\u2013 Understand your locations strengths and weaknesses.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 Make your place look inviting and keep it spotless.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 Upload at least 10 photos that make your flat look good.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 Current tax rules, earning thresholds and how to estimate it.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 Unique touches will get you more guests and returning customers.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2008, San Francisco start-up Airbnb revolutionised the accommodation market by making it accessible and profitable for anyone with extra space or an extra home \u2013 especially in big cities and popular tourist destinations. And there\u2019s no reason why anyone should miss out on making some extra cash as Leigh Stewart, real estate editor at Tranio<\/a>, explains.<\/p>\n Understandably, if you\u2019ve never rented out your property, you probably have a lot of questions. But don\u2019t worry, short-term rental accommodation as the experts call it, has a few basic rules that maximise money and minimise risk. The benefits are vast, especially since owning a home can be expensive. According to UK tax rules, you can discount mortgage repayments, council tax, expenses and utility bills from your earnings, so if you have monthly repayments to make or your job just isn\u2019t earning enough, Airbnb might be just the solution. Here are the five essential things to know before you upload your listing.<\/p>\n Location is one of the key factors that will determine your occupancy levels (frequency of guests staying at your place). Put simply, you can charge higher nightly rates if your home is in a popular neighbourhood, near the centre or has good public transport links \u2013 because let\u2019s face it, if you\u2019re going on holidays, you want to be near the \u201caction\u201d.<\/p>\n In a city, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and stunning rooftop views will set your home above the rest, allowing you to charge higher rates. In the countryside or by the sea, ocean\/landscape views, direct access to the sea or outdoor patios are your competitive advantage.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re quite off the beaten track, you will have less guests, but that\u2019s fine \u2013 you can still make up your rent or loan payments. Case-in-point, an old friend of mine managed to make up 50% of her monthly rent with Airbnb after her flatmate moved out abruptly, even though she lives a full 30-min drive from Bath with awful public transport.<\/p>\n Airbnb is the new generation hotel and a reflection on how we feel about our homes and human interaction. Trends may change, even in accommodation, but it\u2019s fair to say that we all expect a few basic things like a spotless room, clean sheets, no hairs or blocked drains; you know, \u201cthe Works\u201d, even if we aren\u2019t staying at the Ritz Carlton.<\/p>\n A clean home is an absolute must \u2013 no paying guest wants to be reminded that other people have lived in the property, let alone slept in the same bed as them! As they say, bad news travels fast and Airbnb guest reviews will be unforgiving if you fail, costing you both earnings and new bookings.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll get a cleaner (or a family member) and give every nook and cranny a proper scrubbing before launching your listing, then a thorough once-over after each guest. If your walls are a bit dingy, then a coat of paint is a quick and easy fix and, of course, don\u2019t forget to iron your sheets!<\/p>\n Anybody with an Internet connection knows that a bad photo can cost you your reputation, maybe even your dignity. In many ways, Airbnb is like Tinder for your rental property \u2013 people will swipe on by your tatty photos unless there is literally nothing left in their budget range and chosen location.<\/p>\n Research shows that adding 10+ photos to a property ad (for sale) increases the transaction price and reduces the time it takes find a buyer, so why wouldn\u2019t this be true for Airbnb? So make sure you have an eye for aesthetics and take photos during the daytime.<\/p>\n Adjust the lighting and use natural sunlight to get the best-looking pics. Take photos of every room as well as the outside from various angles and, for maximum effect, upload the key feature room (the nicest) as a profile pic, and then add photos of each room together so your potential guests get an organised sense of your listing.<\/p>\n\n
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