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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2019)
14 — Friday, August 30, 2019 NORTHEAST OREGON REAL ESTATE 7 Things I Hate When Renting Other People’s Homes on Airbnb By Cathie Ericson Realtor.com 7. Making guests feel unwelcome I can’t remember the last time I booked a hotel for a vacation. Instead, I head straight to short-term rental sites such as Airbnb. I get lower rates and more room to spread out, and the homeowner gets a nice infusion of cash. This win-win scenario has many home- owners eager to rent out their digs. But beware—it’s not as easy as posting a few pics. For long-term success, you’ll have to rack up the rave reviews, and those can be tough to come by if you don’t cater to your customers’ needs. As a seasoned short-term renter, I’ve come across my share of annoyances that bother not only me, but many of my friends who depend on short-term rental sites, too. So if you’re tempted to turn your home into a cash cow, make sure to avoid these classic mistakes. Yes, it’s a business transaction. However, you’re opening up your home, and some visitors want it to feel that way. The most wonderful Airbnb I ever stayed in was in Alabama, and what folks say about Southern hospitality is 100% true. We were there for a football game day weekend, and the host had assembled a beautiful basket overfl ow- ing with “tailgate” essentials, from chips and salsa to red cups and pompoms. I would estimate it probably cost $10 to create this welcome basket, but the glow was worth far more than that. She also had left new toothbrushes and travel-size paste in the bathroom. Necessary? Of course not, but much appreciated. So, consider adding your own welcome basket of a few snacks, some brochures for nearby tourist attractions, and other small but meaningful amenities that will wow your guests. 1. Skimping on supplies Leaving one roll of paper towels, two trash bags, and three dishwasher detergent cap- sules is going to earn my wrath. I’m either going to be annoyed that I have to buy new supplies, or going to leave the dishwasher full because I was out of detergent, as I did during a long weekend in Sunriver, OR. Yes, I get that there are rude guests who overuse supplies, but at least furnish enough for normal use. Another essential frequently lacking is an adequate supply of bath towels. And it’s so easy to fi x: Just go to a big-box store when they are on sale and stock up. And if one of the amenities you’re touting is a pool or beach access, for the love of heaven, furnish beach towels! I can guarantee your guests assume they are there and didn’t bring any of their own. 2. Exaggerating your location “Near the beach.” When my friend rented an Airbnb in Los Angeles with this descrip- tion, she was envisioning a short walk before she felt the sand between her toes. Instead, “near” amounted to a 20-minute drive (without traffi c) and a battle to fi nd a place to park. And I’ve fallen for this gambit, too, when I considered renting a place “in wine country.” It turns out it did have one vineyard nearby, but was otherwise far on the fringes of prime Tero Vesalainen/iStock grape territory. Of course you want to put your place in the best light, but there’s a fi ne line between aggrandizing your location and misleading people. And trust us, we will be miffed. 3. Furnishing the rental with castoffs When I’m on vacation, I don’t want to be surrounded by garage sale furniture, nubby sheets, mismatched plates, warped pans, and random kitchen gadgets. All of this I found in a mountain cabin rental in Northern California, which took “rustic” in the wrong direction. Yes, equipping the home is an invest- ment, but to give your rental the aura of a chic hotel or sumptuous guest home, spend a few extra bucks for elegant furniture and amenities. your home, keep that calendar of available dates current and check your messages regularly to ensure that you are getting back to potential renters ASAP. Often they are coordinating with multiple families, juggling dates and airfare, and attending to a wide variety of details that go into planning a vacation, which can be majorly affected by availability. 4. Making renters wonder how to use the coffee maker Or the other appliances, but especially the coffee maker. First, get one that’s relatively intuitive and then put the manual right next to it—with the coffee fi lters located in a logi- cal location nearby. At one Airbnb in Boston, I noticed a lack of fi lters so I bought new ones, only to fi nd three boxes in an upper cupboard the next day. It seems everyone had thought they were miss- ing and bought them. I helpfully stored my contribution in the drawer under the maker, where a practical person would expect to fi nd them. You’re welcome. 5. Hiding the Wi-Fi code Like, seriously, don’t make this hard. 6. Not updating your bookings calendar It’s infuriating to relish in the good fortune of nabbing lodging on a prime weekend in a fantastic location only to fi nd out later that it’s already been booked. If you’re renting out Conceptual Rendering Northeast Oregon’s Premier ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY Homes Starting from the Low $300s Condominiums from the Low $200s Condo Leasing Available 8 Single Family Homes 21 Condominiums Private + Gated www.Elevation-Pointe.com 541-797-5100 Address: 400 Block of 16th St, La Grande, OR 97850 Developed by GCT Land Management Images of homes are solely for illustrative purposes and should not be relied upon. Images may not accurately represent the actual condition of a home as constructed, and may contain options which are not standard on all homes. The prices of our homes, included features, and available locations are subject to change without notice. Depictions of homes or other features are artist’s conceptions. Hardscape, landscape and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary.
