Hosting an AirBnB is a great way to supplement income or cover your own travel expenses. It can be a very rewarding experience, but it’s not always smooth sailing. While we all want to trust our fellow humans, the truth is we are all susceptible to having that trust broken.
Hosting becomes much less appealing if it results in damage or theft by guests. Therefore, all hosts need to know how to protect themselves and their neighbors from potential threats.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to increase the security of your home. Taking these extra steps will increase the oversight you have over your incoming guests, while still respecting their privacy and helping them feel safe in your space.
Here are 4 tips for increasing the security of your AirBnB:
1. Learn how to Screen for “Problem Guests”
The answer to your security problems is to only allow safe and respectful guests into your space. Easy, right?
Maybe it’s not quite that simple. The good news is there are a number of things you can do to attract the right guests. From the rules you set on your listing to the questions you ask potential guests. There are a few useful techniques that can help you to screen your incoming guests to ensure that they are a safe bet. We wrote all about this in our article “How to screen your potential Airbnb guests”.
In summary, to screen guests, you’ll want to:
- Set boundaries with yourself, and with guests
- Require a minimum 2 or 3 night’s stay
- Place strict rules for guests to follow
- Do profile checks
- Interview your incoming guests
- Set standards that you are comfortable with
2. Use a Noise Detector
When it comes to compromised security of your home, parties are the biggest offender. With the increased number of people let into your home, the likelihood of theft or damage to your property also goes up. Unless your place is a party venue, you’ll want to specify “no parties” under your house rules. Listing this house rule gives you the authority to evict guests if your guests do not respect that rule. You can claim damages under the Airbnb Host Guarantee if something does go wrong, but no claim at all” is obviously the best case scenario.
While you can (and should) specify “No Parties”, the truth is you can’t guarantee that this rule will be followed unless you plan to personally monitor the place 24/7. What you can do instead is install noise detecting technology like the NoiseAware sensor. These types of monitors have customizable settings and they will alert you when there is a potential issue. You will know in real time if there is excessive noise taking place so that the issue can be addressed in a timely manner. It would be wise to put a plan of action in place for when these types of occurrences arise in order to reduce stress in the moment.
3. Check Guests In – IN-PERSON ONLY
Many hosts choose to use an automatic check-in system for their guests since late flights, work schedules, and traffic delays can make it a hassle to coordinate meeting each guest in person. Our company has observed that a face-to-face connection can make a real difference. An in-person greeting creates a relationship that encourages loyalty, respectful behaviour, and 5-star reviews. It gives a face to the property.
We have found that the guests who experience personal check-ins are more likely to respect the rules of the home and leave everything as they found it. Maybe this isn’t practical for you? If so, consider hiring a check-in host or a local vacation rental management company to handle all check-ins.
4. Remove Keys From The Equation
Physical keys can be quite a hassle for hosts. Guests can easily lose, copy, or damage keys, which can often create a last minute crisis. There is valuable new technology that can help you deal with this flaw in security. Coded locks are an excellent choice if your Airbnb property is a house. The code on these locks can be changed for every new guest and the codes are time sensitive for each guest. This means their code expires upon check out which increases security for everyone involved. Some products such as RemoteLock can even integrate with your Airbnb account to make things easier to monitor.
If your Airbnb is a condominium apartment then Slickspaces is a great security option. Slickspaces also eliminates the need for a key by using an entry code for the front door of the apartment building. This technology is connected directly with Airbnb and creates codes automatically for each guest, helping you keep a record of who is going in and out of your home and when. Unfortunately, this will not work with buildings without buzzers but it will work for most others. Discover more about Airbnb key exchange solutions.
Be Prepared
There are still more things you can do to increase the security of your AirBnB by preparing ahead of time. Adding a security deposit, screening your guests, and keeping a tight leash on guests can make a huge difference.
If you don’t want to be on the other side of a Google search for “worst Airbnb guest horror stories,” remember this quote: “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst.”
As you can see, there are a number of things you can do as a host to be proactive in preventing problems at your Airbnb. Start with the basics of screening guests. Then choose to connect with guests on a human level with in-person check-ins. Hire a professional if needed. Finally, utilize new technology to monitor your home.
If you need extra help in the Vancouver or Whistler area, consider HeartHomes Airbnb Management to help keep your property safe.
Read about Digital Safety for Airbnb Hosts: Navigating the Complex Web of Cyber Threats.