Airbnb hosting in Washington, DC?

[Leland F.]

So I recently purchased a studio condo unit. The unit is quite small (327 sq/ft) but it's in a pretty hopping part of town being close to U and 14th St.

I didn't pay too much down, meaning the mortgage payments make it pretty tough to make a return on a traditional lease, so I was thinking Airbnb.

It appears similar units are listed on Airbnb for over $100 per night.

I was hoping to get some local recommendations, or if you're not familiar with the area, just some Airbnb hosting tips in general would be much appreciated.

- Cleaning: Airbnb lets you charge a one-time cleaning fee. What do you think is a reasonable price for cleaning? And does anyone in the area have a recommended service, preferably those familiar with Airbnb rentals? I don't plan on making my cleaning fee any more than what the cleaning service I use charges.

- Key dispensing: It seems like using a lockbox with a keypad is the most straightforward solution. But I'd *love* to hear thoughts on remote door unlocking technology, like via apps and such. The unit has a private entrance, so there are some options here. I've also heard of key delivery couriers that deliver keys in person for a flat rate to add a "personal" touch.

- Amenities. I'm not much of a caffeine guy, but I've heard putting a coffee machine in your unit can go a long way. I've also heard providing a "welcome basket" or something like that with wine, chocolates, etc. also helps. What other amenities do you like to provide your guests?

- Internet / TV. I already have Comcast internet and cable set up. I could set up a purchase pin code to prevent guests from buying movies and stuff on my account. But I was thinking something like "Don't see a movie you like? Feel free to buy one on me." Plus "owned" movies could be watched by future guests for free. I also have a Chromecast which makes it easy to stream Netflix from the TV as well.

- Meeting guests. I work full time, so I'd rather not spend too much time on this. I don't live that far away from the unit, so it is doable. Many Airbnb guests are first-timers, so a personal meeting may put them more at ease.

This might sound like I'm going a bit overboard, but I'm a big believer in the review economy and want to make sure I go above and beyond to build up my reputation, even if it means a slight reduction of cash flow.

Regulatory wise, I'm not too concerned. Planning on getting proper business licensing and other required paperwork taken care of ASAP, and I also believe Airbnb automatically collects and remits the required hotel tax for DC. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this or missing anything.

[Jennifer T.]

I can't speak about DC specifically, but I briefly used my rental as a vacation rental earlier this year.

I was meticulous about setting up my unit so all the "little" things were taken care of to make it more of a home, rather than a hotel feel.  For example, I had towels, a bath mat, extra blankets and pillows.  Toilet paper, Paper towels, garbage bags.  Toiletries (toothpaste, soap, hand soap, shampoo/conditioner).  Pots, pans, dish soap, silverware, plates, cups.  I even had one of those "picnic" salt and pepper shakers you can buy for $1-$2 in a grocery store.

For me, I think a coffee maker is almost mandatory, lol.  And with mine, I also included a bag of coffee, the little creamers, sugar, and sweetener.  With that said, none of my vacation renters ever used the coffee/coffee maker.  They actually used very little of any of the "disposable" types of items like the toiletries, but it's a small expense to keep your guests from the possible hassle of spending all day traveling and then say...oh no, I forgot toothpaste...and they need to run out at 9PM trying to find a store in an unfamiliar city that sells what they need.  Because I've been there!

The other thing I did for my vacation renters was I created "two" sheets of paper and both e-mailed them and left copies on the kitchen counter.  The first sheet of paper had basic information about the unit (alarm code, using the A/C, etc.) along with addresses/basic directions for the closest grocery stores...restaurants within walking distance...transportation info...cab company phone #'s...phone #s for food deliveries, etc. 

The second sheet of paper was my "local's guide".  I outlined some of the highlights to hit in town and made sure to include cool stuff that the typical tourist would not normally run into.

People LOVED that info I created!  It took a little time to put together but, once I did, I can send it out ad nauseam with no additional work.  Free to create, but added value to the guest experience.  In fact, I often get asked by out-of-state friends and friends of friends what to do/where to eat while they are in New Orleans, and now I just send out my handy-dandy flyer.

And, yes, to any BPers out there thinking about heading down the Big Easy way...PM me and I'd be happy to send you my locals guide also :).

I met my guests in person, but then I lived next door.  I don't think it's necessary...but it IS a really nice touch if it is not too inconvenient.  For example, I had a friend who stayed in an AirBnB for the first time a few months ago.  She never met the owner in person and that did not seem to bother her.