In this episode, Neil Harvey explores the pros and cons of allowing pets in your Airbnb property. With a significant portion of the population being pet owners, Neil discusses how welcoming furry friends can attract new guests and enhance their holiday experience. He outlines seven benefits, such as increased bookings and reduced stress for pet owners, while also addressing potential downsides, including property damage and liability concerns. Neil emphasizes the importance of setting clear pet rules and offers practical tips for hosts considering this option. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Allowing pets can attract a new set of guests, reduce their travel costs, and enhance their overall experience, leading to positive reviews and repeat bookings.

• Hosting pets can lead to property damage, additional cleaning responsibilities, and potential liability issues. It's essential to consider these factors before deciding to allow pets.

• Establish specific guidelines regarding the types of pets allowed, their size, the number of pets, and whether they can be left unattended. Clear rules help ensure the safety of both the property and the guests.

• Before fully committing to a pet-friendly policy, conduct a trial run by inviting a friend with a pet to stay. This allows you to assess how well your property accommodates pets and gather feedback for future bookings.

• If you decide to allow pets, make sure to update your Airbnb profile with pet-friendly keywords and clearly state your pet rules. Highlight any pet-related amenities in your listing to attract potential guests.

BEST MOMENTS

"My mission is to help you create the same levels of success with Airbnb and beyond and follow your own dreams."

"Allowing pets means additional cleaning tasks like removing fur, deep cleaning carpets and sanitizing pet-related areas."

"If you're the only dog-friendly accommodation in the area, guess where your guests rebook should they return? You!"

"Deciding to allow pets into your accommodation will come with its own set of challenges and responsibilities."

"Before you decide whether or not to allow pets into your listings, do at least one trial run."

CONTACT DETAILS

Visit Neil's Airbnb https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superhostneil/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperhostNeil

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@superhostneil

Email: [email protected] 

ABOUT THE HOST

Neil has led a fulfilled and unconventional life, navigating an extraordinary journey from the Royal Navy to prop-making in London's West End theatres. Born into a military family, it was a twist of fate which led him to the theatre, where he contributed to iconic productions such as Phantom of the Opera.

Eventually, Neil transitioned to Corporate Event Team Building, eventually founding his own venture in 1999. Financial challenges in 2017 are what prompted a strategic shift to Airbnb hosting, proving a reliable backup income. By 2021, Neil and his business partner triumphed over significant debt, fuelled by their resilience and the success of Neil's Airbnb venture. Now, Neil has left the corporate world behind, thriving solely through his flourishing Airbnb endeavours.

Disclaimer: The Airbnb Superhost is in no way affiliated with Airbnb. All ideas, thoughts, concepts and data presented in this podcast are entirely Neil’s own and do not represent the views of Airbnb.