10 secrets Airbnb hosts don’t want you to know
Airbnbs have become the modern hotel. Instead of a continental breakfast and a concierge, travelers opt for nice, inexpensive products. Airbnb started in 2008 with the idea of making explorers feel at home in a foreign city. The whole operation is run like Uber where, instead of getting your stay at a well-known hotel chain, you rent a room for the night at someone else’s.
In order to run an Airbnb, owners must go through a background check and a host of other prerequisites to keep their guests safe. It has become a lucrative sideline for Airbnb hosts, some earning as much as 10,000 per month. Besides their regular income, here are 10 other things Airbnb hosts don’t want you to know.
RELATED: 10 secrets hotel staff don’t want you to know
9 You can negotiate the price
In business, everything is negotiable. Hotels have a fixed price at which they have to list their rooms, these figures coming from the company or the owner of the hotel. You won’t be able to cheat a deal with a hotel front desk agent, but you may be able to make a deal with your Airbnb host. Hosts have full control over the pricing parameters, so if you can be convincing, they have the power to lower your rental rate.
8 You can get discounts for longer stays
Airbnb hosts must pay hotel taxes to rent their rooms. These taxes are usually covered throughout the room or house, so their tenants pay at least a portion of these costs. However, if you are booking your stay for a few weeks or even a few months, your stay could be considered a rental, so these hotel taxes do not apply. This is a good deal for your host, so they will likely be willing to offer you a lower rate for a longer stay.
7 They can control your utilities
In addition to cleaning up after each guest and repairing any damage, Airbnb hosts should consider the utility bill. Most places will leave notes in the app telling their guests to make sure to turn off all lights and air conditioning when they leave so they don’t end up with a monumental utility bill. Of course, not all guests are so considerate. To compensate for this, the hosts have set up lights that can be controlled by their phones, regardless of their distance. So if you come back to your room to find the lights off, it’s just your host trying to save electricity.
It’s not too hidden. Anyone who purchases an Airbnb receives a detailed receipt detailing what is billed up front by their hosts. However, this is not a detail that everyone notices. Even if you don’t leave a mess, the host is still responsible for changing the sheets and cleaning their room before the next guest. So if they choose to do this, they can charge a cleaning fee up front and there is no way to avoid it.
RELATED: 10 spooky abandoned hotels from around the world you must see
6 They don’t owe you anything
Many people who try Airbnb for the first time assume that they will be treated with the same care and consideration that they receive at hotels. One of the advantages of an Airbnb is that it is generally cheaper than hotel rooms. The downside is that your Airbnb host doesn’t need to be available to you. If you need to know where the local grocery store is or need a bar recommendation, it’s not really their responsibility to plan your stay. Your host owes you nothing but clean, viable accommodation.
5 They may refuse you
Airbnb hosts have the privilege of being able to refuse certain travelers. The app allows hosts and guests to be rated. This means that if you left a mess or were a handful in other Airbnb locations, other hosts will see it and deny your stay.
4 Photos can be misleading
When owners first decide to invest in Airbnb opportunities, one of the most vital first steps is getting correct photos of their room to rent. Some people even pay to take professional photos. However, photos can be deceptive, and it’s not uncommon for hosts to use older images or use Photoshop to manipulate what the room actually looks like.
RELATED: 10 unique underwater hotels worth a visit
3 Request a price match
Another thing that Airbnb users should know, but often don’t realize, is that they can request a price match. It is recommended that you take a tour of local hotels and other B and B locations, so that you can get an idea of the price tag for that particular area. If you find an Airbnb that you like, but notice that the price is a little higher than the others, let your host know. They may simply be willing to match the price of other room retailers in the app.
2 Bigger city, bigger expenses
It might go without saying, but if you’re staying in a major city, your Airbnb host will likely charge you a higher rate than your standard Airbnb stay. They know what their competition looks like in terms of hotels; and although they always charge less, they recognize that tourists are there to spend money and they take advantage of that ideology.
1 Visit before booking
Another helpful tip (which can be stressful for an Airbnb host) is that you can see your room before you book it. If you’re already in town and looking for a change of scenery, tell your host you’d like to see the room before committing. This means that your host may need to take action to make sure the place is in tip top shape. But if you’re willing to pay for a room, they might just do it to convince you.
FOLLOWING: 10 of the most common travel scams and how to avoid them
About the Author
Comments are closed.