How to be a Great Host
Nick, founder of Red Carpet Management, put together advice every host can follow to prevent hosting from becoming more of a chore than a reward:
“Some of our most enthusiastic hosts are so dedicated to their guests having an exceptional stay that they’re challenged to find their own time and resources for themselves,” says Nick. “They’re givers and sometimes givers swing too far into giving.”
Determine your goals
Are you hosting primarily to earn money? For personal growth? To create more community or share the homes you enjoy preparing? Then it’s important to recognize and feel good about how hosting aligns with and supports these goals. For Nick, AirBNB hosting started as a means to keeping his income steady. He says that initial goal has evolved into being able to provide a great, affordable place to stay in highly coveted vacation destinations across the world and give guests the opportunity to live like a celebrity. “I’m proud to be able to share that.”
Surround yourself with resources
By resources, Nick means those you can “call in a pinch” when, for instance, “you need to get keys to someone at 2 p.m. when you’re working in an office across the country.” This includes a community of partners, like-minded friends, a cleaning service, or a few people who are willing to work part time or per diem, barter or take payment for cleaning, key hand-off and greeting when you are unable to do it yourself.
