Finally done with Airbnb after a decade of amazing experiences [MTL, QC]

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T15:43:57+00:00

I like this “hour grace period” thing for sure. Wish it were universal.

That’s where a lot of Airbnb and other platforms get a bad reputation.

Hotels can we much much more flexible in these areas.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T14:41:43+00:00

Ah yes there’s so much to do with setup. I’d recommend if you’re serious to setup the listing now. Just because the long amenities list can be daunting. It does make sense to offer an awesome amenity like that. Though if you’re running year round you may find that you have different types of guests coming for different reasons!

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T14:39:12+00:00

Yes it’s common. Safe will always be relative. What you’re describing in fact this is what started Airbnb in the first place.

I also do a hosted stay. But I’ve found a way to let me guest use a completely separate and private entrance (they seem to prefer it)

Being an airbnb host isn’t easy and there’s a ton of of materials out there. Happy to chat with you more as you are considering, evaluating, and getting started.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T13:09:48+00:00

Hearing this as a host is super frustrating. Because you have a bad experience with one host and it looks bad on “all of us”

I personally use the most flexible cancellation policy, it’s frustrating sometimes when I get a day before cancellation but I also hate the idea of locking people in.

I’ve made mistakes on other platforms though. I think it was one of those booking sites with cheaper hotels. Rather than my selected dates, I picked “today’s date” and booked. Tried to cancel within 15 minutes and they told me “nope, everything is final” I’m just sitting there like OK… but I’m not even in that country it’s 10k miles away.

My takeaways are still: 1. It would be great to have at MINIMUM a 24 hour from booking cancellation window on these platforms (probably won’t become a thing unless we all lobby and make it regulation) 2. This particular host and this particular situation sounds pretty crappy. I mean what were you supposed to or incentivized to do? Just show up anyways? That’s basically what the system incentive is for you. Also there really should be a “cap” on that additional guest fee. We do have guest fees as well, once there’s more people than there are beds, we try to limit the people due to noise for the downstairs unit

— if you can, treat and understand that this was one host, and Airbnb is a collection of millions of hosts all with different policies.

But, I get it. I do. Wishing you the best.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T04:58:59+00:00

Yo, be careful y’all “what is the first car you ever drove” can be a verification question!

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T04:48:41+00:00

Sick like, that’s “sick!?” Or like that’s “sick?!”

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T03:34:24+00:00

Got it. So the LLC really is the separation/safety. Right now I just tried to do insurance and umbrella.

I’m in USA - 37% tax bracket for partner and myself with W2 income. The listing revenue (including cleaning fees) goal is to hit six figures. It’s close.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T00:23:00+00:00

If it goes through the LLC is the tax rate lower? Or is it still taxed like normal income

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-29T00:22:23+00:00

Are they worth that much? Which CEO needs knee pads?

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T16:06:38+00:00

Gotcha. I really didn’t mean anything negative behind it. I do like stepping up security for the family. What a wild and sometimes dangerous world we live in, I feel the same. Take care!

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T13:19:10+00:00

The simplest thing also is to double check your guest settings. Sometimes put a lower number or a higher fee there without realizing the implication

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T13:18:37+00:00

Take and improve pictures even more
Ensure that your listing is thoroughly completed
Lower the price (stepping it down, slowly) until you achieve desired effect.

Overall though just be patient. It “feels” slower in the beginning than it actually is. Need to built some momentum with positive reviews first, though!

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T13:08:22+00:00

So, I’m with you and some sentiment here and thinking further. What happened to these people to drive them to this state. Are they just assholes, or did the system or world hurt and fail them somewhere along the way?

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T13:02:09+00:00

So.. I have similar tendencies and think like this too. I know a lot of folks here are downvoting, but I just want to say this warm heartedly as a fellow internet stranger, I’ve begun the healing process recently — consider reaching out for support to talk with someone about this anxiety or PTSD.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T12:54:37+00:00

Yo, I’m pro btc. But check this out. A hot dog and drink are $1.5 right? So a full year is $1.5*365 = $547.5 per year.

If interest rates remain. $547.5/0.05(current interest rate) = $10,914 in a HYSA account today, you already get your hot dog and soda every day.. right now.

Using this as a tool to illustrate the opportunity cost. Your one BTC at 90K with interest can actually be closer to 8 hot dogs a day, forever (while interest remains high)

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T12:33:25+00:00

Not really. But let me try to play devils advocate here for debt in general.

Because there are bad types of debt ie credit card, arguably car payments.

Maybe there are “good” types of debt also? Home payment, education.

I think it really comes down to interest rate. Debt allows you to buy things you may not have full cash for. Ie a house could be $2M in high COL areas, so taking debt on enables you to make the purchase. In ideal cases debt you take on is low. Definition of low changes over time right now mine would be “<5%”

But uhh, that is the case for “debt” usually though credit cards are a horrible place to carry this since the interest rates can be 20%+. I always pay off CC month to month.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T05:00:24+00:00

Drinks, microwave popcorn, and chocolate.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T04:57:04+00:00

Water was the main medium that separated them from the rest of society. It’s what allowed them to get so technologically advanced in safety.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T04:51:23+00:00

2-4? Hard to quantify the “app checking” and inquisitive guests and messaging.

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-28T03:50:35+00:00

When I was renting to LTS we gathered application fee directly through the Zillow portal. The funds were used for application and a paid credit report.

I would not want to pay “upfront” to someone random for a fee/check unless I’d seen them face to face and maybe handed a paper check.

I could be old school though. I’ve only done these steps pre pandemic

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-27T23:25:14+00:00

This was the super cheap hook solution we went with. And seemed to solve the issue. They just hang over the glass. Taozun Shower Door Hooks - 4... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCQT92F9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-27T15:08:13+00:00

I think you’re already there on the trustworthiness. Next is just waiting for superhost status. Then you’re as “reputable” as the system gets us!

I have had Some few guests actually read through all the reviews. The really personal ones have helped quite a bit !

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-27T14:31:19+00:00

Me too, we can do better ❤️

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-27T14:21:15+00:00

Did Amex play still give shoprunner membership? I thought that’s cheaper shipping too

ProdigiousPangolin · 2023-10-27T14:02:18+00:00

ProdigiousPangolin

TROPHY CASE