

Summertime and the living in LA is not so easy. Especially when the cost of living is through the roof.
I found this out the hard way last summer when I moved from my quiet, comfortable, and reasonably affordable townhome on a golf course in the suburbs of LA to the concrete jungle in the heart of the city. I made the decision to move to be closer to my sales territory for work, which I thought was a good idea... Until six months later when the company downsized their salesforce, leaving me jobless and with just enough savings to make it for four months before I realized I had bitten off more rent than I could chew.
Now ladies, I have had my back against the wall before, so I knew I had to think fast. I didn't want to break my lease because I had plans of purchasing a home later and didn't want a broken lease to have an adverse effect on my rental history. I only had six months left in my lease and thought to myself, What if I listed my apartment on Airbnb?
It made perfect sense. I always kept a clean, neat home and I'm obsessed with home decor. I lived really close to major freeways, Universal Studios, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and other major LA attractions. So I figured, why not? I took about a week to get my apartment in tip-top condition, moved most of my personal belongings in storage, found a housekeeper for a reasonable price, whipped out my iPhone to take pictures of all the rooms, used my savvy writing skills to come up with a cute description of the listing, and within a week of going live on Airbnb, I had my first booking! I couldn't believe how easy it was to set up the account and to communicate with guests.
My first month as a host, I made just enough to cover my rent, which was the original goal. However, as the summer months approached, I not only generated enough revenue to cover rent, but I also made a pretty nice profit. Some 3 months later, and I had made $15,000! My guests loved my place and always left stellar reviews and within six months, I was even promoted to Superhost, which apparently is a big deal on Airbnb.
I would be remiss if I did not share my personal experience and tips on how to be a successful Airbnb host and how to provide an exceptional experience for your guests. So without further ado, here are my tips on being a successful AND profitable Airbnb host.
Create a Catchy Listing Title
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What's in a name? Everything! Beautiful Buckhead Bungalow, Luxurious Midtown Loft, Romantic Cabin on the River. These are all cute and catchy titles that will set your listing above the rest. Remember, your listing will be placed among hundreds of other homes that match your criteria, so you need a title that stands out. What makes your house unique? Where is it located? Are you listing it around a special event like Super Bowl, Art Basel, or Yacht Week? Use all of those to your advantage in the title.
Take Beautiful Pictures
Image is everything! I started my listing by taking photos of my place on my iPhone. As I began to generate more revenue, I eventually hired a photographer. But I wanted my initial pictures to look like my house was the layout of a Z Gallerie mailer. I took pictures in natural lighting, with the blinds open and facing up so the rooms wouldn't be flooded with light. I took close-ups of details like the coffee bar, welcome sign, guest book, and small decor for an added touch.
Trust me, most listings will have basic photos of the rooms and a few amenities. You can set your listing above the rest by taking the extra step to have stellar photos of your home. The three most important rooms you want to focus on when taking pictures are the bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen.
Create Pre-Typed Messages
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This will save you a lot of time in the future when your guests book. I have a standard welcome message that outlines the directions to the home, passwords and security codes, Wifi information, check-in and check-out instructions, and emergency contact information. You can save these in your message profile and choose the right template, depending on the guests' question or concern. This makes communication simple and will really help your rating. Remember, five stars is the goal!
Stock Up On Extra EVERYTHING!
Extra towels, extra napkins, extra toilet paper, extra shampoo, extra tampons, extra EVERYTHING! If hosting is a long-term goal for you, places like Sam's Club and Costco will be your best friend. You'll keep your guests happy by having a plethora of necessities already stocked at your place.
Keep It Clean
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Sparkling clean and super pristine! That is the goal. Guests love a super clean home. Not only will they remember it when they rate you, but they typically tend to leave the house in tip-top condition because you set the bar when they arrived. Make sure you clean and disinfect door knobs and handles, counter tops, walls, railings and pretty much anything people touch. Cleanliness is one of the categories in your review, so make sure your house is so fresh and so clean with every stay.
With so many events happening around the country year-round, there are endless opportunities to host travelers when they come to your city. There are so many more tips and pointers I could give on hosting and if you want to find out more, take a peek at my hosting video.
Good luck! I can't wait to hear your success stories.
Interested in being an Airbnb host? Sign up here to get started!
*Originally published on Mignon Cyrelle
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Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
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Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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The Ordinary’s $13 Essence Gave My Dry Skin A Real Glow-Up
There are plenty of straightforward skincare steps.
Serums can target problem areas, moisturizers lock in hydration, and sunscreen protects against sun damage. Knowing the intention behind these steps makes my skincare routine feel intentional. However, I struggle to understand the purpose behind using an essence. It’s the only step in my skincare routine that I skip because I don’t see the point.
Do Essences Actually Work? What I Wish More Beauty Brands Explained
The idea of using it seems relaxing at times. How beauty gurus gently place essence on their skin looks like a relaxing experience. Still, no one ever explains what it truly does. Even most essence products typically don’t define their purpose. They usually highlight a key ingredient to draw consumers, like me, to purchase the product. This has often tempted me, but I couldn't point out its purpose.
These are the moments I wish essence products were more transparent than the item itself.
Why I Chose The Ordinary's Multi-Active Delivery Essence
The Ordinary has always been on my radar to try. Their products are affordable, and if I’m being honest, someone on my For You page is always raving about them. When they came out with an essence, I knew it was perfect timing. I received the item to find its purpose, and the number one detail I’ve always looked for.
Labeled at the front of the bottle, Multi-Active Delivery Essence states that it is a hydrating essence that helps prime the skin for better skincare penetration. It’s a small detail that allowed me to understand its intention and put it to the test fully.
How To Use The Ordinary’s Hydrating Essence For Glowing Skin
I applied the essence before skincare, as recommended. According to their website, the hydrating essence is supposed to provide intense moisture. They compare it to their Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% product. This sets the foundation for hydration to last longer on the skin and for skincare products to penetrate deeply, allowing the skin to have a brighter, luminous appearance.
My Skin After: A Natural Glow and Long-Lasting Hydration
Once I applied the essence to my skin, I began using my skincare. I figured mixing my serums with the product would be an excellent way for them to penetrate deeper, as promised in the descriptions. Once my serums had settled in, I followed up with a moisturizer to lock everything in and SPF to add some protection. I noticed my skin lay more smoothly. It was clear that incorporating the essence and letting things settle helped to create a natural glow.
Throughout the day, I monitored how my skin would react. As someone with dry skin, I sometimes have to reapply sunscreen or moisturizer to keep the hydration flowing. I didn’t feel the need to reapply since I had used the essence earlier that day. My skin maintained hydration, creating a luminous glow throughout the day.
This was a perfect situation for me, since long-lasting hydration can sometimes be a challenge for me.
Final Thoughts: Is This Essence Worth It for Dry Skin Types?
This product works perfectly for dry to standard skin types. However, I’m unsure if the experience will be as pleasurable for those with oily skin. The level of hydration that increases over time can become overwhelming for oily skin and might even lead to a breakout or two.
If you want to try it, I say go for it! The gift of beauty is that there is no limit to what you can play with.
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