Your potential earnings are influenced by:

• Location: Properties in city centres or popular tourist destinations naturally command higher prices.
• Property Type & Size: A whole house with a garden will earn more than a single private room.
• Seasonality: Expect peak demand during holidays, summer months, or local events, and lower occupancy during the off-season.
• Amenities & Quality: High-speed Wi-Fi, a dedicated workspace, modern appliances, and stylish decor can significantly increase your nightly rate.
• Your Reviews: Positive reviews are crucial for building trust and justifying higher pricing over time.

Yes, self-managing lets you maximize profits by directly handling guest communication, cleaning, and maintenance. However, this approach requires a significant time commitment to ensure high occupancy rates and a competitive edge in the vacation rental market. Using Smoobu can help lessen the burden.

Beyond the financial income, hosting can be advantageous. However, it's not entirely passive income. You must factor in the time spent on guest communication, cleaning, maintenance, and managing your listing. For many, the extra income and flexibility far outweigh the effort.

Before you create your listing, you need to have the basics in place to ensure a great guest experience from day one. Here is a starter checklist:

• A Safe & Clean Space: Your priority is ensuring the property is spotlessly clean and safe. This includes working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, and a first-aid kit.
• Essential Amenities: Guests expect certain basics. These include fresh linens for all beds, one set of towels per guest, toilet paper, soap, and reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi.
• Comfortable Furnishings: A comfy bed and quality mattress are non-negotiable. Ensure there is adequate seating and storage space for guests.
• A System for Keys: You need a secure and straightforward way for guests to check in, whether it's a lockbox, a smart lock with a keypad, or an in-person key handover.
• High-Quality Photos: Your photos are your most important marketing tool. Take bright, clear, high-resolution pictures of every room. Consider hiring a professional photographer to make your listing stand out.

This is a key strategic decision. While you can list on both, it's wise to understand their differences, especially when you're starting.

• Airbnb: Generally considered more beginner-friendly. It has a strong community feel, and its host protection program (AirCover) provides a layer of security. The fee structure is often simpler for hosts (typically around 3%). It's very popular with leisure travellers and those looking for unique stays.
• Booking.com: Has a massive global reach, drawing from a wider audience that includes more business and traditional hotel travellers. The platform often operates on an "Instant Book" model, which can lead to higher occupancy but less host control over who books. Their commission is typically higher (around 15%), which is taken from the total booking price.

Recommendation for Beginners: Start with one platform, most commonly Airbnb, to learn the ropes. Once you are confident with your processes, you can expand to both. If you do, use a channel manager (specialised software) to sync your calendars automatically and prevent double-bookings.