How to Get Started with AirBnB in Kenya
Since its inception in 2008, Airbnb has been expanding rapidly across the world and Kenya has not been left behind. Kenyans are starting to appreciate the business which is steadily taking root and expanding especially in the cities and tourist hotspots such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Malindi, Lamu, Nakuru, and Mombasa. You can easily register with Airbnb and earn money as long as you have an extra house or rooms that you are willing to rent out to travellers from Kenya or other parts of the world. If you are wondering how you can do it, this article provides highlights on how to get started with AirBnB in Kenya.
What is AirBnB?
To a person hearing it for the first time, AirBnB might sound like an Airline but it is an online platform that connects Homeowners with travellers. “AirBnB” is a shortened version of the company’s original name which is “Air bed and breakfast”. According to reports, Airbnb currently has about 5.6 million active listings in over 100,000 cities across the world on its platform.
The homeowners are the hosts who own the houses or rooms that they are willing to rent out. They list their properties on this platform for travellers who need a temporary place to stay. Travellers specify the period that they are going to stay at the property before making payments on the platform. None of the properties listed on the platform belong to Airbnb. It however offers travellers cheaper alternatives to staying at hotels.
Is it Free to Join and Operate an Airbnb Business in Kenya?
Airbnb is free to join for both hosts and guests. The company will however deduct a 3% commission on every penny that you earn. You will also have to comply with the local laws and pay the required business licence fees.
How to Get Started with AirBnB in Kenya
To get yourself started with the Airbnb business in Kenya, there are certain requirements that you must have. Below are those requirements and a step-by-step guide on how to join Airbnb in Kenya and earn an income from it.
1. Own a House or a Room
You must have a house or a room to get started with Airbnb in Kenya. This is the property you will be listing on the home-sharing platform for guests to choose and pay for. As long as you own the house or pay its mortgage, you are good to go. You can also list a room as long as you highlight its correct specifications.
If you don’t already have any property to rent out on Airbnb, you can start from scratch. If you can afford, you can buy land, build a house, furnish it, and have it listed on Airbnb. After all, this is a business that you will certainly get a return on investment.
You will have an added advantage if the location of your property is in the vicinity of favoured places such as shopping malls, restaurants, sandy beaches, swimming pools, or other social amenities.
2. Register for an AirBnB Account
To be able to list your property for rent, you must sign up by visiting the Airbnb website, www.airbnb.com. You can register by using your email or take a quicker route using your Facebook or Google accounts.
After receiving a verification email from them, click on it to validate your account. After that, fill out all the correct details on your profile like name, gender, and occupation so that your potential guests will get a clue of who their potential host is and where they are going to stay. You can also include a photo or a video in your profile.
3. Register with One or More Online Payment Processors
On your behalf, AirBnB collects money from your guests. You must have an account with one of the various online payment platforms that Airbnb supports. This is where you are going to receive your payments.
Major credit cards and debit cards like Visa and Mastercard are available. Other available payment options are PayPal, Payoneer, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Make sure you have at least one of the payment options above. It is however advisable to sign up with multiple online payment processors in order not to lose potential guests just because you don’t accept a certain payment option that they prefer to use.
4. Provide Verification Information
Go to the “verification information” section on your Airbnb account. There are multiple ways in which you can use to verify yourself like phone number, email, social media accounts, scanned copy of your driver’s licence, and more. This is meant to assure your potential guests that they are going to be in safe hands.
5. Set your price
Since Airbnb allows hosts to set their rental prices, you are free to do so but you must do it considerably. Do not overprice but do it according to its condition like the number of rooms, extra features like free WiFi, etc.
Setting your prices higher than the condition of your house might make you miss out on a lot of potential guests. It is also advisable to start with lower prices and gradually increase depending on the demand on your property.
6. Upload Photos of Your Property
You will need to convince your potential guests that the space you are renting to them is exactly as you have explained. There is no better way of doing so than taking photos and uploading.
Take high quality photos of both the interior and exterior of your property. Make sure you also capture amenities like swimming pools if they are available.
7. Advertise your Property
This is the last step where you have to publish your advertisement. To do this, find the button labelled “publish your ad” located at the top right corner and click it.
Advantages of Joining AirBnB in Kenya
As compared to traditional ways of renting out your house or room, AirBnB has more benefits that can unlock your financial potential. Here are some of the advantages of joining AirBnB in Kenya:
- If you join Airbnb as a host, you will have the advantage of setting your accommodation prices. The company will not dictate the price for you to rent out your property.
- Airbnb takes only a small percentage of your earnings. For every successful accommodation arrangement, the company pays you 97% of your listed price and takes only 3%.
- Since Airbnb has registered users from different parts of the world, you will not only get local clients but also international clients. This will enable you to adjust your rental costs to match international standards hence earning more money.
- AirBnB is a low-cost alternative to hotels. It is therefore preferred by guests who would have chosen not to travel if the hotels were the only available option because they are keen not to spend too much money for accommodation services.
- Just like in the hotels, your guests will pay for accommodation per night. You will be able to receive payments even if your guests stay for only one night.
- Airbnb provides an insurance cover worth $1million to protect you as a host in case your guests cause damages to your property.
Conclusion
You will be making a wise decision if you have a free space and decide to get started with Airbnb in Kenya with it. Instead of having your property lying idle with no one living in it, why not make this important decision? Besides, it is one of the best ways to earn a passive income.
