See dollar signs every time you look at your empty guest bedroom or finished (but underused) basement? Or maybe you strategically bought a home that has great Airbnb rental potential, whether it features an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in the backyard or a space within the home with its own entry that can be used as an apartment. Knowing how to Airbnb your home can be a great way to earn some extra income. You're in charge of the schedule, so you can determine exactly when your place is available for short-term stays.However, if you’re like the majority of people who list their homes on Airbnb, you probably don’t have property-management or hospitality experience and are venturing into unknown territory as you set up a revenue-generating rental property. To help you navigate this process, we’ve put together an expert-approved, step-by-step guide for how to Airbnb your home, complete with tips from short-term rental experts. Here's what to know.Related StoriesCheck Your Local Regulations Before you pour any money into setting up your home for an Airbnb listing, research the short-term rental laws in your city and find out if you need a permit. Local regulations run the gamut from capping the number of nights an Airbnb can be rented to limiting the number of guests. “It is good to research online, but also important to call the county and the city to find out what those regulations are,” says Lindsay Woitunski, who runs the store Campover in Los Alamos, California, and owns and operates a group of vacation rentals in Paso Robles and Joshua Tree. “Sometimes you are dealing with both county and city. It’s also important to research potential future changes to those rules and regulations.”Review Your HOA BylawsIf you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners' association, comb through your bylaws to make sure Airbnbs are allowed, and, if so, what types of restrictions are placed on them. Also, be sure to check your HOA’s meeting minutes to make sure new restrictions aren’t on the horizon before you start investing in setting up an Airbnb. Be sure to check your HOA’s meeting minutes to make sure new restrictions aren’t on the horizon.Calculate Earning PotentialBefore you put your Airbnb on the market, you'll want to have an idea of how much you'll be earning from it. In addition to using Airbnb’s pricing tools, you can use sites like AirDNA, Airbtics, and Mashvisor to glean revenue insights.Do some of your own research, too, by checking other listings on Airbnb and VRBO to determine the rates in your area for comparable properties and watch for trends, Woitunski says. You'll usually be able to charge above market price if you have a well-designed space, good photography, and competitive occupancy rates. You can also speak with a few property management companies in the area to get their insight, she says.Over the past four years, the average Airbnb has hovered between a 52–60 percent occupancy rate, but your actual performance depends on more than just averages, says Leo Pond, a real estate advisor at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty who has worked closely with clients purchasing and managing short-term rental properties. The biggest factor? Your proximity to attractions or locations that act as magnets, drawing in both locals and visitors. Think: ski resorts, downtowns, lakes, trailheads, wedding venues, breweries, and festivals, Pond says. Beyond the location, homes with amenities like hot tubs, pools, fire pits, and game rooms, or even scenic views or a unique design can often pull their own weight. That added pull doesn’t just increase your occupancy—it boosts your nightly rate too, he says. Related StoryUpdate Your Insurance Policies Before you rent out your home, check with your homeowner’s insurance company to discuss what types of insurance protections you should add to your policy. You should also get quotes for short-term rental insurance, which can help cover your home and liability when you rent out your property.Install Smart LocksDarya Komarova//Getty ImagesInvesting in smart locks for your Airbnb unit is a smart idea all around. Instead of having to track down keys after each renter departs (and worrying about potential copies floating around), you can set a passcode on your smart lock and update it as needed. This makes it more convenient for the renter as well, since they can let themselves in and out of the unit upon arrival.Furnishing Your Space You'll want to consider investing in new furnishings for your Airbnb to make your guests feel right at home. Think about how you like to travel and what necessities you want to have on hand when you're in a new space, recommends Woitunski. “Many places are too minimal or don’t seem thoughtful or welcoming,” Woitunski says. “We always have nice towels, beautiful dishes, and a very well-stocked kitchen—nobody wants to run out after a long travel day to buy something simple like salt or olive oil or coffee.”Try to anticipate anything your guests may have forgotten and keep those items on hand: Phone and computer chargers, Children’s Motrin, allergy medicine, a kid's thermometer, toothbrushes, and the like, she suggests.When it comes to furnishing a rental, opt for plush towels, hotel-quality sheets, some art, and some thoughtful amenities, recommends Andrew Lokenauth, an investor who runs Airbnbs.“My best-performing property has a vintage record player—guests love mentioning it in reviews,” he says.Related StoryHire Cleaners Your Airbnb guests will want to hang their hat in an incredibly clean space—a quick scan through the site's reviews shows that people will almost always comment on a rental's cleanliness. You could do the cleaning yourself and earn extra money by adding the cleaning fee to your take-home revenue. Otherwise, having an amazing, reliable cleaner (plus a roster of backups) is key, Woitunski says. To prevent any unpleasant surprises, she suggests creating a detailed guide for your cleaning crew with instructions on how everything should be cleaned and put back, including photos of how the space should look before guests arrive. Invest in Good PhotographyKlaus Vedfelt//Getty ImagesBefore listing your Airbnb, hire a professional photographer who specializes in taking real estate photos that capture your space in its best light.“The number-one mistake people make when setting up a listing is not taking professional-level photos of the space,” Woitunski says. “It’s so important to make sure it is staged, and everything is in place. Open the windows, turn off the lights, and try to use natural light in the photos. The professionalism of the photos can absolutely make or break your success!”Related StoryStore Your Valuables Don’t keep any valuables on the Airbnb premises if you can help it, Pond says. But if you’re renting out a space in your primary residence, be sure to keep precious items—like fine china, jewelry, tech items—in a locked room that only you can access, he recommends.Write an Engaging ListingThe title of your listing is important, Lokenauth says. For example, he routinely tests different titles and found that specific ones like “Sunny Downtown Loft w/ Mountain Views + Free Parking” outperform generic ones such as “Nice 2BR Apartment.” When it comes time to write your listing, keep it brief since potential guests are scanning for need-to-know information along with just a hint of personality and local expertise. Airbnb gives this example: A modest room downtown can be “a perfect base for exploring the city.” Focus on special features and amenities without overselling the space. Test Run the Spaced3sign//Getty ImagesOnce you’ve finished setting up your rental space, ask a friend or family member to pretend to be a guest and check in. How seamless were the check-in directions? Are there any areas that could benefit from blackout curtains because streetlights or early morning sun floods the room? How’s the Wi-Fi reception in the space? Asking a trusted person to stay in your rental space for a night or two can help you address any potential issues before your paying guests arrive. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.