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2020 ALL-INCLUSIVE GUIDE: how to manage airbnb remotely during coronavirus pandemic and thrive

This is the perfect time to streamline your process and how to manage airbnb remotely during coronavirus lockdowns and stay-at-home. Limit contact or going contactless is the goal. In this guide, you will learn how to setup your remote management system now so your business runs smoother and provides you with passive income and more valuable time back for you.

1. Cleaning - This is key to manage your airbnb remotely

Why and how to communicate with your cleaner and maintenance staff How to manage airbnb property remotely starts with cleaning. Your cleaning staff might be as confused as you're about this whole process. With cleaning is more than important than ever (travellers are more germaphobic than ever), you need to nail down this process, as well as provide a system/guidance for your cleaning staff. The last thing you want is your cleaner not want to show up when you've a checkout. This can cost you money and stress to find someone else to come at the very last minutes and potentially jeopardize the next reservation. If you work with a cleaning company, ask them what cleaning procedure they use. Set clear cleaning instructions that protect your staff and disinfect your place well.Ensure you've enough disinfectants, gloves and other supplies for your staff.Communicate your care and effort to protect the health of your staff.You might need to train them "virtually" on the new cleaning procedure. SEE MORE: 6 Actions to take NOW | Airbnb stimulus package The "New" cleaning protocol Airbnb has a new cleaning guideline for Covid-19, you can check out their template here. This is based on information provided from the CDC. You can download the checklist and share with your team as well as posted it in your unit so guests can see that you're taking this very seriously. Download the cleaning checklistDownload the welcome letter

Airbnb will begin requiring that rentals stay vacant for 24 hours between check out and when a new reservation begins. The new requirement is based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control to "address the possibility of particles that may remain airborne for a few hours." What do you feel about this? Cleaning products The CDC posted cleaning and disinfect your home guideline specifically to COVID-19 that you can add to your tool kit on how to manage airbnb remotely during coronavirus. Products to use: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2. When choosing a disinfectant, make sure to read the label that it actually kills germs and bacterias. You can also prepare a bleach solution by mixing: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or4 teaspoons bleach per quart of waterBleach solutions will be effective for disinfection up to 24 hours Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may also be used.

2. Check In - (keyless, contact-less entry)

How to manage airbnb remotely? Use keyless entry to offer digital check in for your guest. The less human-to-human contact the better.

SEE MORE: Lock Setups

3. Automated airbnb check in instructions

Set up your template for all communication checkpoints and send it out manually. Or you can use an automatic messaging service like YourPorter. The whole point is to provide your guests with all the airbnb check in instructions they might need to eliminate the need of you having to go there in person. You can use the airbnb saved messages feature and save your airbnb check in instructions template there. Companies that offer automated messaging that you can set up your airbnb check in instructions: iGMSSuperhost ToolsYourPorterUplisting

4. Airbnb check out message (minimize hassle)

Use automated message to send your guest a check-out reminder. This will save your guests from any confusion of what's expected of them and a surprised cleaning bill afterward. What to include in your check-out reminder: Check-out date and timeCheckout procedure - what to do with linens, dirty dishes, etc.

Airbnb check out instructions sample

5. Remotely manage supplies for guests

Use delivery services to manage airbnb remotely Look for where you can get wholesale airbnb supplies as well as delivery convenient. Here are our favorites (membership fee applies): Use Amazon Business Prime, you will get free shipping and pricing is better on some items than regular Amazon Prime. Look for "Business price."We like Amazon Business or Amazon Prime because you can even get Amazon Key to make the whole process even more contactless.Another retailer that we use is Sam's Club. We love the Plus membership for $99/year. We get free shipping and with cash back, we got more money back than the $99 membership fee we have to pay. Alternately you get Costco, depending on which retailer services your area better. In Hawaii, we get free shipping with Sam's Club Plus but not with Costco. Welcome gift

Consider a welcome gift or a welcome basket for your guests such as 2 masks, hand sanitizer if you can still find them. If you leave out fruits, make sure to wrap them well. You want to show your guests that you care about them and their well-being. If you like to sew, you can make cloth masks for your guests. See our instructions here. Or you can purchase them. A good source we found is Etsy and Facebook Marketplace.

6. Provide local info for guests so you don't have to be there

Add to your house manual all the details that you would normally tell guests if you meet them face-to-face. Not everyone is familiar with the local services and places and know how to find the best and the right one (that's still open in your city) online. Take the guest work out of this for your guests and manage airbnb remotely. Parking informationAccess code needed for the front gate/entrance doorGuest Wifi passwordYour contact infoEmergency services contact info (maintenance, requests, whom on your team can they call if there is an issue, etc.)Instructions where things are in the houseHow to operate items such as how to turn on Cable TV (believe it or not, this is what we get the most calls about)House rulesLocal transportation information (taxi, airport shuttle services, maps of the location areas). We include coupon codes for Uber or Lyft if we have those for our guests.Other important info your guests might needDelivery service (ex: Shipt, BiteSquad, etc...): services they are familiar with and used at their home city might not be what is available in your city. Emergency info like the closest hospital, poison control number, etc.The property address - if they need it for delivery or when they call the hospital, they don't have to tumbling through the app or messages.If your city or state has a dedicated web page or app with info about Covid-19, you might want to let your guests know too.The local news or government might have a website or info about what's open and closed in your city. Tips: record a short instructional video and upload it to YouTube. You can add the link or QR code to these video in your house manual or you can message them to your guests when needed. If you're concerned about privacy, you can make these video Unlisted. This way, only the people who have the link can see it. Other people cannot search for your video on YouTube.See an example of cleaning instruction video. You don't need fancy camera, just your phone should be good.

7. Remove high maintenance amenities that guests don't need right now

Do you have amenities that guests who are in quarantine or working from home at your place won't need? Consider not providing those at this time to cut cost. Usually these are amenities or services that might require someone to be there to maintain it. We stopped offering cleaning between stay service to guests due health concern for our cleaning staff. Also think of surfaces that it harder to clean like carpet, upholstery, etc. We have clients that changed out their carpet for laminate because they needed to replace the carpet anyway and took this opportunity to replace it with a more durable surface and easier to clean like laminate. Disinfectant and bleach are very damaging to furnitures. If you have expensive furnitures or expensive items, consider putting those away. We are seeing longer stay 14+ days to a month and we see more reservations with children. Making your unit kid-friendly is a good idea. Do a walk through and see what you can do to proof your house for kids (easy to break or expensive decors should be out-of-reach for kids, etc.).

8. Add amenities or furnishing that guests might need

Recently we have experiencing longer term stays and even Chesky, Airbnb CEO, is also betting on the mid-term stay reservations going forward even post-Covid. These guests will tend to spend the most of their time in your home working or distancing themselves from others or obeying stay-at-home order. Summer is approaching, as it's getting hotter and hotter, if you don't have an AC, considering adding that. We also make sure our units have working space like a work desk and comfy chairs. Your guests will also stay at home and tend to cook at home more than the typical tourist before that just sleeps at night and goes out and about during the day exploring the city. Pay attention to what you might need in the kitchen. Amenities that accommodate longer trips: KitchenWifiWasherEssentials (toilet paper, soap, towels, bed linens, and pillows)Work space (bonus if you provide a printer)Suitable for childrenAC/heating See More: Amenities Checklist for Superhosts

Airbnb kitchen checklist

9. Local vendors you can trust

We are talking about maintenance need here. You will want to have a list of local vendors (ex: plumber, electrician, handyman...) that you can call and get them to come out right away when you need them. NextDoor is a good source to find local handyman. You can also search on Yelp, Angie's list, HomeAdvisor, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or local Facebook groups. Backup cleaning servicesPlumberHandymanElectricianHVAC repair servicesLandscaping servicesPool cleaning service (if applicable)Pest control

10. Devices to help you manage airbnb remotely

Consider sensors or digital tools that can help you manage your unit remotely. We use leak sensors next to the washer and under the kitchen sink and bathroom sink to detect leak. When it detects water, it will sound a very loud alarm as well as send you a message on your phone or via email. When choosing appliances, if the owner's budget allows, we recommend smart appliances that can connect via wifi and be managed from far away. In one unit, we use LG washer that can connect to wifi and send us an alert if there is any issue or if tub clean cycle needs to be ran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1aNspxHIk&feature=youtu.be Smart plug - control any appliances like window AC, lights, etc.Security cameraDoorbell with cameraNoiseAware or Party Squasher will send you instant alerts if things get too rowdy. Measure noise level in your unit and alert you if the your guest is too loud (or there might be a party going on).Smart thermostat - save money by conserving energy. Also after your guests checkout, instead of worrying whether or not the AC is still running, you can check on your phone and turn it off if needed.Smart light - simulate someone being home when the unit is vacant.Flood sensor

11. Bonus Tip: Add these efforts to your marketing mix

All the things you're doing here to manage airbnb remotely are great, make sure your guests know that! Tell guests about your enhanced cleaning procedure Guests will want to know about all of the additional steps you’re taking to reduce the spread of infection. So it’s a good idea to mention your enhanced cleaning routine in your listing description. If you do, please be careful about the words you choose—while it’s okay to say that you’re taking extra care to disinfect your space due to COVID-19 base on CDC's guideline but you can’t make unsubstantiated claims, such as calling your space “COVID-free.” See More: Marketing guide to boost your listing.

Testing for optimal messaging Consumer's needs have changed during this time. Recently, for example, searches for longer stays nearby have more than doubled worldwide. And in the U.S., bookings for four to six weeks have increased 30% since last week. We've noticed that some people need a little more room, and many are searching for spaces where they can be alone or with family. Adapting your messaging to their needs and don't be afraid to test out different ideas with the goal to manage airbnb remotely.

Conclusion

It might seem like a lot of work up-front but once you set this up, it will be less management time on your part. Your airbnb business will run smoothly, your guests are happy and you can get some spare time back. We hope you found useful tips in this guide on how to manage airbnb remotely during coronavirus pandemic. Where do you think the STR market will go from here in a post-Covid world? Join the Airbnb community using this link and get $40 credit your first booking! These problems with airbnb worn you down? Why Not Listing Your Properties with HI LIVING Hospitality and let us do all the work for you? Check out our service: https://hilivingbnb.com/services/ We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story while you manage airbnb remotely. This content is based on publicly available information from the CDC. The CDC does not endorse this content or HI LIVING. HI LIVING makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to this content provided for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Read the full article

#Cleaningproducts #Coronavirusairbnb #manageairbnbremotely #Smartlocks

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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2020 ALL-INCLUSIVE GUIDE: how to manage airbnb remotely during coronavirus pandemic and thrive

1. Cleaning – This is keyto…

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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7 Essential Steps: How to manage airbnb properties - for elite airbnb professional hosts

Use airbnb professional hosts tools to scale up your business. Learn how to manage airbnb properties and multiply your success.

I. Tools on how to manage airbnb properties

1. Airbnb professional hosting tools How to manage airbnb properties with airbnb professional hosting tools? You can manage multiple airbnb listings at scale with these tools by updating them all at once. Currently you need to have at least 6 listings to be able to access the airbnb professional hosting tools. Listings pageMulti-calendarOccupancy TaxPro marketing pageRule-setsStandard feesTeams Manage listings on airbnb at scale

Here are the fields you can edit: Property typeFees and chargesAmenitiesLocationCheck-in methodHouse RulesCancellation policyLocation details How to edit: Log in to your Airbnb account on your desktop computerGo to Your listingsFor each of the listings you’d like to edit, click the check box next to the listing nameClick Edit selected in the banner above the listingsChoose the information you’d like to edit from the options shownMake the changes and click Save Use the multi-calendar to manage your pricing and availability

What is the tool for: Block/unblock calendar for multiple units quickly. We have multiple units at the same property so this is super useful,Set mass pricing not just for 1 listings but for multiple listings at the same time. You can set pricing for just one individual listing too.Use rule-sets to set pricing rules for certain dates. To create a new rule-set for multiple listings: Go to your Multi-calendarSelect the dates you’d like to apply a rule-set toIn the panel, select the rulesClick Create a new rule-setGive your rule-set a name (like "Summer beach season")Next to the rule you’d like to add, click CustomizeEnter your pricing and availability rules—to remove a rule, click CancelClick Save To edit an existing rule-set: Go to your Multi-calendarClick rule-setsScroll to the rule-set you’d like to manage, then click Edit Use Pro marketing page to market your listings

www.airbnb.com/p/hiliving When we have an inquiry for a unit that is ideal for this guest, we can give them just 1 link to our pro marketing page so they can see what other units are available that might better suit them. You can also create a short url so it look nicer and branded like this one www.airbnb.com/p/hiliving. Where to use: Send to guests on airbnb so they can select other propertiesPromote this link everywhere to promote your airbnb business:Include this link to your airbnb profile.After guests checkout, send them this link so they can book your other properties in the future, especially when you operate in multiple cities or states or countries.If you do marketing on other channels like Facebook or google search, use this link. How to access this page: Got to Hosting dashboardScroll down to where you see Go to pro marketing page, click on it. Standard fees Having other costs that you need to add but don't want to increase your base rate and make your listings less competitive? This is the perfect tool for you.

For example, Dallas county in Texas charges an additiaonl 7% hotel tax that Airbnb is not collecting. Without this tool, we would have to increase the base rate by 7% which would make our listing less attactive in the search result. With this tool, we were able to add this tax in. There is no tax field so we use management fee field instead. Team hosting tool for airbnb professional hosts

Now you have the option to create team to manage listings on airbnb and don't have to give staff your login. The neat thing about this feature is that you can set permissions. You don't want everyone has access to payout information or changing the payout bank account. How much do airbnb professional hosting tools cost? It's free to use these tools. You just need to have 6 airbnb listings at least and then sign up. Click here to signup with airbnb and start use these tools. 2. Automate airbnb messages To be able to truly scale up, you need to forgo the "I can do it better myself." You need to outsource as much of the work as possible either by hiring other people or use tools to replicate your efforts. How to do airbnb automated messages Write you airbnb automated messages as templates and create a schedule to send them out. You can employ a virtual assistant or send them out yourself.Using a automate messaging tool is the quickest and easiest, at a small cost. Some of them come with the following features that will save you even more time:Automate responseAutomate review Airbnb automated messages tools These vendors provide airbnb automated messages tools you can use. YourporterSmartbnb Airbnb automated messages for check-in and check-out By setting up your automatic messaging and using templates to provide all the info your quests, you don't have to worry about check-in and check-out any more. Just be available when you need to troubleshoot an issue. Messages checkpoint you will want to have as airbnb automated messages Welcome after reservationCheck-in messagePre-exist messageRequest for reviewPromotions and discount for rebooking Key exchange - keyless entry You can do lockbox to hold key but it's not a secure option since it's easy to break the code can be easily exposed to passerbys. Using a smart lock is a good way to do keyless entry, especially when you manage multiple airbnb properties. Best setup: Smart lockLong battery lifeEasy to installSecureRemotely manage: you will want to have the ability to remotely manage the lockChange code remotelyAllow multiple user codes: will need at least 3-5 codesHave code sent to your guest automaticallyAlert you when the batteries are low and need to be replaced Smart locks and setup we recommend: Schlage using z wave to connect with Samsung SmartThings hub. The smart app we use to control the lock remotely is Lock User Management by RBoy SmartThings Apps. We only paid $39 (one time fee only, but per hub, so expect each rental to use 1 hub) to control it remotely (lock, unlock, change user code, etc.). If you want to have it automatically sends a unicode for each stay directly to the guest, you can do that too for a $99 lifetime subscription. August Lock is convenient to set up as you can get all you need as one package. You will want to order the keypad also so your guests can use a code to get in instead of having to download and sign up for the August app. The trick is to align the lock well during installation. If you have a door that aligns well, you will not need to worry about this issue. The other con is that the keypad runs out of batteries every few months, you just need to change the batteries when the app notifies you. LockLock CostAdditional EquipmentAppSchlage$184-225Hub $60$39 or $99August$184-225Keypad $49 Automate reviews Automate review is a big time saver when you have 30 - 100 check ins per month. Review guest is important since you can encourage guests to leave you a review which will help your search ranking in airbnb. You don't want to have manually do this every time. One of the tools you can use is YourPorter to automate reviews House rules There are a ton of issues with renting on airbnb or any other short term rental platform and we outlined them here for you. Set clear house rules to prevent problems and save time and money on solving these issues: 28 crucial airbnb house rules. House guide It's important to have a clear house guide/manual with all the information that you think guests will ever need. If you keep getting the same question 3 times or more, it's best to include the answer in your house guide. 3. Dynamic pricing Manage pricing on airbnb for multiple units can be time consuming. You will also need to take into consideration these factors to get the best rate: Seasonality: what months are the local low season months? High season months?Holidays: which holidays do local celebrate? Which holidays do travelers travel to this location? Unit size, sleeping capacity Do it yourself: you can do it yourself of course. Here are some good resources for you. Check your competitor pricing How should you price your unit Hire a virtual assistant to do the work for you Dynamic pricing vendors can seem to be expensive at first but we do believe they save you time in the end because they get you more money. Some of them offer free trial so it doesn't hurt to try to see which one works best for you. BeyondpricingPriceLab 4. Create your own short term rental website With recent changes on airbnb with their new extenuating circumstances policy, hosts went for a spin, worrying of be able to make end meet when airbnb let guests cancel for full refund between March 14 to May 31, 2020. Relying only one channel might make or break your business. Don't put all your eggs into one basket. You can list on other short term rental sites such as VRBO and Booking.com. However, to have the most control, having your own short term rental website and get direct booking is the best way to go. Reasons to why you need a vacation rental website Avoid booking fees - for you and your guests, making rate on your website lower than on booking sites like airbnb, your website will be more attractive.Create brand awareness and brand loyalty.Have full control of your marketing - your website is yours so if your airbnb listing has issues, you can always direct traffic at your website. Business won't be interrupted.Increase conversion - more channels, more diversification. Studying the best short term rental websites, we comprise how you can create your own short term rental website here. How to create a vacation rental website Use a short term rental website builder that allows you to create a website with their url or your own domain.Build your own with Wordpress and pull airbnb calendars inHire a web design and hosting company to do it for you Intergrated do-it-yourself but with hosting included vendors: WixLogify Build your own What you will need Choose a domain nameGoDaddyNameCheapHosting BlueHostChannel managerOwnerRezChoose a website template/theme You will need to create the following 6 pages: Home page: list all your listingsProperty detail page: one for each property with their availability calendarAbout you or your business pageContact us pageTerms and conditionsBlog: blogging is great to drive organic traffic to your site HI LIVING builds beautiful and mobile-friendly website for you at affordable rate. Contact us to learn more.

II. Supplies

Supplies List: check out the recommended supplies list here. At a minimum, airbnb requires these essential amenities: Toilet paperSoap (for hands and body)One towel per guestOne pillow per guestLinens for each guest bed The more boxes you can check the Amenities section in your listing, the more your listing will stand out when guest filter for amenities that are important to them. Buy in bulk to save money Sam's club: get Plus membership to get free shipping. We get cash back since we buy so much at Sam's Club, we made more money each year than the cost of the $100 membership fee.Amazon business account with Prime shippingWe checked pricing on security camera Blink XT2 and found that Amazon business price was $10 cheaper than regular consumer Amazon Prime price.Amazon Key: consider getting amazon key to automate your supplies delivery.

III. Cleaning

Why hire your own cleaners Cleaners are important members of your team as they are your first line of defense. Hire your own cleaning teamControl cleaning quality betterMore control how your units are set upBetter control of suppliesIf you don't have enough work for a full time cleaner or twoHire them as independent contractors Connect with share cleaners with local airbnb professional hosts Where you can hire cleaner Indeed job postingFacebook job

IV. Maintenance

Build relationship with local vendors so when you guests report a maintenance issue, you can schedule a vendor to come out right away instead of tumbling and scrambling searching for a vendor is manage listings on airbnb. Pay them fast and on-time. Control your cost but don't nippicking on each invoice. When it's a last minutes call or during their busy time, who do you think they will come out for service first? The pleasant landlord who pays on-time or a difficult customer. It's best if your cleaners also can so some light handy work so they can take care of those when they clean. For example, tighten screws on furnitures.

V. Protection

There are different layers of protection that you will need to provide proper protection for your home. Consider these layers Airbnb host guaranteeAirbnb host protection insuranceYour home insuranceReserve

VI. Manage your number

Rules of thumb for business: Never run out of cash is how to manage airbnb properties! Airbnb operating costs Airbnb listing fees is about 3% for airbnb professional hosts.Supplies - cost to provide supplies to guests such as trash bags. Check out the recommended supplies list here.Cleaning - cost to clean after guests checkout. Airbnb maintenance costs Repairs and maintenanceReplacement cost of furnitures, appliances and other items you use in your business (bedding, towels, small fixtures like lamp, etc.) Other costs TaxesFederal income tax: choose which schedule you will need to report airbnb income on (E or C)Some states and locality requires more taxes, check with your state and city. Airbnb collects tax on behalf of these localesVRBO collects tax in these locationsInsuranceUse layers of insurance to protect your home Manage your cost with these tools Accounting softwareSeparate bank accountSeparate credit card

VII. Expand beyond airbnb, list on other channels

Diversification is key so you're not depending on just one traffic source for your business. Here are other sites you might want to list on. HomeAway / VRBOTripAdvisorTop VillasFlipkeyVacationRentals.comHomeToGoTripping.com

Conclusion

How to manage airbnb properties? Managing multiple listings is a very different game from just managing one. Stay on top of your numbers and watch the bottom line closely. Agree or disagree? Join the Airbnb community using this link and get $40 credit your first booking! These problems with airbnb worn you down? Why Not Listing Your Properties with HI LIVING Hospitality and let us do all the work for you? Check out our service: https://hilivingbnb.com/services/ We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Read the full article

#airbnbautomatedmessages #airbnbprofessionalhosts #howtomanageairbnbproperties #managelistingsonairbnb

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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7 Essential Steps: How to manage airbnb properties - for elite airbnb professional hosts

7 Essential Steps: How to manage airbnb properties – for elite airbnb professional hosts

Use airbnb professional hosts tools to scale up your business. Learn how to manage airbnb properties and multiply your success.

I. Tools on how to manage airbnb properties 1. Airbnb professional hosting tools How to manage airbnb properties with airbnb professional hosting tools?

You can manage multiple airbnb listings at scale with these tools by updating them all at once.…

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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Short term rental insurance: Ironclad your home with 3 layers of protection

The key is to layer protection with different short term rental insurances. Replying on just one of these layers might not be enough in term of amount of coverage and might not cover different types of losses.

1. Platform Insurances

Airbnb insurance If you rent on Airbnb, there 2 different types of airbnb insurance for host that you can tap into. Airbnb host guarantee

Airbnb host guarantee is a airbnb insurance policy available to airbnb hosts that cover damages done by guests. There is strict timeline and process you need to go through with airbnb to file a claim. This will be the first thing you would tap if there is damage or theft. What does airbnb insurance cover? Damage to a host’s property (home, unit, rooms, possessions)Every Airbnb listing in every country Payments made through the Host Guarantee are subject to airbnb Host Guarantee Terms and Conditions. If damages occur, documentation (photos, receipts, etc.) will need to be provided as part of the resolution process. Please review the Host Guarantee Terms and Conditions for applicable conditions, limitations, and exclusions. What’s not protected? Personal injury and property damage claims from third parties (those are protected by airbnb Host Protection Insurance)Damage to shared or common areas of the building that aren’t part of the listing itselfCash and securitiesDamage caused by a petDamage from ordinary wear and tear Certain items, including but not limited to: artwork; antiques items, including furniture and jewelry; valuable rugs, collectibles; and other items may have more limited protections under the Host Guarantee. Airbnb insurance policy: host protection insurance

Airbnb host protection insurance is a separate program from airbnb host guarantee. It provides primary coverage for Airbnb hosts and landlords (when landlords are named in a lawsuit), worldwide. What does airbnb insurance cover? The airbnb insurance policy covers certain property damage in common areas of a property outside of the listing itself (for example: a building lobby). Landlords and homeowner associations are also covered in certain cases when claims are filed against them due to a guest suffering an injury during a stay or if a guest damages building property. What’s not covered? The Host Protection Insurance program is limited to certain types of liability. Examples of what’s not covered include, but are not limited to: Property damage due to things like pollution or moldDamage or injury from something done intentionally (not an accident)Loss of earnings For more information about what their Host Protection Insurance covers and doesn’t cover, visit airbnb Help Center. You can also download a comprehensive program summary. Vrbo insurance: if you rent on VRBO/Homeaway If you list on VRBO, see VRBO's damage claim process here. You can use these 3 tactics: VRBO damage deposit Surprisingly VRBO damage deposit can add protection to your home. On VRBO, damage deposit works very different from Airbnb security deposit. Read more. CSA property damage protection - vrbo insurance policy What is vrbo property damage protection insurance? Vrbo property damage protection insurance provides homeowners with coverage for damage that could occur to a rental property during a guest stay. Your guest or you must purchase damage protection at least 24 hours before check-in. Read more. Policy options $59 for $1500 of coverage$79 for $3000 of coverage$99 for $5000 of coverage VRBO liability insurance

What is the $1M Liability Insurance? $1M Liability Insurance provides owners and property managers with liability protection; giving owners $1,000,000 in primary liability coverage no matter what other short term rental insurance you currently have. How you're protected: Traveler injury claims made against you - If a traveler is accidentally injured while staying in your vacation rental property, this program may provide coverage for claims made against you. Property damage claims made against you - If a traveler accidentally damages the property of a third party (such as a neighbor) while staying in your rental property that third party may sue you for that damage, this program may provide coverage for these types of claims. Note - $1M Liability Insurance does not cover damage caused by a traveler to your own property. How it works: Up to $1 million in coverage - Eligible claims handled under this program are subject to a maximum limit of $1 million USD in coverage per property, per year. Primary coverage for eligible claims - If you don’t have liability insurance for your rental, this program provides that protection. If you do have liability insurance for your rental, this program works with your current provider and gives you $1,000,000 in added protection. Liability protection for vacation rentals - Typical homeowners policies may not provide liability protection when your property is used as a vacation rental. Global reach - This program provides protection worldwide where VRBO operates. If you have further questions about coverage and claims, please view the policy summary.

2. Short term rental insurance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIcp2DfVtyw Why platform policies aren’t enough If you book your property through platforms like Airbnb, you are entitled to some automatic protection such as the airbnb insurance policy above, both programs are not as inclusive as a short term rental insurance policy. Usually platform policies don't cover things like loss of income or environmental factors such as mold. Is short term rental insurance expensive? Vacation homes are considered higher-risk properties for several reasons and, therefore, have higher rates. Risks include being vacant and subject to vandalism or burglary, tenants who don’t care for the property leading to a major loss, or tenant claims of injury or property damage. Vacation properties rented out are considered business issues and thus have a higher risk in general. Even though it usually more expensive than a typical homeowner insurance, it is a cost of doing business and is usually covered by your higher rental income from short term rental.

What type of short term rental insurance do you need? There are different types of insurance such as homeowner insurance, landlord insurance, and renter insurance. Since you're doing short-term rental, regular homeowner insurance or landlord insurance might not cover your home. It's best to look for a short-term rental insurance policy from a reputable company that know how to deal with vacation properties. Common short term rental insurance coverages include

Loss of incomeExcess use of utilitiesInfestationLiquor liabilityIdentity theft Key factors that impact short term rental insurance costs Location: ex: flood zoneType of propertyAmenities Ways to save on short term rental insurance Choose a location with less riskBundle your policies - to get discountsInstall an alarm system - the more secure your home is, the lower your premium will be amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hilivingbnb-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "security alarm system"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "3e7f39ee854dc5d2fd66506a9a6e223e"; amzn_assoc_design = "in_content"; amzn_assoc_title = "Security alarm system"; Your home insurance might already cover short term rental. Call your insurance company to see what is covered. Some home insurance policies cover short-term rentals. Major companies offering short term rental insurance include ProviderBest ForNationwide InsuranceCondo owners with master association policies but who need specific loss assessment coverageAllstate InsuranceHomeowners using and rent the property seeking to have a homeowners endorsementFarmers InsuranceBeach rentals in frequent hurricane and flooding communities where policies are hard to getForemost InsuranceProperty owner seeking a customized policy with an agreed upon loss settlement provision to save on cost.Proper InsuranceShort-term vacation rental property managers with over 10 different bookings each year Proper Insurance is a popular choice for short term rental insurance since the policy is written for this purpose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdcXMmGsOFQ&feature=youtu.be

Steps to insure your vacation rental home Create a home inventoryTake photos of all furnitures, appliances, etc.Record the basics: cost, date of purchase, serial numbers, etc.Don't forget off-site items - ex: beach gears you provide for guests that are stored outsideKeep proof of value - keep receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals with your listFigure out how much short term rental insurance you needShop aroundKeep all your documents together (policy, insurance agent contact, home inventory, proof of value, etc.)

3. Rental property reserve fund

Set aside funding for repairs and maintenance is a smart thing to do. You might also want to set aside 3-6 months of operating expenses to cover periods of downturn as a rental property reserve fund. Why do I need a rental property reserve fund? Homeowners and rental-arbitrage hosts are struggling these days with lockdowns and quarantine in many cities across the US and worldwide. Travel demand vanished overnight. Many are looking into forbearance just to make it for the next few months. If we all have 3-6 months worth of all expenses in the bank right now, it might save our businesses until the pandemic passes. When platform policies or your short term rental insurance don't cover or are not enough, having a reserve might help you stay in business. Never run out of cash is an important business rule. How much should I set aside as reserve? Calculate a minimum rental property reserve fund To calculate a small maintenance reserve for rental property (1-10 units), add up the following expenses for all of your properties: monthly mortgagestaxesinsurance premiumscondo feesoperating utilitiesother operating costs: supplies (condiments, etc.) and small wears and tears that you need to replace opten (linens, towels, etc.) Then, multiple it by three, and then cut the total in half to reveal your minimum rental property reserve fund. How much rental property reserve fund do I really need? The answer to this is how much money in the bank that you need to keep you sleep soundly at night. For each investor, depending on your risk tolerant, this amount will be different. But at least keep a minimum rental property reserve fund. How to build a rental property reserve fund?

Separate your bank accounts: each unit should have its own account, and more importantly they need to be separated from your personal spending account.Use accounting software or manually keep track of all your costs. Be fully aware of all the costs to operate your business so you don't underestimate your expenses.Build a realistic reserveFund your account - set a budget, set up automatic transfer. Remember to rebuild Remember, the goal is to keep this minimum amount in your account at all times. If you pull from this savings, or go below this minimum threshold, be sure to rebuild it as fast as you can to maintenance reserve for rental property.

Conclusion

If you don’t choose to get vacation rental insurance coverage, you may be taking a big financial risk. Even though the cost of short term rental insurance is higher, it's still worth it to get the right policy to protect your hard earn investment. How will you keep your home safe from property damage by guests? Join the Airbnb community using this link and get $40 credit your first booking! These problems with airbnb worn you down? Why Not Listing Your Properties with HI LIVING Hospitality and let us do all the work for you? Check out our service: https://hilivingbnb.com/services/ We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Read the full article

#shorttermrentalinsurance

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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Short term rental insurance: Ironclad your home with 3 layers of protection

1. Platform Insurances Airbnb insurance

If you rent on Airbnb, there 2 different types of airbnb insurance for host that you can tap into.

Airbnb host guarantee

Airbnb…

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6 Rules to Turbo-charge your airbnb listing management | Get 14-Day Booking

These are proven tips to increase your airbnb search ranking and secure much needed bookings right now. You might have go to your minimum or even slightly below. But hang in there and do your airbnb listing management well; there is the rainbow on the other side. We got all of our units filled with 1-weeks to 1-month stay even during at this time. Travel is at all time low now, hosts are wondering if it's the bottom. As long as the curve can be flatten and restrictions are lifted, we expect to see increase in travel demand (compare to now). With many hosts looking to switch to medium or long term rental or being forced out of the market all together, demand then will be up which supplies will be low. So hang in there. How to boost airbnb listing?

1. Airbnb description and Listing title

Improve your airbnb listing title with these tips: Cleaning is more important than ever. Highlight your cleaning processUse keywords like CDC recommended cleaning, Sanitized...Airbnb cleaning checklistHighlight what would make your listing stand out to guests that might be subjected to quarantine or stay-at-home order or someone that is looking for a place to work from or more space to spread the family out.Big private backyardPorch / balconyBig indoor or outdoor spac, etc. Ex: SANITIZED✨40%OFF/m✨2Br | Lanai | Parking | Kitchen Expand these points in your airbnb description. Airbnb description example:

2. Feature image - airbnb listing management most important step

Your feature image is the first thing people see and will determine if they want to see your listing or not. This is the most important aspect in airbnb listing management and optimize airbnb listing.

https://airbnb.com/h/waipahu These are Facebook ads but you can see how brand communicates with airbnb photos.

3. First five image

Anything you want to show to a potential guests, you will need to show it through photos. The first five photos will be your most important asset in airbnb listing management. Once they get to your listing page, the first five photos are all they see at first. Each section has its own purpose. The feature photo is for people to click and see your listing.The first five photos are for people to view more photos or read your listing description. If these photos are not attractive enough, people might go back to the search and you just lost a potential guest. Show a variety of highlights you want a potential guest to see. Don't just how the same room / space for all first five photos.

4. Min day = 1

Set your minimum day to 1 to maximize on views, which will help to increase your airbnb search ranking; thus an important step in airbnb listing management. You might have preference how many days per stay. You can achieve this by setting long term discounts. So the 28-day would be your base of what you would be ok renting it out (your minimum for the month). When guests stay for 1-2 nights, they would pay a "premium." So you mark up to mark down, like how it's in retail.

5. Long stay discount

Set your 28-day discount to be the minimum you would be ok to rent your unit out to the whole month. Then set your 3-week and 2-week discount. Right now you would want to optimize for the 14-day (2-week) stay as many cities/states order 14-day quarantine period. See our example below.

See how Sonder does it.

6. Promoting your listing

Double down on marketing is the thing to do now because Maintain or increase your search ranking on airbnb. The more you share your listing url, airbnb will like it more and move your search ranking up.Many hosts are switching to long term rental or getting out of the market all together, it will be easier for you to gain market share. Where you can promote your listing Social media like Facebook and Instagram are great for short-term rental hosts. Don't forget Pinterest also.There are Facebook groups for travelers that you can share your listings there and maybe even get a few bookings.There are Facebook groups for hosts that you can share your listings and ask for opinion/critics. There are groups you can exchange wishlist but don't do that too much since you will want to build your wishlist organically (better airbnb SEO that way).Ask your guests and potential guests do airbnb Wishlist your listing. Timely messaging Travel brands are focusing being inspiring, hopeful and empathizing with followers. See example below that might inspire you to create something unique.

Go live Go live on Facebook or Youtube or other channels will help you increase your visibility greatly. We experimented with Facebook Live and increase organic view 10 times.

Yellow bar = Reach, Red bar = Clicks/Actions The first and second are Facebook Live videos. The last one is our regular Facebook post. You an see the high difference.

Conclusion

The time has changed drastically the past month. The sooner we can adapt to the new competitive environment the better. We hope these tips will help you improve your airbnb search ranking, do a good job with airbnb listing management and survive through this difficult time. Which tip will you implement first? Join the Airbnb community using this link and get $40 credit your first booking! These problems with airbnb worn you down? Why Not Listing Your Properties with HI LIVING Hospitality and let us do all the work for you? Check out our service: https://hilivingbnb.com/services/ We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Read the full article

#airbnblistingmanagement #airbnbsearchranking #airbnbwishlist #howtoboostairbnblisting #optimizeairbnblisting

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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6 Rules to Turbo-charge airbnb listing management: get 14-Day Booking NOW

We got all of our units filled with 1-weeks to 1-month stay even during at this time.

Travel is at all time low now, hosts are…

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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28 Crucial airbnb house rules - the Ultimate Guide

Airbnb house rules are your first line of defense to guard against parties, unauthorized guests and many other problems airbnb issues today. Use these samples rules to protect yourself and your property from headache.

We will explain in depth what the crucial house rules are and why we chose them. If you're looking for the version we give to guest: 28 House rules in PDF here. We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.

What are Airbnb House rules?

Airbnb house rules are a set of rules that you can post on your listing and share with your guests to set expectations, what to do and what not to do. Ex: limit smoking, limit visitors. Guests must agree to your house rules before they book. Once the reservation is confirmed, your airbnb house rules are also sent to guests. Your airbnb house rules need to complied with airbnb terms and conditions as well as local laws and regulations. If guests break one of the house rules you set, you can choose to cancel the reservation. This is different from a House Manual. House manual is where you can explain to guests where things are in your home. To add or edit House Rules after you’ve listed your space: Go to Your listings on airbnb.comClick Manage listing on the listing you want to editClick Booking settings at the top of the pageNext to House rules, click EditSelect your expectations and rules for guests, then click Save

28 Sample airbnb house rules

We have put together 28 house rules any airbnb host should have. You can use all 28 of them or a combination of them. Below we will explain why we choose these house rules. 1. AC / FANS / LIGHTS / HOT WATER/ COOKTOP Utilities can cost you an arm and a leg if you don't manage these well. You might think that if the unit is not occupied then you will have low utility bills. Guests can leave your AC on high and blasting all day in a hot summer month while they are not even in the unit or when they check out already but your cleaner won't come later in the evening or the next day. Ask guests to turn these off when not in use. You can mention there will be additional fee if someone has to enter the unit and turn those off. It's common to have hot water tank and cooktop to have a switch that you turn on or off. Leaving the hot water tank (the types you find in Asia) will keep it running all day and waste a lot of electricity. If you're the US, you don't need to mention this. Tips: consider installing devices that would save you money like a Nest thermostat if you've central air. Not only that it will save you money in electricity bill, you can also remote control it. If you don't have central air, Cuby Smart might be your solution. It took me 3 months searching for solutions before I came by this one. Now I can control split ACs in our rental remotely. 2. PARKING To avoid confusion and dispute, ask guest to park in designated parking spot(s) only (if your unit has one) and abide by all street signs when utilizing street parking. The last thing you want is for guest to block neighbor mailbox or cause upset in your neighborhood.

Tips: beside giving clear direction to guests where to park, investing in some parking signs on the property. 3. PETS We are pet-lovers ourselves but for a vacation rental, pets can add additional cleaning time and additional wear and tears. We generally don't allow pets on these rentals.

We had guests brought pets into our units without telling us at all. Cleaner had to roll so much dog hairs on the blankets and deep clean the whole place, instead of the usually turn-over cleaning. The urine smell on our carpet was the worst. We had to use OdoBan for 2 weeks straight to get rid of the smell. You want to state clearly that No pets are allowed on premises. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in additional cleaning fees to be assessed, as well as eviction from property. No refunds will be given. Tips: You can choose to allow pet and charge a higher rate and set a higher cleaning fee. You might get more bookings at a higher rate. Many travelers prefer to bring their pets with them, especially on road trip to stay close to their furry friends and also to save on pet-sitting. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hilivingbnb-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Must have if you allow pets"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "25efd741bac4990875d60a3905882e72"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B07CMM6JVF,B07VZ324J5,B079K9B4XV,B06XXQNRYC"; We use the carpet roller a lot even for units that are not allowed pets. We found that if we roll the hair off before washing, we don't have to worry about hair afterward. 4. NO PARTIES Parties are the biggest headache for hosts. Did I tell you we had a unit damage for over $25K due to a party last December (2019)? The question for hosts is not if it will happen to you, but WHEN it will happen. Absolutely no parties allowed! Make it very clear in your house rules that no parties is allowed. Tips: ask for ID for verification purpose. Once we started asking for ID for our unit in downtown Dallas, we don't have party yet so far. Guests are also more inclined to treat the property better. Verbage: Please provide a picture ID after booking, the name on the ID needs to match the name on the reservation for verification. 5. VISITORS

airbnb 1-4 visitors during the day that are not staying overnight might be ok. But if you charge additional guest fees after a certain guest count, you will want to make sure no unauthorized guests are allowed to stay overnight. We also note in our house rules that inaccurate guest count will result in additional fees and might lead to eviction. Tips: Install security cameras or video doorbell help tremendously to protect yourself against unwanted guests. You can set notifications to be sent to your phone. We once stopped a party from happening by calling the guests as we started seeing cars and people start coming in from the driveway. Blink camera: I like this the most as they are affordable and best of all, I don't have to pay for monthly subscription of the videos.Ring doorbell: If you live in an apartment complex that you're not allowed by the condo board to put up cameras on the outside wall, you can use a ring doorbell on your door. There are 2 versions, one you can wire into an existing electronic doorbell, one you can just use batteries that charge it from time to time. 6. SMOKING Our units are 100% non-smoking. We find it's easier to clean and keeping it healthy for all guests (yes, including smokers). But we do strike to establish a spot outside the unit they can smoke. To deter smoking indoor, we put signs in the living room and in the bedrooms to remind guests not to smoke. 7. QUIET HOURS "This is a residential area- quiet hours are from 9pm-8am" is that we usually post in the units and in our house rules. You can choose what time works best for your neighborhood. Sometime our neighbors would let us know it's too noisy at night. Having this house rule in place, all we need to do is to remind our dear guests about the quiet hours. 8. CANDLES We used to have candle holders are decoration but due to fire hazard, we don't allow candles anymore. But we do provide flashlights just in case there is an power outage. 9. FURNITURES No moving of furniture! Believe it or not, guests have moved furnitures around to make an arrangement works for them; it's fine as long as they move it back. We have a heavy baby crib in the master bedroom. By the time the guest checked out, the crib was in the other bedroom. With just one cleaner came for that day, it put us way behind schedule to get someone else to came since we needed two people to move the crib back to its original location. Since we had this rule in place, we were able to send the guest photo the the misplaced crib and charged for the additional time needed to turn the unit over. 10. REMOTES & OTHER ITEMS Verbage: No moving of remotes and other items. When you checkout, be sure to leave items where you originally found them. Missing remote controls and other items will be billed to you. We even label the location of the remote with a label maker. This will save your cleaner a lot of time not have to search around and put things back where they should be. Thus, this tip alone will save you money in cleaning fee over time. Even with the best cleaners, when they go through their days cleaning different houses with different setups, all the details might not be perfect all the time. The last thing you want is the next guest coming in and can't find the remote. As you scale up, you might have a reservation coordinator or work with a hosting company that manage guest communication for you. If you have a clear system in place with items being labeled and are in their designated spots, your reservation coordinator can tell guest exactly where the remote is without having to double check with the last cleaner or you. 11. CHECK-OUT On Airbnb, you can specify the checkout time in the listing (under Availability). It doesn't hurt to emphasize this again in the house rules. Delay in checking out can delay your cleaning screw's schedule, you don't want that to happen. And when it does happen, you want to be in a position that you get compensated for it. 12. DAMAGE We ask guests to report any breakages or damages to us as soon as they happen. Unreported damages will be charged to the guest. Tips: Post a list of inventory of all the items in your rentals on the fridge. When things go missing, you have a list ready on hand to proceed to next step to file a airbnb damage claim or vrbo damage claim. Your guests can be another set of eyes for you and let you know if anything that needs to be replaced. Ideally the cleaners should be the person to spot it but sometime they miss it. 13. TRASH If you've multiple single family houses that are scattered across town, it's not cost effective to have someone driving around and bringing your trash bins and recycle bins out and in all week long. In these cases, we ask the guests to bring the bins out and in. The longer the stay, the more the guests will be willing to do it. At the beginning, we thought we might get a lot of complaints. Surprisingly, there have been no complaints at all so far. If you think this is too much to ask your guests, of course, you can manage this yourself or pay extra for your cleaner to take care of this. Verbage: Guests are responsible for removing all waste from the unit and placing it in the appropriate bins outside (this includes removing all open food items from the refrigerator and cabinets, trash, recycle). Additional cleaning fees will be assessed to guests if trash is left in the unit after checkout. Please take the bins out to the curb to be serviced as posted inside your unit. 14. DISHES Washing pile and pile of dishes would turn your turnover cleaning into a forever cleaning. If the unit has a dishwasher, we ask guests to rinse the dirty dishes and run the washer before they checkout. For other units, we ask dishes to be washed before checking out. You can specify how much you want to charge (depending on how much it costs you) to handle dirty dishes in your airbnb house rules. For us, we just wrap it up into the additional cleaning fee rate. 15. SUPPLIES There is no amount or type of supplies can delight all guests. At the minimum, we provide the basic supplies airbnb requires like salt and pepper, etc. We then go above and beyond with larger quantity of basic stuff like trash bags, paper towels and plenty of toilet paper and even a welcome gift. Setting expectation is key. Our rule of thumb is "under promise, over deliver." In our room rental rules and regulations, we listed that supplies will be a small start up even though we do stock more. Once the startup supply runs out, guests are on their own to purchase additional supplies if needed. This way, when guests want more of a certain item, instead of asking us (where we would have to pay the cleaner an additional shopping fee to buy and deliver the item) or complaining and giving us a bad review, they understand they need to get their own supplies. 16. LOCK In our sample house rules for guests, we ask them to always lock all doors/windows when leaving the premise. This also means locking the lockbox right after they use it. Leaving the lockbox open will expose the property to risk of theft (with lockbox, the combination code can be seen when the lockbox is open). 17. PEST CONTROL Even with diligent pest control, properties will tend to have a modicum of bugs, ants and geckos. We listed in our room rental rules and regulations that contacting with a pest inside or outside of property is not a reason for terminating the rental agreement, nor is it a reason for a refund of monies. The property interiors and exteriors are treated regularly for pests. Guests are encouraged to report any pest problems so follow up professional treatment can be scheduled as soon as possible. We do schedule quarterly pest control with Terminix. Prevention is the best course of action. 18. SHOES In Hawaii or in asia, where it's customary to remove shoes before entering the house, we leave a "Please remove your shoes" sign to ask guests to do so and provide a shoes rack. It keeps the unit cleaner and better especially if you have carpet. We also try this for our units in Dallas; however, we provide Finleoo Lightweight slippers in addition to shoes rack. Most guests complied with no question or concern. We love these rubber slipper since they last long and when they are dirty, we can rinse them outside and then wash them in the dishwasher, they come out nice and clean. 19. DRAIN Have ocean front property or rental in a beachtown? Sand will be your concern. Beautiful beaches are great for your guests but not so much for your drain. We always state in our airbnb house rules pdf to remove sand before they enter the house. If there is an outside water hose, we point it out to renters. Also mention clearly in room rental rules and regulations that there will be charge if they clog your drain. To combat hair clog, we use these 2.7 inch sink strainer drainers and they work wonder. 20. LAUNDRY

If multiple units share the same laundry area, you will want to have some clear guideline like laundry hours, what to do when someone leave their clothes inside the machine for an extended time, etc. At the very least, provide instructions on how to use the machines. If you have international guests, this will help them tremendously. 21. KEY Common issues with keys and lockbox: Keys can be lost.Guests forget to put the key back into the lockbox when they check out (usually they left the key inside the unit). Cleaner can't come in because there is no key in the lockbox.Guests don't close the lockbox after taking out the key; therefore, they expose the lockbox code to any passerby. For these reasons, for units that have keys/lockbox, we make sure to include in our airbnb house rules: Place the key back into the lockbox as soon as they open the door, and leave it there when they don't need the key.Always close and lock the lockbox itself. Charge a fee for key replacement and a fee to deliver a new key if they get locked out.We keep another set of spare key (in another lockbox) and hide it somewhere. Tips: The best way is to get an electronic lock, especially one that you can control remotely and change the code remotely. The best setup that we love so far is Schlage with Samsung SmartThings hub. The smart app we use to control the lock remotely is Lock User Management by RBoy SmartThings Apps. We only paid $39 (one time fee only, but per hub, so expect each rental to use 1 hub) to control it remotely (lock, unlock, change user code, etc.). If you want to have it automatically sends a unicode for each stay directly to the guest, you can do that too for a $99 lifetime subscription. 22. MAIL/PACKAGE

Handling guest's packages can be another logistic operation by itself. Packages can arrive early or late, outside the timeframe of the guest stay. Your cleaner or someone will need to locate the package, secure it and mail it to the guests (if the package arrives after the guest has left). Squatters can establish their tenancy by receiving their mails at your rental among other tactics. For this legal concern, if you can avoid allowing mailing of packages, that's better. A solution for this is not to let guests mail their packages to your rental but let them know about USPS General Delivery, where they can mail the package to their name and address it to a local USPS location that offer general delivery service. They can pick up the package at the USPS store. 23. MAINTENANCE Letting guests know you or your maintenance crew might need to enter the unit for the purpose of general maintenance, bug spray, etc. in your airbnb house rules so you will not startle your guests when you do need to come in. When guests review their stay, airbnb asks the a question on whether or not there were unexpect people there. Review question: There were unexpected people on site Answer choices: Yes, No, Not sure Airbnb questions to guests when they review their stay

Managing expectation is everything here. 24. VIOLATION OF HOUSE RULES

Here you want to mention what the consequences of violating your house rules will be. In our sample house rules for guests, we clarify that violation of airbnb house rules may result in a fine and/or eviction. Per airbnb, if guests violate your house rules, you can cancel the reservation, and usually that means you should be able to keep the money for the reservation. 25. LINENS / TOWELS

AIrbnb: https://airbnb.com/h/seascapecottage Little items can add up in cost quickly. If you lose 1-2 towels, it doesn't seem like a lot. But if you have 20 units, 40 units, constantly replacing towels can affect your profitability. "If linens or towels are rented from Owner or supplied with Rental Property, Guest is responsible for lost or damaged items at the cost of two (2) times the published standard rental price for such damaged or lost linens or towels." This is what we stated in our airbnb house rules template download. 26. REFUND Setting clear refund policy will help you and your guests deal with unpleasant situation when something goes wrong. In our sample house rules for guests: No refunds will be provided due to inoperable appliances, pools, hot tubs, elevators, etc. The Owner will make every reasonable effort to assure that such appliances will be and remain in good working order. No refunds will be given due to power blackouts, water shortage, flooding, snow, construction at adjacent properties, or mandatory evacuations of the area by county officials due to hurricanes or other potentially dangerous situations arising from acts of god or nature. 27. COMPLIMENT ITEMS

Providing beach gears or recreational toys for guests is fun. Getting sued when something wrong happens is not. Make sure you put language into your airbnb house rules and ask guests to sign a waiver. Consult with your favorite lawyer for specific language for your state. 28. PORTABLE AC (if applicable to your unit) Last but not least, portable AC usually requires draining the inside reservoir from time to time. If you have a long stay, guests might have to empty it. Anticipate something like this and put them into your airbnb house rules, will help you when you need to ask your guests to do something.

Conclusion

When setting your airbnb house rules, it's all about setting the right expectations and preventing surpries when something goes wrong. Definitely having a refund policy in place and no parties rules is a must. These two alone will save you a ton of money and headache. Which of these rules will you implement right away? These airbnb house rules worn you out? Why Not Listing Your Properties with HI LIVING Hospitality and let us do all the work for you? Check out our service: https://hilivingbnb.com/services/ Disclaimer: These house rules are for sample only. We make no guarantee about the validity and enforcement ability of these samples. Please consult with your real estate expert or lawyer. Read the full article

#airbnbhouserules #houserules #roomrentalrulesandregulations

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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28 Crucial airbnb house rules - the Ultimate Guide

28 Effective airbnb house rules - Airbnb house rules are your first line of defense to guard against parties, unauthorized guests and many other problems airbnb issues today. Use these samples rules to protect yourself and your property from headache.

We will explain in depth what the crucial house rules are and why we chose them. If you’re looking for the version we give to guest: 28 House rules in PDF here.

We may earn…

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hilivingbnb · 5 years ago

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6 Actions to take NOW | Airbnb stimulus package

Airbnb hosts struggle as travel plunges and airbnb extenuating circumstances policy allows free cancelation for guests. Many hosts are at the brink of bankruptcy or being forcing out of the short term rental market all together. Get the most out of the airbnb stimulus package that is rolling out right now for US hosts. UPDATE: Airbnb NEWEST extenuating circumstances policy. Reservation check in date moved to May 31, 2020. Host gets 25% of the reservations. SEE MORE AT #5.Source: Airbnb We may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.

1. Get the most out of airbnb coronavirus stimulus credit

Maximize your airbnb coronavirus stimulus package creditCheck your AGI of the latest filing against your filing status. If you're married filing jointly and your 2019 AGI is $150K or under, you are ok, you should be getting the max credit of $2400 for you and your spouse.If you haven't file your 2019 tax returns: If your AGI in 2018 is above the credit threshold, and your 2019 tax situation would qualify you for more credit, file your 2019 return right away.Make sure you will receive the paymentThe credit payment will be sent out via direct deposit if you use direct deposit in 2019 or 2018 tax return. So make sure to double check if it's current.If you recently moved, notify the IRS your new address right away.Check this IRS website for when payment will come out.FAQs on airbnb coronavirus checksRead the official Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Taxfoundation.org

2. Check mortgage forbearance program

Mortgage Payment Forbearance Homeowners with government-guaranteed mortgages (homeowners with mortgages backed by the FHA, USDA, VA, HUD Section 184a, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac) who fall behind on their monthly payments because of the coronavirus pandemic can postpone their payments by 180 days and then might be able to extend for another 180 days, making it 1 year in total. This is according to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. That program allows for a temporary postponement of mortgage payments for up to one year without fees, penalties, or additional interest. Airbnb hosts suffer from many issues with airbnb already, going bankrupt shouldn't be another thing we have to bear. Do this with caution since we don't know yet how delaying payment will affect your credit scores, at least until lenders figure out how to delay reporting to credit agencies like TransUnion and Equifax. Foreclosure Relief A foreclosure eviction moratorium is also in effect for many homeowners until May 17. Meaning you won't be evicted at least until then, which can buy you some time to figure something out and get some of the relief monies. Renters Relief - for hosts who do rental arbitrage Until July 26, 2020, property owners are prohibited from filing for eviction against or charging any fees for unpaid rent and fees to a tenant in properties with federally-guaranteed loans or participating in federal housing programs. Property owners must also issue a notice to tenants to vacate 30 days before an eviction and the notice to vacate cannot be issued during this 120-day period. Contact Information Homeowners/renters in need of relief should reach out to their mortgage servicers as soon as possible or contact a HUD approved housing counselor. The nearest housing counselor can be found at www.consumerfinance.gov/find-a-housing-counselor or by calling (800) 569-4287.

3. Get a small business loan

Airbnb hosts can get small business loans through federal relief bill. The bill, as it is currently written, requires eligible borrowers to show that they need the loan because of the uncertainty of the economic crisis caused by the virus. The loan can only be used to maintain payroll, leases and utility payments. Apply here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/

4. File for Airbnb unemployment

Uber drivers, Airbnb hosts could soon receive airbnb unemployment checks. Some call it a ‘bailout’ for big tech which is not what these companies are asking for, but more like aids for airbnb hosts and workers in the gig economy. Cleaners and other independent contractors can look into filing as well. Some people may have to apply for traditional unemployment benefits, then be denied, to be eligible for the new amount of funds commissioned by Congress. Experts feared, potentially meaning that it could be weeks before some Uber drivers and Airbnb hosts actually see their first checks with this airbnb unemployment issue. Right now, I lawmakers set up a fund focused on self-employed workers affected by the outbreak yet ineligible to receive traditional unemployment insurance. The workers can soon apply in their states for aid, and until the end of July, they will see a $600 boost to each of their checks, lawmakers said. How much will I receive? It depends on your state. Under the plan, eligible workers will get an extra $600 per week on top of their state benefit. But some states are more generous than others. So let’s say a worker was making $1,100 per week in New York; he’d be eligible for the maximum state unemployment benefit of $504 per week. Under the new expansion, he gets an additional $600 of federal pandemic unemployment compensation, for a total of $1,104, essentially replacing her original paycheck.

5. Check your canceled reservations under NEW airbnb coronavirus extenuating circumstances policy

Airbnb just announced on March 30 about putting aside $250M to support hosts as airbnb unemployment is up and hosts are screaming. Check your reservations that were canceled with the new airbnb extenuating circumstances policy and see if you get 25% of the reservation. Contact airbnb if you don't see those payouts being scheduled to you. Airbnb extenuating circumstances policy is now apply to reservations booked on or before March 14 with a check-in between March 14 and May 31For eligible accommodations reservations, we’ll pay hosts 25% of what they would’ve received for a normal cancellationThey won't pay until AprilThey will pay on a monthly basis (Is airbnb trying to hold on to cash again?! We host need liquidity here!)Reservations made after March 14 are not covered I just checked our airbnb account and nothing is being scheduled yet. Check back in on April 1.

6. Apply for superhost relief fund from airbnb (if you qualified)

Airbnb also sets aside $10M as grants for qualified superhost as of March 30. To qualify, hosts who offer a place to stay must: Only share their primary or secondary residence—no more than 2 active listingsShow a reliance on Airbnb as a vital source of incomeHave a verified identityHave been a Superhost for 1+ yearsHave lost a significant percentage of their earnings due to COVID-19Only those hosts who demonstrate the most need would get the grant Eligibility criteria for hosts who offer Airbnb Experiences Exclude mainland China (they have their own program)Show a reliance on on Airbnb as a vital source of incomeHave a verified identityHave been an Experience host for 1+ yearsHave lost a significant percentage of their earnings due to COVID-19 How to apply Airbnb team will invite eligible hosts to apply in late April 2020 Maximum grant amount Up to $5000 depending on financial needsOnce the grant is approved, it will be sent out in 3 business days and follow the normal payout schedule

Conclusion

Relief for us hosts with airbnb stimulus package is here but we need to act now and fast and do everything we can to save our business and the home-sharing sector as a whole. Together, we can do it! Airbnb is trying to soothe hosts but their customer service don't even answer questions these days, many of these eligible payouts/grants would fall through the crack. Hosts will need to keep checking and keep contacting airbnb and fight for every dollar. Do you qualified for the airbnb coronavirus stimulus package credit? Will you file for airbnb unemployment? These problems with airbnb worn you down? Why Not Listing Your Properties with HI LIVING Hospitality and let us do all the work for you? Check out our service: https://hilivingbnb.com/services/ Read the full article

#airbnbcoronavirus #airbnbstimuluspackage #airbnbunemployment #coronavirusstimuluspackage

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