Earn​ ​extra​ ​money​ ​while you’re on holiday​ ​with​ ​Airbnb

The​ ​holidays​ ​can​ ​be​ ​a​ ​festive​ ​time​ ​of​ ​year​ ​to​ ​reconnect​ ​with​ ​family​ ​and​ ​friends.​ ​

For many,​ ​it’s​ ​also​ ​an​ ​expensive​ ​time​ ​of​ ​year.​ ​Holiday​ ​gift​ ​and​ ​food​ ​shopping​ ​can​ ​put​ ​a​ ​real strain​ ​on​ ​your​ ​budget.​ ​

But​ ​you​ ​may​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​ease​ ​the​ ​financial​ ​burden​ ​by​ ​becoming​ ​an Airbnb​ ​host,​ ​where​ ​you​ ​provide​ ​space​ ​for​ ​guests​ ​who​ ​pay​ ​to​ ​stay.

Lots​ ​of​ ​people​ ​travel​ ​for​ ​the​ ​holidays,​ ​and​ ​many​ ​of​ ​them​ ​also​ ​need​ ​a​ ​place​ ​to​ ​stay.​ ​

If​ ​you have​ ​an​ ​extra​ ​room,​ ​detached​ ​unit​ ​or​ ​vacation​ ​home​ ​available,​ ​consider​ ​making​ ​it available​ ​to​ ​guests​ ​on​ ​Airbnb​ ​during​ ​the​ ​holiday​ ​season,​ ​and​ ​maybe​ ​give​ ​yourself​ ​the gift​ ​of​ ​a​ ​budget​ ​boost.

Potential ​ earnings​

Your ​ first​ ​ question​ ​ is​ ​ probably​ ​ ​how ​ much​​ could​ ​ you​ ​ make​ ​ hosting​ ​ ​on ​ Airbnb.​​

The company provides ​a​ ​tool​ ​that​ ​helps​ ​estimate​ ​what​ ​you​ ​might​ ​​earn,​ based​ ​on​ ​other​ ​listings​ ​in​ ​your​ area. ​

Airbnb​ ​makes​ ​the​ ​payment​ ​​process ​simple,​​ too.​ ​

Guests​ ​are​ ​charged​ ​when​ ​a reservation​ ​is​ ​made,​ ​and​ ​funds​ ​are​ ​typically​ ​released​ ​to​ ​hosts​ ​24​ ​hours​ ​after​ ​check-in. How​ ​you’re​ ​paid​ ​is​ ​up​ ​to​ ​you:​ You​ ​can​ ​set​ ​up​ ​direct​ ​deposit,​ ​PayPal,​ ​or​ a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​other options​.​ Creating ​a​ ​listing​ is​ ​always​ ​free.​

Time​ ​commitment

The ​holidays​ ​can​ ​be​ ​busy,​ ​but​ ​hosting​ ​on​ ​Airbnb​ ​doesn’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​​a ​ full-time​ ​job.​ ​The​ online​ process​ ​to​ ​create​ ​​a ​​listing ​is​ ​straightforward –you​ ​write​ ​descriptions​ ​of​​ your​ space, ​upload​ ​photos ​and​ ​mark​ ​dates​​ your​ ​space​ ​is​​ ​available ​to​ ​travellers.​​ You​ ​can​​ also​ access ​your​ ​account,​ ​ and​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​your ​guests,​​ via​ ​the​ ​mobile​ ​app.

As ​a​ ​host,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​be​ ​as​ hands on,​ ​or​​ as​ ​hands off,​ ​as​ ​you​ ​want,​​ ranging​ ​from​​ meeting​ guests ​at​ ​the​ ​airport​ ​to​ ​directing ​them​​ to​ ​your​ ​ hide-a-key​ ​to​ ​check ​themselves​ ​in.​ Whatever ​style​ ​you’re​ ​comfortable​ ​ with​ ​is​​ up​ ​to​ ​you.​​ ​

Many ​hosts​ ​charge​​ a​ ​cleaning​​ fee​ to ​cover​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​of​ ​ a​ ​cleaning​ ​service,​ ​so​​ they​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​launder​​ the​ linens​​ and​ mop ​the​ ​floors​ ​after​ ​each​ ​guest’s​ ​stay.​

If ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​rent​ ​your​ ​space ​but ​just​ ​don’t feel​​ like​​ you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​time​ ​at​ ​all,​ ​consider a ​co-host​,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​​a ​fellow​​ host​​ on​ ​Airbnb​ ​who​ ​will​ ​take​ ​care​ ​of​ ​hosting​ ​duties​ ​on​​ your​ behalf, ​in​ ​exchange​ ​for​ ​about​ ​10 to 20 per cent​ of​ booking​​ earnings.​

Host ​ support​

Allowing ​strangers​ ​into​ ​your​ ​home​ ​might​ ​feel​ ​a​ little​ ​strange​ or​ ​scary.​ ​

You​ ​can​ ​get​ ​a​ sense ​of​ ​what​ ​to​ ​expect​ ​by​ ​​visiting ​Airbnb’s ​Community Centre​ ​where​ ​experienced,​ successful​ hosts​ ​share​ ​their​ ​​stories and​​ can​ answer​ your​ ​questions.​ ​

​Also visit​ the​ Airbnb​ blog​ for​ insights​ on​ getting​ ​the​ ​most​ from​​ ​your available​ space.​

If you’re​​ nervous​​ about​​ the​ ​safety of​​ your​ ​home​​ and​ belongings,​ Airbnb’s ​got​ your​ back:​ ​In​ ​the​ ​rare​ ​event​ ​an​ ​accident​ ​happens,​ ​the​ host​ ​guarantee​ ​may​ ​cover​ ​your​ ​property up​ ​to​ ​$1​ ​million​​ ​per​ ​stay – it’s​ ​peace​ ​of​ ​mind​ ​for​ ​you​ ​at​ ​no​ ​extra​ ​charge.​ ​And​ ​as​ ​for the​ ​folks​ ​staying​ ​at​ ​your​ ​place,​ ​ever​yone​ ​who​ ​travels​ ​on​ ​Airbnb​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​submit​ ​a​ ​profile photo​ ​and​ ​confirmed​ ​phone​ ​number​ ​and​ ​email​ ​address.​ ​

For​ ​extra​ ​assurance,​ ​you​ ​can also​ ​require​ ​your​ ​guests​ ​to​ ​submit​ ​a​ ​government-issued​ ​ID.

Getting ​ started​

Visit​ the​​ Airbnb​ ​host​ ​site​ ​​to​ explore​​ resources,​​ learn​ about​ ​host​ expectations,​ ​and create your​ listing.​ ​Start​ hosting​ now​ ​and​ ​earn some​ ​extra​ cash​ to​ give​ your​ holidays​ some extra​​ jingle!​