I’m not saying the whole world will work this way, but with Airbnb, people are sleeping in other people’s homes and other people’s beds. So, there’s a level of trust necessary to participate that’s different from eBay or Facebook.
Brian Chesky
Over the years, the hospitality world has seemingly downsized to a more kosher, homely context where people can connect more rather than be separated based on wealth, status and expensive spaces. In the last ten years, the world, Nigeria included, has seen the overwhelming rise of Airbnb’s, although very different from the conventional, origin-based ones that were started. Thanks to my versatile job(s) – yes jobs I have been privileged to stay in a few months, and I must tell you, the ones in Nigeria still feel like hotels more than Airbnbs.
The Airbnbs in the UK (that I know of and been privileged to have experienced) are very homely, not flashy, have a general area, popularly called the common room – small close-knit spaces on beautiful green land that gives you renewed strength and connectivity to yourself and the strangers around you; a cottage-type feel with an actual mama’s cooking scent wafting in from the kitchen. You will definitely feel at home. While the ones in Nigeria feel like downsized hotels or art galleries with so much service providers in your face, noise (not always, depends on where you go), frat boy mentality and a certain disconnect in mind even when the body is seemingly rested. It feels like a fancy house of service…
Brief History
Airbnb happened because Brian Chesky couldn’t pay his rent, but did have some space. – Sam Altman
So, according to Google, Airbnb was “born” “in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over four million hosts who have welcomed 1.4 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe”. But here is the thing, haven’t Airbnbs existed forever? From time immemorial, families and guests have always welcomed people into their homes as a way to accommodate, assist or leverage on some sort of payment for the future. The notion that such an ancient tactic (thanks to the internet) is suddenly new, for me, is an insult to our forefathers who came before us. Plus, aren’t Airbnbs technically guest houses? Only difference is that most people used their personal homes to receive guests.
Well, some would say guest house, I would say host house because it’s a host that owns the house for the guest…right? Anyway, Airbnbs: so, apparently, the notion that strangers can live with you without you fearing for your life, literally seconds away from your door, without any adequate checks (for me mostly mental and criminal checks), is not done! You simply smile, take their money and hope they do not kill you in your sleep. Ah, wonderful!
Why Airbnb
If you were ever thinking of starting your own Airbnb, I would suggest you earnestly look inward and outward, exploring, researching and understanding the ups and downs of owing such a business. I know it looks so easy, and social media tends to hide the harsh realities of such a baby business within the hospitality sector, but rather than have you endanger your mental health and pocket, it’s best you at least peek behind the door a little bit, because in all honesty, you can never truly understand something unless you are part of it.
The Ups
“Courteous treatment will make a customer a walking advertisement.”
– James Cash Penney
i. Airbnb lets you generate passive income from your home or spare building or room.
ii. Being an Airbnb host helps you connect more to people.
iii. Hosts are paid out based on guest stays.
iv. Higher income compared to some long-term letting processes.
v. You can be personally involved.
The Downside
i. Your bookings are not guaranteed because plans can change for your potential clients.
ii. Property damage to your Airbnb because people can be rowdy whether intentionally or not. Fixing or replacing things must be part of your never-ending budget.
iii. Preventing guest injuries at your Airbnb rental. You literally become the custodian of adult babies, because, all of a sudden, the same injuries they can have in their own homes automatically become your fault in yours.
iv. Theft of personal belongings. You think hotels have it bad, well welcome to the club; things going missing would become the natural order unless it is installed into the ground or locked in.
v. Risks of hosting include renting your place to rude guests, theft or damaged property, complaints from neighbours, and potential regulatory violations depending on your location.
So, here’s the thing, I absolutely have a love-hate relationship with Airbnbs – reasons being they are so decadently cute but oftentimes don’t have the “home feel” to them. They tend to be more artistic than comfy, more alte rather than classic or seemingly timeless feel that one would expect, plus Airbnbs these days seem a bit too elitist these days – all about the slick and boogie rather than the casual and relaxed.
Still, I love the thought of having access to easy streams of income that can also connect you to strangers from around the world. All I would advise is, keep an eye out for the unruly; train your staffers to be mindful and alert all time.
In conclusion, let me say this: no business is ever easy; what makes it look easy is your love and passion for what you delve into, and running or owing an Airbnb is no different. It’s a space that must cater to certain basic needs while providing a sense of belonging. So, till next time, dear readers, bye.
