Have you ever heard about the Airbnb pet fee? What’s that, and how should we charge guests?
So many people travel with their entire family, including their pets. They usually can’t leave them alone for days at home, so they need to ask someone to check on them or get them into pet mansions, either of these ways is not as convenient as bringing them with them. One of the ways that can turn your property into a popular destination is to make it pet-friendly.
That’s why the pets allowed option is the most required amenities guests look for. However, hosting pets might not be possible for many Airbnb for various reasons, from the inability to set up some special amenities for pets (such as fences) to space limits or costs of extra cleaning services.
Anyway, if you’ve just decided to make your Airbnb property pet friendly and you’re actually able to do that, you need to change a few things, in your listing, in your house, and in your price strategy and add a pet fee into your nightly price.
How to Charge an Airbnb Pet Fee?
If you’re considering accepting families with pets, you might need to add an extra fee for the pets. Airbnb pet fees can help you to cover some of the additional cleaning expenses and accidental damages caused by guests’ pets. You can also use this extra charge for providing specific amenities and making your property more pet friendly such as pet toys, fences, and food bowls.
The amount of the pet fee is totally up to you, but it’s better to search about the pet fees in other Airbnb properties and hotels and then choose the most reasonable fee to add to your listing prices. Other factors impact the amount of Airbnb pet fees, such as:
- The number of the pets
- The size of the pets
- The kind and age of the pets
- The length of their hair
- The place they sleep on (do they sleep in bed with their owner or have a special bed for their own)
The pet fee spreads out equally on overnight stays, and you must mention it on the nightly rental fee and total price section in the checkout bill.
Is It Really Necessary to Add a Pet Fee?
Well, it’s not written in stone! I mean, some hosts charge the Airbnb pet fee and some don’t. Some Airbnb hosts have pets themselves and are totally ok with the guests’ pets and don’t charge any extra fee. Some other hosts prefer the pet deposit instead of adding pet fees. Pet deposit? What’s that? A Pet deposit is not basically an extra fee; it’s a certain amount to cover possible damages caused by a guest’s pet. Hosts have to refund the pet deposit if the pet doesn’t cause any damage or problems. It’s only for making more peace of mind without charging any extra money, and the guests are happier with a deposit than a fixed pet fee.
Tips to Make Your Airbnb Property More Pet-Friendly
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s not possible for every host to accept pets. If you’re considering letting these fluffy guests come in, you need to make your place more pet-friendly for both guests and their pet’s comfort. The following tips will help you through that aim:
Define the Pet Areas in Your Rental Property
You need to set up fences and gates to prevent the pets from entering the off-limit areas and rooms. Make sure to keep the bins and trash cans outside their reach to prevent them from digging.
Provide Their Special Amenities
it’s better to put food and water bowls for cats and dogs, to improve the guests’ and their pets’ experience. Make sure to supply a litter tray for cats and a scooping tray for dogs too. It would be great to put some fun toys for pets to get amused with.
Are Your Fabrics Pet Friendly?
Pets leave lots of fur and stains on your furniture and surfaces that can put you in a lot of trouble for removing them (and that is why charging the Airbnb pet fee might sound reasonable!). It’s recommended to choose fabrics that are more resistant to stains and animal furs, such as microfiber or canvas, and cover up your indoor and outdoor furniture with them.
Avoid Carpets and Rugs.
It’s better to avoid rugs and carpets, especially in areas where pets mostly walk in. If they’re part of your property decoration, put them in the bedrooms or areas that are off-limits for pets. Woods and tiles are the easiest surfaces to clean, so consider installing them on most of your property surfaces.
Allowing Pets, Is It Worth It After All?
Based on Airbnb statistics, pet-allowed properties usually reach more bookings and are more wanted. Hosts with pet-friendly properties can unbelievably attract more guests from a wider range. by hosting more guests, you get more occupancy rate on Airbnb.
But the money talks first, right? Obviously, you can charge more for your pet-friendly environment and raise your nightly rental fee, but your income will rise by accepting more families with pets, even if you’ve decided not to charge the Airbnb pet fee. Creating a pet-friendly environment is a way to make an excellent competitive edge for your business, improving both the guests’ experiences and your own income. Now, is it worth it or not? You tell me!
Final Words
Before deciding, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of allowing pets on your property. Many pet-friendly hosts welcome guests to bring their pets inside their properties because they are pet owners. Be ready to deal with any incidents or mess that could impact your property if you decide to accept pets. In case you want to open your doors to these cute fluffy creatures for the first time, we recommend you check out our Airbnb pet-friendly checklist (Download Airbnb Checklist) to make sure you’re providing the best environment for them.
We’ve tried to give all the necessary information related to the Airbnb pet fee and valuable tips. But it’s still up to you to decide whether the benefits of allowing pets are worth the extra work. Is your Airbnb property a pet-friendly one? Why are you /or are you not allowing pets to your Airbnb? What are the pros and cons of accepting guests’ pets in your mind? Please share your related experiences with other readers and us in the comment section below.