To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb

[dajop]

So how do hosts feel about guests leaving stuff?

If it's not perishable or weird, leave it for the next guest.

 

[VPS]

I've found it very variable. I had a long term holiday house in NZ and that included a clean once a week with clean sheets and fresh towels. The first couple of times they replaced toilet paper but the last two weeks they didn't so when I left I took everything that I had purchased and left it with people at work.

I think if you're paying over $100 a night for a room then not supplying toilet paper and tissues is just pathetic. Also when you're travelling you don't want to have to buy dishwasher tablets

 

[akmacca]

What items are replenished during a long-term stay at an Airbnb is up to the individual owner. Some do replace items some don't. If the items are basic and cheap, I will replace them without bothering the owner. Whatever foodstuffs I have leftover after my stay I leave behind as I have often benefited from others leaving items behind for the next guest to use and consume.

Recently I stayed for two months in a Harlem Airbnb, and the only items that were replenished were toilet rolls and paper towels. I was okay with that, but when we had a problem with ants in the place, I contacted the owner who then provided items to get rid of the ants.

There was no linen change provided in the accommodation and no washing machine in the apartment, so the only option was to use the local laundromat. Now let me tell you that was a "real" Harlem experience! Spanish was the language of choice, it was always hectic and noisy, and someone was usually complaining about something in a loud voice - but it was an experience that was too good to miss, and after my first few visits I had a few conversations with the locals who were very surprised to see me come in to do my washing each week.

I feel that the cleaning fees are a rip off in many Airbnb and they are used as a trap to lure you to check out the listing as the price of cleaning is only added when you look at the listing. Often an Airbnb that looks economical on the facing page becomes uneconomical when the cleaning fee is calculated on the listing page. Many Airbnb is now charging $60-100 in cleaning fees and if you stay just one or two nights that is ludicrous. I am sure most people like me leave the place tidy and clean, so the cleaning fee is often unwarranted. In most cases, I avoid Airbnbs that advertise a cleaning fee.

 

[dajop]

I am sure most people like me leave the place tidy and clean, so the cleaning fee is often unwarranted. In most cases, I avoid Airbnbs that advertise a cleaning fee.

For a host who wants to present their property well, cleaning isn't about "tidy and clean", it's about removing those pesky hairs from wherever they find themselves, ensuring the bathroom is sparkling, washing every little stain from toilet bowl, making the beds, ensuring kitchen is hygienic, vacuuming the carpets, mopping the floors, emptying the dishwasher, reorganing the cupboards, etc (for us also cleaning BBQ, cleaning out fireplace in winter).

Our place is 7 bedrooms (exception rather than the rule, regards size), but a full clean costs $250, we charge $150 cleaning fee. Laundry also costs $30 (we, or family do it ourselves though, would cost $150 done professionally). Effectively it is a discount for long stays. I am not sure what happens elsewhere, but in our area just about everyone charges a cleaning charge on full house rentals and when you enter dates into Airbnb, it always displays the inclusive price for comparison purposes, no hidden fees.

 

[akmacca]

Our place is 7 bedrooms (exception rather than the rule, regards size), but a full clean costs $250, we charge $150 cleaning fee. Laundry also costs $30 (we, or family do it ourselves though, would cost $150 done professionally). Effectively it is a discount for long stays. I am not sure what happens elsewhere, but in our area just about everyone charges a cleaning charge on full house rentals and when you enter dates into Airbnb, it always displays the inclusive price for comparison purposes, no hidden fees.

For a host who wants to present their property well, cleaning isn't about "tidy and clean", it's about removing those pesky hairs from wherever they find themselves, ensuring the bathroom is sparkling, washing every little stain from toilet bowl, making the beds, ensuring kitchen is hygienic, vacuuming the carpets, mopping the floors, emptying the dishwasher, reorganing the cupboards, etc (for us also cleaning BBQ, cleaning out fireplace in winter).

Our place is 7 bedrooms (exception rather than the rule, regards size), but a full clean costs $250, we charge $150 cleaning fee. Laundry also costs $30 (we, or family do it ourselves though, would cost $150 done professionally). Effectively it is a discount for long stays. I am not sure what happens elsewhere, but in our area just about everyone charges a cleaning charge on full house rentals and when you enter dates into Airbnb, it always displays the inclusive price for comparison purposes, no hidden fees.

I would not book any Airbnb where I saw a cleaning fee of $150. My opinion is to add any fee for cleaning to the cost of the rental that you see on the initial Airbnb page. Perhaps it may be justified in your case with seven bedrooms, but more and more I see Airbnbs charge exorbitant cleaning fees for a one night stay in a one-bedroomed apartment. The cleaning fee should be included as part of the overall price of renting the apartment. My experience now is that around a third of Airbnb rentals charge a cleaning fee. A year ago it was less than a quarter.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

So how do hosts feel about guests leaving stuff?

When we were on Isle of Skye, we left behind a full box of laundry tabs (didnt know the host would provide), unopened long life soy milk and roll of paper towels . I guess the cleaning crew gets it if the hosts arent there.

As a former host, the copious amounts of Alcohol left in my apartment had me thinking I should run a swanky bar in Melbourne.

But needless to say, overall with the 150 + guests who have stayed in my apartment over the past few years, I never had any major problems. Yes, half consumed food items ( ie packets of biscuuts or breakfast cereal) left is somewhat annoying, but wasn’t the end of the world. I suspect guests had the best intentions of preventing food waste. Who can say no to a bonus Tim Tam or two, left in the fridge?

 

[Denali]

As a former host, the copious amounts of Alcohol left in my apartment had me thinking I should run a swanky bar in Melbourne.

But needless to say, overall with the 150 + guests stay in my apartment over the past few years, I never had any major problems. Yes, half consumed food ( ie packets of biscuuts or breakfast cereal) left was somewhat annoying, but wasn’t the end of the world. I suspect guests had the best intentions of preventing food waste. Who can say no to a bonus Tim Tam or two, left in the fridge?

I was planning on taking a bottle of aussie wine for our Iceland host, I read alcohol there is really expensive.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I was planning on taking a bottle of aussie wine for our Iceland host, I read alcohol there is really expensive.

That would be a lovely gesture that no doubt will go done very well.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As a former host, the copious amounts of Alcohol left in my apartment had me thinking I should run a swanky bar in Melbourne.

I just stayed 3 nights in Copenhagen with free beer as on arrival the host advised that previous guests had left beer in the fridge and as she did not drink beer that we could have it.

There was about 2 dozen bottles of various beers including some really nice expensive local ones. We drank ample, but left some for the next guests too...

 

[VPS]

As a former host, the copious amounts of Alcohol left in my apartment had me thinking I should run a swanky bar in Melbourne.

But needless to say, overall with the 150 + guests who have stayed in my apartment over the past few years, I never had any major problems. Yes, half consumed food items ( ie packets of biscuuts or breakfast cereal) left is somewhat annoying, but wasn’t the end of the world. I suspect guests had the best intentions of preventing food waste. Who can say no to a bonus Tim Tam or two, left in the fridge?

I leave behind things that I can't take with me or give to other people because I hate wasting things

 

[dajop]

I would not book any Airbnb where I saw a cleaning fee of $150. My opinion is to add any fee for cleaning to the cost of the rental that you see on the initial Airbnb page.

In our area it is the standard, and from what I understand it's a practice that pre-dates airbnb by years, it's always been that way. When I check other listings, I struggle to find any without a cleaning fee. 3BR's $80-130, 4BRs $100-150, more BR's $120-180 .... The reason for not incorporating into the daily rate is that you are penalising long stays (say you charge $200 a night with $80 cleaning fee for a 2BR apartment, if you included that $80 in the nightly rate, suddenly you are charging for a $1120 for four nights instead $880 ...) although with some tweaking could manage this via long stay discounts.

But I also don't understand just looking at cost on the "initial Airbnb" page, as often these have no bearing to actual price anyway due to seasonality and supply and demand.. When you enter the dates of stay, all I see is the listing of available properties and the fully inclusive price you pay for available properties. With no dates entered all you see is the lowest price excluding extra charges. For us, without dates, what you see the mid week winter nightly rate (lowest rate) which is less than half of what we charge during the late December/early January, and less than 2/3 of what we charge for summer weekends...

 

[mrsterryn]

Have used VRBO
Hungary , serviced apartment style . There was a lot of dos and donts.
Edinburgh, owners owned all 8 flats in the building and lived in one. Did feel a bit odd. They drove us to the supermarket so we could stock up
New Orleans , all communication via email. They left is a welcome pack of food and goodies
London , serviced apartment which owner did stay in on occasions . Again a lot of dos and donts
Do prefer the anonymity and room service of a hotel.
Only one we now use on a regular basis is a serviced apartment at St Pancras. They have numerous apartments and reception is 24 hours and apartment is cleaned twice weekly. Can ask at reception for more items if needed. In basement of each block there is a free laundry.
I think on average $150 a night. Really suits us.

 

[VPS]

Have used VRBO
Hungary , serviced apartment style . There was a lot of dos and donts.
Edinburgh, owners owned all 8 flats in the building and lived in one. Did feel a bit odd. They drove us to the supermarket so we could stock up
New Orleans , all communication via email. They left is a welcome pack of food and goodies
London , serviced apartment which owner did stay in on occasions . Again a lot of dos and donts
Do prefer the anonymity and room service of a hotel.
Only one we now use on a regular basis is a serviced apartment at St Pancras. They have numerous apartments and reception is 24 hours and apartment is cleaned twice weekly. Can ask at reception for more items if needed. In basement of each block there is a free laundry.
I think on average $150 a night. Really suits us.

Would you mind sharing the details of the one in St Pancras please?

 

[mrsterryn]

home - Studios 2 Let

Euston ones.
These are not 5 stars, however they are clean. The kitchens with freezer and fridge work quite well.
The staff appear to be quite consistent. We have used them a couple of times a year since 2015
The location is excellent.

 

[VPS]

home - Studios 2 Let

Euston ones.
These are not 5 stars, however they are clean. The kitchens with freezer and fridge work quite well.
The staff appear to be quite consistent. We have used them a couple of times a year since 2015
The location is excellent.

Thanks