Turn your home into a thriving business with homestays

A good host should be able to make his guest feel like he is a part of the whole family. For example, take them on a tour of the whole house. Photo by Rachel Mabala

As Ugandans we have been brought up to be hospitable that is why we add guest rooms to our homes. However, if your guest room lies idle most of the time, maybe it is time to consider earning an income from it with homestays. A homestay is simply having a paying guest in your home.
Michael Hanyurwa has been doing homestays since 2013 and he reveals that the experience has changed his life forever. “I came from the UK in 2012 and spent a year looking for jobs but in vain. All this time, however, I used to host friends from overseas who would also give references to their friends. This is when it hit me that I could earn from this,” he narrates.
In 2013 Hanyurwa started charging people for staying at his home. Currently, he charges $40-60 (about Shs144,000 and Shs216,00) and for his Bukoto apartment and $150 (about Shs540,000) for the Kiira home which offers more services such as airport pickup, wifi, and meals.

Sylvia Tayebwa was inspired by her former employers at Mamba Point guest house. “The guest house had a home feel arrangement with the owners living on the premises,” Tayebwa says. When she finally built a two-bedroom home, she decided to give it a try. She, however, reveals that she was concerned about security when her first guest turned out to be a man.
She says for this business to thrive, one must be willing to allow strangers into the privacy of their home. Because she feels the market is now saturated, Tayebwa has since moved away from renting out daily and prefers monthly stays for which she charges $300 (about Shs10.8 million).
Once one decides to open their home to guests, there are things expected of them to make their guests comfortable. Tom Ouma Hannington says he had to repaint his house, buy appliances such as a washing machine and a dishwasher to make his guests more comfortable.

Required changes in house
Remember this is a homestay not a hotel experience. So, as much as you need to make some changes, do not erase all home settings that bring warmth and comfort. “People come to share an experience. You should, therefore, have something local to share with your guests. It could be cooking a meal or a trip to the local market,” says Tayebwa.
She also advises one to ensure the home is clean with proper working bathrooms, toilets and other facilities. One should also stock the bathroom with bathing soap, and necessary toiletries. Provide a clean bed with bed sheets, a blanket and towel. If possible add a study table, cupboard, and open shelf to the guest room.

Marketing
“The best way to grow a homestay business is through referrals,” says Hunyurwa. So before you think of signage and big marketing plans, get your friends, families and influencers to live in your home and in return, they will recommend it to potential guests.

Shortcomings
According to dailytipsblog, an online portal, homestays can also come with a number of disadvantages. For example, privacy issues especially when the guests and host family have to share facilities such as the bathroom, kitchen and dining room. There may also be damage to property and in most cases the host will have to pay for the repairs.