Many people have domestic pets today, but this could be an issue when you are renting your room or your whole property on Airbnb because is comfortable with staying in a home with pets. Do not worry though, we believe that your pet can serve as the highlight of your listing!
Animal-loving guests will be very attracted
Having a pet may make your listing stand out from the crowd for guests who love animals. Let’s say you are a cat lover, would you choose an Airbnb with or without cats? Of course, the one with cute kittens would win you over. Similarly, as a host with pet cats, you could meet new friends with the same interest and share your funny cat stories with your guests! Awesome, isn’t it?
OK, so a cat or a dog is easy, but what if your beloved pet is a minority? For instance, snakes. No problem, keep calm and let him/her be your Airbnb ambassador. Gloria is an Airbnb super-host in the south of England who rents out her spare room on Airbnb. The house also has 5 very friendly snakes. On her listing, she made sure to highlight this fact for potential guests, and also states that the guests have no obligations to have any contact with the snakes as the snakes are safely locked in another room.
Such transparency enables the guests to make a decision whether to stay or not and avoid any unpleasant surprises during their stay. For the guests who are brave enough to hold Gloria’s snakes, she prepares a certificate with the guests’ names to make the experience more unique and personalised. Though very few guests were snake lovers, many of them appreciated the one-of-a-kind interaction with the snakes at Gloria’s house.
And if your pet is not there during the stay?
If you rent out the entire home and would take your pet away, you should still highlight this fact and list your property as a pet-friendly Airbnb and you may welcome guests who want to bring their pets. In many instances, sharing your pet’s toys, spare cat food, or recommding your favourite dog walks would be incredibly endearing to guests. Bear in mind that it is crucial to tell your guests you have pets even if they will not be in the property, as some people are allergic to animal dander.
So... go ahead and host some pet-loving travellers!
As you can see, it does not matter if your pet is ‘regular’ like a cat or a dog, or more unusual such as a snake or a hamster; being honest and transparent to your guests is the key to build trust and make the Airbnb experience enjoyable for both you and your guests. By clearly stating that you have pets, what type of pets and whether they will be at the property or not, you can make sure that you and your guests are on the same page before they make a decision. It may well be that your animal friend is the star of your listing, and the stories between you, your pet (or your pet-friendly Airbnb) and your guests will help your listing become one-of-a-kind.
Still have any concerns and questions? No worries, Pass The Keys is always here to assist you. If you want to acquire more information about Airbnb management, or you have decided to list your property on Airbnb, give us a call on +44 20 8050 2818 to discuss your host journey and get a Free Income Assessment.