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I have a second home on my farm and I am thinking of making much needed repairs and then putting it up on Air B&B to welcome folks looking for a rural get-a-way. This farm has horses, goats and iris, a nice fire ring and a fishing pond in need of some work on it but has superb fishing. The house is actually a 3 bedroom doublewide my dad put here when he and his GF wanted to get out of their neighborhood in Des Moines. That neighborhood is seeing a lot of drive by shootings and crime these days. Anyway, I thought it would be a great way to meet new folks and create some much needed income here. Anyone with experience doing something similar? thoughts on my plan and what you think is a reasonable rate to charge. I can not allow dogs loose on the property because I do have livestock here. Smoking would have to be taken outside on the deck.

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misstuffy 7 July 3
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29 comments

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5

family farm getaway?

Yes something like that, but I also want to attract my Atheist and Agnostic friends as well.

@misstuffy uh.... family farm godaway? godless goatfarm.

@hankster Shhhh, Im not telling the general public, don't want to scare customers off thinking I'm a satanist trying to sacrifice their babies int he dead of night on the barbque grill. Note, I need to get a grill bought so they can cook out.

@misstuffy Hansel & Gretel themed kitchen.

@hankster Cute!

5

A good place to start is with a really good tax person.

I have one, she is a CPA and does my taxes every year.

@misstuffy Awesome. She'll be a huge help!!

@sewchick57 I may use the other one thoug as she handles the rental properties we have in DM

@misstuffy Actually it wouldn't hurt to consult both of them! I know when I did taxes and we would get fairly new business owners in several of the senior tax ladies would get together and really give them a lot of help and good advice for future tax strategies.

@sewchick57 True, one is an older lady and one is in her early 30's.

4

It is a good idea if you are going to be there. You could also offer an "educational experience" and get them to help you with the farm work and learn something in the process. 🙂

4

Actually I have, its called ag tourism, but I want to expand my horizons and meet some folks in person of like minds. I already have one couple that plans to come, a married black lesbian couple wanting to get into the goat biz so they will come when I have another big kidding season planned.

3

Good idea and I would visit!

Love to have you!

3

I am thinking about doing something similar once I get my aquaponics up and running along with the rest of my garden. I think many people are interested in organic gardening and they are living in the city with no way to experience what is involved in growing their own food. You might even get free weeding and livestock care out of the deal, not free help but people actually paying to help so they can learn. SkotlandSkye runs a B&B so maybe he will jump in as he is also a big gardener.

I agree, this house sits in part of a pasture but we fenced off the yard. There is plenty of room for a kitchen garden that they can harvest from to eat with their dinners. I may even get some chickens, city folk love getting picks of their kids with baby goats and collecting eggs from the hen house. I tihnk you aquaponics B&B is a brilliant idea. Maybe several of us should consider a "farm tour" for folks since we all do something different.

2

Make it Comfy and just keep adding on to as the money rolls in. Good News travels and you would be surprised how many travelers there are out there.

It will be comfy, home made goat milk soaps, a garden with fresh produce, extra large towels and so on.

2

Not sure how much in demand an Air B&B would be in Iowa but I'd say go for it. Granted I'm from MN and you know how we feel about Iowans, lol. I'm teasing, good luck and keep us posted!

I was born in Minnesota! Hastings in fact

2

Add me to the list of potential customers/visitors.

Will do, I can offer to teach soap making, cheese making, goat milking, how to hand quilt, I have a pear tree and am planning to plant a lilac hedge for privacy and to protect the houses aganst north winds, pony rides for the kiddies in the arena, coming during kidding season and helping the goats giving birth, I have a lot of work to do, tractors need work, pond work will have to wait until I can afford to fix it as it needs massive work done. but hayrack rides, there is so much for people to enjoy. Bloom season for the iris once they are restored. I have no idea what to charge, I for one want to set up lounge chaise chairs in the arena when the meteor showers areon full display and turn off the yard lights.

@misstuffy Will we be able to come and just enjoy the scenery and the quiet or are you gonna work us hard? ??

@kmdskit3 Choice of the guests as to how they want to spend their time. These are just things if folks want to learn I can teach. Experiences, for instance the lesbian couple will come during kidding season, that will get my neighbors panties in a bunch, a black lesbian couple but, hey they too are also Christians, just not the stuffy type!

2

Go for it ?

2

I have been renting my guest house through airbandb for two years and I make twice as much as I would if I rented it by the month.

Thats what I am thinking. I have to decide if the risk is wowrth having bunkbeds in one room as it is small. There was a sunroom added on the south side with views on three sides.

2

Good idea mabey, but I might be worried about the animals. Some drunk, uneducated city person could cause them harm or get hurt if they were to try to play with them or something when you weren't looking. It would probably be OK if you were also around though.

MsAl Level 8 July 3, 2018

I would only do this if I was around, weekends I plan to be off to shows maybe take then with me. I figured I would post a package that includes going to some of the goat shows and even letting them show one.

1

There is quite a demand for B&B's in rural settings here, they are booked up from about the first of June to the middle of September. If they offer cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and/or sledding opportunities they are booked for most weekends and over the xmas holidays. The most popular are either upscale or rustic.

Mine is neither upscale or rustic in the log cabin sort of way but more like modern livestock working farm though I do intend to make improvements from part of my income, you know, a paved patio with a hot tub under the stars sort of thing.

@misstuffy In more heavily urban areas of Canada rural experience B&B do very well, not so much here though, people are, too affluent. They seem to be seeking something different. Neighbours run one here they do quite well it has helped a lot with the diminishing profits of a small farm. It is a two storey log cabin with a wood stove that pulls about $250 per night it can sleep about 8 people.
Good luck with this hope you do well it can also be a great experience meeting new people from other places.

@HeathenFarmer That cabin sounds like my dreamhome and if it has a huge kitchen then I am envious! I have a lot to get done before I can rent mine out and I won't be able to charge that much.

@misstuffy Well you had better get at it, looking forward to seeing some pictures of the progress.

@HeathenFarmer I will but I have too many irons in the fire ATM and I have surgery coming up. I will know more about that Friday when I see Dr. Lin.

1

Does that mean you want me to talk with her?

That means not yet because I have a lot of work to do and that will take close to a year.

1

A friend who comes in and sings with our band sometimes has a B&B. If you wish l will see if she would mind if you were to contact her. She is a really nice person.Let me know. Answer me here or msg me. ☺

Lets wait until we get closer towards my being able to host guests.

@misstuffy Can do. ☺

1

Talk to your insurance agent soon.

1

It won't happen this year but most liklely next. I look forward to visits from many of you, at least I hope I will get to meet you folks here! I have a lot of work ahead of me.

1

Ya got chickens screaming at dawn?

Not at the moment but chickens screaming at dawn won't bother me, Im hearing impaired!

@misstuffy It's not ;you i am concerned about.

@Jacar We if they wake up the arsehole neighbors across the road I wouldnt care and for city folk its just part of the farm atmoshphere

@misstuffy Bad assumption. I am in a city. And the rooster next door was only tolerable for two days, from dawn to dusk. I would want to be somewhere less noisy.

1

Wishing you best of luck in your venture.

Thanks!

0

Good to see you back on the site. Had not noticed any recent posts by you.

0

Any update on this?

0

NO febreze, NO blue detergent. NO artifical scents of any kind.

The horse and goat atmospheric contributions will be enough.

I am well acquainted with the fact so many folks have indoor allergies to scents.

@misstuffy All that crap is crap. Anyone walking around with clothes that will smell like fresh crap for up to 12 weeks is not someone i will call friend.

0

Sounds great

0

I have no experience in this area but if you have the resources, go for it. Hope you are successful.

0

Its nice of you to that.

Im not doing it to be nice but rather for the income I need very much and the plus side is meeting new folks.

@misstuffy I wuld love to book airbnb at these kind of farm houses

@pranays If and when I get this going I will let everyone know. I still need to figure out a rate that will make money for me and still be affordable for those wanting to come. The house would only be rented to one party at a time whether it be one person or 6. So what does everyone think would be fair for say a weekend in a 3 bedroom bath farm stay?

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