Is Your Airbnb Safe?
It’s easy to overlook some specific things about your house because you are in it regularly. If you have a loose railing, you might forget about it since you know to avoid it on a daily basis. As you begin to navigate your home over the years, these things are easy to forget about, but your guests will be the first to point them out.
Not only do you need to think about quirks in your house that can become a problem, but when guests arrive on their trip they are excited and ready to get into vacation mode. While they may not always be wild and crazy, you need to prepare yourself for any possibility. We are going to talk about some safety features that you need to add to your short-term rental and some things to consider when hosting guests for what might happen in your home.
Essential Safety Equipment
Basic safety equipment may seem like a small and obvious detail, but it is something you need to pay close attention to in your Airbnb. Regular maintenance with these items is so important in not only keeping your guests safe but also your home.
Smoke Detectors
It’s never a bad idea to go ahead and replace all of the smoke detectors in your house. Count how many you have and make sure that there are enough for one in every room. This will give your guests a sense of security and give your peace of mind while you have visitors.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
These are so easy to set up and can be plugged right into any outlet of the home. Be sure to change the batteries regularly and have one in a central location on each floor of your home.
Fire Extinguisher
It seems pretty straightforward, but be sure to have them near any fire sources around the house. The kitchen, fireplace, and outside if you have a firepit are good places to start. These should be easily accessible to guests should any problem arise.
General Safety Inspection
Walk around and do a general safety inspection of your home. Think of it as a “so you don’t get sued inspection” or “guest isn’t falling down breaking your things and blaming you inspection”.
Look at things like the stairs, doors, and electrical outlets to make sure that they are equipped for a consistent number of people using them. This is the time to remember those specific issues that run past you and make sure you have a solution for them and your guests.
High-Risk Amenities
Some amenities are very appealing to guests, but can also be high risk for safety. Fireplaces, firepits, saunas, and grills are some of the most sought-after features guests will look for in an Airbnb and you need to make sure that you have all of these in your home in a safe way.
Firepits
Ensure your firepit is safe and appropriately placed. If it can catch fire on anything by going a few feet sideways, it is too close to something that could cause real problems. Maybe spend a little extra money and buy one that has a smoke and flame grate. Also, be sure to have a hose nearby that can be kept on in case guests need to put anything out quickly.
Grills
Do not put a grill on your deck, period. Charcoal and flaming grease that falls on the wood can cause an immediate fire. Guests may not pay close attention while cooking, so keep it somewhere that this is not even a possibility.
Hot Tubs + Pools
Start by calling your insurance company about your pool safety requirements. Usually, it’s a fence around the pool to keep small humans and pets out of harm. Ensure that your pool and hot tubs are regularly serviced, meaning in between each guest visit. Not only do you want to keep them clean, but make sure all of the chemicals and bacteria are up to the right standards.
Bikes, Kayaks, Boats, Etc.
If you have recreational activities as an option at your Airbnb, have safety equipment and supplies on hand. Helmets and life jackets are important to give the guests the option to use.
If you have boats and kayaks make sure that they are in good shape. Provide maps of where to go, as guests will not necessarily know the safest places which can put people in a really dangerous situation. Give them all the information they need to be educated and kindly remind guests of possible danger during these activities. You don’t have to scare them, but be sure that they know of the possible outcomes if used improperly.
In Conclusion
We hope that you are thinking about your property and walking around the check any possible issues that might arise while hosting guests. It will be beneficial to you as a host to keep up with these regularly before something could go wrong. You want your guests to have fun but need to ensure that they do so in the safest and best way possible.
