AirBNB - anyone use it? (1 Viewer)

[El Floppo]

we got signed up for free for a home-exchange site... and trying to figure out how to make this work. already got 4 requests to swap our pad in NYC for apts in and around Paris this summer. Free housing would be good for me- might allow us to actually afford the tickets, which are summer-time steep. My mom has been doing swaps for the last 6 years of her house in CA with a nice loft in Chelsea here in NYC- has worked great for her.

I'd imagine the downside, especially the first time, is that you don't really know the people coming to stay in your place... I am thinking of the :e: thread about what people do in hotel rooms.

let me know how this works out for you , ive been looking at a couple of sites to join for home exchanges

got hit up today by a family in Venice Italy wanting to swap for two weeks in July.

wife just sent this text: can you find a sofa to sleep on for two months during the summer so I can do an exchange in Paris for July and August.

finances may not allow it this year- which is a shame because we were given a free year's subscription.

eta: but it appears to be legit and pretty cool... we are definitely getting legitimate requests, just in our first week on the site.

 

[waiver wire]

we got signed up for free for a home-exchange site... and trying to figure out how to make this work. already got 4 requests to swap our pad in NYC for apts in and around Paris this summer. Free housing would be good for me- might allow us to actually afford the tickets, which are summer-time steep. My mom has been doing swaps for the last 6 years of her house in CA with a nice loft in Chelsea here in NYC- has worked great for her.

I'd imagine the downside, especially the first time, is that you don't really know the people coming to stay in your place... I am thinking of the :e: thread about what people do in hotel rooms.

let me know how this works out for you , ive been looking at a couple of sites to join for home exchanges

got hit up today by a family in Venice Italy wanting to swap for two weeks in July.

wife just sent this text: can you find a sofa to sleep on for two months during the summer so I can do an exchange in Paris for July and August.

finances may not allow it this year- which is a shame because we were given a free year's subscription.

eta: but it appears to be legit and pretty cool... we are definitely getting legitimate requests, just in our first week on the site.

cool

ive done some research on the home exchange and it seems to be very legit and 90% go very smoothly

the biggest gripe ive read (the 10%) are the homes are not as clean as they should be

I just have to fix up 1 room before I join and luckily Vancouver is a city that lots of people want to come to so hopefully Ill find exchanges quickly and easy

sorry for hijack

but airbnb is also great

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

PORN INDUSTRY USES AIRBNB RENTAL HOUSES FOR FILMING  (warning:  crappy news website has off topic autoplay vids)

An enema kit, bottle of lubricant and a business card are among the things Kristina Knapic said she discovered after renting her house out on the online rental service Airbnb.....They found a sex toy under one of the beds," said John Thyne III, one of Knapic's attorneys handling a lawsuit she's now filed. "They noticed some enema kits in the bathroom [and] some what turned out to be, I believe, male steroids in the refrigerator."

 

[EYLive]

I'm looking for a room in Miami somewhere between the airport and the cruise ports in March. I'm taking note of the postings with hot wimmin hosts in hopes that I'll get some some bonus  from them. Does this sort of thing happen in real life?

 

[Das Boot]

PORN INDUSTRY USES AIRBNB RENTAL HOUSES FOR FILMING  (warning:  crappy news website has off topic autoplay vids)

Wow, talk about hitting the jackpot!

I hope she bought some lottery tickets too.

 

[Judge Smails]

I'm such a huge fan. This and Uber were the real game changers. Getting down to Mexico a few times the next few months. Getting 2 bedroom, phenomenal condos/villas in Loreto and Cabo for half the price of a hotel room down the street.  Booked our entire Europe trip this past summer on Airbnb. London, Amsterdam, Barcelona. All were phenomenal experiences.  VRBO sucks in comparison. Nothing is close. I'm a junkie now. 

 

[Zegras11]

 VRBO sucks in comparison. 

I used both to find a place on Oahu two weeks ago and  searching in detail on vrbo is 100x easier.

 

[Buckfast 1]

I recently rented a mini-cabin with a fireplace and a private hot tub outside of Rocky Mountain National Park for like $110 a night, and it was ####### amazing.  I hung out in the hot tub naked drinking beers and getting high while watching shooting stars.  You should definitely check out AirBnB before traveling anywhere.   

 

[Judge Smails]

I used both to find a place on Oahu two weeks ago and  searching in detail on vrbo is 100x easier.

Hmmm. Not my experience. Site is slower,  not as intuitive and favorites were not saving.  I had both side by side and gave up with VRBO. Maybe my search detail requirements are lighter. I just put in # of people, # of needed beds/bathrooms and start going through the list. So can't speak to more advanced searches. 

 

[Buckfast 1]

I also recently canceled a weekend-long AirBnB reservation in Portland four days before my reservation and got charged like $30.  I thought that was pretty sweet.  

 

[Johnny Rock]

Only time I used it was for the Ryder Cup. Brother booked it only about a month ahead of time. Worked out great. They left beer in the fridge for us and special coffee from Guatemala which was cool. 

I fixed a leaky drain in the bathroom and they appreciated that. 

Is it "riskier" in Mexico and Europe?

 

[adonis]

We have an AirBNB guest house we put up last year.  Brings in about 1-2k/mo with limited work on our part.

 

[Chaka]

Big fan.

Setting up our two bedroom flat for rental this year. Should generate $1,800-2,000/week, maybe up to $3,000 during summer (costal San Diego).

 

[Zegras11]

We have an AirBNB guest house we put up last year.  Brings in about 1-2k/mo with limited work on our part.

Big fan.

Setting up our two bedroom flat for rental this year. Should generate $1,800-2,000/week, maybe up to $3,000 during summer (costal San Diego).

I'd really like to hear about the profits and headaches of owning one of these. 

 

[Chaka]

I'd really like to hear about the profits and headaches of owning one of these. 

So would I.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I'd really like to hear about the profits and headaches of owning one of these. 

 

[Tiger Fan]

went all in on my first stay.  Rented out a room (single bed in a converted closet) in a 4 "bedroom" apartment 2 blocks from Wrigley Field for the Pearl Jam shows this year.  $60/night when the cheapest hotel was $200 very far away.  I knew exactly what I was in for from the description and it was perfect.

 

[ex-ghost]

Only time I used it was for the Ryder Cup. Brother booked it only about a month ahead of time. Worked out great. They left beer in the fridge for us and special coffee from Guatemala which was cool. 

I fixed a leaky drain in the bathroom and they appreciated that. 

Is it "riskier" in Mexico and Europe?

Have set up all 3 weeks with airbnbs for our summer Italy trip. Fingers crossed. 

 

[culdeus]

Two REALLY good points in bold. I have absolutely no intention of taking my phone out of airplane mode the entire time I'm over there. I don't really need phone, I don't call anyone as it is.

You can get a euro sim card if you have the right phone. Another option is ted wireless. They sell mobile Wi-Fi hotspots 

 

[the moops]

Don't stay in hotels anymore when we travel. Use AirBNB 95% of the time, with VRBO picking up the rest.

Heard from a lady we rented from that she no longer uses VRBO because they upped the percent they charge for listing. So, keep that in mind, knowing that you are likely paying a bit more for a VRBO or HomeAway place compared to AirBNB

 

[kutta]

Just did my first AirBnB stay last week in Detroit. Got a 2 bedroom penthouse suite on the top floor (33rd) floor with awesome views. Every hotel room was booked up because of the auto show, and the Marriott wanted $600 a night for one room. I paid $500 a night for a huge 2 bedroom awesome place.

Will use it again for sure.

 

[Judge Smails]

Have set up all 3 weeks with airbnbs for our summer Italy trip. Fingers crossed. 

If the reviews were good you will be fine.  Just get in shape.  All of the places we stayed at in Italy had lots and lots of stairs.  One had over 100.  You'll get a workout for a sure, which is needed to offset the gelato you'll have every night.

 

[ex-ghost]

If the reviews were good you will be fine.  Just get in shape.  All of the places we stayed at in Italy had lots and lots of stairs.  One had over 100.  You'll get a workout for a sure, which is needed to offset the gelato you'll have every night.

Made sure they had lots of reviews. One place we are staying near Atrani is 400 to beach and 1000 to Ravello. Yikes. 

 

[Mario Kart]

So, I'm thinking of signing up as a host with airbnb. Probably only for one time but the DNC is coming to Milwaukee next year. I have a nice size 3 bedroom house near the airport vs. near downtown. I figure the nearness to the airport is a selling point. I have to clean up my house to take good pictures before posting and I have some older pictures that could stand in, just in case. But, I think I'd put my house up from Friday - Friday for $2,000 a night. It is only one bath however my upstairs could easily fit 4 adults with two other bedrooms downstairs (only have one bed but could buy another one). So, I could fit, comfortably, 6+ adults.

I think I'd start the whole house, with 2 car garage, with an awesome backyard that could be used for entertaining or relaxing, for $2,000 a night for the whole week. Any experiences with renting out a whole house and what is expected?

 

[Major]

So, I'm thinking of signing up as a host with airbnb. Probably only for one time but the DNC is coming to Milwaukee next year. I have a nice size 3 bedroom house near the airport vs. near downtown. I figure the nearness to the airport is a selling point. I have to clean up my house to take good pictures before posting and I have some older pictures that could stand in, just in case. But, I think I'd put my house up from Friday - Friday for $2,000 a night. It is only one bath however my upstairs could easily fit 4 adults with two other bedrooms downstairs (only have one bed but could buy another one). So, I could fit, comfortably, 6+ adults.

I think I'd start the whole house, with 2 car garage, with an awesome backyard that could be used for entertaining or relaxing, for $2,000 a night for the whole week. Any experiences with renting out a whole house and what is expected?

I had a few different properties I'd AirBnb and best advice is to check the comps and supply in your area to see what you're up against and determine pricing.   I know nothing about Milwaukee or how the city is situated but most folks are likely to stay close to the convention.  The DNC is a long way off so you have time to get your sh together.  Deep clean the place, remove clutter and take great photos (hire a pro if you don't know what you're doing).  I'd recommend renting your house out before and getting some positive reviews before asking $2k/week.  As a consumer, I'd be hesitant to pay that type of money for a place without any reviews.  Think of AirBnb like Ebay - customers are less likely to do business with someone with no feedback.

Edit:  Just read that again, $2k a night?  lol.  Good luck with that.  

 

[Mario Kart]

I had a few different properties I'd AirBnb and best advice is to check the comps and supply in your area to see what you're up against and determine pricing.   I know nothing about Milwaukee or how the city is situated but most folks are likely to stay close to the convention.  The DNC is a long way off so you have time to get your sh together.  Deep clean the place, remove clutter and take great photos (hire a pro if you don't know what you're doing).  I'd recommend renting your house out before and getting some positive reviews before asking $2k/week.  As a consumer, I'd be hesitant to pay that type of money for a place without any reviews.  Think of AirBnb like Ebay - customers are less likely to do business with someone with no feedback.

How easy is it to communicate with someone? Like, I'd put in the space provided that this is my first time renting out and it's mainly for the convention. Offer my phone number and communicate with the people and talk with them about any concerns they may have. Since it is a more than a year away, I'm sure prices will ramp up and some haven't yet because people haven't adjusted them... you can get an awesome deal right now on some places however whole houses are priced pretty good. I had $1,000 in mind but go for the gusto... I'd be happy with $1,500 a night.

 

[Major]

How easy is it to communicate with someone? Like, I'd put in the space provided that this is my first time renting out and it's mainly for the convention. Offer my phone number and communicate with the people and talk with them about any concerns they may have. Since it is a more than a year away, I'm sure prices will ramp up and some haven't yet because people haven't adjusted them... you can get an awesome deal right now on some places however whole houses are priced pretty good. I had $1,000 in mind but go for the gusto... I'd be happy with $1,500 a night.

You can't exchange phone numbers until the person books but definitely explain your situation if that's the case.  I'd still be hesitant to rent from you especially at those prices.  Just to give you some sort of reference, I rented out modern 3 bedroom condos (1500-2000 sq ft)  in central Houston during Super Bowl for $4-500/night normally $150-250 per/night).  If someone rented a week, I'd give them 20% off.  There were tons of folks asking outrageous prices for their homes which generally went unrented.  Without knowing much about DNC MIL and your parameters, I'm fairly confident you're significantly overvaluing your property.  

 

[Mario Kart]

You can't exchange phone numbers until the person books but definitely explain your situation if that's the case.  I'd still be hesitant to rent from you especially at those prices.  Just to give you some sort of reference, I rented out modern 3 bedroom condos (1500-2000 sq ft)  in central Houston during Super Bowl for $4-500/night normally $150-250 per/night).  If someone rented a week, I'd give them 20% off.  There were tons of folks asking outrageous prices for their homes which generally went unrented.  Without knowing much about DNC MIL and your parameters, I'm fairly confident you're significantly overvaluing your property.  

I probably am overvaluing right now. Always start high and see where it goes. I still have to do pictures and whatever else but I'd be fine with $1,500... if possible. Hey, a $1,000 is better than nothing... when I get my pictures ready, I can send some to you just for reference. I have time.

 

[[icon]]

Love AirBNB EXCEPT when hosts cancel on you to try to get more money. Have had that happen a time or two, and it’s happened to several of our bbqfest teammates downtown Memphis For this May. 

That said, we have a nice 2BR apt for $390 for 4 nights during that time. Hotels are $250-400 night, of $1000-1600 for 2 rooms during the same timeframe. 

Also got a very nice 4BR house 1 mile from the Hogs for the Cause BBQ event in New Orleans in 2 weeks. Going down with some couples from the team to cook with @tipsy mcstagger and his team. We are paying $1260 for 3 nights. Hotels were $200+ per night (much farther from the event), or about $2400++ for 4 rooms during that same time span.  This house is the couples’ home and they rent it out a half dozen weeks a year for extra income (and stay with family in town). 

 

[culdeus]

For a family of 4 it's a much better option than piling into one hotel room and being miserable or getting two and having the costs.  

Heading to one right now actually

 

[waiver wire]

I travel solo and all I really need and want in a room are :  clean bed and bathroom , good wifi and AC .
so I pick private rooms in  hostels or Airbnb it will depend on price
hostels are  great for meeting new people and finding cheaper ways to get around the city
Airbnb is  great because I get recommendations from the owner and use of laundry 

 

[Zegras11]

Love AirBNB EXCEPT when hosts cancel on you to try to get more money. Have had that happen a time or two, and it’s happened to several of our bbqfest teammates downtown Memphis For this May. 

That said, we have a nice 2BR apt for $390 for 4 nights during that time. Hotels are $250-400 night, of $1000-1600 for 2 rooms during the same timeframe. 

Also got a very nice 4BR house 1 mile from the Hogs for the Cause BBQ event in New Orleans in 2 weeks. Going down with some couples from the team to cook with @tipsy mcstagger and his team. We are paying $1260 for 3 nights. Hotels were $200+ per night (much farther from the event), or about $2400++ for 4 rooms during that same time span.  This house is the couples’ home and they rent it out a half dozen weeks a year for extra income (and stay with family in town). 

I host three homes.  There are huge penalties if a host cancels.