Clever ways to host a small space on Airbnb

Key overview: Clever ways to host a small space on Airbnb

• Fill cupboards with condiments such as salt, pepper, cooking oil, herbs and spices to make guests feel at home.
• Leave a welcome basket stocked with fruit, a loaf of bread, butter and jam for a snack upon arrival.
• Create a professional looking listing that gives a clear insight into what you are offering.
• Consider hiring a professional photographer to create your listing photos, document every room and place of interest, such as a reading corner.
• Incorporate sustainable and comfortable features like a compost bin, blockout blinds and fans.

Back in 2012, on the lookout for a larger home for themselves and their two little boys, Felicity and her husband, David, found a former farmhouse on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with a cottage in the backyard. Inspired by a friend’s experience, Felicity decided to explore whether listing her cottage and becoming a host on Airbnb could help balance the need to earn a bit extra** while looking after their kids. After some repairs – and trips to Bunnings! – the place was ready to list on Airbnb.

What are some of the different ways you can host a space on Airbnb?

Flexibility is often a key factor in hosting, you can explore listing:

• a spare room
• a self-contained studio
• a tiny home
• a granny flat in the backyard
• or even your whole home when you’re away.
• Plus, even if – like Felicity – you have a dedicated space to list, you don’t have to host all the time. Felicity can block out her calendar, so that when her family comes to visit from New Zealand, they can stay in the cottage and be close by.

How to make a smaller space feel welcoming

Felicity puts a great deal of thought into making the cottage a welcoming place to stay.

• Fill the cupboards with condiments. “I don’t like turning up somewhere where the cupboards are bare, so we make sure there’s salt and pepper, cooking oil, and herbs and spices. Then there’s a whole range of different teas and coffee,” she says.
• Leave a welcome basket. “We also leave a basket of fruit, and things like a loaf of bread, butter and jam, so that if you’re feeling peckish you can sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and have something to eat.”
• Make sure you have a professional looking listing. “When a guest lands on your listing on Airbnb, they should get a really good insight into what you are offering.”
• If you’re not confident in your own skills, consider hiring a professional photographer. “Your listing photos are really important because they tell a story, and you know a photo is worth a thousand words!” says Felicity. For photography, make sure your rooms are spotless and clutter-free. Document every room and places of interest, such as a desk or reading chair by a window.
• Check out the Airbnb website for more tips.

What are the benefits of hosting on Airbnb?

Hosting has had many benefits, says Felicity, who notes that it has given her the chance to explore her own interests. “One of the things that I love about hosting on Airbnb is that I can actually do a lot of work in the community,” she explains. She has worked for a not-for-profit in the climate movement, and started a sustainability team at her children’s school.

Earnings from hosting** helped Felicity be a bit more flexible with how she spent her time. “Some weeks it allowed me to help in the classroom and run reading programs,” she says. Plus, there have been some wonderful guest experiences. “This lovely Scottish couple found us back in 2013, came and stayed for a month, and loved it,” says Felicity, who adds that the pair then revisited every two years.

What do Airbnb guests love the most about the property?

The cottage has generated some interesting feedback. “Within about 18 months of listing on Airbnb, we were starting to get guests coming back, and when we asked them what they loved, some of them said it was that we had a compost bin!” recalls Felicity. “We talked a bit more about how we put in a lot of insulation, blockout blinds and fans, lighter-colour paints and draught-proofing, and they loved it. I was thinking, ‘Come on, isn’t it the sheets? The brownies?’ No, it’s composting. OK. That’s fine!”

Curious about how to start hosting on Airbnb, or want to chat to a Superhost Ambassador?

To help you get started, head to airbnb.com.au/host.

Looking for ways to upgrade your home to list it on Airbnb?

Check out our article on affordable styling tips to help you start hosting on Airbnb.

**The information in this article is general in nature and for illustrative purposes only. Individual experiences vary. Earnings are not guaranteed and will depend on factors, including availability, price and the demand in your area. Your ability to host may also be subject to local laws. You should look at your own financial position, and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions. 

Please note: Any plumbing or electrical works must be done by a licensed contractor.