10/25/2026
Let’s talk about Airbnb and what some of these changes could mean for YOU as a guest.
As someone who owns and operates furnished rentals, I can tell you there is a whole lot more that goes into providing a great stay than handing someone a door code.
We are in the hospitality business. We want our guests to walk into a clean, comfortable, well-maintained home and feel like they can settle in and enjoy their stay.
But some of Airbnb’s recent changes are making that increasingly difficult.
First, let’s talk about fees.
Airbnb has moved many professional hosts to a pricing structure where the host pays approximately 15.5% in service fees instead of the previous split-fee model.
Here’s the reality: When the cost of doing business increases, prices eventually increase too. Those costs don’t simply disappear.
Second, guest verification and accountability.
When someone stays in one of our homes, we are trusting them with a significant investment. This isn’t just a listing on a website. It’s a real home that someone owns, maintains, and pays to operate.
I believe knowing who is staying in your property is a reasonable expectation.
Hotels require identification. Why should privately owned homes have fewer protections?
Third, checkout expectations.
I completely agree that guests shouldn’t have to complete a long list of chores before leaving a rental. You’re paying to stay somewhere, not to work there!
But I also believe there’s a difference between expecting guests to clean the house and asking them to show basic consideration.
Putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher, gathering their trash, and leaving the home reasonably tidy are small things that make a big difference.
Our cleaning teams work hard, often with a limited window between checkout and the next arrival. When a property is left in poor condition, it takes additional time and money to prepare it for the next guest.
And guess who that can affect?
The next family hoping for an early check-in. The guest arriving after a long day of travel. And eventually, everyone paying higher nightly rates.
Here’s what I wish more people understood.
Most furnished rental owners aren’t large corporations with unlimited resources. We are business owners working behind the scenes to provide a great experience.
We pay the mortgages, utilities, insurance, taxes, maintenance, furnishings, supplies, cleaning teams, and countless other expenses that guests never see.
And when something goes wrong, we’re the ones responsible for making it right.
I’m not against change. I’m all for improving the guest experience. In fact, that’s what we work toward every single day.
But a better guest experience shouldn’t have to come at the expense of reasonable protections for the people providing the homes.
To our guests who respect our properties, communicate with us, and treat our homes with care, THANK YOU! You make what we do worthwhile.
And to those who prefer furnished homes over hotels, I hope you’ll continue supporting responsible hosts who genuinely care about your experience.
Because at the end of the day, hospitality works best when there’s respect on both sides.
From a furnished rental owner who believes hospitality matters, and so does accountability. ❤️
