The Ultimate Guide To Becoming An Airbnb Host in Houston

Thinking About Using Your Home as an Airbnb in Houston?

Airbnb is a company that provides vacation rental lodging, generally in someones home. It has been a growing sensation, significantly increasing in popularity since its founding in 2008 and now offers more than one million properties around the world.

The Airbnb app gives you access to all of this inventory on your phone, making it easy to find accommodations no matter where you are or what type of trip youre planning. It also connects hosts with guests for free so they can schedule stays at any time from anywhere. That means there are plenty of listings available at all times; even when it seems like every hotel room is booked up, there might be an Airbnb option just waiting for you! And if that wasn't enough, most hosts also give guests a very generous discount.

Check your nightly Airbnb rate here!

If youre considering becoming an Airbnb host yourself, heres a guide to what it takes and how you can enter the world of accommodation and hospitality.

What Does It Take To Be An Airbnb Host?

If you think you can do a fine job of hosting Airbnb guests, youll need a few things to get started. All of the following are required to be an Airbnb host:

• A legally registered address and proof of your identity, such as a drivers license or passport
• Insurance in your name for any personal property damage that may occur during a stay
• Clean and safe accommodations with functional amenities (beds, heat and air conditioning, linens, etc.)
• A well lit area for guests to see their surroundings safely at night

Beyond that, it simply requires someone who wants to share the space in their home with others. An Airbnb host doesnt need to live in a big house or have a specific set of skills. All you need is to be very comfortable with sharing your personal space, and there are benefits that only come from being an Airbnb host.

Check your nightly Airbnb rate here!

How to Be an Airbnb Host

Now that weve gone over all the things you need to be an Airbnb host, lets talk about how you can become one.

First and foremost, if you own a home or apartment that isnt being used as your primary residence, then it fits the bill for being an Airbnb property. If theres even a single bedroom available for guests, you can become an Airbnb host.

Second, you have to register on the site and fill out some information on your dwelling. Then, once its approved by a real person (which usually doesn't take too long), you can share your listing with anyone anywhere in the world who might be interested in staying there.

Once youve registered, its important to update your listing every so often with new photos and information about yourself and the space you have available. Since Airbnb listings are usually linked to a reliable source of income for people like hosts, most will be around for long periods of time, possibly up to an entire year or longer.

How much can I rent my house for on Airbnb? Are you curious what your home would rent for on Airbnb? Add your address here for a full Airbnb pricing report.

How Much Can You Make on Airbnb?

Some people rent out their spaces simply because they have an empty room available in their own home. Others purchase cottages, homes, and apartments with the intention of renting out the entire space on Airbnb. How much room you have to rent will affect how much income you can bring in each month. And while you cant earn an unlimited amount of money being an Airbnb host, there are some people who do quite well with it.

Depending on the area that your Airbnb home is located, you can possibly be rented out every night of the week! Many busy cities have plenty of Airbnb options and visitors find the experience more enjoyable, and affordable, than staying in a hotel and will opt to book whenever they need a night or two in the city. More rural properties will likely see less traffic. However, rural cabins and cottages do well, renting out for weeks at a time.

You dont need an entire house to rent out on Airbnb, many people list the spare bedroom in their own home as an option. This is a great way to bring in some extra cash and offset your mortgage payments every month! Check your airbnb value here.

Lets say you live in a three-bedroom apartment, but you only use one of the rooms for sleeping. You could sign up to be an Airbnb host and rent out the two spare bedrooms. If you were able to get 50 per night (or more) by renting 2/3 of that extra room, then you could earn 700 each month with no effort at all. You could also use the money from your Airbnb earnings to keep up with your mortgage payments or rent so you dont miss any payments and get evicted. If you can stay current on your mortgage or rent, theres a good chance you could even get the landlord to take you off their lease and either sell or rent your unit themselves.

And if that werent enough, Airbnb also has a ton of great promotion opportunities available for hosts:

• Local events (for example, local bars and restaurants are hosting happy hour specials for people who show up with an Airbnb coupon)
• Discounts and special deals for certain times of the year (such as, Summer Break and Thanksgiving each have their own special promotions)
• Coupons on Airbnb.com and social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. that can drive more business your way

The Pros and Cons to Airbnb Your Home for Rental Income

There are many pros and cons to creating an income via Airbnb hosting. As with any job, you'll encounter many ups and downs, particularly when your success depends on the satisfaction of your guests.

If youre considering acquiring additional income by renting out your home or a room in your home, check out some of the pros and cons that come with the gig:

Pros:

• You can meet some incredibly interesting people from all over the world!
• Airbnb has your back. If anything goes wrong, whether youre dealing with a particularly difficult guest or your house was torn apart during a stay, just let them know the situation and theyll help you through the situation.
• There are Airbnb properties all over the world so you can host no matter where youre from or where youre currently living.
• You can solicit feedback from guests so that you can always be improving your ratings and making the most out of your rental property.
• You get to live in and enjoy your space on Airbnb whenever you want.
• You can make back some of the costs of your mortgage, rent, or property taxes by renting out your home through Airbnb.
• Since a lot of your bookings will be for individuals, you wont have to endure long-term renters and the stress that they can cause.

Cons:

• Airbnb guests can sometimes be rowdy and theres always the possibility of damage to your property.
• Theres no way to predict how much money you'll earn each month as an Airbnb host, so its a bit of risk-taking to rent out your place on Airbnb, especially if you're depending on the income as a staple to your annual intake.
• You might have to deal with the homeowner or renters association if youre renting out a room or two in your apartment, and you may need to get special permits for each property you advertise on Airbnb as well.
• If you're going to use Airbnb as a way to offset your mortgage, rent, or taxes, be aware that your landlord may not allow this in your lease or you may have to follow a strict set of rules.

Some Tips to Earning Top Ratings on Airbnb

Airbnb allows hosts and guests alike to rate the success of the other. Hosts can leave a rating for guests on what condition they left the home in or how friendly and respectful they were during the booking process. At the same time, guests can rank their hosts. They can leave comments on how accurate the listing was, the cleanliness of the room or home, and how easy it was to communicate with the host, particularly if there were any issues.

To get the top ratings as an Airbnb host, take a look at some of these easy-to-do tips:

Offer clear instruction: If you're not going to be at the property while people are renting, be sure to leave clear instructions on how to get into the building, what your house rules are, and your expectations on the condition of the house once your guests leave. Many Airbnb hosts opt for a self-check-in option so that guests can let themselves in and out without you needing to physically be in the building. If this is your preferred method, be sure to provide your guests with a Check-In Guide prior to their arrival. Include things such as where you'll leave the spare key, any security codes they may need, and which room they'll be staying in.

Create a relationship with the guests: If you're going to be in communication with your guests before and during their stay, do everything you can to make them feel comfortable. Send them any guides they may need (Wi-Fi passwords, etc.) ahead of time so that they don't have to bother you when they arrive at the property. You want them to know that you trust them and will be available if they have any questions during their stay.

Use professional photos:Theres nothing more disappointing than getting to your destination only to find its not quite as advertised online. Be sure to use professional, up-to-date photos on your listing so that guests know exactly what to expect when they arrive. Also, if the quality of your listing pales in comparison to other listings on Airbnb, theres a chance you wont get as much business! Make sure your photos are clear, crisp, and well-lit to make a good impression on your guests. Take plenty of photos from different angles at different times of the day so that you can present the property in its best light.

Don't forget to provide bathroom extras:This little tip is something so simple to provide and can make all the difference to your guests stay! Adding a small basket in the bathroom filled with hygiene products such as mini deodorants and razors, as well as extra soap and shampoo is an easy way to ensure your guests can feel your care and dedication. If you really want to go the extra mile, you may want to consider special touches such as a personalized welcome note with your name on it, or a bottle of wine for guests when they arrive.

If you're considering becoming an Airbnb host, there are a few things to take into consideration. If you live in a city that has strict rules on how many days per year you can rent out your home, its likely that those same restrictions apply for Airbnb as well. Be aware of the potential legal ramifications associated with renting your place and speaking with a lawyer if necessary. One thing not worth worrying about is whether or not people will like having you as their Airbnb host. If you're doing the best that you can and you're going the extra mile to offer a clean and reasonably priced location, then thats all you can do. How your guests feel is up to them, and if you've done a good job offering them great service then chances are they'll be coming back for more! Becoming an Airbnb host can be incredibly rewarding and provide you with a nice extra bit of cash each month. If you think you have what it takes to be a decent host and you have the space in your home or secondary residence, then jump on into this exciting world!

Don't forget to check your estimated airbnb nightly value here!