Airbnb Advice Please!

[Account Closed]

Hello,

My girlfriend and I have put in an offer on a 3 bed / 2.5 bath house just 4 minutes drive from the heart of the Bishop Arts District in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. This property has been rehabbed 100% from pier and beam to roof structure, and everything in between. Spectacular rehab. We want to rent our space full time on Airbnb, but also live in. 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths will be dedicated to the Airbnb.

I want to hire a 3rd party property management company to run the business. I am not trying to buy my way into another job outside of my 9-5.

If the offer is accepted, we are ready to purchase all necessary furniture / etc that would make our home as comfortable as possible.

I have personally used Airbnb on 11 different occasions, and never use hotels anymore. I love feeling at home when I am in another city, state, or county.

What advice can you share to make this experience top notch for our guests? What amenities, pieces of furniture should we include? Do you know of any good management companies? What should we be aware of or avoid? What have you enjoyed most about your Airbnb experiences? What is a non-negotiable?

Thanks in advance,

Nick

[Donna Chazanov]

I have been an Airbnb host since Feb 2010 - nonstop! And our present listing is set up the way you describe your possibly new venture. I agree with everything Paul Cox wrote. You really don't need to hire someone to deal with it while you live there (if I understood your description correctly). The best Airbnb experiences is where you feel welcome, even if you never actually meet the host - as opposed to STR owners who ONLY do it for the money. You can feel the difference as a guest. Part of the fun is to actually meet some pretty interesting people. And if someone is not your cup of tea, they check out soon enough.

Make sure you find out what your city's ordinances are regarding STR.

Will they have their own entrance? 

First of all, you need to really familiarize yourself well with the website.

Get your systems in place - extra sets of sheets at least. I have 2 sets of summer, cotton sheets and 2 sets of flannel for the cold months. I never use white linens or towels - usually soft grey or yellow or blue that combine with the decor. (Other hosts only use white)  Minimum 2 pillows and 2 large towels for each guest. 

Never push your bed against one wall. Make sure that you have a table or nightstand on each side of the bed as well as lamps and possibly charging ports. A little desk or place to sit with a laptop is welcome. As well as some chairs.

Nice toiletries. 

Snacks & drinks on hand to welcome them/leave in the room. Most travelers arrive tired, thirsty and at least a little hungry.

A booklet with information on the area - food, sites, hospital location.

If you don't enjoy adding that special touch, hire a decorator that stages homes for a couple hours to give you some ideas. (Deduct it as an expense) You want them to feel they are walking into a home with nice touches, books, deck of cards, a painting. My studio does NOT have a tv because almost everyone watches on their own cell phone or ipad. Only 2 people in 10 years have asked about it. Instead I do have an great collection of vinyl LPs and a record player. It is unique and many people have commented how they like our eclectic collection. We recently hosted a darling couple form the Bronx. She said she didn't realize there was not a tv (though I don't list one as an amenity - but most people don't read what you write). And before they left she said it was really nice NOT to have a TV, because her boyfriend paid more attention to her. ( I laughed inside and they gave me a great review).

Examine other listings in your area.