Why You Should Consider a Pet-Friendly Airbnb

More and more people are choosing Airbnb accommodations for their tourism experiences. If you have a home or space that you would also like to offer to these guests on a short-term basis, you might want to consider making it a pet-friendly Airbnb rental property. Here’s why:

There Is a Growing Number of Families Who Travel with Their Pets

The American Pet Product Association estimates that about 37 to 47 percent of American families own a dog. Thirty to 37 percent of Americans also own a cat. Of these pet-owning families, more than 50 percent of them will travel with their dogs or cats.

It is true that traveling with pets is not easy. However, many people now consider their pets as important members of their family. It is possible that they can leave their pets with a pet sitter or a boarding facility. Unfortunately, it does not strengthen the bond that they will have with their pets when spent on holidays.

There are also pets that are service animals. Some people rely on the abilities of a well-trained dog to help them in any aspect of their daily lives. These pets help vision- and hearing- impaired people to navigate the city in a safer manner. That is why it is inevitable that some people who have disabilities will also want to travel with their service pets.

Guests with Pets Often Stay Longer

It is more practical for pet owners to bring their pets along on long vacations or holidays instead of putting them in a boarding facility. If they will only be gone for a few days, it makes sense to get a relative or a pet sitter to look after the dog or cat. It also makes sense to put the animal in a boarding kennel.

However, if the travel involves several weeks of being away from home, many pet owners would prefer to bring their dogs and cats along. This is a great opportunity for Airbnb hosts. They get to accommodate guests and their pets for a longer-term. This means a high Airbnb occupancy rate.

Long-term stays can provide hosts with a more stable rental income from the use of their Airbnb rental properties.

You Get to Increase Your Airbnb Booking Rate

Because of the increasing number of people who are traveling with their pets, it is not surprising to see these same people wanting to stay only in accommodations that accept or allow pets in their facilities. Fifty-two percent of those who travel with pets only stay at pet-friendly rentals.

Not many Airbnb rental properties provide such accommodations, unfortunately. On average, only three percent of Airbnb accommodations allow pets. This is a great opportunity for those who would like to increase the number of their bookings. You can also take advantage of such an opportunity by listing your rental property as a pet-friendly Airbnb accommodation.

Potential for Increasing Your Earnings

The pricing of Airbnb accommodations is not that different from hotel accommodations. You can still command a respectable price for the short-term use of your space or rental property. You can hike it up like everyone else does on holidays and weekends. You also have the liberty to set the price that you think is reasonable for your guests.

Since having a pet-friendly accommodation is something that very few other Airbnb rental properties are offering, you can set additional fees. There are rentals that can charge up to $50 a night for people with pets. Hosts also get to increase the security deposit. This will help account for any “accidents” that might happen during the guest’s stay.

You also get to increase your Airbnb earnings during the off-peak season. Families with pets will always want to travel. Some of them will want to visit and explore a particular destination in the off-peak season. Since many accommodations will not accept pets, you will be in a much better position to command a higher price than the competition. Moreover, your rental property will not sit there collecting dust and cobwebs. Guests will always occupy them.

Opportunity for Repeat Customers

Pet owners put emphasis on family matters. They always look at their pets as important members of their household. When you accommodate them and their pets, you are also conveying the message of being a family-oriented person. This is very important to such guests.

Whenever these guests travel, they will always book your place because of the positive experience that they have. Even if they do not travel, there is always the possibility that they will tell their friends and acquaintances about your Airbnb accommodation. This is one way you can get more income from your Airbnb rental property.

Preparing Your Property as a Pet-Friendly Airbnb

There are many reasons why you should consider a pet-friendly Airbnb. However, it is important to make your property as pet-friendly as possible. It should be spacious enough to allow freedom of movement for the pet.

You need to provide these pets with food bowls and pet drinking stations. You will also provide guests with indoor potty pads as well as poop bags. You may also need to think about protecting your furnishings. Supplying your short-term rental property with pet-safe cleaning products and paper towels can also help provide for a pet-friendly Airbnb accommodation.

It is also important to look at the readiness of your neighborhood in terms of the presence of pets. You may want to consider your neighbors who may not be too pleased to have a dog barking all night long. Consider also the backyard of your property if it is spacious enough to accommodate the outdoor activities of pets. It is important to have a fenced property to make sure that the visiting pet does not wander off in the neighborhood.

Check if there are pet amenities in your community. Determine the availability of dog parks and other pet community features. You might also want to check the different establishments and tourist attractions that accept pets. Know that there are natural parks that do not allow pets. You can then tailor-fit your Airbnb listing to reflect these features to your prospective guests and their pets.

Pet-friendly Airbnb accommodation can open many possibilities. You get to increase your Airbnb occupancy rate, while also generating more income. Above all, you get to build long-lasting relationships with your guests and their pets.

This article has been contributed by Katie Reeves.

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