Here’s The First Timer’s Step-By-Step Guide To Renting An Airbnb
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Ready to rent your very first Airbnb? Welcome to one of the most fun aspects of modern travel. We’ll walk you through the process, from setting up your profile to reading the fine print. You’re just 10 easy steps away from sleeping in the dreamy treehouse you’ve seen all over the internet. Here’s how to get started.
1. Write your bio.
Hosts want to know a little bit about you before opening up their homes to you. You don’t have to get too fancy — just some details about who you are and why you travel is plenty. Thankfully, in the age of dating apps, we’re all professional bio writers, right?
Unfortunately, Airbnb has had problems with hosts canceling guest’s reservations based on race, but the company says they’re working to improve discriminatory behavior. Right now, all hosts have to agree not to make decisions based on race, religion, gender or identity, and Airbnb says they will reimburse anyone who can’t find a place to stay because of discrimination.
2. Think about privacy.
Do you want a bedroom or an entire house? On Airbnb, you can rent either, but make sure to filter your search results by type of rental.
If you want somewhere to crash, go for the bedroom. For safety concerns, make sure to rent from hosts with “verified” profiles. These are people who have proved they are who they say they are and that their apartment matches the photos in the listing.
If you’re looking for privacy, rent an entire home. You don’t want the owners running around when you want peace and quiet.
3. Choose your price point.
You can always filter your search results on the Airbnb website by price. If you think about how much you’d pay for a hotel in the same area, you can gauge how good of a deal you’re getting on Airbnb.
4. Research neighborhoods.
Although no posting will give you an exact address of a home for safety reasons, Airbnb does list the neighborhood. Do some research about where you want to be situated, especially if you won’t have a car or you need a parking spot.
In bigger cities, Airbnb has a feature for reviewing the neighborhoods to help with your decision.
5. Consider the fees.
The sticker price might not be the bottom line. Airbnb fees can include the nightly price set by the host, a cleaning fee, extra guest fees and the Airbnb service fee.
Hosts sometimes also require a security deposit, and occasionally there are also local taxes. Your total will show up before you make the reservation, but it may be higher than the price you expected from your search alone.
6. Check the ratings.
Choosing an Airbnb by rating can be a great system unless you’re willing to take a risk for a bargain. Places without ratings likely have lower prices, but they also aren’t vetted by fellow travelers.
However, places with bad ratings are usually a bad idea. Bottom line? Read the reviews to understand what you’re getting for the price.
7. Read the fine print.
An Airbnb may say it sleeps four but only has one bedroom and a fold-out couch. Make sure you read the fine print about any amenities offered (or excluded).
You can always message a host to ask any questions about a place you’re potentially interested in.
8. Book it.
There are four processes to book your stay. Everything is done by credit card, so there’s never a need for cash. You’ll be charged as soon as your reservation is approved.
Request to book. If you click the “request to book” button, the host will get the chance to review your profile and decide whether to rent to you. You’ll know whether you’re approved within 24 hours.
Instant book. Using “instant book” lets you skip the review process. The host doesn’t need to check you out before letting you confirm a reservation.
Pre-approval. If you’ve been chatting with an Airbnb host about their home, they might send you a “pre-approval.” This means you can skip the 24-hour waiting period.
Special offers. Hosts can send a deal or a different price via “special offers.”
9. Be respectful.
Don’t take advantage of your host. Clean up after yourself, and be careful while using your host’s things. Remember that you’re not staying in a hotel — this is someone’s home. What you should take advantage of is your host’s knowledge about the area, especially if you’re sharing the space for the weekend.
10. Rate your stay.
After you leave, make sure to rate the Airbnb. The whole site runs on reviews. Your review will help other travelers pick their accommodations, so do your part and pay it forward. And just so you know, your host will also rate you as their guest.
Want to rent out your place on Airbnb? Here’s everything you need to know.
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