Understand your upfront costsĮven if you're not looking to become a superhost, there are some basic equipment that Rusteen recommends investing in: Here are some key details experts say to keep in mind. If you are going to be a host on Airbnb, HomeAway, Vrbo or any of the other rental sites, it's worth understanding the reality before you welcome your first guest. But it does take effort and the return depends on many factors, so it's like the old adage: Hope for the best, plan for the worst. 'All of these platforms, especially Airbnb, are really good at pitching hosts that you can make so much money, it's so easy,' Dan Weber, founder Airbnb Hell, tells CNBC Make It. One host recently complained about spring breakers who destroyed a Destin, Florida condo after 'partying like rockstars for a week.'

That said, Rusteen tells CNBC Make It that with that mindset, you're probably not going to get rich either.Īnd for every story like Miller's, there are also horror stories about terrible guests, broken furniture and run-ins with local law enforcement. 'You can set-up an Airbnb with your existing space and you can make a decent side income,' says Danny Rusteen, founder of and a former Airbnb employee. Of course, that income can vary dramatically depending on where you're based, how frequently you rent out your place, the quality of your home and the services you provide. And 82% believe this is a good money-making strategy.Īirbnb hosts make, on average, about $924 a month, according to research from low-interest lender Earnest.

About half, 54%, of those who own their own home say they'd consider renting it out through a service like Airbnb, according to a recent survey of 1,000 people by real estate data company Clever.

This common side hustle attracts many who are looking to make money off an existing asset: their home.

Airbnb business without owning a house