The Home Stay Guide

Practical Advice for Airbnb and Homeshare Hosts

By Gabriela Domicelj and Derek Young

Published by Little Brown, Robinson, UK, May 2018. Paperback and e-Book. Available at bookshops worldwide, on Amazon and other online outlets.187 pages. ISBN: 978-1-4721-4155-2

The Home Stay Guide offers frank and practical advice for those who are thinking about embarking on the homeshare journey, and for existing hosts who want a profitable, professional business.


Homesharing is a global phenomenon whereby ordinary people share their homes with strangers.


The book is a guide for both new and experienced homeshare hosts. It includes easy-to-follow steps on everything hosts need to know:

  • how to choose listing site (such as Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO or HomeAway)
  • how to set nightly rates which make sense and attract bookings
  • how to design and deliver a wonderful guest experience, everytime
  • what's required to transition efficiently between departing and arriving guests
  • proven marketing techniques to promote your homeshare and increase bookings
  • how to run your homeshare to be profitable and growing

The Home Stay Guide has useful checklists, tools and scorecards designed to give your homeshare everything it needs to be successful.


Written by experienced self-taught hosts who are dedicated to providing the best possible guest experience, this book provides insights into the day-to-day experience of running a homeshare, and the lessons the business consultant authors have learnt along the way.

"These Superhosts understand homeshare better than anyone else!"

"I strongly recommend this book for homeshare hosts...it’s perfect for both beginners and advanced hosts. Written by two business experts with 8 years of homesharing experience."

Chip Conley

Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership, Airbnb

"Definitive book on homesharing"

"Gabriela and Derek’s unique experience in management consulting, financial services and vacation rental operations shines in this definitive book on the best practices to perfect a short-term rental business."

Scott Shatford

CEO, AirDNA

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An Easy to Use Guide to Homesharing

The Home Stay Guide is structured for ease of use. Reference it when you need it. Find answers to all your questions simply and quickly.


The book is structured into three easy to follow sections:

 

  • Getting Started
  • Managing the Guest Experience; and
  • The Business of Homeshare. 


Each section has 3 chapters designed to provide you with all you need to know for a successful homeshare business.

Here's what you can learn in The Home Stay Guide...

Part One: Getting Started

1. Marketing

Learn to convey the unique appeal of your property, target potential guests, build a brand for your homeshare and select the listing site.

2. Sales

Explore the three key elements of homeshare sales: setting market prices, persuading prospective guests and managing calendars.

3. Presentation

First impressions count. Get off to a great start through this step-by-step guide to creating an interior that your guests will fall in love with.


Part Two: Managing The Guest Experience

4. The Guest Experience

Learn how to provide your guests with a warm welcome, a sense of being looked after during their stay and a friendly departure.

5. The Art of Transitions

A successful homeshare business relies on efficient transitions between guests. Learn how to transition in a consistent and effective way.

6. Guest Reviews

Guest reviews are critical. Ignore them at your peril. Discover how to harness the power of reviews to benefit your business.


Part Three: The Business of Homeshare

7. Financial Management

Financial management is crucial to your homeshare business no matter what the size. Learn how to keep a close eye on the numbers to create a profitable business.

8. Reporting

Reporting the performance of your business reveals how healthy it is, providing key insights into how you can improve your business for the future.

9. Driving Business

Once you have regular management reports for your homeshare business, you need to analyse results and decide actions. Learn to use key levers to grow your business.


Part One: Getting Started

1. Marketing

Learn to convey the unique appeal of your property, target potential guests, build a brand for your homeshare and select the listing site.

2. Sales

Explore the three key elements of homeshare sales: setting market prices, persuading prospective guests and managing calendars.

3. Presentation

First impressions count. Get off to a great start through this step-by-step guide to creating an interior that your guests will fall in love with.


Part Two: Managing the Guest Experience

4. The Guest Experience

Learn how to provide your guests with a warm welcome, a sense of being looked after during their stay and a friendly departure.

5. The Art of Transitions

A successful homeshare business relies on efficient transitions between guests. Learn how to transition in a consistent and effective way.

6. Guest Reviews

Guest reviews are critical. Ignore them at your peril. Discover how to harness the power of reviews to benefit your business.


Part Three: The Business of Management

7. Financial Management

Financial management is crucial to your homeshare business no matter what the size. Learn how to keep a close eye on the numbers to create a profitable business.

8. Reporting

Reporting the performance of your business reveals how healthy it is, providing key insights into how you can improve your business for the future.

9. Driving Business

Once you have regular management reports for your homeshare business, you need to analyse results and decide actions. Learn to use key levers to grow your business.


Host Interviews in The Home Stay Guide 

While writing The Home Stay Guide we interviewed leading hosts from around the world, showcased their listings and included their advice on how to run a successful homeshare. One of the hosts, James Willis, is based in the Blue Mountains, Australia. He has been homesharing since 2011 and lists his property, Tullamore, on multiple sites. He has also built a website which secures many of his guest bookings.

James Willis

Superhost 

Blue Mountains,

Australia

A word of advice to new hosts:


Expect it to be busier than you think. Even in the beginning, hosting took more time than I expected. Think through the administration side carefully: there's a lot more to it than it seems, for example, organising insurance.


CLICK below to buy your copy of The Home Stay Guide.

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The Senior Nomads wrote the foreword

Debbie and Michael Campbell set off from Seattle on an adventure in July 2013. They are still travelling. The Campbells have lived full-time in Airbnbs in more 85 countries for over 5 years. After many adventures, they have found the world to be “just one big neighbourhood.”


They are expert Airbnb guests. Since leaving Seattle they have called over 200 Airbnbs home, and visited more than 250 cities. Debbie and Michael know a thing or two about what makes a great homeshare guest experience and they kindly wrote the foreword to our book. 


Be sure to check out their book, Your Keys, Our Home. It is an essential read for all hosts, giving you the chance to walk in the shoes of a guest.

The Senior Nomads wrote the foreword

Debbie and Michael Campbell set off from Seattle on an adventure in July 2013. They are still travelling.


The Campbells have lived full-time in Airbnbs in more 85 countries for over 5 years. After many adventures, they have found the world to be “just one big neighbourhood.”


They are expert Airbnb guests. Since leaving Seattle they have called over 200 Airbnbs home, and visited more than 250 cities. 


Debbie and Michael know a thing or two about what makes a great homeshare guest experience and they kindly wrote the foreword to our book. 


Be sure to check out their book, Your Keys, Our Home. It is an essential read for all hosts, giving you the chance to walk in the shoes of a guest.

Media Coverage, Testimonials and The Home Stay Guide

HomeShare Solutions featured in:

Media Coverage, Testimonials and The Home Stay Guide

Radio interview on Money FM 89.3, Singapore

Business FM 89.9 radio interview, Malaysia

Radio interview on RBM FM 89.1, Australia

TV Interview with USA Today, Los Angeles, USA

Michael Sylvester

Superhost 

Palm Springs,

United States

Enlightening for the homeshare host!


We have two Airbnb properties in California. Gabriela’s and Derek’s advice was very useful, helping us to think like both a business manager and a good host.

Romy Serfaty

Superhost 

Hong Kong

Driven to be a Superhost!


Working with Gabriela and Derek encouraged me to drive my homeshare business further to become a true Superhost. Highly recommended to aspiring and seasoned hosts around the world.

Rhonda Sacks

Realtor

Vancouver,

Canada

Fabulous and comprehensive


As a newcomer to this adventure, this book is the homeshare bible! It’s a step-by-step guide, extremely comprehensive (they thought of everything) and easy to follow. A ‘must read’ for all hosts!

Marie Hernandez

Entrepreneur

Guatemala City,

Guatemala

A must have toolkit for all hosts


“This book is great for anyone wanting to know about homesharing. It’s filled with great advice, and best of all, real examples, including the authors’ very own experience with their home. For those of you looking to improve (or start) your homeshare business, consulting Gabriela and Derek is well worth the investment.”

CLICK below to buy your copy of The Home Stay Guide.

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