When my youngest graduates from college in a couple of years, my wife and I plan to take advantage of her remote job and travel across the country. We hope to spend at least three and as many as six months in different parts of the country. Our thinking is living there for a longer period of time will give us an opportunity to really see and experience what the area has to offer.
In doing some preliminary research, we found that Airbnb makes long-term listings available. Given our positive experiences with Airbnb in the past, this seems like a perfect solution. But if you’re considering Airbnb for your long-term rental plans, keep some things in mind.
Pros for using Airbnb for long-term rentals
When I’m talking about long term, I’m thinking of anything more than a month. You may still receive some of these benefits for a shorter stay.
A basis of operations. This refers back to what I mentioned above. If my wife and I stay in the NE part of the US for six months, it gives us a chance to visit Maine for a weekend or travel to upstate New York for a festival. We can drive into Canada or even down to New York City if we’re so inclined. And we get all that without having to live out of a suitcase.
Flexibility. While most rental companies require you to sign a 6-month or annual lease, long-term rentals through Airbnb can be for months at a time or even partial months. For instance, you could rent for six weeks through Airbnb.
Furnished, home-like atmosphere. Renting from Airbnb provides a furnished abode, often with a full kitchen and at least one bedroom and bathroom. Some may have outside living spaces or a porch. And you can rent a house as big as you need or a studio that just provides the essentials.
Discounts. If you’ve used Airbnb in the past, you’ve seen that a week-long stay usually results in significant savings over a nightly stay. Similarly, if you reserve a place for several months, you could lower your nightly rate even more.
Time to discover other rental or purchase options. After we have traveled to different parts of the US, we plan to settle down again, possibly in one of the areas we visited. You can use an Airbnb rental to become acclimated to the town or city, learning the areas that you might want to consider for a longer-term rental or even a purchase.
Credit card points. While some long-term landlords want to be paid in a more traditional way, many Airbnb hosts will accept credit card payments for the monthly rent. Putting thousands on your card every month for three to six months can provide huge rewards points. Of course, you must make sure you will pay off the card in full when it comes due.
Some reasons to avoid Airbnb long-term rentals
Potential for last-minute cancellations. If you read the reviews on Airbnbs, you will often find where someone traveled to a place and, upon arrival, discovered that the owner had canceled their stay. When this happens with a nightly rental (or even a weekly rental) it’s a major headache. You get your money back, but then must find a suitable place to sleep.
But imagine it happening to a three-month rental. Most apartment or home-rental companies limit their rentals to a year minimum. Hotels would be cost prohibitive. You would need to find a replacement rental using Airbnb or another site.
Living in an unseen abode. Similar to above, if you are renting for a couple of nights, a few minor problems with the house or apartment aren’t normally that big of a deal. My son and I once rented an 1890s house on one of the coldest nights of the year; the old gas heaters tried (and failed) valiantly to keep up. But for a couple of nights, we could laugh about it.
What if you find the rental is in a bad neighborhood where you don’t feel safe? What if the photos are outdated and there are three plates, not the well-stocked kitchen shown? What if it’s just…not right? Unfortunately, you can’t discover these things until you’re tied into a lease and first step foot into the house.
Cancellation policies. Given the longer term of the lease, you will probably discover a more expensive cancellation policy. Like with shorter-term rentals, you will often need to prepay before you arrive at the home, although with long-term rentals it’s usually just for the first month. However, if you decide that the rental is wrong for you, it may be difficult to get that money back. And if you’re in the middle of the rental and decide to cancel, you may have to pay another 30 days – or an amount that adds up to 30 days.
What to watch for if you decide to rent long-term from Airbnb
Pay particular attention to photos… I was recently looking at a rental that looked great except for the fact that there was a mini-kitchen: basically, a microwave and a dorm-sized refrigerator. That’s great for one night, but would not work at all for us in a long-term rental.
…and positive reviews. Make sure there are a number of positive reviews, and check them to see if the reviewer mentions being there for a long period of time. There are Airbnbs that provide both short-term and long-term rentals. How people review a two-night stay is vastly different from a two-month stay.
Research the area. The first time I rented a home from Airbnb, I was shocked at how hard it was to maneuver my SUV into the driveway. Since then, I have reviewed the street view photos available online to not only see the house, but to check out the neighborhood.
Act like you’re renting your college apartment. When we dropped off my son in his rental home this semester, the first thing we reminded him to do was take photos. Lots of photos. Of everything. When you first enter the rental, inspect it thoroughly. Make sure there are enough dishes and towels, but also check the Wifi to see if you’ll be able to work there. Use your senses to smell for dampness or other odors and listen for traffic sounds or other noises. Consider reaching out to your host to let them know if something is off. And like my son, taking photos is never a bad idea.
Photo by John Tekeridis