For Airbnb hosts in Colombia, Pet-friendly Airbnb listings are so rare that it could net you some serious money if you opened up your listing to allow pets. Airbnb has even added a filter specifically for pet-friendly listings.
According to TripAdvisor, 53 percent of travelers with pets, travel with their pets. That’s a missed opportunity.
According to US News, the second most desired amenity is pet-friendliness at 18 percent. And, again, pet-friendliness is the 4th most wanted vacation rental amenity, only behind free parking, a fully-stocked kitchen, and a pool.
In my experience, only about 5 percent of Airbnb listings have truly valid reasons for not being pet-friendly.
On the other hand, many hosts cite owner control (or, lack thereof) as the reason they would not allow pets rather than the pet itself. This is interesting, but my recommendation is to make your home a pet-friendly Airbnb, and in this article we look at four reasons why and what you should consider…
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- Transfer funds to Colombia
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For Airbnb hosts in Colombia, Pet-friendly Airbnb listings are so rare that it could net you some serious money if you opened up your listing to allow pets. Airbnb has even added a filter specifically for pet-friendly listings.
According to TripAdvisor, 53 percent of travelers with pets, travel with their pets. That’s a missed opportunity.
According to US News, the second most desired amenity is pet-friendliness at 18 percent. And, again, pet-friendliness is the 4th most wanted vacation rental amenity, only behind free parking, a fully-stocked kitchen, and a pool.
In my experience, only about 5 percent of Airbnb listings have truly valid reasons for not being pet-friendly.
On the other hand, many hosts cite owner control (or, lack thereof) as the reason they would not allow pets rather than the pet itself. This is interesting, but my recommendation is to make your home a pet-friendly Airbnb, and in this article we look at four reasons why and what you should consider…
1. A Pet-Friendly Airbnb Has Less Competition
It’s no surprise that a minority of vacation homes are pet-friendly. It is surprising at how few actually allow pets.
did a quick experiment and searched Ubud, Bali with the following criteria:
- check-in one week from today for 7 nights
- 1 guest
- entire home
- I zoomed in until I got less than 300 rentals (the maximum Airbnb shows you)
After two zooms, I saw 124 listings. With the ‘Pets Allowed’ filter on, the number of listings dropped by 90 percent to 12 Airbnb listings in Ubud, Bali that allow pets
I did a similar experiment in a few cities and the percentage of pet-friendly Airbnbs that I got was somewhere between 2-9%
The percentage of pet-friendly Airbnb listings is market dependent and I encourage you to perform this experiment in your city (tell me what you find in the comments).
2. You Can Increase Rates
It’s typical, even normal, for a pet-owner to pay more when they bring their pet. I’ve even seen listings that specify add an extra $50/night fee for guests with pets. At a minimum, the security deposit is increased.
As this is normal and expected, and the FPG has few options to choose from, you can earn extra revenue from not doing much. Below I list a few things you want to consider before becoming a pet-friendly Airbnb and some extra amenities you may want to provide.
There are those folks who travel with their pets 100% of the time. But for the rest of us, we’d probably only consider traveling with our pet if we are to be gone for an extended time, say a month or more.
Do you know how much it costs to put your beloved furry friend in a dog hotel? It’s expensive!
This makes sense, right? If there’s less competition, you can charge higher rates and expect higher occupancy. You open yourself up to so many more FPGs when you accept pets.
About 40 percent of Americans own pets. Let’s assume this is accurate for the global average (maybe slightly high) and let’s assume that 25% of them travel with their pets semi-regularly. That’s 10 percent of travelers (25 percent of 40 percent) that you’re missing out on by not being pet-friendly. Additionally, this 10% of travelers are trying to fit themselves into 5% of Airbnb listings.
3. Welcome To Longer Reservations
There are those folks who travel with their pets 100 percent of the time. But for the rest of us, we’d probably only consider traveling with our pet if we are to be gone for an extended time, say a month or more.
Do you know how much it costs to put your beloved furry friend in a dog hotel? It’s expensive!.
Also, Medellín Guru has a popular article about traveling to Colombia with a pet.
4. Considering A Pet-Friendly Airbnb?
There are a few things you should do to your listing if you decide to become pet-friendly.
If you don’t have any outdoor space, it would be wise to purchase some indoor potty pads. Ensure nothing edible is dog-head level or lower. Anything fancy or easily breakable should be moved above this level, too. Finally, you should invest in an indoor pet fence in case there is a room or two that is still off-limits to pets.
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Medellin Guru Real Estate Service
Our reliable partner, a leading real estate company, offers a wide range of services:
- Transfer funds to Colombia
- Legal analysis property background checks
- Sales agreement
- Deed registration
- Legal representation
- Investment visa
Medellin Guru’s Airbnb Series
Medellin Guru now has a series of several articles about Airbnb in Colombia:
- 9 Strategies to Find Killer Deals on Airbnb in Colombia
- 15 Things to Know Before Investing to Become an Airbnb Host in Colombia
- 10 Airbnb Best Practices for Airbnb Hosting in Colombia
- 9 Tips to Attract Long-Term Airbnb Guests in Colombia
- 7 Strategies for Airbnb Slow Season in Colombia
- How to Identify Problem Airbnb Guests in Colombia Before They Book
- 15 Ways to Increase Your Airbnb Search Rank In Colombia
- How Safe is Airbnb in Colombia? Is it Safe to Use Airbnb in Colombia?
- Airbnb Travel Itinerary for Your Airbnb Guests in Colombia
- How to Get Started on Airbnb in Colombia: A Guide
Medellin Guru's guide to buying, selling and renting apartments and choosing a neighborhood
On the Medellin Guru website, we have a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to buying, selling, and renting apartments and choosing a neighborhood in Medellin found in several articles, including:
Buying and Selling Apartments
- Medellin Real Estate: Property Buyer’s Guide for Foreigners
- Selling Real Estate in Colombia: A Guide to Selling for Foreigners
- Mistakes Foreigners Make When Buying Real Estate in Colombia
- Current Costs to Buy New Apartments in Medellin
- Rent vs Buy: Downsides of Renting and Buying Property in Medellin
- 13 Things Real Estate Agents in Colombia May Not Tell You
- How to Obtain a Colombia Investment Visa
Renting Unfurnished Apartments:
- Apartment Rental Guide: Renting Unfurnished Apartments in Medellin
- Guide to Finding Unfurnished Apartments and Casas in Medellin
- Guide to Overcoming the Fiador Requirement in Colombia
- Unfurnished Apartment Rental Costs in Medellin
- 6 Inexpensive Neighborhoods for Unfurnished Rentals in Medellin
- Furnishing Apartments: A Guide to Furnishing Apartments in Medellin
- Apartment vs Casa (House) Rentals in Medellin: Pros and Cons
Renting Furnished Apartments:
Choosing a Neighborhood in Medellin:
Also, we have several articles that can be used to help foreigners choose a neighborhood in Medellin:
- Laureles: The world’s coolest neighborhood for 2023 by ‘Time Out’ is in Medellin, Colombia
- What are the Safest Neighborhoods in Medellin and the Aburrá Valley?
- 5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellin: A Guide to Choosing a Neighborhood
- 9 Downsides of El Poblado: Living in Medellin’s Expensive Neighborhood
- Estratos: A Guide to Understanding Estratos in Colombia
- El Poblado vs Laureles: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- El Poblado vs Envigado: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- El Poblado vs Sabaneta: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- El Poblado vs Belén: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- 2018 Unfurnished Apartment Rental Costs in Medellin in 5 Neighborhoods Popular with Expats
- 6 Inexpensive Neighborhoods for Unfurnished Rentals in Medellin
The Bottom Line: Why Airbnb Hosts in Colombia Should Consider A Pet Friendly Airbnb
Offering a pet-friendly Airbnb in Colombia can significantly boost your listing’s appeal due to the rarity of such accommodations. This unique feature not only sets you apart from competitors but also allows you to charge premium rates. Catering to pet owners opens up a niche market, potentially leading to higher demand, repeat guests, and positive reviews, enhancing your overall profitability as a host.
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