Weird House? Let’s Talk About It

There’s nothing quite like it – 3 months ago, you booked the perfect Airbnb…

• Well reviewed? Check.
• Walking distance to bars & restaurants? Check.
• Cute design with all the bells & whistles? Check.

…only for you to arrive and realize that there is no stove. And no oven, or any sort of cooktop for you to cook food. And to make matters worse, you stopped at a grocery store just before arriving and picked up groceries for your week-long stay.

Sound unlikely? This happened to me. The listing stated that the kitchen was “well equipped” (what kitchen can be considered well equipped without at least a one-burner mobile stove is beyond me). 

Is it my fault as the guest? Maybe. Stating that a kitchen is well-equipped is deceiving, although at a second glance through all the photos I should have realized there is no presence of a stovetop or one-burner stove anywhere. Ultimately, however, it doesn’t matter; if there’s anything different, strange, or otherwise weird about your home, it’s in your best interest as the Airbnb host to make it very clear to your future guests. Failing to do so puts you and your business at risk. It will also inevitably result in more questions from your guests (“hey, I can’t find the stove, where is it”), requiring more of your time, and risking unsatisfied guests and poor reviews. 

This doesn’t mean that if your space is different you can’t Airbnb it. You just need to prepare your guests accordingly. Think of an “average” Airbnb stay or a basic hotel as your comparison point – 

• No internet or TV? I can find both of these almost everywhere nowadays. 
• Do you have stairs? Guests may have mobility issues. 
• Tight parking situation? Your guests may have a car, what if it can’t fit in your parking spot?
• Duplex unit? Should your guests know that the walls are thin?

You can certainly be tactful with your disclosures, for example –

• No internet or TV? We do not have internet or TV; we encourage you to connect with nature & each other while spending time here.
• Do you have stairs? Only 10 stairs separate you from our front door (we promise the elevated views are worth it).
• Tight parking situation? Our parking space is 20ft by 10ft; larger cars may not fit. There is free parking on Main St.
• Duplex unit? You may occasionally hear us in other parts of the home; let us know if you’d like to meet our dog!

Ultimately no one likes being surprised while traveling. It’s on you as the Host to make every effort to minimize guest surprises. Your business depends on it.