All You Need to Know About Making an Airbnb Pet-Friendly
Welcoming guests who travel with pets isn’t so ruff. Photo: Jamie Street.
Ever considered hosting a four-legged friend in your Airbnb or short-term rental? Since the beginning of the pandemic, pet-friendly stays are one of the most popular searches on vacation rental platforms. If you’re open to hosting every member of the family on their getaway, you’ll not only increase your revenue, but likely increase your booking rate as well.
To make hosting a pet easier than ever, we’ve created a full guide outlining exactly how to make your Airbnb ready for furry friends.
Adding a Pet Fee
If you’re using popular vacation rental site, Airbnb, you’ll have the option to add a pet fee to your nightly rate. The expectation for the pet fee is that it will be used to cover extra cleaning — such as vacuuming furniture, wiping tiny smudge prints off glass doors and cleaning dirty paw prints off the floor. Since the fee is included in the nightly rate, this eliminates the hassle of chasing guests to pay an extra fee for you and no surprise costs for the guest.
An important note, service animals, including emotional support animals, are not considered pets and therefore are not to be charged the pet fee. The pet must accompany their owner, so be sure to waive the fee if a guest brings to your attention they are bringing a support animal.
Preparing Your Space for a Pet
Considering that the owners are bringing their pet on vacation, it’s safe to assume the pet is likely used to traveling. In addition, the owners are probably well-versed in packing for their furry plus-one. But there are a few things to consider that can help make the stay more comfortable for every guest. If you have available space, consider adding the following items to your rental:
Bowls for food and water
Blankets to cover and protect furniture
Plenty of designated towels to wipe off paws
Designated cleaning supplies to help guests clean up after their pet
Scratching post and litter box (the cardboard kind will do)
Treats and pet toys (just as an added bonus!)
Updating Your Listing
Now that you’re welcoming pets, you may want to consider updating your current listing. Guests will likely want to know exact details that pertain to their fur baby. Specifics, such as whether you have a fenced in backyard, or whether their pet dragon is also welcome are appreciated.
Here are some things to include in your listing: what type of pets are allowed, as well as how many. In your house rules section, you may want to include any off-limit spaces for pets (such as on the bed), where a pet needs to be leashed, any outdoor spaces for pets and where to properly dispose of pet waste.
Finally, don’t forget to update your house manual! Digital tools, such as Folio, make it easy to update the house information at the touch of a button. In your local guide section, add dog parks nearby, as well as pet stores or even vets. If you’re looking to include any additional add-ons to your rental, you could offer pet walking services or partner with a local doggy daycare.
What to Do With a Pet Damage Claim
While the added pet fee is meant to cover the cost of regular cleaning, sometimes accidents happen and you may need to claim pet damage. When that happens, it’s often not the guest’s responsibility, but you’ll be covered under Airbnb’s Aircover, which provides $1 million USD in damage protection. Just be sure to have photos ready for review and document anything else related to the damage. If you’re still unsure about hosting pets due to damage, you may want to consider a second back-up insurance policy that will cost only a small fee each month.
There is a lot to love when it comes to four-legged friends. By welcoming guests and their entire family into your home, you’re helping create memories to last a lifetime. With just these few simple tips, your short-term rental will be pet-friendly and ready to go in no time.