Almost Free Traveling

Since 2016, we’ve earned ~$25,000 renting out our primary residence a few weeks a year as Airbnb hosts. Here’s an overview of how we got started and what we’ve learned:

Origins

We rented a house from 2010-2016, and every other summer, our house sat empty while we traveled for work for six weeks. I longed for the day we would own a home again and leverage our biggest asset in the short-term rental market. In 2016, we purchased the house we live in now, and have been renting it out periodically on Airbnb ever since!

HOW TO PREPARE

Getting Started: Embrace Minimalism

The best way to prep a primary residence as an Airbnb rental is to reduce the amount of items and clutter in the home. We intentionally downsized all our belongings when we moved into this house, streamlining our closets and making the house renter-friendly from the start. We purchased triple bunks for one of the kids’ bedrooms so we could house more guests in a small space, and put a king or queen sized bed in every other bedroom to maximize sleeping arrangements.

Because the prep for guests involves emptying most bathroom drawers and bedroom closets, we try to stay organized year-round to make renting easier. There’s undoubtedly some sort of mad dash around the house prepping last minute, but the next day when I’m on vacation and airbnb emails letting me know they’ve made a large deposit into my bank account, I feel thankful that we’ve hacked an extra source of travel income.

Ensure Cleanliness

One Airbnb host perk is that the renter pays someone to clean the house before and after their stay. We’ve developed relationships with a couple different cleaners, so there’s always someone available to clean (always try out a housecleaner before renting to make sure you’re a good match). Maintaining a standard of cleanliness throughout the home helps your brand, because guests might look in any unlocked cupboard or drawer during their stay. The benefit to us is coming home to an immaculate house after vacation, and living in a rather clean and organized house year-round.

Maintain Appliances and Linens

Every year, I re-invest some of our earnings back into the house, purchasing new bed and bath linens and replacing/repairing aging appliances. We’ve also used Airbnb earnings for house upgrades like new front and back doors, a new washing machine, and new gutters (my husband’s favorite upgrade). Because we are particular about who rents from us, any minor wear-and-tear on our house has been more than offset by the financial investment back into the property.

GO THE EXTRA MILE

Guests love arriving at an Airbnb rental and discovering a handwritten welcome note with a few snacks and treats. I usually pick up wine, coffee and a chocolate bar and leave them on the counter with a welcome note reminding them of my phone number, in case they need to contact me.

In the bathrooms, I make sure there are extra travel-sized toothpastes & some toothbrushes (whatever leftovers we have from the dentist), a disposable razor, cotton balls & Q-Tips, and shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the showers. I also keep a stockpile of brand new kitchen sponges and towels, putting out a new one for each booking. Little touches like this make an Airbnb rental feel like a getaway.

If a family is coming, I will often leave a gallon of milk, some orange juice and even fresh fruit in the refrigerator, along with a few granola bars. If they don’t touch it, it doesn’t matter–it will be there for us when we get back. The main thing is to provide a superior experience, and be the type Airbnb host from whom I’d like to rent.

FINDING THE RIGHT RENTERS

Our Airbnb settings don’t allow automatic bookings upon inquiry, because we like making sure our house is a good fit for potential guests. When someone inquires about renting, I ask them why they’re coming and check their profile to make sure they have several good reviews from other homes they’ve rented.

Describe your rental house in a way that will attract your ideal renter. “Our quiet, cozy, family home sits nestled on a cul-de-sac” helps deter someone who might want to throw a wild, disruptive party. Our listing specifically states “no parties or events,” lists quiet hours as 10pm-8am and warns renters that noise complaints result in a $500 fine (I have never had to fine anyone). As a result, we typically find families booking our home.

One very important reminder: if you decline three inquiries in a row, Airbnb will notify you that your listing may be deactivated. This is why we target certain renters with the wording of our listing–we want to maximize the chances of getting inquiries from the right guests so we don’t have to decline!

WHEN TO LIST THE HOUSE

Listing the house when we know we’ll be gone

We can only list our house when our entire family will be vacationing somewhere together; whenever we plan a family vacation, I make it available for the time we’ll be gone. Initially, the nightly price is set high, then as our trip approaches we drop the price to try and grab last-minute renters (Airbnb offers suggested nightly rates that I use as a guide):

Recently, after embarking on a vacation to Disneyland and arriving at our hotel, we checked our email and found an inquiry from a guest asking to book our home last minute. We hadn’t left the house in renting condition, but in hindsight I wish we had–the cost the last-minute renter would have paid would have covered our spending in the parks, making our vacation totally free (read more here about how we pay for Disneyland trips using points and miles).

Listing the house when we’re available to be gone

We’ve listed our house during weeks we don’t necessarily have plans, but it would be easy for us to pick up and go somewhere: for instance, during my husband’s annual backpacking trip, we list our house; it usually rents and I take the kids somewhere with my sister and her kids. We also list our house for Spring Break and for the week between Christmas and New Year’s: if it rents, we get away somewhere, and if it doesn’t we staycation at home.

Listing the house when we’re camping

A lucrative time to rent out our house is during camping trips: because tent camping is essentially free, almost every dollar we make camping trips is pure profit (I usually earmark that income for future travel).

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

We’ve only had one not-so-great experience with a renter, and it was within the first year we rented out our house. In that instance, we booked guests too close together, and our cleaner ended up pressed for time and unable to do a thorough job. Now, we make sure to leave a full day in between one guest’s departure and the next one’s arrival.

Looking back, the guest who stayed in our house and didn’t have a great experience had never rented an Airbnb before, which is how I learned to pay attention to whether potential guests have multiple good reviews. I think the guests expected a hotel, when in reality they were renting someone’s primary residence.

If you intentionally list your home targeting certain renters–in our case, families–you’ll likely find that’s who’s renting your home, and avoid pitfalls.

ENLISTING YOUR VILLAGE

Our neighbors are aware that we rent out our house, and we have called on them a few times when guests needs something. We sometimes pay teenagers to do prep work, mow the lawn or put our garbages our or back while we are gone–things we would do when traveling for extended time anyway. We know a few handymen that we could call on if something broke and a guest needed help. Basically, rely on your community and compensate them well when they help you host your Airbnb.

TAKEAWAYS

Renting out one’s primary residence certainly isn’t for everyone, and it involves a lot of prep work, but it’s a great way to earn extra travel or home improvement income while your home sits empty!

Learn more about how we travel for almost free on Instagram @almostfreetraveling and join the conversation on facebook.com/almostfreetraveling

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.