HOST STORIES

How Dennis hosts

Dennis hosts in London for the flexibility it provides

What was your motivation to start hosting?

I had a lodger from hell. Really nice guy but a nightmare to live with, so after he moved out, a good friend recommended Airbnb, so I decided to take the plunge.

What were your concerns before you started hosting?

I will never forget thinking “What am I doing, I could be inviting an axe murderer to stay in my home” the night before my first guest arrived. He was a really nice guy from Boston who arrived on crutches. He was a good reminder to me to always remember to follow my dreams.

How do you prepare to make sure guests have a great arrival experience?

Update as much info as I can about my local neighbourhood, make sure everything is clean and tidy, and pay attention to details like making sure you have enough toilet paper, as I’ve been amazed how many guests panic about this.

Has hosting changed your lifestyle?

Not too much as I fit Airbnb around my own lifestyle as much as possible and when I need a break I can easily block out some “me time” on my Airbnb calendar.

What’s your favourite thing about being a host?

Being taken out to dinner by guests.

Is the Host Guarantee an important thing for you?

Oh, without question. It was one of the things that helped make the decision to join Airbnb, because if there’s damage or problems, I have that to fall back on. I have a poster of a well-known singer that is very dear to me, and I think I’ve had it for over 37 years, and if that got damaged, I would be very, very upset about that. So knowing that kind of thing is protected by the Host Guarantee is really comforting.

What’s been your proudest moment as a host?

Having my listing selected to appear in a Airbnb commercial. Wow!

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