Though it seems like everyone and their Great Aunt Hilda has a listing on Airbnb these days, it takes a surprising amount of legwork to get a rental up and running. There are licenses to secure, rooms to decorate, photos to stage, pricing to research—the list goes on and on. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all model where solid bookings are guaranteed, especially with the rapid growth in short-term rentals,” say Jamie and Ashley Hewitt, twin sisters who rent out a cozy A-frame cabin in Brook Park, Minnesota. “New hosts see how fast our calendar books up, but it took a lot of fine tuning to get everything just right.”
Whether you're looking for the same kind of success, or just curious what it takes to create the rentals you book, read on as the Hewitts and seven other superhosts from around the world share everything they did to prepare their listings for launch.
Make nice with the neighbors
While few Airbnb hosts ask for their neighbors' permission before listing a property on Airbnb, many make an extra effort to keep relations amicable. Superhost Rob Ross, who rents a five-bedroom house in Saugerties and a three-bedroom house in Woodstock, New York, introduced himself to his neighbors and encouraged them to alert him of any issues. “I don’t want parties at my houses anyway, so the neighbors and I are on the same page,” he says. The Hewitt twins didn’t ask for a blessing but gave their neighbors a heads up on their plans to rent out their cabin, noting “It was important for us to mention to them that we wouldn’t tolerate unruly or disturbing guests.”
Scale Mt. Paperwork
Though Airbnb streamlines its setup process, navigating the morass of bureaucratic requirements can be intimidating. Some cities have 30-day rental minimums if a host doesn’t live on-site; others require neighborhood meetings before approving applications. For Francesco Catucci, the superhost behind this stunning Sassi limestone cave dwelling in Matera, Italy, listing his holiday rental involved municipal licensing, registering with the local tourist office and police department, and paying property taxes. For the Hewitts, renting their cabin on Airbnb meant getting a lodging license from the Minnesota Department of Health—a state rule some newbies unwittingly overlook. Ross saved himself the trouble of unpleasant surprises by hiring an accountant to assist with sales and occupancy taxes, and an insurance broker to handle the liability insurance.
Market to the right audience
Ross made his Saugerties rental attractive to New York City creatives by naming its rooms after famous local artists and stocking it with hotel-grade amenities. Mailu Mwau Wasanga, a Kenyan superhost who listed his Nairobi apartment from 2015 to 2020, mentioned in his listing that he deejayed the occasional club night, drawing party people and students. On the flip side, it’s better to turn away some guests preemptively than to field complaints later. Superhost Paulin Skoglund-Voss does not permit children under 12 in her tiny house in Frogn, Norway because of its lofted sleeping area. She even warns prospective guests that the rental may be unsuitable for elderly travelers or anyone who would have difficulty navigating the loft’s steep ladder. Being clear about these types of things in the listing description saves time and effort (and that listing rating) in the long run.