Airbnb has gained immense popularity within a very short time. It is an online platform that allows people to rent holiday homes. Anyone from all over the world can post a space available for rent where in turn customers can rent the spaces. The duration of stay can range from a couple of days to a month.
One of the most alluring features of Airbnb is that there are various types of spaces available for rent from apartments & villas to duplexes and penthouses. The service is available in over 34,000 cities with over 550,000 rooms globally.
If you want to get into the business of hosting Airbnb guests in Dubai, there are various new projects by Meraas such as the Bluewater Residences which you can invest in to attract guests. Due to the thriving tourism sector, your unit will have a high occupancy rate. However, before investing your hard earned money, it is advisable to hire a good agent from reputable Dubai real estate agencies.
How do I start using Airbnb services?
Joining Airbnb is free whether you are a host or a guest. You can either sign up using your email address or connect via your Facebook account.
Even though it is the same platform, there are different requirements for guests and hosts.
Hosts
If you are the host, there are various verification steps involved to prove your legitimacy. Apart from adding a profile picture, you will have to verify your phone number and ID. So, it is good to provide verified email addresses, phone number and profile pictures.
Guests
Unlike hosts, guests do not go through the rigorous verification process. However, in some instances, guests may be required to verify their ID, especially when making a last-minute reservation.
How to rent
After signing up and logging into the Airbnb homepage, you will be prompted to search for the location, duration and number of guests. The site will then generate the available listing. Also, you can customize your request to include specific details. If you get a space that meets your needs, you can contact the host to book.
How to host
After setting up the account, go to the homepage and select ‘list your space’ icon. This will prompt you to add the details of the space such as the number of rooms, location, property type, etc. In addition, it is here where you will set the pricing per night, list the amenities available and give an overview of the space.
Payment
The price per night is purely determined by the host. Nonetheless, the payment options may vary from credit cards, debits cards, PayPal, Google wallet, etc.
