Ooru folk guest' it right!

There is a raging trend taking the city by storm. And it comes in the form of young home owners who are letting their vacant space in the city out on airbnb, and laughing their way to the bank! A cool Rs 8,000 or more a week, and all this for just renting out a spare room to a fellow traveller? Many people are now opting to hire rooms at city folk’s homes as they cost lesser and are homely and inviting. Airbnb is the order of the day as youngsters are letting out homes and making a quick buck. We find out from Bengalureans who’re making hay while the sun shines.

Not just that, they are also saving on home repairs and taking a dream trip and hosting guests at their homes by using the extra income to fund their passions. An interior designer by profession, Hema Makhija shares, “Opening up our space to airbnb helps keep my space well maintained. Being able to whet your guests before their arrival is a definite boon.

The option to block the space for personal use in the year gives one the flexibility to access and enjoy the space as well. We also make good money and I use the income generated for maintenance. We provide facilities like WiFi, a fully equipped kitchen with food, caretaker services of evening turn down alongside the regular daily cleaning and weekly linen and bedding change. It’s also fun meeting with interesting people from across the world and that drives us to keep it going.”

Someone who loves to travel the world and is thrilled at how she’s able to sustain her business, is fashion designer Mansi Bihani. She says, “My husband and I love to travel. We were living in Myanmar and our visa required us to travel out of the country every six months. We used airbnb in Vietnam and became friends with the hosts who gave us local recommendations and then we used it in other countries. Once we moved back to India, we decided to let out a spare room in our house as airbnb and have met interesting people from different walks of life. Since I have a start-up, I use the revenue generated from airbnb to sustain my business. We have someone all the time as a lot of people come to the city for work related to start-ups. Also besides the income of Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,500 a day, I get to meet different people.”

Not only is it comfortable and cheaper, airbnb is giving hotels and service apartments a run for their money too. Richard Mathew, event coordinator adds, “I started using airbnb two years ago, and loved the experience. The filters that they have help me shortlist venues based on price, size, from just a room to a full villa, facilities available etc. I communicate directly with owners who help me customise my stay. I’ve used airbnb for my travels to Philippines, Boracay, Goa, Conoor, etc. Now, they have upgraded the app to add to the travel experience, where you get more information. It also helps me make a quick buck.”