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How to Build a Vacation Rental Website Like Airbnb?

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Airbnb is a vacation rental website that has become very popular over the past decade and is now ranked # 1 in residential real estate rental services, although it did not become successful immediately. If you want to build websites like Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, HomeAway or any of the other similar websites, then keep reading our blog. Below, our web development company will take a closer look at what Airbnb is, what its main features are, what makes it unique, how to build a similar website, and how much it costs to build a rental website.

What is Airbnb and how it works?

Airbnb is a website that allows you to find and rent accommodation all over the world for your vacation. In most cases, this involves renting a residential property and not a hotel. In addition, the site also has an option for those who want to rent out their own home for short-term rentals. This is the main difference between the Airbnb site and other sites for booking. It only works with home owners, not hostels or hotels.

Airbnb

Short Airbnb overview

  • It was founded in 2008
  • At first, it was called AirBed and Breakfast
  • Both hosts and guests pay a % for using the services
  • The % amount depends on the cost of housing
  • It is available in 191+ countries
  • It has support which is available in 11 different languages
Short Airbnb overview

How does Airbnb work?

  1. Home owners post listings on Airbnb
  2. Guests enter the site to find suitable listings
  3. Guests book accommodations
  4. Hosts confirm booking
  5. Guests pay booking 
  6. Everyone is happy
  7. Guests have housing and owners have income

Why make a site similar to Airbnb?

There are a number of good reasons for you to create a site like Airbnb. Below we list the 3 main reasons.

1. These platforms are one of the most profitable businesses today

Today, when the whole world is suffering from the impact of Covid, businesses associated with property are actively developing and generating income for their owners. It’s a business that is minimally dependent on external factors and therefore continues to make money no matter what.

2. It has no inventory risks

To create a rental website, you don't need to hire a lot of employees to buy space. You can just autsorse web developers at an affordable price.

3. This business is easy to start

It has probably never been so easy to start your own business by building a rental website as it is today. The only thing you need is an idea and start-up capital.

Why make a site similar to Airbnb?

What are the core features of an Airbnb-like marketplace?

We hope you're still interested in creating a site similar to Airbnb. For everything to work as it should without requiring many changes in the future, we will prepare a list of the necessary features to make sure your rental website operates reliably.

Authorization and roles

For a rental website, the first core feature is the ability to register according to the role. In a specific case, users can have two roles:

  • host
  • guest

Authorization allows you to ensure the reliability and security of all users of the platform. Since users hate to fill out long forms, make sure that everyone can register through their Google or Facebook accounts.

Authorization and roles

Opportunity to change the personal profile data

Since all users must be registered to work on the site, you should give them the flexibility to customize and change personal profile data.

For example, give them permission to change their:

  • phone number
  • email
  • password

This will provide your customers with a comfortable experience on your site.

Opportunity to change the personal profile data

Booking system

If you want to create a rental website,your users will be booking accommodation. Add a Booking system to your rental site to keep it well-organized. This feature will allow hosts to confirm reservations and guests to make sure that they can live there.

Booking system

Online maps

Integration with online maps is another feature for creating a site like Airbnb. It helps users navigate the areas where the property is located and choose the best option for them. Alternatively, you can use Google Maps.

Online maps

Messaging

Airbnb has this feature, too. Real-time chat makes this platform user-friendly. Messaging makes life easier for all its users. This allows participants to discuss missing details right on the site.

Messaging

Notification system

With the help of alerts and push notifications, your customers will be well informed about changes and the latest news on the site.

Online payments

The next step after booking will be a payment. Therefore, online payments are a must-have for a site related to the sale of goods or services. It should support all types of rental payments.

Online payments

Filtered Searches and Results

For sites like Airbnb, it's important to have a broad filtering functionality. The more items you add to the advanced search, the easier it will be to find the option you want.

Users’ reviews and ratings

On sites like Airbnb, users often make choices based on reviews and ratings. Therefore, it will be good if you add this feature to your rental site.

Users’ reviews and ratings

Convenient site navigation

The usability of your site should be top-notch. Only if your site delivers the best user experience will it attract new audiences.

Optimized for different devices

Every year there is a constant growth of mobile users. A responsive website is a necessity today.

The core features of an Airbnb-like marketplace

Build a vacation rental website like Airbnb with Wishdesk!

To make your site look like Airbnb, it's important to add all of the above features to it. This is the only way you can ensure the maximum level of security and ease of use for such a site.

Hire web developers at Wishdesk to get great results at an affordable price and realize your idea of creating a cutting edge vacation rental website. Dare to create a website like Airbnb to become #1 in this space, generate profits, and increase your reputation.