10/23/2026
Airbnb has made some significant changes recently, and I have mixed feelings about them.
First, they moved the “service fee” from the guest side to the host payout. So instead of guests seeing extra fees piled on top of the nightly rate, cleaning fee, and taxes, it’s all rolled into one. That makes sense, but it means hosts now pay 15.5% of the nightly rate + cleaning fee instead of 3%. We were advised to raise our prices by 15% to keep our earnings the same. I was hesitant to do that, so we’ve generally kept our prices the same and lowered our cleaning fee, which means we’re absorbing more of those costs.
The latest change prohibits hosts from asking guests to do checkout “chores” like dishes and stripping the beds. This one I can get behind! Hosts who ask guests to do all that give the rest of us a bad rap. I’ve never asked guests to do dishes (though I still quietly judge them if they leave caked-on food and bacon grease everywhere ), and I specifically ask them NOT to strip the beds. Partly because it’s easier to spot stains that need treating, but mostly because they’re ON VACATION!
All that said, these changes, along with growing public distrust of Airbnb, have me looking more seriously at creating my own direct booking site.
This “side hustle” helps our family afford to stay in the neighborhood we love as our family has grown (a lot!). I’m well aware of the housing issues short-term rentals have contributed to, especially when large groups buy up tons of single-family homes. We’ve always tried to be sensitive to those concerns and to be an asset to our community rather than a threat.
One way we do that is by hiring our direct neighbors in Cottonwood for cleaning, landscaping, and maintenance. They’re just as invested in making this special property a success as we are.
Thanks for continuing to support our little spaces. I hope you’ll keep enjoying them, too! 🤍
