You don’t need to be a property company to host. If you’ve got a spare room, a loft over the garage, or a place that sits empty some weekends, you can list it as a short stay and earn from it. Here’s how to do it the simple way in Maryland — and how to actually get booked.
1. Decide what you’re offering
Hosting works for all kinds of spaces:
- A private room in your home.
- A whole place — a loft, condo, or house when you’re away.
- A guest suite or in-law unit.
Be honest about what guests get (and don’t). Clear, accurate listings get better reviews — and reviews are what drive future bookings.
2. Write a listing that earns trust
Guests are inviting your place into their plans, so trust matters more than clever copy. Cover the basics well:
- Good photos of every room a guest will use — daylight, tidy, no surprises.
- A plain-spoken description: how many it sleeps, the neighbourhood, parking, check-in.
- House rules up front so there’s no awkwardness later.
3. Price it fairly
Look at comparable stays near you and price in the same range. For a first listing, pricing slightly under the local average is a proven way to earn those first few reviews — which then let you raise your rate. On Optra, every review comes from a real, completed stay, so the reputation you build is genuinely yours.
4. Set your availability
Block the dates you’re not hosting and open the ones you are. You stay in control — host one weekend a month or every week. Optra only ever shows guests the nights you’ve actually opened.
5. Get verified and go live
A quick identity check earns you the verified-host badge — guests trust verified hosts, and verified listings get booked more. Then flip your listing live and you’re discoverable to travellers searching your area.
6. Get paid reliably
Guests pay up front through escrow-backed checkout, and funds settle to your bank account on schedule. You’re not chasing anyone for money, and guests book with confidence because they’re protected too.
What it costs
Optra charges a flat subscription plus a low commission per booking — and because you sign up on the web, there’s no app-store cut. You keep more of every night than you would handing a big platform its full service fee.
Start hosting
Hosting in Maryland can be a genuine side income without turning your life upside down. See how Optra works for stays →