Jason R. Rich’s new book, Start Your Own Airbnb Business, details the money-making possibilities of short-term rentals. In this excerpt, he interviews Airbnb Superhosts Chris and Joan Christiansen, a married couple who rent out rooms in their home via Airbnb—mostly to business professionals and students. They’ve been doing this successfully for more than seven years, and share their best practices.
How did you get started with Airbnb?
Chris Christiansen: What started it was that our kids grew up and moved out, so our home had several empty bedrooms. A friend of mine is a travel writer who spent more than six months staying at various Airbnb properties, so he gave us some guidance and encouragement. In our home, we currently have up to four separate bedrooms available for short-term rental.
