was warm and greeted us like friends. She was available by phone if we had a problem. She only asked that we throw the bedding into the washing machine just before we left. This combination of personal contact and mutual help would, I think, make it hard for anyone to feel anonymous about 'accidentally packing' anything (which is a depressing thought, but one that has to be considered)
*Sigh* I could go on and on. We loved it and we'd go back in a heartbeat, but we also learned a lot about how to be a great host in absentia.
I'm with Cara100; NEVER would I rent out my house to anyone. EVER. Other than family, I don't want any houseguests (I don't want family as houseguests, but I'm willing to accept them). I stay in hotels when I travel, other people can to. I always tell wanna-be houseguests I'd be happy to meet them for a drink or lunch while they're in town and hope they get the hint. If they ask, I say sorry, but no.
Now, if I could just figure out what to charge for my house. There are three BRs upstairs and the small bathroom. There are two living rooms, a superb front porch with porch swing, back deck (room to seat 5 people each) and a fully stocked kitchen. Anyone have suggestions? How would I determine a fair price for a 4 day weekend?
@veslabeachgirl, are you in a town that has a Craigslist? You could look under Short-term Rentals, no doubt there are several if not many!
@velsabeachgirl , Compare the accommodation and perks with hotels and guesthouses that are nearby. find out what a few of these places are charging, then offer your place at a price that gives the guest better value-for-money (not necessarily cheaper but probably a little cheaper).
gatineauhills-- Where did you stay? I am looking into a paris rental and would love to know more about this place.
I rent out my guest bedroom on airbnb, and have for over a year now, and it has been great. I've met a lot of really wonderful people, and EVERYONE has been very respectful of my place. I think it is a different vibe from when you rent out a room & are around - so they're a guest in your home, to if you rent out your whole place. Oddly, that's one thing I'm not comfortable doing, is renting out my entire space. I like to be around to get to know the people.
And as for pricing - on airbnb they do suggest a pricing range when you plug in your location & number of rooms.
We often have house guests, sometimes when we're away, but, like others here, I would not want to rent my home out to complete strangers.
thanks for all the good ideas, I hope to make a little money off my place the next time I go away.
I don't understand all the posts from people saying they'd never rent their place out, why are they here?