LOS ANGELES — Local tourist Daniela Harper was stunned to discover her Airbnb checkout instructions included what most would call full-scale construction work, sources confirmed.
“My partner and I were only in town for the long weekend. We found this bungalow in Venice that was so cute and reasonably priced and thought, why not?” said a bewildered Harper. “It wasn’t until we were getting ready to check out that we saw the instructions. They asked us to reupholster an old armchair, patch a hidden spot of drywall behind a picture frame, replace light fixtures, recaulk the bathtub, clean the gutters, tighten every loose door handle and hinge, repaint an accent wall, power-wash the patio, regrout the kitchen tiles, trim the hedges, and alphabetize the spice rack. There was even a note about aligning all the throw pillows by color gradient. I have to go back to work! I can’t possibly stay here until all of this is done.”
Host Jason Whitaker defended the instructions, insisting that “running an Airbnb is hard” and that he shouldn’t be expected to “do literally everything” himself.
“My parents bought me this house to teach me responsibility and how to run a business,” said Whitaker. “Eventually, my dad wants me to take over his real estate empire, and he said if I can’t exploit temporary renters on a weekend-to-week basis through an Airbnb, then how am I supposed to exploit tenants for years, slowly raising their rents and bleeding them dry? Well, guess what, Dad! Maybe I don’t want to run this Airbnb. It’s too hard. I shouldn’t have to do it all. I should have help, you know?”
Airbnb spokesman Kevin Torres confirmed the policy, emphasizing that the company encourages hosts to provide renters with “the full homeownership experience,” which may include routine maintenance and light renovations.
“At Airbnb, we strive to offer our guests the complete residential experience,” said Torres. “Renters gain access to properties in unique locations they might never otherwise visit. Living like a local means embracing the responsibilities that come with a home, including certain maintenance and renovation tasks. This is part of the comprehensive experience we provide. Our Maintenance and Renovation Experiences are thoughtfully priced to be accessible, and we strongly encourage guests to review all 40 pages of the terms and conditions before booking one of these offerings.”
At press time, Harper had reached the part of the checkout instructions that asked her to wax Whitaker’s 2025 Porsche 911.
