Mastering Airbnb Photography and Management with Kids in Tow

Managing an Airbnb while juggling life with kids is no easy feat. However, with some strategic planning and photography tricks, you can make your space market-ready.

Preparing for Picture-Perfect Shots

De-clutter Instantly: Use baskets for personal kitchen items like sippy cups, which can be quickly moved once you receive a booking. Keep these handy for a hassle-free cleanup.

Room-by-Room Photography: As you capture each room, move personal belongings behind you, keeping them out of the shot. This minimizes setup time and helps maintain your listing's professionalism.

Brighten Your Bathroom Shots: Remove towels from hangers to create clean visuals. Brighten the photos to enhance appeal; bathrooms must feel airy and welcoming.

Balancing Life and Listings

Pre-Booking Rush: Prior to hosting again, especially after a hiatus, plan for a day (or more) to organize. Kids often scatter toys and other items, so having a quick cleanup strategy is essential. Move clutter into your lock-off storage room to keep it out of sight.

Reliable Help is Key: Have a dependable cleaner. An unexpected issue? Ensure a locksmith or other specialist is on speed dial. For example, I had a locksmith ready for my Calgary suite due to recurring lock issues and my cleaner was always willing to send her husband over to fix something for a fee.

Smart Booking Strategies

Stay Within Reach: For ease, try remaining within a few hours of your time zone when traveling. This simplifies communication with guests and aligns better with managing unexpected issues remotely. It's also much easier on the kids.

Beware of Long-Term Rentals: In my experience, monthly bookings can result in tenants leaving behind excess items. Consider shorter stays unless you're prepared for post-stay cleanups. Take a security deposit if you intend to set up monthly bookings, as the clean up fee can be large if a bunch of garbage is left.

Adapting to Local Regulations: In places like BC, new laws limit Airbnb rentals to your primary residence for only six months a year. This regulation has sparked an increase in month-to-month rentals, especially on idyllic islands and tourism hot spots, where tenants vacate during peak tourist seasons. Such laws could actually enhance your rental strategy and align well with family living. We were able to secure a lower rental rate foe the winter as long as we vacate 3 weeks in the summer.

While balancing an Airbnb business with kids might seem daunting, these strategies can help maintain an inviting, guest-ready space. With a bit of juggling, you can indeed have the best of both worlds—earning from your property while enjoying family life!