6 Reasons We Love Airbnb & VRBO

August is our one-year anniversary of using our own home as a short-term rental on Airbnb and VRBO. Yes, you read that right, our own home!

For context, we typically Airbnb [for the sake of simplicity when I say Airbnb I also mean VRBO in this context] our home once a month. Just recently, we reset our goals and have been doing some pondering around our investments. During this time, we took a moment to reflect on why we take this approach as part of our wealth strategy.

So, we have cracked open our chests and are giving you a peek-behind-the-curtain to tell you why we love this part of our life. 

1. People

We love people. We love that our home is a place where our friends & family are welcome, always. And we love that because of the size & retreat-like space we have, it allows other people to rent our home to facilitate meaningful family & friend gatherings that they otherwise couldn’t host. 

2. Experiences

Airbnb & VRBO causes us to leave our home and do something new. It pushes us to create memories and experiences that are outside of our everyday routine. 

3. Gratitude

We love our home so much, and every time we come home, we love it even more. We are so thankful for what we have been given and it makes us so excited to share it with others. Airbnb moves us to remember how blessed we are.

4. Generosity

Man, no one likes to leave their house, initially. We love our home. But what we love more is generosity. We love that we get to create an environment in our home for others to enjoy. We received a letter from an 80-year-old man who was so thankful that our home allowed him to host his family all together over the holidays. What’s more is that we feel so encouraged that memories were made in OUR home. This weekend the people who stayed in our home uses it for a family reunion. Angelo had the chance to meet them and they were incredible. They left this bottle of wine for us, along with a handwritten card that showed their gratitude [oh, & and unopened Bota Box, holla!!]

5. Income

Sheesh. I never knew you could make additional income, just by opening up your home. This income stream has allowed us to reinvest into our home to host better & facilitate connection in our life & others. This unexpected income has accelerated our goals beyond what we could have ever imagined. It's not uncommon for us [or our fellow Airbnb'er friends] to make an extra $5,000-10,000 a month through the homes each of us live in.

6. Adaptability

This one is so important to us. Angelo and I are passionate about being adaptable and raising children who are also adaptable. It’s a skill we teach that life is about people and experiences, not about material things. We talk about sharing our home with others and how it blesses them and us. That it’s God’s desire for us to share all that is good. 

Airbnb has given us some great opportunities to move up our goals and experience life in new ways as a family. If you want to learn more about this type of real estate investment, we would love to talk!