Joining the Airbnb revolution could help you generate revenue from a spare room, or from an apartment or house you don’t use much. “It’s been a great experience and very worthwhile,” says Sandra Shillington, a California-based Airbnb host since 2013 and the author of the hosting guidebook, Airbnb Toolbox. But is hosting right for you?
Pro: The money (of course!)
While earnings vary based on size and type of space, city and neighborhood, and frequency of rentals, hosting can yield more than you might receive from even a full-time renter, Shillington says.
But keep in mind: Paying guests expect their experience “to be relatively problem-free,” she says. You need to be organized, efficient and available. When the washing machine you promised breaks down, “you have to make sure someone’s there…
