They leave us Israeli dates, Dutch cheese graters, homemade Brazilian treats and toys for our kids. Little thank-yous for hosting them in our home, even though it’s not really our home, but an apartment we built in our basement and converted into an Airbnb suite.

To say we didn’t get that treatment when we were landlords is an understatement.

We built an income suite to help pay our mortgage after buying (like many first-time Toronto homeowners) beyond our budget.

We went through a handful of tenants, ranging from good to nightmarish, but even the good tenants were never perfect. Even the good ones put holes in walls, indulged in hour-long showers, or left the lights on when they went away.

It was a particularly bad tenant experience that made us think about doing Airbnb, even if it meant half the income. Rent was always late, we were pretty sure they were smoking in the suite, and they had 4 a.m. fights that were occasionally so bad we contemplated calling 911. Eventually they moved out, taking with them our microwave, smoke detector, and most of the kitchen supplies. And in their wake they left a destroyed furnished apartment — the bed literally broken in half, the mattress and bedding stained in a manner I won’t go into here, a bathtub so grimy it had to be regrouted, and hundreds cigarette butts buried in the flower bed outside the living room window. We had to throw everything away and start from scratch. I vowed never to rent again.

So we dropped a wad of cash at Ikea, created an Airbnb profile, and started getting guests. And good reviews. Then more guests, and more good reviews.

After the first month we had almost doubled the income we had earned as landlords, with almost none of the headaches. The main downfall seemed to be that our European guests always wanted the air conditioning turned off, even in 40 C.

It’s also more day-to-day work than having tenants. We have to clean the space — including scrubbing the tub, vacuuming the carpets and switching out all the bedding — after every guest leaves, sometimes in only a few hours.

The obvious benefits are that we make more money, there is significantly less wear and tear on the space (guests are usually just there to sleep), and when it isn’t booked we can use it for ourselves or family. No more in-laws sleeping on our couch.

And although we’ve heard horror stories of other Airbnb hosts having their homes robbed or trashed, we seem to have a system that works. We carefully screen prospective guests and require that they have clear headshots and previous reviews from other hosts. Which means we can pick and choose who we let into our home, turning down the four teenagers travelling without parents to “have fun” (no thanks!), and accepting the middle-aged Italian couple who food and wine (welcome, friends!).

Because we review our guests on their Airbnb profile, they tend to behave well. The apartment is usually left spotless, sometimes with the beds re-made and the garbage emptied.

We can also choose whether or not to accept booking inquiries, turning down the four teenagers travelling without parents to “have fun” (no thanks!), and accepting the middle-aged Italian couple who love food and wine (welcome, friends!).

But the biggest reason we love being hosts is that we meet incredible people. There was the professional photographer from the U.K. who photographs Lucha Libre wrestlers, the couple from Singapore that trains police dogs, and the family from Paris that included one of the founding members of Parkour. I met up with the Parkour family for a coffee date during their stay, and we stayed until the café closed. I texted our most recent guest so frequently the day she left that my husband jokingly asked me if we’d become BFFs. I laughed and said, “maybe.”

Some of our guests are self-sufficient travellers, coming and going quietly. Others knock on our door frequently with questions about where to grab brunch in the neighbourhood, or which streetcar will take them to the Eaton Centre. Friends who booked with us from Indiana told us that Toronto is one of their favourite cities, and gushed that we’re lucky to live here.

The pride I feel after these encounters fills me with the motivation to keep doing this, even though the frequent cleanings can feel tedious, even though I sometimes wish we could have the space to use for ourselves. We’ll be moving to B.C. this summer, and we plan to host Airbnb guests in our new home, too. It’s that worth it.

Kristen Thompson is a Toronto based writer and Airbnb host.

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Tips from experienced Airbnb hosts

In today’s sharing economy, hosting on Airbnb is becoming a popular way to offset the cost of living, but it’s not as simple as pulling out a spare mattress or sofa bed and having a guest spend the night.

While insurance is covered by Airbnb’s Host Guarantee for damages up to $1,000,000, it’s always a good idea to do some background checks on potential guests. One of the biggest fears is coming home to the aftermath of a raging house party. While these are rare instances, it never hurts to be too cautious. Exchange emails to learn more about the guests and check the reviews on their profiles.

Keeping watch while you’re away

Investing in a home security system can keep the anxiety at bay when hosts are away. Affordable models include the Australian-made Homeboy ($260), Netgear’s indoor/outdoor Arlo security camera ($380, with two cameras), or the Canary all-in-one wireless indoor camera security system ($249.99). “We had a motion-activated Canary camera outside the house by the entrance that would alert us if, and when, our guests got in safely,” said former host, Liora Ipsum. “Installing one inside the house would be just a bit creepy, and probably affect your ratings,” she says. Airbnb has taken note of the trend and has added a policy with surveillance guidelines on their website.

Where there’s smoke, there could be fire

Airbnb host Julie Tiyos, 31, partner at Independent Thought, a digital innovation consultancy, has a Wi-Fi enabled Nest Protect ($129.99) smoke and carbon monoxide alarm that sends alerts to her phone. “So far, I’ve been lucky, but I got a smoke warning alert while a guest was over. I called her right away and it turned out it was just something that was on the stove too long. It was no big deal but makes me feel better knowing that I will get advanced warning before something potentially serious happens.” Tiyos says her neighbours have keys in case she isn’t around to greet her guests, but she would also consider investing in the August Smart Lock ($249.99), a remote door lock that is Bluetooth operated and also offers a Wi-Fi Doorbell Cam ($249.99).

There’s no such thing as too many sheets

Many guests expect top-shelf services and furnishings when it comes to bedding and linens. “Think about what you would expect from a hotel experience,” says host Lisa Ravitz, 31, who works in drug policy reform. “Keep fresh sheets.” The more guests you host, the more wear and tear you’ll see. Clearance shops such as Sears Outlet stores, Winners and HomeSense are a boon to Airbnb hosts.

DIY Concierge service?

Guests won’t expect a meal but it’s a good idea to offer tea, coffee and leave the instructions on how to operate any appliance. “A doctor from Montreal who stayed at my place with his son poured water in the top of the stove top espresso maker and melted the handle. A French guest who stayed with me made a huge mess with the drip machine,” said Ravitz.

Some hosts keep pay-as-you-go cellphones guests can top up, homemade pamphlets with information about the city and lists of favourite restaurants and hangout spots. A log book is a great way to share memories and experiences with future guests.

Find a hosting schedule that fits your lifestyle

Some hosts are happy to have guests come and go for a few days at a time, while others prefer their guests for extended stays.

“In the peak months, I’ll do a one-month minimum which usually ends up with two months, but in the low season I’ll bring it down to two weeks. I like the flexibility of when I can have people stay and take a break,” says Melissa Allen, 33, who works in financial services and lives on the Bloor-Danforth subway line close to a pastry school and a handful of language schools. She doesn’t have applications flooding in, but she’s never had a problem finding guests, who have been known to leave homework — in the shape of cakes — in the fridge.

— Jesse Ship Special to the Star