How To Create an Accommodation Platform Like Airbnb

This Post originally taken from:- Accommodation Platform Like Airbnb

Are you inspired by the success of Airbnb and want to create your own rental accommodation platform? The rise of the sharing economy has paved the way for innovative entrepreneurs to develop platforms similar to Airbnb.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to create your own Airbnb-like platform and tap into the booming hospitality marketplace. But, first, let’s start with the most basic question;

What is Airbnb and How Does It Work?

Airbnb is an online marketplace that allows people to find and rent short-term lodging in various locations around the world. It offers a simple and convenient way for travelers to find unique accommodations at affordable prices, while also providing hosts with an opportunity to earn extra income by renting out their homes or spare rooms.

Airbnb rental platform works as a peer-to-peer online platform allowing individuals to list, discover, and book accommodations worldwide. Hosts can offer their properties for short-term rentals, while guests can browse and book these accommodations, providing a unique alternative to traditional hotels and lodging options.

Searching for a reliable partner for your rental app development, look no further. We at ValueAppz provide clone app development of popular platforms. For more information, get in touch today.

Business Model of Airbnb

The platform connects hosts who have spare accommodations with travelers seeking unique lodging experiences. The accommodation platform generates revenue through a commission-based fee structure, charging hosts a percentage of each booking’s total cost. Additionally, guests may pay service fees. The platform’s success is driven by its user-friendly interface, diverse property options, and its ability to facilitate secure transactions and build trust within its community.

Before moving out to the features list of the accommodation platform like Airbnb, let’s discuss the target audience for your rental app.

Target Audience for your Accommodation Platform

Your target audience will be;

• Travelers or users who use the platform to find accommodations that match their preferences and budget and Property host who are providing unique and affordable accommodation options for travelers.
• Hosts who want to list their properties for rentals.

Detailed Feature List of the Airbnb Clone

1. Registration and Login (General Feature to be available in both Guest and Host apps)
When joining an app both Guests and Hosts initiate their journey by signing up. The fundamental approach encompasses gathering basic details — names, email addresses, phone numbers, and password preferences.

Nevertheless, this process is elevated with the inclusion of a dedicated “terms & conditions” segment. This integration ensures alignment with equitable data privacy regulations, all while fostering uniformity across interactions.

A quick overview of guest and host app features:

Feature List of the Guest App

• Search: The search function in Airbnb and similar apps empowers users to explore options aligned with their preferences. Users can customize their search based on budget, location, amenities, reviews, and more. Airbnb’s search goes beyond, offering property availability checks for added user convenience.
• Favorites: The “Favorites” feature lets users bookmark preferred stays for later and discover similar options easily.
• Chats: After a guest decides on a stay, they can request it from the host or landlord. Once approved, both sides can communicate further about the property. This chat function also supports sharing photos and videos. Additionally, developers can enrich the user experience with status indicators like “reading,” “typing,” and “online.”
• Payment: To create a compelling Accommodation platform/app for Android and iOS, ensuring its value is paramount. Essential steps include integrating a robust payment gateway that supports diverse methods. Users should enjoy the convenience of adding/removing cards hassle-free. This way, your platform not only offers accommodation but also streamlines transactions, enhancing overall user satisfaction.
• Trip cancellation: Trip cancellation is a feature on the platform that allows users to cancel their booked accommodations if their plans change. A cancellation policy set by hosts, which outlines the terms and conditions for canceling a reservation. Depending on the policy chosen by the host (flexible, moderate, strict, etc.), guests may receive a full or partial refund if they need to cancel their trip.
• Booking: The concluding phase involves order placement. Successfully requesting and securing a stay approval equates to a completed booking.

Feature List of the Host App

• Accommodations: The central function of an Airbnb-like app is to serve as a marketing platform for property hosts. They can effortlessly list their accommodations by detailing apartment type, guest capacity, amenities, location, pricing per night, and more. Additionally, providing professionally captured photos and videos enhances client visibility and engagement.
• In-App Calendar: The in-app calendar feature provides hosts with a tool to manage their property’s availability. Hosts can mark dates as available or blocked, helping them keep track of when their property is open for bookings. Guests can also use the calendar to view available dates and plan their stays accordingly. This feature streamlines communication between hosts and guests, reducing the chances of booking conflicts and ensuring a smoother booking process.
• Requests: Landlords or hosts hold the authority to accept or decline stay requests as per their discretion. If they feel uncertain about discussions or guest intentions, they can easily reject them. A dedicated section showcases all received and rejected property requests, aiding seamless management.
• Notifications: Swift notifications from the app enhance responsiveness to client requests, queries, and messages. The prompt host replies foster guest trust. Delayed notifications can lead to missed opportunities, potentially prompting guests to consider other hosts.
• Profile: Accommodation platforms/apps generally cater to two user types: hosts and guests. Both need to create profiles by providing basic personal information like name, age, address, phone number, and gender. This ensures user authenticity verification.

Check out a detailed case study on RentCraze, a C2C marketplace solution developed by ValueAppz.

How Much does the Accommodation Platform Cost?

The cost of developing an accommodation platform can vary widely based on factors such as the platform’s complexity, features, design, development time, and the region you’re hiring developers from. Below are some Consider Here are some cost considerations:

• Development Team: The cost of hiring developers, designers, and possibly a project manager can significantly impact the budget. Rates can vary based on location and expertise.
• Features and Complexity: The more features you want, such as advanced search, booking management, messaging, payment integration, reviews, etc., the more development time and cost it will incur.
• Design and User Experience: A user-friendly and visually appealing design may require additional design and development efforts, impacting the cost.
• Platforms: Developing for both Android and iOS adds to the cost. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter might be more cost-effective for simultaneous development.
• Backend Development: Developing a secure and scalable backend infrastructure, including database management and server setup, contributes to the cost.
• Payment Gateway Integration: Integrating payment gateways involves security considerations and can add to the cost.
• Testing and Quality Assurance: Rigorous testing for different devices, scenarios, and user flows is crucial and can increase costs.
• Maintenance and Updates: Post-launch maintenance and updates to fix bugs, enhance features, and stay current with technology can incur ongoing costs.

Type of Features IntegratedDevelop An Android & iOSProject ManagementComplete Project management via Agile

Methodology

Workplace CommunicationRelease ManagementChange Request ManagementQuality AssuranceTest casesFunctional Test ExecutionUI/UX DesignsCreation of Mock-ups & UI/UX DesigningLibrary Integration and building a frameworkArchitecture DesigningCPanelDomain ManagementWebsite ManagementFeatures for HostsMentioned AboveFeatures for guestsMentioned AboveTotal Timeline4–5 monthsTotal PriceBetween USD 30,000 to 40,000

Conclusion

Creating an accommodation platform like Airbnb can be exciting and profitable. A user-centric design, robust functionality, and reliable backend infrastructure are crucial for success. Effective project management, quality features, and thorough testing are essential for exceeding user expectations. While cost and timeline are important considerations, they should be viewed as investments.

By adhering to best practices, staying attuned to user feedback, and fostering a vibrant community of hosts and guests, your Airbnb-like platform can thrive and become a go-to destination for travelers seeking unique accommodations.