A FiPS Guide to Using AirBNB in Park Slope

While sitting down to write this post, I initially aimed to highlight this hot new(ish) travel trend called airbnb, wherein you can temporarily rent out your house, apartment or room, (hell I've even seen a couch on here) to guests as if your home were a hotel. On the flip side, you can also score some nights as a renter in someone else's crib in 27,879 cities and 192 countries.

I was going to tell you all about how rad this all seems, especially when I found out that upon signing up as a renter, you're enrolled into AirBnb's $1M insurance policy (just in case someone steals all of your shit before burning your house down). But after perusing the nightly asking prices of all 491 Park Slope listings (and a few from surrounding neighborhoods), I've practically been forced to focus on how much our neighbors are out of their ever-loving minds.

Here are some examples of how NOT to list your place on AirBNB:

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Who Gives a Shit: What's the Best Real Estate Agency in Park Slope?

Photo by Park Slope Lens

Whenever the Powerball jackpot gets above $100 million, I buy a few tickets and begin to fantasize about how to spend it. Most people would blow a good chunk on housing, and I could see myself buying a brownstone or maybe a warehouse playspace near 4^th Ave. However, as a renter, I’d have no idea who to call. Realizing that I need to be prepared should I win that $100+ million tomorrow, I've taken to the Interwebs looking for the Slope's highest-ranked real estate agency.

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Show Me Yours: 1-Bedroom (with Office) on 6th Avenue

Photo by Park Slope Lens

SHOW ME YOURS is a recurring column in which we do two things: show you Park Slope real estate and tell you how much it is. That's pretty much it!

Here's our latest victim Show Me Yours-er:

• Location: 6th Avenue between 16th St and Prospect
• Type: Two-bedroom (one is used as an office) with a patio
• Rent or Own: Rent
• Cost: $2150/month
• Square Footage: 1000 sq feet
• How Did You Find This Place: We found it through a broker which was totally worth it. Our landlords live downstairs and are amazing.
• Amenities: Washer/Dryer in the basement, air conditioner, lots of windows, brick wall, new fridge and dish washer, Patio with edible grapevine, lofted area for the occasional overnight guest.
• Who Calls this Place Home: A blogger and animator boyfriend who works from home.
• What’s really good about this joint:  We have tons of storage and a walk-in closet. Having room for an office was really important for the sake of our relationship. It's centrally located near our friends and ideal for having people over.
• What’s really bad about this joint: Nothing really, worst thing is the yellow-tinged linoleum in the kitchen.

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Show Me Yours: 1-Bedroom on 16th Street

SHOW ME YOURS is a recurring column in which we do two things: show you Park Slope real estate and tell you how much it is. That's pretty much it!

Here's our latest victim Show Me Yours-er:

• Location: 16^th Street btwn 4^th and 5^th
• Type: One-bedroom
• Rent or Own: Rental in a condo building.
• Cost: $2,600/month
• Square Footage: Big enough for 2 tvs.
• How Did You Find This Place: Broker (Sigh).
• Amenities: Balcony view of Manhattan skyline, laundry in unit, gym, kids playroom, storage unit and parking onsite
• Who Calls this Place Home: A film-editor and a non-profit PR person. Moved in on a Friday, hosted a housewarming two days later and haven't changed it since.
• What’s really good about this joint:  Modern space. Breathtaking balcony views. Electric grilling.  Clear view of traffic on the BQE and the ability to make alternate travel routes.
• What’s really bad about this joint:  Lack of closet space. Floors that dirty when a fly lands on them. Electric grilling. Clear view of traffic on the BQE and knowing you’re about to sit in. 

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Show Me Yours: 2-Bedroom on 20th Street

Photo by Park Slope Lens

SHOW ME YOURS is a recurring column in which we do two things: show you Park Slope real estate and tell you how much it is. That's pretty much it!

Here's our latest victim Show Me Yours-er:

* Location: 20th St. between 4th & 5th Aves.

* Type: 2-Bedroom, no living room. 

* Cost: $1500/mont

* Rent or Own: Rent

* Sq. Footage: 450 sq. ft.

* How did you find this place?: Craigslist

* Amenities: Close to lots of 5th Ave. bars, and very close to the 24-hr laundromat!

* Who calls this place home?: Two gay guys in their 20's. One works at a software company, and the other writes about movies.

* What's really good about this joint?: Both of our rooms are very large.

* What's really bad about this joint?: No living room. Occasional rodent friends.

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