Any Airbnbers on here

JuzaMum

Hi all
I am hoping to move in the new year to a house very near the sea. We will have a spare en-suite room and are considering air bnb to help cover the bills. Any advice or experience that you could share please? The room is ground floor so am wondering if it would be worth making it disability friendly?

elsien

What do you mean by making it disabled friendly, and how much money are you willing to spend on it? 

Are you talking the odd grab rail in the en-suite or fully wheelchair accessible wet room, for example? 

JuzaMum

elsien said:

What do you mean by making it disabled friendly, and how much money are you willing to spend on it? 

Are you talking the odd grab rail in the en-suite or fully wheelchair accessible wet room, for example? 

At this point, not a lot of spending. I'm thinking more for ambulatory wheelchair users and those who don't want stairs. The ensuite is quite spacious compared to most I've seen on airbnb. The parking space is also what they class as disabled parking.

Albermarle

JuzaMum said:

elsien said:

What do you mean by making it disabled friendly, and how much money are you willing to spend on it? 

Are you talking the odd grab rail in the en-suite or fully wheelchair accessible wet room, for example? 

At this point, not a lot of spending. I'm thinking more for ambulatory wheelchair users and those who don't want stairs. The ensuite is quite spacious compared to most I've seen on airbnb. The parking space is also what they class as disabled parking.

So basically you want to make it wheelchair accessible, but not fully equipped ( this is a much more major job).
From my experience, a lot more holiday lets are wheelchair accessible than there used to be, so probably a good selling point. 
You might have to fit a ramp, if there is a step up to the door. Also in theory you should have widened doorways ( expensive job to do a few of them) to fit big wheelchairs, but in fact most will go through normal doorways.

JuzaMum

@Ablermarle - exactly. I've just looked in my area for a weekend in May, there are no places with disabled parking, step free access to bedroom and bathroom, which is quite surprising. 

gwynlas

Not airbnb but we live near the sea and converted our garage into a studio apartment not wheelchair friendly as obviously small but self contained. What facilities will you provide for cooking?

We use a mainstream company for bookings as they advertise extensively and employ a local account manager we only book full weeks during peak season and 3 or 4 night breaks in off peak.

elsien

As well as possibly having rails, maybe think as well about smaller changes such as changing your taps and door handles for ones with handles that are easier to use for those who struggle with grip.