5 Steps to Get Your Place on Airbnb in One Day

An easy guide to renting out your home while you travel in retirement

If you’re planning to travel long term in retirement, one of the smartest ways to make it work financially is to rent out your home while you’re away.

Whether you're off for a few weeks or a few months, platforms like Airbnb can help cover the cost of travel and make the most of your space.

Best of all? You can get your home Airbnb-ready in a single day.

This guide shows you what to do, in what order, and roughly how long it’ll take. You can follow it step by step or set aside a few hours each morning for a week. Either way, you’ll be up and running by the end.

Here’s how:

‍

Step 1: Check what’s needed to rent your home (1–2 hours)

Before you list your home on Airbnb, take care of a few admin basics that you should technically do:

• Check that your mortgage, leasehold, or building management allows short-term rentals
• Let your home insurance provider know (they may suggest a different policy)
• Look up your local council’s rules on short-term letting⁠

This is a great first step toward funding your retirement travels through Airbnb — and once you’ve done it once, you won’t need to repeat it.

‍

Step 2: Prepare your home for guests (1–2 hours)

You don’t need to empty the house or redecorate. Just make it clean, tidy and welcoming:

• Clear away valuables or personal keepsakes - I put mine in a box and leave them with a friend (this is mostly precious things like my grandma’s ring - I take my chances that no one will bother taking my TV off the wall!)
• Free up drawer and wardrobe space - I just push my clothes to one side and leave the other side free with at least 5 hangers per guest available
• Change the bedding and give everything a light clean

If there’s anything you’d prefer guests not to touch, lock it in one room or cupboard, or leave it with a friend.

This is your chance to create a warm, comfortable space — the kind of place you’d want to stay in on your own long-term retirement adventure.

‍

Step 3: Create your Airbnb listing (1 hour)

Here’s where you bring your space to life for potential guests. You’ll need:

• A short, friendly description of your home and what makes it special
• A few well-lit photos (natural light is your best friend) - you can book on the Airbnb to get someone to come over and do this for you - it can maximise the amount you can get per night for your place
• Info on your home layout, bed setup and location

Be honest and down-to-earth. Travellers love real homes with character, especially when they’re staying for longer stretches. I’m always very upfront in explaining that this is my home, complete with all my things and my cat. People love it. I was nervous at first to leave my cat at home with people I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure he loves all the attention and is much preferable vs going to a cattery or someone else’s house.

‍

Step 4: Set your pricing and calendar (30 mins)

Now it’s time to decide how much to charge and when your home is available.

• Check similar listings in your area to find the right price - Airbnb also has an incredible ‘smart pricing’ button which means it’ll price your property competitively vs the area. We always get completely booked up when we do that.
• Set your dates to match your travel plans
• Add a cleaning fee if someone will help reset between guests
• Consider offering discounts for longer stays - there’s an easy place to do this on the app

If you're planning a gap year-style retirement trip, longer bookings mean fewer changeovers and more peace of mind while you're away - incentivise people to stay longer with discounts.

‍

Step 5: Ask someone to be your local contact (30 mins)

You don’t need to manage things yourself while travelling. Ask a friend, neighbour or cleaner to:

• Be a point of contact for guests
• Arrange cleaning between bookings
• Help out if anything unexpected happens

You can also look into local co-hosting services if you prefer a hands-off approach. Contact us if you need some recommendations.

‍

And just like that, you're ready to host!

Listing your home on Airbnb is one of the most effective ways to fund long-term travel in retirement. It gives you flexibility, financial support, and the reassurance that your home isn’t sitting empty while you’re off having new experiences.

Travelling in retirement doesn’t mean giving anything up. It means making smart choices that open the door to more freedom, more adventure, and more life.

‍

Want a printable checklist or help setting things up? Get in touch - we’re happy to help.

‍