How to rent out your place

Renting out your place is a great way to earn extra income, meet interesting people from around the world, and maybe even make new friends.

Starting out might feel overwhelming, with many questions up in the air. How can you trust guests? What should you do with personal belongings? How will you handle key exchanges and what information should you share? Don't worry – this guide will help you rent out your home safely and easily. With good planning, you’ll become a great host.

1. Create a listing

Think of your listing as showing off your home to potential guests.

Take plenty of quality photos during the day, using natural light and showing all rooms. Write a clear description of your place, highlighting what makes it special. Be upfront about anything important guests should know.

Set your dates and price. At Ciao, we suggest charging as much as your home costs to you. Consider offering a discount to guests who match your exact dates – this way you can meet them in person, show them around, and easily get keys back when you return.

2. Connect with guests

We'll let you know when someone is interested in your place. You'll get their contact info, and they'll get yours.

Try to reply quickly and set up a quick call – it’s the best way to get to know each other. Here are some good things to ask about:

• What brings them to town
• Where they do for work
• Who they’re travelling with and what they’re planning to do
• If you might have friends in common (check on social media)
• If they need anything specific (like if stairs are a problem, or if they have allergies)

These questions will help you connect, and set the right expectations.

Tell them about yourself and your place, and agree on logistics:

• How to handle the keys – meet them in person, ask a friend or use a service like Keynest
• Basic house stuff – where to put trash, how to turn on heating or AC, etc.
• Any favors you need – like watering plants or feeding pets

3. Take a deposit

Once you feel good about booking with your guest, talk about payment. We recommend taking a deposit to ensure commitment and protect against cancellations or minor damages.

You’ll create a payment link and send to the guest. We’ll confirm once they have paid. Ciao will hold the deposit until the guest moves out, and then refund it. You and your guest can decide on the amount, but most people go with about a week's worth of rent.

4. Get your place ready

Take time the day before guests arrive to:

• Clean up, put on fresh linen, and leave clean towels
• Declutter by moving some of your personal belongings to closet or storage
• Write a friendly note with house basics, WiFi password, and maybe some local tips

It's also smart to take a few quick snapshots of your place before guests arrive - just in case you need to check how things were arranged. Find a safe spot for valuable items (a locked closet works great). These little steps take just a few minutes but can save you worry later!

5. Welcome your guest

The day has come! Be on time if you’re meeting in person, or keep your phone handy if guests check in remotely.

Check with them that first evening or the next day to make sure everything’s okay. We recommend getting the payment for the stay once your guests settled in.

Stay in touch while they're there, but don't overdo it.

6. Coming back home

Let guests know when you’ll be back to meet them or tell them exactly what to do when they leave, and where to put the keys.

When you get back, check that everything's good and drop your guest a message. We'll send their deposit back within 48 hours unless you tell us about any problems.

Lastly, think about leaving a review on Ciao – it helps others in our community!