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They aren't, it's just a "smaller" scale using the internet. The business idea is proven, AirBnB is just leveraging technology to stake out a significant marke

They aren't, it's just a "smaller" scale using the internet. The business idea is proven, AirBnB is just leveraging technology to stake out a significant market share. Nothing wrong with this at all.

nupark2 15y ago
No, it's quite different. Vacation properties are set up for that purpose, with insurance, limited on-site personal property, etc. There have been online vacation property rental sites for years. AirBNB, however, sells itself as a mechanism for making some extra cash on your own actual day-to-day residence.
- run4yourlives 15y ago
  It doesn't really matter whether the property you are letting is your primary residence or not, really. What matters is that you aren't using it. AirBnB caters to shorter, less formal stays than a normal rental site. It also presents a much improved User experience. It also implies that you can get in on this game if you don't actually own the property, but whether or not you can legally do this is up to you to know, not AirBnb.
  - nupark2 15y ago
    It doesn't really matter whether the property you are letting is your primary residence or not, really. It matters in terms of security. If you're using the property, that either means that you have a considerable amount of personal information and valuables on-site, or that you'll have to take them off-site to secure them. If the property is a dedicated vacation home, then this will generally not be the case, and coupled with deposits, property insurance, etc, the risk to the owner is significantly reduced. Good luck getting property insurance on an apartment you sublet.
joshfraser 15y ago
You don't keep your birth certificate and grandmas jewelry at your vacation house.
- run4yourlives 15y ago
  You're an idiot if you keep these things in your house and then invite strangers to stay there. That has nothing to do with AirBnB, or anything particular about their business model.

They aren't, it's just a "smaller" scale using the internet. The business idea is proven, AirBnB is just leveraging technology to stake out a significant market share. Nothing wrong with this at all.

nupark2 15y ago

No, it's quite different. Vacation properties are set up for that purpose, with insurance, limited on-site personal property, etc. There have been online vacation property rental sites for years. AirBNB, however, sells itself as a mechanism for making some extra cash on your own actual day-to-day residence.

run4yourlives 15y ago
It doesn't really matter whether the property you are letting is your primary residence or not, really. What matters is that you aren't using it. AirBnB caters to shorter, less formal stays than a normal rental site. It also presents a much improved User experience. It also implies that you can get in on this game if you don't actually own the property, but whether or not you can legally do this is up to you to know, not AirBnb.
- nupark2 15y ago
  It doesn't really matter whether the property you are letting is your primary residence or not, really. It matters in terms of security. If you're using the property, that either means that you have a considerable amount of personal information and valuables on-site, or that you'll have to take them off-site to secure them. If the property is a dedicated vacation home, then this will generally not be the case, and coupled with deposits, property insurance, etc, the risk to the owner is significantly reduced. Good luck getting property insurance on an apartment you sublet.

joshfraser 15y ago

You don't keep your birth certificate and grandmas jewelry at your vacation house.

run4yourlives 15y ago
You're an idiot if you keep these things in your house and then invite strangers to stay there. That has nothing to do with AirBnB, or anything particular about their business model.