How to Rent Out Your Home While You Travel

Feeling tied down by a home you own or rent prevents many people from traveling long-term. Luckily, there are many ways to rent out your home to other travelers while you’re gone through sites like Airbnb and VRBO. You can at least offset your monthly mortgage or rent payments; if you’re in a popular city, you may even be able to turn a profit.

You’ll have to get to work readying your home for its first guests, in addition to creating a listing on one of the rental sites. Clean your home thoroughly, with clean linens on all beds, clean out the refrigerator and take out all trash. You should also make any necessary repairs to your home before you leave.

Put your valuables in storage or in a safe, locked place within your home. Go through your home thoroughly to remove anything of value, like jewelry or important papers — or anything potentially dangerous, like firearms and other weapons.

And finally, stock your home with items your guests may need, from coffee and tea to an ironing board to rollaway beds. Think of the items you’d usually find in a hotel room: small bars of soap and shampoo bottles, extra pillows and blankets, even a list of television channels.