Airbnb is a great way to rent out your spare space – its convenient and very easy to use. However, it isn’t always plain sailing. From damaged property to massive parties, there are many people who have taken advantage of their Airbnb host’s vacation rental and left them broken hearted and seriously out of pocket.

Recently, an airbnb host had their house being used for murder.

So how can an Airbnb host protect themselves against these threats?

These tips are for you want to be an Airbnb host; it will teach you how to safeguard your property while using it to make money.

You must take the time to vet your guests before they stay in your home, as it will allow you to get a good feel for them. Vetting your guests begins when you communicate with them through the messaging app, but if you want to be more cautious, you should consider calling them to have a quick chat with them about their visit.

You will gauge a lot about people from how they speak over the phone from what they say or what they do not say.Though vetting your guests might seem complicated, it is the greatest preventative measure you could take. If, after speaking to potential guests and you are not comfortable, then you should not host them. Airbnb allows you to cancel the reservation if you do not feel comfortable with a guest as it is your home.

Verify all forms of payment

When renting through Airbnb, VRBO, or Booking.com, only accept payments through these sites. If you’re using your own site, only accept payments through a secure payment processor. Do not accept cash or wire transfers, as these are not traceable and can be easily reversed.

Do not immediately refund overpayments

If a guest requests a refund for an overpayment, do not immediately comply. This is a common scam, and you will likely never see the money again. Instead, request proof of the overpayment, such as a screenshot of their bank statement.

Take a security deposit

Through Airbnb, you can choose to take a security deposit from your guests to cover you in case of minor damage. For example, if your guest breaks a window or smashes some plates, you can take it out of their security deposit – which means you don’t need to make a claim on your policy or pay an excess.

Be a Friendly Airbnb Host: Connect with Your Guests

Before a rental booking can occur, guests may ask you specific questions about your property and then are required to send verification of their identity in a message through the Airbnb website. After confirmation and payment has been made, you can then provide contact information and arrange meetings. This is very important, and highly recommended – people are far more likely to respect your property if they have established a personal connection with you. Engaging with your guests through a purely automatic transaction means you loose out on that opportunity to create a personal connection.

Take Insurance Seriously

Airbnb recommends that hosts have enough insurance that will cover damages caused by guests. They will also provide additional cover for damage and theft. For some, this is a secondary insurance option. So, as an Airbnb host, ensure you arrange your own home insurance coverage.

Have Others Help Keep Watch

Try as much as possible to get security guard, a friend, family, neighbor or fellow renter to keep an eye on the property and ascertain that everything is in order before renting. The beauty of this is that it will help protect your property once it is rented to guests and you are miles away.

Set Out Clear Rules and Expectations

Before making a reservation, Airbnb hosts and guests must agree on a wide range of house rules, which can include overall expectation, off-limit areas, policy regarding smoking and drinking, and the bringing of pets or other guests. This house rule must be comprehensive and specific. If a guest goes against the stipulations of the house rule, you can cancel the reservation with immediate effect without penalty. But if you and the guest did not agree on any house rules you won’t enjoy such protection.

Use a Security System in Off-Limit Areas

Keep in mind that guests need to know about the security of your property. It is not advisable for you to install security cameras in the guest’s space, but if you have systems that will notify you if someone enters off-limit areas.

Removal of expensive items:

It may seem obvious, but one way of protecting one’s property is to ensure that there are limited valuables to protect in the 1^st  place. 

Conclusion

Airbnb hosting is becoming a popular way to make quick cash without doing too much work. Though it is usually problem-free and unlikely that you will have problems, it is still crucial that you take some security measures to ensure that your property is well-protected.