FIRST MONTH on Airbnb: What We Learned + $$$

[@nabilah7353]

I am a owner for 4 AirBnB's My advise to get more customers and better ROI: (1) I am collecting and bring my guests from the Railway Station and Airport for free! (2) I think it's good of course to provide guest some free coffee, tea and snacks of course. They will love it and next time they are in your city they will come again!

[@kristenandmichael]

These are all great amenities to offer guests!!

[@xela79]

I know that I’m 10 months late, so my apologies. I’m new to all this, and deciding whether or not the Airbnb route would be best for me. Would you recommend this route and think it’s enjoyable/worth it? Also, you don’t have to answer this question, but how much is the general income with 4 Airbnbs?

[@Loveofdecorating]

Just a suggestion from a former house cleaner… you can take it or leave it… we used to have a second and sometimes a third set of everything so it makes clean up time at the house WAY FASTER! So all you have to do is take sheets/comforters/towels off and take them home with you or to wherever you do your linens and just simply put the clean ones on 😅 cuts hours off of waiting on sheets/comforters/ and towels to dry!! Thanks for all your insider info! Great video 😊

[@kristenandmichael]

Hi! Yes, thank you for the suggestion. We have 3 sets of all sheets in the house + 18 of all towels. Prob too many but we want to be prepared!

[@franksanchez9355]

That’s exactly what I do ! Lol I can finish my house in 1 and a half hours

[@jackieffrench695]

@@kristenandmichael My husband and I are in the prep stages for our first Airbnb. Just a question about linen changes- do you also clean quilts, blankets and matress pads after each booking?

[@codydroddy5173]

Do you change comforter each time or just sheets?

[@jenaytucker8145]

That's a good idea.

[@horror_headed]

Cleaning. I clean for a living. So true. Cleaning is hard work exspecially deep cleaning.

[@tjhendricks1756]

That's pretty cool, they've got the same haircut.

[@jackc1196]

Maybe they are siblings?

[@Smores4ucampers]

Great video. So many people waste time just to tell you to buy a class at the end. I appreciate the information 😊

[@kristenandmichael]

So true! Here to give our experience & hope it helps!

[@kara5958]

I’m also new to hosting on airbnb. We built an ADU on our property (Southern California, popular beach town). We allow pets (so far only dogs) this has been the single best decision we made. We are booked solid through next spring. It’s a new build and we installed ceramic floors so cleaning would be simple. We are at least 30 days rental due to local laws. I can’t believe what a great investment this has been. Some things I’ve learned is all white sheets and towels so everything can be bleached super clean. I will simply buy affordable comforter so I can just replace between guests due to dog hair. I really think spotless matters. In between guest bookings, I try to schedule my handyman to go in and touch up paint, caulk bathroom shower anywhere needed…. I also give upscale amenities such has nespresso machine (including weeks worth of coffee pods). I always include welcome basket with bottle of wine (nice bottle), chips and chocolates. So far, we are crushing it! Best of luck to you

[@kristenandmichael]

Ohh interesting! So amazing that has worked for you. So you buy and replace the comforter after every guest? I guess that would make sense if you're renting it for 30 days or more. We are usually booked for 1-2 night stays so not sure that would make sense financially for us. Another reason we are trying to avoid pets is that coyotes run through our land, and one of our neighbors had their smaller dog eaten recently, like they stalked the house and waited for it to come out the door, then grabbed it. So we really want to avoid that happening to our guests. Thank you for the insight!

[@kara5958]

@@kristenandmichael yes, coyotes are an issue where I live has well. The yard is fenced in but that won’t guarantee coyote won’t jump fence. We let all guests know risks of leaving pets alone in yard. None have. I will say that allowing pets has been the single most reason I believe we are so booked. We also cater to the high end guest with amenities (ie: spa, warm floors, upscale appliances and 3 separate outdoor areas…) and yes our guests are all 2 months and over so that’s why I just replace comforter. I buy reasonable priced at target or Walmart. Another thing we learned is guests want local cable TV. We installed all smart TV’s thinking this would be great but quickly learned that most our guests are the 60 and up crowd and they want local TV/sports… so I did install regular cable too.

[@kara5958]

@@samanthahodson2274 Thank you Samantha!

[@teebklyn1]

What’s ADU?

[@avensnow]

Min 30 day rentals?

[@tonyashcraft88]

Upon their booking, ask them for a 4-digit number which you will use to program the front door as their entry code. This confirms their booking even more (fewer cancelations) and less thinking on your end to create a new 4-digit passcode.

[@kristenandmichael]

Luckily our Kwikset lock autogenerates a number for us every time but this is a good tip as well! Thank you :)

[@curzonpeier6539]

@@kristenandmichael I use the last 4 digits of guest's mobile number, easy for them to remember.

[@lanlan9767]

So you take home that but you claim that on taxes to so …..it’s less then that right

[@emilypaterson4925]

@@kristenandmichael Which kwick lock are you using?

[@IWonderGirl]

Guys, I’ve been working in hotels 7+ years and let me tell you something about ESA. If they openly tell you they’re and emotional support animal…I kindly say unfortunately we are not a pet friendly property and only accept ADA certified animals. ADA specifically points out that ESA ARE NOT service animals. By law, you are allowed to ask 2 questions: 1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? 2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

[@tracysarmis3169]

Good information. I know people have clicked on to saying they need pet for emotional support but you defo need proof !

[@bobfeaver8438]

So there’s one way you can legally deny a service animal. If you have severe allergies to pets and you live in the home part of the time, you can deny them

[@bobfeaver8438]

@@tracysarmis3169 Sadly most guests lie about this because they are entitled brats

[@jenhartnett-orser5242]

my understanding on #2 is that you can only ask IS this dog trained to perform a specific task? and you cannot ask what the task is (in most cases, this would equate to asking what the disability is, which is NOT allowed)

[@brunetteXer]

i think by law ESAs can't be left alone at the property either. thankfully this is really uncommon in my part of australia

[@bobbyjfromtheuk1]

Finding food from a prior guest is actually a great feeling. I've eaten for free during 3 or 4 day stays.

[@kristenandmichael]

Haha love that

[@funyogi516]

We started off with Airbnb in 2019, converted a house to a duplex. It went so well, we converted the garage to a studio unit in 2020. Then in 2021 we build an ADU in the back yard.... I don't think we could squeeze any more value out of that property if we tried LOL. My only regret is not building the ADu in such a way where I could rent it out as either 1 larger unit or 2 small studio units

[@tinydream]

If you don’t mind me asking, about how much money do you make and how much is profit?

[@am2probassfishingjourney]

Hi, I also have a duplex and am new to this. Is there a way we could connect and I could ask a few questions?

[@anelemngini4668]

What is a studio if I may ask so as the ADU. I want to learn

[@gingerjones111]

Before the days of Airbnb, our family had a shore house in New Jersey that had an explicit no pets policy. We also held a deposit. It was mentioned 4-5 times in the advert, the booking sheet, again signs inside the house, and on the invoice. Very crystal clear policy. If any trace of any animal was found, we kept 100% of the deposit. No exceptions. Not sure how Airbnb does things, but this worked for us. As we say in Jersey, FAFO.

[@mjordan601]

You two are crushing it in my opinion.....I watched this entire video and immediately thought the following........the typical buy and hold long term investor will rent to a tenant on a one to two year straight lease, and then hope make $200.00 to $400.00 a door net cash flow after expenses.........my advice to you is to repeat the process you have explained to us in this video over and over again as quickly as possible........ Great job!!!

[@badassdiva4753]

How often do you clean if people stay a week long? or a month long? How often do you provide them with clean towels and change their sheets?

[@kristenandmichael]

We've never had a month long stay yet, but if people stay over a week we recommend having our cleaner get in there to do laundry and clean, and then you can have your cleaner keep an eye on your place too to make sure everything is ok.

[@murph1329]

just started an airbnb myself. It's downtown. Our occupancy rate in the first month is at 70% and we had a resident at the nearby hospital book for the entirety of our 2nd month. It's honestly insane with how fast this investment is paying off.

[@kristenandmichael]

That’s awesome!

[@mangoyacho]

@murph1329 thank you for sharing such encouraging news! May you continue to grow from strength to strength!

[@imouttatown]

Good for you! Is your Airbnb an apartment or house?

[@jenaytucker8145]

Wow! Ok,that's encouraging.

[@murph1329]

@imouttatown loft in downtown. We are 7 months in now. We are averaging around an 83% occupancy rate with 45 reviews and a 4.96 rating.

[@Dieselife]

Very humble and helpful

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you! 🤍

[@Reverend-Race-Horsey]

I always require a deposit. I also require a deposit when I rent my car on HyreCar. I also run a background and Social check and references check up to 2.

[@pC-zd4qj]

Thank you much! I own a mountain cabin in CO and am considering placing it on Airbnb or Vrbo or both. Your input was appreciated. My only input for you is about the septic. I have had regular longer term renters here and was told by septic installers to make sure NO harsh chemicals, esp. bleach will ruin your septic. Thank you again and will be watching more of your videos and subscribed 😌

[@Robuilt]

Oh snap, I got a shout-out! Nice job! Make sure to get on that smart pricing though ;)

[@kristenandmichael]

We’re not worthy🙌🏼Thank you for all of your advice, guidance and inspiration.

[@ColtFPS]

That’s cuz you’re the man Robasolo!

[@julietruong]

Rob is the best! 😎

[@Maryam_bashir]

😂 pricing at the end of the movie! New fan over here! 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

[@leostephens1780]

End of the movie! Love it!! First time watching. Thank you. So informative.

[@gfighter897]

Joshua Tree is a really good location. I was out there for training and the scenery is beautiful.

[@kristenandmichael]

It really is magickal!

[@gfighter897]

@@kristenandmichael thanks for the reply! You’re videos have really put into perspective the Air BnB business and seeing Joshua Tree brought back some good memories.

[@gfighter897]

@@kristenandmichael hello! Back again! I actually found some properties to start investing in. How did you you go about financing?

[@DMosleyCFS]

Excellent review; I'm a new follower and my wife and I have plans to purchase our first AIRBNB, so this is most helpful. My daughter purchased her first AIRBNB last year.

[@sharonbeatty8047]

Nice to hear from "real" people and not these slick videos that are self promotion rather than educational

[@kristenandmichael]

Just being as transparent as possible! That’s the only way for us🙏🏼

[@ValerieMonette]

Thanks for posting! Very helpful.

[@jodylowe8476]

In my business, civil engineering, if someone, a contractor, has to call you to ask a question, your plan/design was incomplete. So it makes sense to be as detailed as possible in your airnbnb listing. If your renters are having to call you for info, you haven't done your job probably.

[@paulv8133]

Architect here....very true, good point!

[@leeanned5339]

Fascinating job. I love behind the scenes vibe. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you so much for watching. :)

[@jsonalbino3758]

New subscriber alert!! Lol. I’ve watched a lot of Airbnb videos and I like so many others that want to invest are looking for honesty, transparency, mistakes, realness, which you both have shown here. It’s refreshing to see a video of 2 ppl that were new to the industry, and kept it real!!

[@kristenandmichael]

Welcome! Thanks for being here! We appreciate that more than you know. :)

[@Annahernandez678]

Amenities, try to collect as much information you can from your clients to make their special occasion like no other… I believe going the extra mile makes a big difference. We run cleaning services in Southern CA, we always ask for extra details when doing turn downs for next clients.

[@kristenandmichael]

This is something we need to remember to do more often. Thank you for sharing!

[@chasethesky1]

I have stayed at one place about 7 times and always leave it spotless. Two nights ago I stayed there and my hostess left me a huge filet mignon and a potato with sour cream, bacon, butter and cheese, with cooking instructions. She said I am her best guest BY FAR. Okay, so, do you think I will go back??? :)

[@NeeneiRoby]

OMG!! love this video!! it is just what I needed to see. Beautiful couple with positive vibe! So professional and detail!! Thank you, guys!!

[@kristenandmichael]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kimberlindy]

Great video! Who did you say you watched for a year before doing this? I couldn't make out who you were talking about, thanks!

[@kristenandmichael]

Robuilt was who we watched and STR university (we did it all without taking / paying for any classes, etc.) there’s plenty of free info out there from accounting / balancing your books YT vids to STR channels! 🤍👍🏼

[@kimberlindy]

@@kristenandmichael thanks!

[@MrHamlet]

There is a big difference between Service Animals (SA) vs. Emotional Support Animals (ESA). The ADA and States recognize Service animals, but the ADA does NOT recognize Emotional Support Animals and most states don't either (check your local laws). California DOES have some protections for ESA, but not on the same level as SA. If a property does not usually allow pets, landlords still have to allow someone who has an emotional support animal as long as they have a letter from a mental health professional stating their need for the animal. You are not allowed to charge a fee UNLESS that service or ESA animal causes damage. Service Animals are trained for the disability they are serving for whereas Emotional Support Animals are not. In most states, and federally, there are no protections for ESA so you can tell those people "no" or charge a fee etc. except for California. You folks are spot on that you are not allowed to ask the person what their disability is and, for some ridiculous reason, for SA you're not allowed to ask for certification that the animal has been trained. You can ask ESA for documentation proving the animal is ESA. For SA only allowed to ask if it is a service animal, and what tasks it performs for the owner. In some states service animals are required to wear identifying items so people know it's a service animal. Again see your states laws. I recommend making tenants pay for insurance to cover any damage which usually covers pet damage. The customer is not always right....people will be awful and take advantage of you. You guys are awesome - keep up the good work!

[@ahoyhere8113]

You’re not allowed to ask for certifications for service animals because there is legally no such thing. Specifically, the ADA law setting out the rules for service dogs says there is no such thing as a “certified” or “registered” service dog and you cannot ask for proof because it doesn’t exist - that’s the federal law. Many owners self-train, because otherwise service dogs cost $20k+. Mine was $17k and I could not self-train due to the specific nature of his tasks. Any kind of certification would cause an undue burden only on disabled people which is illegal under the ADA.

[@MrHamlet]

@@ahoyhere8113 you're speaking to Service Animals (SA), not Emotional Support Animals (ESA). The ADA does not recognize ESA, but California and NY do and under California law for ESAs, they must have a certified letter that an ESA is needed and that letter can in fact be requested under CA law.

[@pepperread1184]

Thank you for this information. I find it disheartening that an owner cannot restrict animals in certain cases. As a renter, I prefer renting from a home with a “no animals” policy because of allergies. I didn’t realize that in some cases the owners may have been required to allow animals in the home. Going forward, this will be on my list of questions to ask the owners. ☮️

[@Evanthebat15]

This was so useful, thank you! We are planning on going into AirBnB short term for now and you were able to answer most of the questions we've had and stuff we didn't even think about like over describing everything.

[@landeeld9596]

I was a property manager for years and I observed lots of people who felt it was their right to bring their pets, claiming them as Emotional Support Animals. Total Bullshit!

[@boozielynn4175]

9 times out of 10, their emotional support pet is a pit bull :(

[@denisemarie6997]

I love dogs, cats, birds and have had all three over many decades. I didn't know before that Airbnb made participants accept Emotional Support Animals on the renters' say- so ("I'm a victim! I'm emotionally crippled! This is my ESA pig!"). Its like a fog has been lifted and I understand the Airbnb success now. Bring your 10 month old "pittie" and your 150 pound stinky Irish Setter and let them stink the place up and terrorize the neighbors. I'll stick to hotels - if my room smells like urine/feces/and/or mold, I can march to the reception desk and demand a different room. (Irish Setters are lovely dogs but they stink.)

[@megcreates2.0]

It’s expected as esa animals to have registered legal papers y’all can ask for just like the airlines do & other areas. Take a pic of it to attach to their paper work and make sure to add a toy or dog treats. You could have a questionnaire when they sign up the esa dog if they play w/toys, are allowed dog treats & list 3 options. Some esa dogs that are new to the program aren’t allowed treats/toys for a bit.

[@megcreates2.0]

I’ve thought of so much to be an Airbnb owner as you can probably tell😇

[@pC-zd4qj]

I just read about a property manager who had threat of lawsuit regarding not allowing a pet. The woman said it was a ESA but when asked for the paperwork that proves such, she left and never heard from again.

[@AuEclat]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m dreaming of starting an Airbnb and I don’t know where to start

[@kristenandmichael]

Good luck to you! Doing some research here on KZbin was where we got our start. And talking to friends or family in real estate!

[@sara.a]

Love your content. Really helpful. Greetings from new AirBnB host in Zagreb, Croatia :)

[@kristenandmichael]

Hi! Thank you & good luck to you on your journey!

[@arvandero]

Just ran into you channel! Subscribed! Thanks for your story...that was awesome. You given us so much insight into this with your real world example.

[@MasaGulan]

Hi there! I’ve been a super host for a few years now and what I can recommend that helped me manage multiple listings is Smartbnb. Especially the messaging rules section where you can customize a message and have it automatically sent to a guest. For example: I set an automated check in instructions message to be sent to a guest 3 days before their check in and a check out instructions message to be sent 18hours before their check out. And it is super convenient because you don’t have to think about that at all. And you can play around with it depending what you would like to be automated. Also, make sure to have a set of questions you ask your guests before you pre approve them so you don’t have any surprises. Hope this helps and good luck ✨

[@AbnormalMarketing]

This is my first look into the life of being an AirBnb host and I loved it. Thank you guys!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for watching! Good luck to you on your STR journey!

[@AbnormalMarketing]

@@kristenandmichael I literally just Googled STR lol, appreciate it!

[@jashan1985]

I am planning to start airbnb business but little hesitant because it will be totally a new experience for me. I think I need a little bit of motivation.

[@kristenandmichael]

Let us know if you have any questions. Happy to help!

[@a-iospina1497]

So I’ve been watching this channel almost from the beginning and I have learned so much! Thank you! Tomorrow my own Airbnb will be published but Indo have a couple of questions. Did you lower your price at the very beginning to help get booked faster? Did you write an intro in your guest journal? I love watching your channel! Keep it up!!!

[@kristenandmichael]

Hi! Thank you for being here & good luck on your STR journey! We didn't lower it too much, we were competitive with people in our area & used Airdna initially to figure out what that was & did a little recon on Airbnb itself. They push new listings at first so this helps with bookings (which you prob already know). We did write an intro our guest book - something short and sweet about the property and why we started in STR! Again, good luck & keep us posted!

[@a-iospina1497]

@@kristenandmichael Thank you so much for replying so quickly!!!

[@tonyhopson9859]

Hi, love the videos you two are posting. I’m about to start an Airbnb but don’t have a lot of money to back this idea. I own the home but need some new furniture, etc. I was told I couldn’t do it without having capital and I should forget it… what can you tell me that may help? Thank you!

[@Evanthebat15]

@@tonyhopson9859 Hey, we are also gonna be starting an AirBnB tho ours is an apartment. If you have a thrift store nearby that's a great way to get furniture, also stores like Walmart, FiveBelow, Dollar Tree(this is perfect to get decor that looks expensive but is cheap, or toothbrush/paste, soap, shower curtains,ect) and sometimes even Target. Also, check if there is garage sales next to where you live! Hope this helps, we are doing ours cus we are trying to move out and don't have a lot of money.

[@aaronoldchannel]

Awesome video guys!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!

[@girlgetittogether3038]

Great job! Great informative video! I plan to be a future Airbnb Owner!

[@kristenandmichael]

You will be!! Thanks for the support!

[@robrob3402]

We're going to be doing it on the big island with a one of those small homes tiny homes from Amazon we have two acres over there it's currently wooded but it will be cleared mostly and I think we can get away with putting four units there and nobody would even see each other it's good to know that you can do it by the month and it's successful because yeah there are local laws you're not allowed to do short-term rentals without a special license so it has to be 30 days at a time

[@nature10879]

Dont forget the money that goes into your principal and maybe appreciation as well. You guys are doing excellent

[@PriyaAmar848]

Thank you so much for sharing your first month journey. I would appreciate if you can share locations to try for airbnb with less risk.

[@kendrajane46]

Thanks for posting the video. We just had our first guests last week to our MIL unit. I also found the cleaning overwhelming and had to cut back on what i was doing. A note on the ESA, an ESA does not get the same legal rights as a service dog. The ADA only applies to service dogs and you only need to accommodate if it is actually a service dog, which means it’s been trained to do a specific task for its handler. You are absolutely not legally required to allow an ESA, only an actual service dog.

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for this insight! And good luck on your short term journey as well🙏🏼🙌🏼

[@gotritons27]

@@kristenandmichael ​ @Kristen & Michael Their advice is a bit off because you are subject to AirBnB policy in addition to ESA vs Service Animals laws. Also, airbnb has different rules for ESA's depending on where you live. For example, in Cali, you still are required to host ESA's per AirBnB policy. . There is an extremely good way to discourage people from abusing the ESA policy though which is part of AirBnBs TOS regarding ESA's.

[@tennesseetexan1957]

@@gotritons27 and what is that extremely good way?

[@MsElke11]

what if the owner just charges extra for damage or hair cleaning after a pet?

[@rootstorising7348]

Thanks for answering what I was wondering about. Unfortunately I had someone come who said they had a service dog after I said no dogs allowed. I was attacked by the dog within minutes of its arrival and ended up in ER and have permanent damage. I believe now that I have a right to turn any animal down from being on my property. I wonder if there can be exceptions now in my case. Also if people are allowed to bring their animals onto your property, they need to be asked to show proof of insurance. If it's legal for them to be there, it's surely legal for them to be required to carry insurance.

[@GHCfitness]

Would you recommend renting out just a room in your house?

[@kristenandmichael]

You could and that's called "house hacking" if you're looking into it online. We do not do that but know friends that have done it with weird stories and wonderful stories so it all depends on what you're comfortable with!

[@kyleparker6164]

I am about to the 1/2 way point of completion on my studio apartment. So excited to get this passive income started. Like the 2 day minimum. Eastern TN area.

[@kristenandmichael]

Congrats to you on your new adventure!

[@chasethesky1]

I have heard grave warnings to people who expect it to be passive. Do your homework, and good luck!!

[@JustinBishop]

I just finished my lakefront cabin AirBnB. I subd to you guys 😉

[@kristenandmichael]

Amazing! Congrats on finishing your home. Best of luck on your journey.

[@sherrithornton3073]

You guys are doing great! We have hosted for 6 years and love it. We use flexible cancellation, I think that gets more bookings than strict. If they cancel last minute we sometimes still give at least a partial refund. We go above smart pricing tips at least by 10%, and more on the weekends. As long as your value stars stay high, and you are 90% booked, go for it! We rent 7 individual rooms and know when graduations, concerts, etc are in town. I readjust prices everyday if needed. We used to have our calendar 3 months out but that prevents us from taking impromptu trips. We also clean the rooms. Look up for cobwebs, closely for mice droppings, bed bugs and check all drawers for anything. We have found guns twice, even though we clearly say "no firearms"! Income has been a game changer for us, more than we expected! Keep up the great work! Sherri and Bill

[@silentgrind34]

Strict...never do flexible

[@nicokl5593]

People left guns behind? And twice??? Wow

[@tamaradavis4785]

I like this video. I’m new to this as well and have no clue on how to start. 😢

[@kristenandmichael]

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Terrible metaphor (and we do not eat elephant lol) but moral of it: start somewhere! Anywhere! And watch a lot of KZbin/do research, that’s how we learned most of what we are doing + trial and error! You got this!

[@thejoyfilledrealtor]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned in previous comments but you can schedule messages so that you don’t have to remember to send codes and check in instructions.

[@kristenandmichael]

Yes, we have since implemented auto messages! :)

[@crzsxychilngal9895]

Screen screen screen each and every one of your guests! Ask lots of questions before you accept the booking? Yes, typically airbnb will side with your guests but getting things in writing helps you as a host.

[@kristenandmichael]

1000%!

[@shannonhall8144]

You helped us along! We are starting an air bnb and you guys made us feel like we can do it. We love your authenticity!

[@cottojn]

I feel them same way?

[@lnkinc6823]

Great video much needed thank you for sharing so on the dog situation what did you do I know you say the customer is right but what did you guys land up doing did you have to allow the dog to be there

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you so much. We addressed this more in depth in our six month video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXLJq5p5hJ5gnJY

[@justinmirche]

Awesome info!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!!

[@mariacas7974]

What color sheets do you recommend and does the cleaning lady check for stains?

[@kristenandmichael]

We use white sheets and yes they check for stains! We have spray & wash & baking soda we add to our loads of laundry to boost cleanliness.

[@Angel-yx7bz]

I’m about to start my first airbnb in about a few more weeks. This was so informative to watch. Thank you guys so much!

[@kristenandmichael]

Congrats and good luck! Thank you for watching!! 🤍

[@Airbnb-with-me]

Good luck it’s a steep learning curve but once you are understand you will love it.

[@zamagawugebashe5084]

Have you started, hows it going

[@brachtfamilyministries]

Loved your video! The only thing I have is to suggest Micah Felts Music for your background music!! I thought one of his songs was your background music in the back and it wasn’t 😂 I think he is definitely in Brand for you.

[@YesItsMeGuys68]

The whole thing with the Emotional Support dog issue is a game guests now use pretty frequently .. we have zero to no recourse under Airbnb policies about that to protecting our homes .

[@kristenandmichael]

It’s definitely difficult because we get wanting your pet with you as we love our little guy and bring him everywhere but we know when it’s time to find a baby sitter as well. As long as we know, we are OK. If they sneak an animal in… then we’re NOT ok. Which we believe just happened last weekend. That is a whole other video in and of itself! Ha

[@kevinbaerg]

@Kristen & Michael DO the sneaking dog video! Drama, views and helping other hosts. 😄

[@MJ-hg1mk]

Can't you ask to prospective guest to show proof papers for ESAs?

[@djekna]

Such a pleasant couple. Lots of good tips, too.

[@kristenandmichael]

Glad you like them! Thanks for being here :)

[@petarpetrusich5955]

Great video! Great Information! Great Team Work! and this is one of the main reasons we are working on starting with one very soon, not just because its a good business model, but to Work Side to Side with your spose it just pricesless, so keep on and also good luck to you, thank you for sharing without specting nothing in return, so as Kristen said, got already the like botton all the way down jajajaja

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for being here!! Yes, working with your spouse is a game changer. You really get to see how they tick and how they bring it in ways you never knew they could. Good luck to you all on your journey! 🤍

[@kathanthakkar1668]

If you have a primary residence how does affect the mortgage company and insurance

[@kristenandmichael]

We purchased this house as our primary residence, lived in it (mostly) for 4 months while renovating and then began renting. It did not impact our mortgage situation at all but insurance was hard to find but we did, and we have STR insurance through Foremost.

[@RickyTinez]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing all this. Liked and sub’d

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!!

[@HollywoodTheTradeKing]

Great video thanks guys!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!

[@HollywoodTheTradeKing]

@@kristenandmichael I wish yall could mentor me and my big sister. Were thinking about building and adding some crazy features that no one has.. is there an app that i can use that will give me an idea where to build and how much to charge per night?

[@AlexAndra-iy5zu]

I am 60 seconds in and I already feel like I am 15 years old living with my parents again. Hopefully things change so I will continue to listen

[@allenspencer6672]

Welcome to our comment section, I can make you a profitable airbnb investor with zero risk Reply if you are interested

[@AlexAndra-iy5zu]

@@allenspencer6672 No thank you. I have zero interest in a company who disregards fur babies and hairless babies. Why are our human babies coming out with out fur?!? It’s ok We ❤️ our skin walker babies ❤️😉❤️😉

[@allenspencer6672]

@@AlexAndra-iy5zu I accept kids on my Airbnb b

[@KyleHudson-q6x]

How big is your AirBnB (room x bath-wise)? Sounds like you did awesome on your first hosting!

[@karoleenascottage]

I have had an AirBnB for about 16 months and there are definitely pros and cons. Lots of instructions and Wi-Fi code are a must. You are right about little touches being hard to maintain. You definitely need a good dependable cleaning crew and they are your eyes and ears. And same here, I did have to upgrade my washer/dryer to the largest size available to make sure all 4 bedroom linens can wash and dry before the next guest checks in. Another challenge was getting the trash and recycle cans put out and brought back in and cleaning the grill! A few challenges if you don’t live live nearby. I have a very good manager handling the questions that constantly come in, the bookings, and the price adjustments, etc. 😀. It is more than worth it!

[@kristenandmichael]

Luckily we live in a rural area and we were able to keep our cans on the street, but that was one of the challenges we were worried about also!

[@anthonyavery1328]

How much does ur property manager charge u?

[@karoleenascottage]

@@anthonyavery1328 it’s around 20%-30% but well worth the expertise he provides with adjusting rates to reflect seasonal, local event, and market fluctuations. That makes a huge difference in earnings. His knowledge of customer preferences and ability for response to customer questions and requests is more than I would ever be able to keep up with and stay sane. At the end of the day it’s about maximizing your income and a management company that knows how to do that is golden.

[@anthonyavery1328]

@@karoleenascottage thats awesome, do u have any reccomendations for finding good air bnb managements? I have a long term rental pm but idk if hes versed in air bnbs

[@sustainnutrition7164]

Awesome work well done, what % occupancy did you get please to hit this income? Is this above or below target? Keep up the great work

[@kristenandmichael]

Airbnb doesn't allow me to see an average occupancy rate, but it varied from around 89% as the high to 45% as the low due to seasonality. So it was probably right in the middle of those around 65% or so.

[@bethanyboothe4817]

We just listed our remodeled garage apartment on Airbnb less than 2 weeks ago. Had a booking the first night. Made a little over $500 in the last two weeks of April and over $1500 in bookings already for May. The best part for us is that its on our property so there’s no additional mortgage. We get to keep all the revenue! It’s going to be a little cash cow for us!

[@kristenandmichael]

That’s a great way to make a place more hospitable and to save on cleaners too. Being able to be right there if anyone needs anything - if you’re able to leave baked goods or something for the guests as an added bonus, that would be so fun (we love cooking & baking)!

[@msme9790]

Omg! My next property needs to be something along these lines

[@bethanyboothe4817]

Ms me…it’s one of the reasons we bought the property 3 years ago. I knew we could at least rent it out at some point. It was almost like buying two houses for one. Right now we’re on track to make $2000 from it in May. First full month on Airbnb. I’ll never buy another residence without some type of guest quarters on it. Too many money making options to pass up.

[@janetecarin4873]

I need to know if I need to report that income ? Thank you

[@msme9790]

@@janetecarin4873 yes

[@sita5735]

What about smoke ?Are they allow to smoke inside ?Whats the rule ?

[@thetexastanya]

We also just started an Airbnb property. I wanted to share that we use IGMS to help to contact guests at various stages. We created essentially form letters for "Thanks for Booking", " Check In Process via Keypad", "First Night Stay", etc. They can be automated to send at specific times. So the "Check in Process" is sent 3 days prior to arrival. The "First Night Stay" is sent at 11 am after the guests first night. Hope this helps! Really liked the info you shared! ;)

[@kristenandmichael]

Oh wow! This sounds fantastic. We will look into this and thank you so much for sharing!

[@FrantaFalta]

As a guest, I have experienced this and it was pissing me off constantly, because I just wanted to rent an apartment and I didn't need to receive messages every single day. It is probably more convenient for the host, but for the guest it feels really dehumanized. And for me, the Airbnb is more about connenting with locals (that's the added value for me) who own the house than just pure accomodation.

[@markquinn8630]

Nice video I am thinking about starting Airbnb How Much liability insurance should you have?

[@kristenandmichael]

We have a mill & a half for liability through Foremost Insurance as of right now.

[@tracysarmis3169]

The best REAL video I've watched. I'm just in the process of building 2 cabins in our orchard in Fethiye Turkey. Its kind of scary as I'm no techno geek at 58. But I do have style 😎 😜 your video answered so many questions. Good luck to you both. I'm now subscribed !!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!! Good luck to you too. Cabins in an orchard sound beautiful!

[@Angeljosetoronto]

Thanks for your advise both of you ! I am planning to start my Airbnb at the beginning 2024, God will. I am preparing two bedrooms in my apartment , the third one will be closed for the clients .

[@kristenandmichael]

Best of luck!

[@Angeljosetoronto]

@@kristenandmichael Thank you !

[@__KyleBlack]

Depending on your location - Smart pricing can be a hindrance sometimes if you're in a high demand area. I have a 1 Bd, 1 Ba apartment that usually goes for $85-$110/night - but in the heat of the busy season "smart pricing" sometimes will jack the prices to well over $300.00, which of course results in no bookings. Mentally, I've found I am much happier getting consistent average priced stays than be hopeful for high priced stays. To each their own. Thanks for posting!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for the info! We are definitely trying to figure out the best option for us and just diving into smart pricing.

[@gotritons27]

@@kristenandmichael Smart pricing is awful and most hosts ditch it. It often undervalues your property.

[@sulisloveswater]

good tip about limiting the diary, AIrB&B filled in my prices and i ended up letting three weeks for the price of two, in high season, due to the low price that was auto filled :(

[@vivianaperez6568]

Congrats- and thank you for sharing your journey. I started hosting in February’ 22 and What has shocked me the most is the multiple requests for a “cheaper” option or discount. Guest would complain about the platform fees or would just give their budget- which is always way below listed price. I was wondering if you guys have had the same experience?

[@kristenandmichael]

Hi! We have had a couple guests ask for discount and we kindly tell them we are just starting our business and we hope they understand and would love to host them but our price is set and comparable to Bnb’s close by. Good luck to you and congrats on your new adventure! It’s tough but so worth it. ✨

[@bobfeaver8438]

In my experience , do not host bargain hunters. They give the worse reviews. You can even give them a $500 per night place for $200 and they will still rate you a 3 star for value. Don’t do it. Sometimes I actually deny a guest just by asking me for a discount. Even if they want to book later at my stated price, I will decline

[@horror_headed]

So from the customer's perspective, I've only asked for a discounted price if there are a lot of fee's added to the orginal price. Most of the time there is cleaning fee and taxes and i think a fee from Air bnb. So when its all said and done it adds a couple hundred more dollars. Depending why im booking, a trip or because i love the house & location if the fee kind of out weigh's the worth i will ask if it's possible to knock off a percentage. I guess we have to look at it from the host's pov. Also late check out can definitely sway some customers. So many Air bnb's have a check out time of 10 am. I have all good reviews all of my experience's have been good.

[@bobfeaver8438]

@@horror_headed Motels tend to be cheaper

[@horror_headed]

@@bobfeaver8438 Not in my experience. Ive only asked once for a host to lower the expense's. Sometimes the extra fee's are ridiculous. I'm not saying that happens all the time. I hate hotel/motels no personality. Rather spend my hard earned money on a person not a company. I'm def not trying to be disrespectful. I'm just giving you a perspective of the customer's pov. Host's love me i am clean and i try to be easy and not a pain in the ass. Haha i have like 15 great reviews. I would love to start my own Air bnb. I have some land. I may do tentr. Bob have you ever stayed at an Air bnb?

[@javiersantoryn7992]

Thank you guys for the video!! I'm going to start renting a property in Los Angeles and I'm very excited about this.

[@brantz648]

The customer is definitely not always right. If you follow that policy, they're going to run all over you and make your life a nightmare. Stand firm but be respectful. Common sense needs to win in these situations. I've owned a beverage store for 6 years now. Trust me when I say, they WILL walk all over you, no matter what the case is.

[@AdamPhillips-eu5sy]

Why should I trust you?

[@dontsingbesung]

Thank you for taking the time to share. We are just starting out with our first rental. Best wishes with the following months.

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for watching! Good luck to you all in your STR journey!

[@krystynstrouse6600]

Do you guys know that Airbnb allows you to schedule messages?! This would take away the need for setting reminders for messaging guest info!

[@kristenandmichael]

Yes! We know now🤣🙏🏼

[@AvaJammer]

Thank you for your transparency, and the helpful information.

[@kristenandmichael]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ForeverEclectic]

So happy this video was recommended to me. Great information. My goal is to start an Airbnb one day. Thank you so much for sharing your wins and challenges😊

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for watching! You WILL start that Airbnb and we hope to hear how it’s going when you do!!

[@bthomson]

Sponks1 - Like the phrase "wins and challenges!"💎

[@publicproclaimer9724]

Great video !!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!!

[@Realestaterefresh]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. This video was definitely helpful to know what to look for and how to start in Airbnb. Would really like to see an updated version of this in a few months.

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you! We are planning on doing a six month update soon. 🙏🏼

[@jonathantorres876]

Amazing advice and for a start to plan this business. My only question is what do you guys do about a possibility of Bed bugs? Do I hire an inspector?

[@selaelovalencia8557]

First time watching you guys and I am going to binge your videos ... Planning on opening my first AirBnB by mid 2023 in South Africa. I love the authenticity and quirkiness of both of you. Keep the videos coming 😊

[@kristenandmichael]

Aww thank you so much! Best of luck on your journey and let us know if you ever have any questions and we can try out best to help!

[@stephaniej.knights5421]

Thank you for sharing! Where do I begin? I am ready to start, I would appreciate any help, thank you!!!

[@JRspeaking]

The customer is NOT always right. This is your house, your investment, your livelihood. If there's one thing I've learned as an Airbnb host over the years, it's to stick to your rules. Guests will walk all over you if you don't.

[@mikeyy425]

She was actually saying airbnb will always side with the guests/customers, not host. Taking a shot at airbnb...... us airbnb hosts know this to be true, we got it.

[@DoorPro3667]

Besides, do you really want someone that needs an ESA renting your place. They are likely to get tear stains all over the carpet...

[@psyguy420]

You need to use the PITA factor (Pain In The Ass) Sometimes giving in is much easier than fighting it. Also, if the client is complaining about something check it out, most people will be too nice to say anything, but it might be a problem for them too.

[@theravingwanderer2174]

Old guests are the worst to deal with. They have such high expectations and don’t pay attention to reading the listing. Old people should stay away from AirBnbs

[@mikeyy425]

@@theravingwanderer2174 young or old, doesn't read anything, even check in instructions lol. They scan for numbers (codes), then call for info thats clearly in the text

[@kippiathome7885]

I just listed my 1st Airbnb and was wondering what you used for entry? Keyless?

[@kristenandmichael]

We use kwikset lock which is keyless!

[@SWLinPHX]

With refrigerators and freezers our policy is that if it is fresh (not expired) and unopened it can stay. Only condiments can stay opened if not expired (in a restaurant you use open condiments all the time and that is used by far more people in the general public). Then we post a label inside each fridge and pantry that says "Feel free to use, leave or discard any food items".

[@MsVicky72]

Shoutout to you guys this is beautiful!😍

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you 🤍

[@KeyesGlamping]

Just found your channel. Thank you for this video. It was very helpful. My wife and I just started building our first Airbnb Cabin. We are hoping to open in summer of 2023! 👍🏼😊

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for watching! Congrats on your first Airbnb and good luck on your journey 🤍🎉

[@KeyesGlamping]

Thank you 😊

[@AnthonyZornElSalvador]

what do you pay for the cleaning services? I am trying to get a net income figure form your mentioned numbers, you only mentioned mortgage and electricity as costs...thanks!

[@kristenandmichael]

We were the cleaners, so we did not have that included as a cost our first month. It would have been $120-$130 if we had had cleaning services at the time!

[@CW-en2pf]

Hi, where did you get the little gold frames for the signs in bathroom/kitchen?

[@kristenandmichael]

Hi! We got them at Home goods/TJ Maxx so we aren’t sure the brand but they were very inexpensive :)

[@CW-en2pf]

@@kristenandmichael Thanks!

[@noureddine309]

Love the video. Thank you for sharing guy’s:)

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for watching🙏🏼

[@kevincardenas5996]

Congrats and thank you! Listing my first airbnb soon and a little scared / excited , also been watching Robuilt for like a year too haha! Glad I ran into your channel, keep it up guys !

[@kristenandmichael]

Yes, Rob is the best haha and you’ve got this! If it didn’t scare you, it wouldn’t be worth it! If we can do it, you can do it. Thanks for the support!! 🙌🏼

[@chrislopez9156]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thanks for watching!!

[@CA_40]

Great job! My family just started our first AirBnB adventure as well! A condo in a mountain town. It’s a lot of fun, but cleaning is hard!!! Great video and information!

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you!! And congrats to you and yours!!

[@gabrielavelar6130]

Hello..Great video.....I'm in Escrow now for a cabin in Big Bear with good rental history...just needs some TLC.....I will keep following ya'll 😀

[@kristenandmichael]

Thank you for the support and congratulations to you, that sounds like fun! Good luck on your journey!