AirBnb: A Solution To Vacancy?

[Rachel Luoto]

Morning BPers!

What are your thoughts on listing your rental on Airbnb between tenants to offset vacancy?

Pitfalls? Advantages? Has anyone tried this?

Thanks in advance!

[Trevor Ewen]

@Rachel Luoto

You're probably in a decent location for it, right across the river from Seattle. Beside the issues mentioned by @Bill Henley, I would say you also lose value from switching strategies on and off.

There are switching costs, and differences between the two categories, if you're going to make the team and work investment to do AirBnB 50% of the time, you mine as well focus on it 100% of the time. Alternatively, if you're targeting tenants, the worst thing would be to have them want to come by the house and have it occupied by the guests.

The strategies will inevitably compete with each other and stretch you to same returns for 3x work.