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+--- Thread: Advice for starting out? (/showthread.php?tid=206)
Advice for starting out? - asielen - 09-08-2025
Hoping someone may be willing to share some advice or resources. My mom is a widow and struggling to pay and maintain her home. She lives in New Jersey in a 3 bedroom home within walking distance to several beaches. I looked up rates in her area on Airbnb and saw that she could make a significant amount of money even just renting out her home for a few weeks in the summer. However, I’m not naïve enough to think it’s as easy as listing the home and getting paid. I’m just looking for some advice on where I can find the info to help her get started- everything from the basic first steps to the rental process. Open to any resources as well. Thank you!
Edit: She would be looking to rent the entire home rather than just rooms.
RE: Advice for starting out? - gineton - 09-08-2025
Having a good handyman and cleaners are essential. I’m blessed that my cleaner is my handyman and lawn & garden guy, so I keep him on retainer. He’s on call for minor emergencies with plumbing and things not working and I pay him a bonus fee from those unpredictable moments. So far I’ve had very few challenges (3 years renting my upstairs apartment.) Would your mom have any involvement in running the listing and what are her people skills like or would you take that over/outsource to a PM?
RE: Advice for starting out? - gbj42 - 09-08-2025
First look up the regulations for permitting in your area and learn what you can do. Then call insurance to make sure she is covered. After that post again specific questions if you are legally allowed to rent out the property.
RE: Advice for starting out? - ChrisFromTheOC - 09-08-2025
Would your mom stay at the property and just rent out a room or two? Considering you mentioned it is close to the beach I would assume you would want to rent out the whole house. Does it need major renovations or furnishings to bring it up to par with the other listings you saw? And finally, if mom is no longer there, where is she going to stay and how much would it still make financial sense?
RE: Advice for starting out? - cavitron - 09-29-2025
Use external cameras. Don’t use instabook - vet guests carefully and read the guests’ reviews before accepting. Provide an incentive for your cleaners to do their best. Mine gets a little extra for any review which mentions how clean it is.
RE: Advice for starting out? - poly531 - 09-29-2025
The market is so oversaturated and tourism is stagnant. Expect to make 50% less than you are expecting. Hope you own you're place outright..
RE: Advice for starting out? - alwaysbmine - 10-06-2025
I have had to lower prices for my unit due to over abundance of competition this year.. something to think about. Does your unit look “serene”? One thing that kills the mood for me is colored bedding and towels. White gives it a more restful vibe, colors make me think it’s trying to mask stains. Grey towels are fine, but red/blue/green is a meh. Your unit can be “homey” for the right price but if you command top dollar for it then it has to be free of clutter and personal details. I am the first to say Airbnbs aren’t hotels but people are picky and you don’t know who is going to get ticked off.