^{Mar 25, 2022}
How to be an AirBNB host in Vancouver. Is it right for you?

With so many success stories from hard working people who are now generating extra income as an AirBNB host in Vancouver, we thought it time to share our thoughts and ideas. Hosting is something that’s exploded in the last couple of years, and for good reason. By being able to make money from your own home, you can do things like cover the cost of vacations by renting while you’re away.

While all of this sounds great in principle, getting the basics right is what’s really important when you’re starting out. To make sure you’re moving in the right direction, we’ve covered everything you need to know in this quick and easy guide. Enjoy!

Research is key to make sure you have all of the paperwork in order from day one. Take your time to dive deep into everything you need by looking into the process of obtaining a short term rental licence. This is essential if you want to legally host, with the specific details of what you need to do varying across different types of property.

What to expect when renting on AirBNB?

Managing your AirBNB property as owner involves a variety of different steps, many of which sound simple and straightforward on paper. The problem is that before you know it, hosting becomes a full-time job that leaves you little time for anything else. To make sure you know what to expect, take a look at the following key areas you’ll need to have covered:

Sales

Making sales takes time, money and effort. The problem is that your reputation on the platform is only going to grow when you make sales, and to get sales you need a great reputation. This is something that many new hosts struggle with in the beginning. You may always get a lucky break here and there, but that’s certainly not the norm. If in doubt, connecting with someone with the experience to make things happen really does make all the difference.

Check-Ins

Check-ins can’t be rushed if you want to give every guest the personal service they expect. The problem is that different people will want to arrive at different times, they’ll have different needs, and there’ll be a wide range of different expectations. Getting your check-in process right can take a lot of time, but it doesn’t have to. If you can get an overview from an expert, you’ll be able to cover all the bases from day one.

Maintenance

Maintenance and guest services are crucial if you’re to maintain your property and safeguard your reputation. The problem is that issues always crop up when you least expect it, forcing you to change your plans and divert your energy. If you can have a team on standby, you’ll be able to sleep easy knowing that everything is being done the right way. If not, you have to invest a lot of time and effort yourself to make sure everything is covered.

Check-Outs

Check-out has to be convenient for your guests, not you. But if you try to offer such a broad range of options, you’re never going to have time for anything else. And it’s not just wishing them a fond farewell that you need to find time for. Checking the property, preparing it for your next guests and making sure everything is all in order is essential too. It’s easy to think you can cut corners at this stage, but all you’re really doing is pushing problems down the road so that your next stay becomes that little bit more difficult.

Security

Security and potential damages need to be factored in, and they also need to be taken care of without delay. If something unforeseen happens, are you genuinely prepared to put it right there and then? What would you do if you were on vacation, or away on business, and you got a call saying there was a serious issue with your property? If you’re not sure what you’d do in every scenario, hiring someone to look after everything would be the wise move to make.

Hosting

There is significant time and effort required to host and manage on AirBNB, and a lot of hosts miss this point when they start out. Simply listing your property and sitting back and waiting for bookings is unlikely to get you anywhere. What you need is a comprehensive approach and a smart strategy that allows you to build your reputation faster than other comparable properties in the local area. It’s not always as easy as it sounds…

Overreliance On One Platform

If you put all of your hopes on a single platform, you’re building a weakness into your hosting business from the start. A smarter approach would be to not just focus as an AirBNB host, but to look for ways to diversify your hosting business while maintaining the same level of reach. Again, it’s not always that easy.

Is AirBNB the only option?

While they’re the global name everyone gravitates to, they’re far from the only option out there if you want to rent your furnished property in Vancouver. In fact, HighStreet Accommodations is the perfect choice when you want to turn your property into a new income stream without having to worry about licences and other associated headaches.

Here’s a few ways the team at HighStreet Accommodations can save you time, money and effort before you know it:

• All credit and payments will be securely collected for you, allowing you to spend your time doing more of what you love
• Full communication between management companies and building owners is handled by our full service solution
• You can even get routine maintenance and regular property checks taken care of so you know your property is always in perfect condition

Not only that, you can also have calls and messages answered 24/7 to make sure your occupancy rate is as high as it can possibly be. Add in the flexible housekeeping service that makes changeover days stress-free and you can turn your property into a hosting business with ease.

I want to be an AirBNB host in Vancouver, what do I do now?

Once you’ve confirmed that you can legally rent out your Vancouver property, it’s time to start putting everything in place. This can take longer than you might think, so here’s a few tips to get things started:

• Talk with an expert about the types of furnishings you have in the property and what visitors will ideally want to see
• Compile a welcome folder with maps of the surrounding areas, guides on how to use the appliances and anything else you would want to see if you were staying there
• Supply several sets of matching bed linen and towels so you can make changeover days quick and efficient
• Gather more info on the AirBNB website

Alternatively, you could look to hire a full service hosting solution. That way you can feel the benefits of having a dedicated team who understand the industry and know the local area.

I would rather have a full service hosting solution, what do I do now?

To hire your very own full service hosting solution, simply get in touch directly with the HighStreet Accommodations team and ask anything you need to know. With the right people in your corner, building a hosting business in Vancouver really is that simple.