AirBnB.

[Hilly]

I'm a 5* Superhost. So far no problems at all. The majority of guests are lovely. Again the majority leave the place tidy. I'm paid in full the day after the guests have arrived. I don't do 'one nighters' as I reallly can't be doing the cleaning every time.
I'm not in a city & am on site to meet & greet so there are no 'funny' deals with prostitution or drugs! Or anything else as far as I can see..... Aliens, mud monsters......

Feed-back is important & I'm aware of the competition here so my place is always immaculate.
I provide all the things for a good wholesome breakfast & guests aren't into huge fry-ups so the cooker isn't a grease-blob which is pleasant. I host vegans too as our ethical rearing policies are the highest possible.
I leave days free tacked on the end of the bookings so I'm not in a rush to clean up for the next group plus if someone wants an extra day it's not a problem. I prefer to do any deal through the platform as it saves any hassle.
SS

Sounds good, so you leave the food for them to make ther own breakfast yea ? your not cooking it for them ?

 

[Hilly]

I suspect from reading news that pop up knocking shops is what I’m reading in code

I think my location might put them types off..............hopefully. A little remote, nearest city 50 miles away.

 

[JCMaloney]

We`ve had some super deals. Had no problems at all and had everything from an overnight room to a whole house for a week.
It is also possible to make direct contact with the owners and deal direct if you want to go back...

 

[Danllan]

I like the general idea and convenience, from a letting point of view. But... friends - who I know are very easy going and helpful - got one bad review from a couple who were a real pain and actually threatened bad reviews if they weren't placated. It hit their lettings for a while and was entirely baseless.

This knocked their confidence a fair bit, but they still use AirBnB and have entirely good reviews but for that one exception - it was repeat-visitors who got them back on course by giving very good reviews. So, swings and roundabouts, but the fact that one bad review can cause disproportionate damage should be born in mind.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I like the general idea and convenience, from a letting point of view. But... friends - who I know are very easy going and helpful - got one bad review from a couple who were a real pain and actually threatened bad reviews if they weren't placated. It hit their lettings for a while and was entirely baseless.

This knocked their confidence a fair bit, but they still use AirBnB and have entirely good reviews but for that one exception - it was repeat-visitors who got them back on course by giving very good reviews. So, swings and roundabouts, but the fact that one bad review can cause disproportionate damage should be born in mind.

I had one pair of guests who took it upon themselves to leave a less than favourable rating. No reason at all as far as I was concerned except possible chip-on-shoulder-type......but hey-ho. I was most upset at the time but a year on all I can say is there are some folk out there who if the whole place was gold plated & you were on-call on a ten second impulse you'd still be slated, so I took this in my stride & I'm still taking lovely guests. For the couple who left the big negative.....you'll have to stay somewhere else as I'd just not accept your booking. Simples! Your loss.
SS

 

[bobk]

Payment terms ? isnt it just 3% ? i want to do whole house but not breakfast.

Is it fudge nearer 15 .

 

[bobk]

How do they do that ? can you explain that as i dont understand.

Prostitutes use them .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39528479

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Prostitutes use them .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39528479

A bit old hat now. If you're that naive it will happen. Similar letting that barn, never meeting or visiting the place & finding it full to the roof with old tyres. Bunker full of cannabis plants...IMO its a lazyness thing. In todays world you just can't hold out your hand, accept payement & take no interest. You'll certainly get shafted!
SS

 

[Hilly]

Prostitutes use them .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39528479

Liven the place up a bit !

 

[wasted years]

In with a family, in the basement of a three storey house, was fine. Was like a small flat just for us.

The family were new to the job, and were eager to impress and make sure everything was ok.

A basement in Austria?
What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Selectamatic]

A basement in Austria?
What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Hilly]

A basement in Austria?
What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Hooby Farmer]

Forget air BnB the concept is good. 3% commission unless you’re a business it goes up. Air BnB is aiming for 20 million users by 2021. Booking currently have 40million and aiming for 55 for the same time frame. Granted booking have higher commission rates but they can fill your accommodation no problem all year round. Its also more straight forward, someone makes a booking on booking.com they take the money straight away and you get paid at the end of the month less the commision.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Forget air BnB the concept is good. 3% commission unless you’re a business it goes up. Air BnB is aiming for 20 million users by 2021. Booking currently have 40million and aiming for 55 for the same time frame. Granted booking have higher commission rates but they can fill your accommodation no problem all year round. Its also more straight forward, someone makes a booking on booking.com they take the money straight away and you get paid at the end of the month less the commision.

Ah, yes. There may well be better agents for long term holiday lets & I will also include Estate Agents in this. If you are running your holiday property as a full time thing & want to have it occupied all year then this is probably the way to go. There are then a plethora of holiday letting companies & they will all have a slightly differend business model. I could mention Suffolk Secrets who not only operate in Suffolk as they have a very successful business model;https://www.visitsuffolk.com/thedms.aspx?dms=3&pid=0281325 They operate right down in the West of the UK as holiday lets are their speciality. Hand your let over to a letting co & they do-it-all. This can include maintenance of the fabric as well. You just get a monthly payment. Simple. Kind of like renting a property through an Estate Agent hence my including them in the mix. In certain situations a long term let to the right tenant is more profitable. Only you, the property owner can do the sums on this & calculate the result.
If on the other hand, you want to let out a small part of your property on an ad-hoc basis, ie every week for four or so days then the bigger operators are not for you. I believe it is that simple. Airbnb gives you an opportunity to be a small operator in what is a big sea & personalise your place to suit those who like something a little different. You just have to be on the case with scams & as I have mentioned pay attention to your customers else yes, you will end up with a knocking shop
I have visitors. They arrive today. I get paid in full tomorrow, minus a small fee. What could be easier?
SS