Get Paid For Your Pad | Airbnb Hosting | Vacation Rentals | STR Revenue Management EP186: This Week in the World of Airbnb
Sep 8, 2017
26:25
Airbnb has the capacity to change lives—for better or worse. This week’s headlines include an inspiring story of how the short-term rental platform has helped a Superhost from Tanzania afford schooling and travel, and even become an advocate for the Maasai culture around the world.
Another story of Airbnb changing a host’s life for the better features Jasper himself. In an interview with the Huffington Post, he explains how he used Airbnb to quit his successful career in finance and travel the world. Today on the podcast, our newsworthy host is joined by David Jacoby, President and Co-Founder of Hostfully, to discuss these stories of Airbnb’s positive influence, as well as a couple of situations where vacation rental sites changed someone’s life for the worse: The Miami homeowner facing $500K in fines because his tenants listed illegally on Airbnb, and travelers who lost a lawsuit against HomeAway over a fraudulent listing.
Jasper and David also answer listener questions about furnishing your Airbnb, offering suggestions regarding where to shop as well as ideas around branding. Listen and learn how to budget for your Airbnb furnishings and what qualifies as a business deduction!
Topics Covered
Article #1: Whatever Happened to … the Airbnb ‘Superhost’ From Tanzania?
•Godwin Ndosi joined Airbnb in 2015
•Rented rooms in family home for $15/night
•200 guests in first year
•Met people from all over the world
•Became Superhost, built additional dwellings in backyard
•Able to afford university, travel
•Advocate for Maassai culture
Article #2: These Homeowners Faced an Airbnb Nightmare as Renters Left Them Facing Huge Fines and Angry Neighbors
•Miami Beach landlord rented to tenants who listed illegally on Airbnb
•Homeowner fined nearly $500K
•Airbnb slow to respond (until media coverage began)
•Landlord had to find listing himself
•Home also listed on new site, Vacayo
•As cities develop best practices, homeowners should not be held liable for tenants acting illegally
•More and more landlords do allow Airbnb
•Platforms like Pillow facilitate win-win for renters, landlords
Article #3: Section 230 Helps VRBO Defeat Claim Over Fraudulent Listing—Hiam v. HomeAway
•Traveler booked listing on VRBO, sent wire transfer
•Booking fell through, but money not returned
•Judge ruled in favor of HomeAway
•Communications Decency Act Section 230 provides immunity from liability for platforms publishing content provided by others
•Precedent went other way in San Francisco (Airbnb not ‘just a listing platform’)
Article #4: The Disgruntled Ex-Stock Trader Who Used Airbnb to Create a Jetsetting Lifestyle
•Jasper featured as successful online entrepreneur
•Left lucrative career in finance
•Travels the world, financed via Airbnb
•Continued focus on personal growth
•Negative reaction led to next podcast interview with Airbnb opponent
Q: How much should I spend on furnishings for my Airbnb? Where do hosts get their furnishings?
•Discussed in detail on EP175
•Hire local interior designer
•Buy from local artists
•Decorate around theme (branding differentiates your listing)
•$5,000—$7,000 budget (depending upon location, theme)
•Shop at IKEA, secondhand stores
•Deduct purchases as business expense (30% off)
Resources Mentioned
Article #1: npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/09/02/547028077/whatever-happened-to-the-airbnb-superhost-from-tanzania
Article #2: cnbc.com/2017/09/01/airbnb-nightmare-homeowners-fined-after-renters-illegal-listings.html
Vacayo
500 Startups
Pillow
GPFYP EP175: How to Integrate Airbnb in Your Real Estate Business...
Another story of Airbnb changing a host’s life for the better features Jasper himself. In an interview with the Huffington Post, he explains how he used Airbnb to quit his successful career in finance and travel the world. Today on the podcast, our newsworthy host is joined by David Jacoby, President and Co-Founder of Hostfully, to discuss these stories of Airbnb’s positive influence, as well as a couple of situations where vacation rental sites changed someone’s life for the worse: The Miami homeowner facing $500K in fines because his tenants listed illegally on Airbnb, and travelers who lost a lawsuit against HomeAway over a fraudulent listing.
Jasper and David also answer listener questions about furnishing your Airbnb, offering suggestions regarding where to shop as well as ideas around branding. Listen and learn how to budget for your Airbnb furnishings and what qualifies as a business deduction!
Topics Covered
Article #1: Whatever Happened to … the Airbnb ‘Superhost’ From Tanzania?
•Godwin Ndosi joined Airbnb in 2015
•Rented rooms in family home for $15/night
•200 guests in first year
•Met people from all over the world
•Became Superhost, built additional dwellings in backyard
•Able to afford university, travel
•Advocate for Maassai culture
Article #2: These Homeowners Faced an Airbnb Nightmare as Renters Left Them Facing Huge Fines and Angry Neighbors
•Miami Beach landlord rented to tenants who listed illegally on Airbnb
•Homeowner fined nearly $500K
•Airbnb slow to respond (until media coverage began)
•Landlord had to find listing himself
•Home also listed on new site, Vacayo
•As cities develop best practices, homeowners should not be held liable for tenants acting illegally
•More and more landlords do allow Airbnb
•Platforms like Pillow facilitate win-win for renters, landlords
Article #3: Section 230 Helps VRBO Defeat Claim Over Fraudulent Listing—Hiam v. HomeAway
•Traveler booked listing on VRBO, sent wire transfer
•Booking fell through, but money not returned
•Judge ruled in favor of HomeAway
•Communications Decency Act Section 230 provides immunity from liability for platforms publishing content provided by others
•Precedent went other way in San Francisco (Airbnb not ‘just a listing platform’)
Article #4: The Disgruntled Ex-Stock Trader Who Used Airbnb to Create a Jetsetting Lifestyle
•Jasper featured as successful online entrepreneur
•Left lucrative career in finance
•Travels the world, financed via Airbnb
•Continued focus on personal growth
•Negative reaction led to next podcast interview with Airbnb opponent
Q: How much should I spend on furnishings for my Airbnb? Where do hosts get their furnishings?
•Discussed in detail on EP175
•Hire local interior designer
•Buy from local artists
•Decorate around theme (branding differentiates your listing)
•$5,000—$7,000 budget (depending upon location, theme)
•Shop at IKEA, secondhand stores
•Deduct purchases as business expense (30% off)
Resources Mentioned
Article #1: npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/09/02/547028077/whatever-happened-to-the-airbnb-superhost-from-tanzania
Article #2: cnbc.com/2017/09/01/airbnb-nightmare-homeowners-fined-after-renters-illegal-listings.html
Vacayo
500 Startups
Pillow
GPFYP EP175: How to Integrate Airbnb in Your Real Estate Business...
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