Last updated on July 16th, 2022
Welcome back to another episode of Into The Airbnb, where we talk with Airbnb hosts about their short-term rental experience.
Let’s listen to our today’s podcast featuring our guest, Molli McConnell from Delta, Colorado, who has been an Airbnb host since 2017 and is managing a very particular listing: an old (remodeled) school building that she turned into her own residence. Today, she’ll share her experience with home-sharing and how it’s like to sell a place — not only as an STR but also as an experience.
Into The Airbnb Podcast S2 EP 10:
Old School turned into an Airbnb Homeshare Listing in Delta, Colorado
You can also listen to this Into The Airbnb Podcast Episode on Otter.
Delia:
So can you tell us how did you get started with your first Airbnb listing?
Molli McConnell:
You know, we bought a bigger house and we just decided we had just about 2000 square foot upstairs that we never used. And it just kind of made sense that we’d been here for a couple of years. It just made sense to try to Airbnb it. So it’s a home share and it’s worked very well.
Delia:
Good to hear about it. And so far, how has been your experience with that home-sharing?
Molli McConnell:
Very good, have not had one bad experience yet and I’m thankful for that, this is our fifth year.
Delia:
That’s great. What kind of guests do that type of lifting usually attract, at least in your area?
Molli McConnell:
Most of our guests are passing through the area, we don’t get very many long-term guests. I’d say on average, they spend one to two nights, we’re in a very rural area. So we get people that are going from say Denver, Utah or to southwestern Colorado. They spend a couple of nights with us and love it and then, we send them on their way refreshed.
Delia:
So you’re the only home-sharing listing in the in your area, in your city?
Molli McConnell:
I have to think about that. I think there might be one more in Delta. Most listings around here are whole house listings, separate unit.
Delia:
Oh, and compared to them, would you say that with your listing, you’re doing a good amount of revenue by comparing to the whole houses?
Molli McConnell:
That’s a hard call Delia. I think a lot of people when they travel are looking for a whole house, we did not accept animals, so I think that could be a factor too. I do believe that what draws people to us is the history of the building itself. It’s an old school house that was built in the early 1900s. So we get older, well, actually teachers or are still teachers or people that are interested in old architecture that draws them to us.
Delia:
So you get to mention that, for example, in your Airbnb description or name, so people know what it is about and get attracted by that?
Molli McConnell:
Yes, it’s called the Columbine school house and our first picture that they see, shows a picture of the building. I think that draws a lot of people.
Delia:
Do you offer anything like an experience? Do you usually walk them through the property or tell them the story of the property?
Molli McConnell:
Yes, we do. I greet every guest when they get here and break upstairs. And as I’m showing them around their suite, I give them basically the history of the school itself. And it sat vacant for I’d say about 30 years before someone actually bought it and refurbished it and they took the roof off of the original schoolhouse and added a whole second storey, which is the guest suite.
Delia:
Oh, do you mind sharing how much did you bought it for?
Molli McConnell:
Let’s say, we bought it in 2012 for 250,000.
Delia:
Okay, now I’d like to make you some questions regarding the area you’re hosting. Is that okay?
Molli McConnell:
Sure.
Delia:
Okay, so in your area, how is the seasonality like?
Molli McConnell:
Seasonality, here in our specific area, I’d say that’s within an hour drive of where we live. High season is basically mid April, through mid November, maybe the first of November, depending on when winter actually stepped in. And then very sporadically, from mid November, through mid April, we’ll get a few guests here and there. I keep the listing up, mostly for those people that are travelling through and if there’s bad weather, or, you know, just a spur of the moment trip, they’ve got an option.
Delia:
Okay, great. And is your listing only listed on Airbnb? Or do you use other platforms?
Molli McConnell:
I do a little bit of marketing on Facebook and Google. They can find me easily on a Google search.
Delia:
And do you get good guests from those sites as well?
Molli McConnell:
Not much from Facebook, I’ve gotten a few from Google. I think word of mouth really helps a lot. And I’ll bet probably 15 to 20% of our guests are referrals from friends and other people that we know around here.
Delia:
Yeah, the word of mouth really goes well in these occasions.
Molli McConnell:
Indeed.
Delia:
So for your listing, what would be your pricing strategy?
Molli McConnell:
When I started, I basically did an Airbnb search as a guest of all the places that were within 45 minutes of our home. And I just did a spreadsheet of what amenities were offered, how many people they slept, if they allowed pets. Looked through their reviews, looked at their availability, prices, obviously. And that was how I came up with. When I started, I wanted to be on the low end of the prices. And since it come up probably in the last two years, I’ve brought my prices up, probably 30%. Seems the more I charge, the more quality guests I get, shall we say?
Delia:
Yes, I understand. It happens usually. And have you tried using any pricing solution for that?
Molli McConnell:
I have not. I follow a blog and follow a couple of Facebook pages for other hosts. And it sounds to me like, I think I hit the sweet spot by doing it the way that I did, as opposed to price labs or anything like that.
Delia:
Yes, in the rural area, I bet there’s not too much pricing research to do.
Molli McConnell:
Yeah, there’s not. You hit that on the head!
Delia:
So can you tell us, you told me you were a host since 2017, right?
Molli McConnell:
Yes.
Delia:
So as an Airbnb host, what have been your top challenges?
Molli McConnell:
I would say, especially with us being a home share, we want people to realise that we are a home share. They do not have the entire house. And it’s more my challenge, I think would be to make sure that the guests have read through the listing to make sure they know exactly what they’re walking into, as opposed to just reserving and then not hearing anything about the property. So yeah, I would say guests that don’t read through the description is probably my biggest challenge.
Delia:
Oh and you had some troubles with those guests before?
Molli McConnell:
No, we’ve had one couple that was surprised. Actually, as soon as they got out of their car and this was in our first year, they got out of the car and didn’t realise that it was a shared property. And they were okay with it, they still left us a great review and they were happy campers when they left. But it has made me change my strategy when people reserve now. One of the first responses that I have to them is to make sure that they’ve read the entire listing and that they do understand it’s a shared home.
Delia:
Yeah, that sounds like a good move from you because, I mean, if it’s not in your title, people should read the description at least.
Molli McConnell:
Yeah, I see a lot of hosts have that same frustration, shall we say, as far as guests not reading house rules or anything like that. And I’m very specific to not show that it’s not a shared kitchen, our kitchen downstairs is not for the guests use without special permission. They’ve got a kitchenette in the suite and then I’ve also got a barbecue grill out on one of the decks that they can use. And I, again reiterate that when I walk them through the suite to familiarise them.
Delia:
Okay, so you didn’t have any problem with that there? Everyone so far understood that?
Molli McConnell:
Yes.
Delia:
Okay, great then. Can I ask about your listing? You manage all about it, like cleaning, etc.?
Molli McConnell:
Yes, I do all the cleaning myself. I do have a friend that also has an Airbnb in the area. If I run into a bind, she can come in and clean for me. That’s very rare. Other than that, I manage listings and all the reservations and cleaning myself.
Delia:
Okay, so it’s not too much work?
Molli McConnell:
No, not at all. I’m retired, so that made a big difference. I retired last year and ran it for almost four years on my own while I was working full time. And yeah, I just got to the point where I didn’t want to work for the post office anymore and I just wanted to run my Airbnb.
Delia:
Oh, great. Everyone who lives with you, if you live with someone else, agrees with the home-sharing in Airbnb?
Molli McConnell:
Yes, it’s just my husband and I and he was on board when I told him that I would really like to try it. And it’s just been so successful that we’re both happy when we get guests.
Delia:
Oh, that’s good. That’s great. So lastly, any tips that you would like to share for other Airbnb hosts, especially for the ones in remote areas or doing home-sharing like you?
Molli McConnell:
I think one of the big tips that I would have is communication with the guest. So they know exactly what to expect when they get to your property. Don’t wait until they get here to communicate with them about anything that’s needed. And to always remember that we are in the hospitality industry. We’re there to make people happy and make sure they know exactly how we can help them and anything they need. We are at their disposal for their stay.
Delia:
That’s right. I agree with that as well. So that would be it for today. Thank you for your time and thank you for sharing with us your story!
Molli McConnell:
Thank you, Delia. I appreciate it.
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