{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"","title":"EP186: This Week in the World of Airbnb","description":"Airbnb has the capacity to change lives—for better or worse. This week’s headlines include an inspiring story of how the short-term rental platform has helped a Superhost from Tanzania afford schooling and travel, and even become an advocate for the Maasai culture around the world.
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\nAnother story of Airbnb changing a host’s life for the better features Jasper himself. In an interview with the Huffington Post, he explains how he used Airbnb to quit his successful career in finance and travel the world. Today on the podcast, our newsworthy host is joined by David Jacoby, President and Co-Founder of Hostfully, to discuss these stories of Airbnb’s positive influence, as well as a couple of situations where vacation rental sites changed someone’s life for the worse: The Miami homeowner facing $500K in fines because his tenants listed illegally on Airbnb, and travelers who lost a lawsuit against HomeAway over a fraudulent listing.
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\nJasper and David also answer listener questions about furnishing your Airbnb, offering suggestions regarding where to shop as well as ideas around branding. Listen and learn how to budget for your Airbnb furnishings and what qualifies as a business deduction!
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\nTopics Covered
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\nArticle #1: Whatever Happened to … the Airbnb ‘Superhost’ From Tanzania?
\n•\tGodwin Ndosi joined Airbnb in 2015
\n•\tRented rooms in family home for $15/night
\n•\t200 guests in first year
\n•\tMet people from all over the world
\n•\tBecame Superhost, built additional dwellings in backyard
\n•\tAble to afford university, travel
\n•\tAdvocate for Maassai culture
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\nArticle #2: These Homeowners Faced an Airbnb Nightmare as Renters Left Them Facing Huge Fines and Angry Neighbors
\n•\tMiami Beach landlord rented to tenants who listed illegally on Airbnb
\n•\tHomeowner fined nearly $500K
\n•\tAirbnb slow to respond (until media coverage began)
\n•\tLandlord had to find listing himself
\n•\tHome also listed on new site, Vacayo
\n•\tAs cities develop best practices, homeowners should not be held liable for tenants acting illegally
\n•\tMore and more landlords do allow Airbnb
\n•\tPlatforms like Pillow facilitate win-win for renters, landlords
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\nArticle #3: Section 230 Helps VRBO Defeat Claim Over Fraudulent Listing—Hiam v. HomeAway
\n•\tTraveler booked listing on VRBO, sent wire transfer
\n•\tBooking fell through, but money not returned
\n•\tJudge ruled in favor of HomeAway
\n•\tCommunications Decency Act Section 230 provides immunity from liability for platforms publishing content provided by others
\n•\tPrecedent went other way in San Francisco (Airbnb not ‘just a listing platform’)
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\nArticle #4: The Disgruntled Ex-Stock Trader Who Used Airbnb to Create a Jetsetting Lifestyle
\n•\tJasper featured as successful online entrepreneur
\n•\tLeft lucrative career in finance
\n•\tTravels the world, financed via Airbnb
\n•\tContinued focus on personal growth
\n•\tNegative reaction led to next podcast interview with Airbnb opponent
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\nQ: How much should I spend on furnishings for my Airbnb? Where do hosts get their furnishings?
\n•\tDiscussed in detail on EP175
\n•\tHire local interior designer
\n•\tBuy from local artists
\n•\tDecorate around theme (branding differentiates your listing)
\n•\t$5,000—$7,000 budget (depending upon location, theme)
\n•\tShop at IKEA, secondhand stores
\n•\tDeduct purchases as business expense (30% off)
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\nResources Mentioned
\nArticle #1: npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/09/02/547028077/whatever-happened-to-the-airbnb-superhost-from-tanzania
\nArticle #2: cnbc.com/2017/09/01/airbnb-nightmare-homeowners-fined-after-renters-illegal-listings.html
\nVacayo
\n500 Startups
\nPillow
\nGPFYP EP175: How to Integrate Airbnb in Your Real Estate Business...","author_name":"Freewyld Foundry"}