It could be to the advantage of hosts to prepare their Airbnb for kids. By making your Airbnb kid-friendly, you will show that you are truly a welcoming host. On top of that, this extra effort could help you to boost your profits as you will be able to attract more guests. By implementing these tips and making a couple of upgrades to prepare your Airbnb for kids, arranging your Airbnb will be child’s play.
Take all the necessary preventative measures
Safety should always come first! Hosts should first and foremost pay attention to childproofing their homes by:
- Adding plug protectors
- Adding locks to cabinets
- Placing cleaning agents out of reach
- Removing any toxic plants
- Communicating the details regarding what to do in the event of a fire
- Checking the batteries in a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector regularly
- Adding safety gates
- Securing trash cans with lids and latches
- Hiding electrical and curtain cords
These are merely the most important steps to complete when childproofing your Airbnb for kids. As every house is unique, your property might require additional measures.
Find out about any special requirements
Nowadays food allergies are becoming more prevalent, especially among kids. Therefore, if you want to leave your guests a welcome basket, it is good practice first to find out if a family member has a specific food allergy. Also, as a host, you should find out whether or not your guests will require special accommodation like wheelchair accessibility.
Ascertain if your guests have any specific expectations
Problems with the amenities are one of the most common Airbnb complaints, yet it can be prevented rather easily. Many times guests cancel their booking right after they have checked in as their expectations were not met.
So, to prevent cancellations make sure that you message the parents to find out if they have any specific expectations prior to their arrival. It could be that they are expecting a specific level of security. For example, they might expect that there will be a gate that restricts access to a pool. By taking a couple of minutes to ensure that you are in agreement with regards to the safety measures that will be in place, poor reviews can also be avoided.
Pay attention to cleanliness
Cleanliness is at all times extremely important. Though, as parents are 24/7 on the alert, they could easily spot something that other guests would have missed. Also, as their children’s health is of paramount importance, they will pay extra attention to surfaces such as bedding, floors, toys and baby furniture.
If you do mention in your listing description that you will provide toys and certain baby furniture, try to buy items that are not difficult to clean (or even better yet sterilize). Kids can be messy. So, to make it easier for the parents, also make sure that it is easy for parents to find cleaning supplies (yet out of reach of the children). This way your cleaner will also have an easier time getting the place ready for the next guests.
Remember to provide emergency contact numbers
Hosts should always include emergency contact numbers in the event that something goes wrong. Though, when you know that you will list your Airbnb for kids, this is even more important. The reality is that accidents will happen. So, make sure that you display a list with emergency numbers in your house rules and another prominent place.
Write clear house rules
The right rules can help to prevent nasty accidents. Your guests will also require more info and guidance about your home. So, before writing your Airbnb house rules, think about which possible demands a family with children might have. Perhaps you can even communicate some of the house rules in a fun way so that the children will take an interest too. Whichever style you choose to use, make sure that your house rules remain simple. At the end of the day, if your guests understand the rules, you will feel more comfortable to list your Airbnb for kids.
Parenting is hard. It requires round-the-clock supervision. The Airbnb infant policy is just one way that Airbnb is trying to help parents. You too can play your part by preparing your Airbnb for kids. As an African proverb rightfully points out – it takes a village to raise a child.