By JULIE RANSOM

I grew up in Warren and now live in Pittsburgh. I wanted to share my experience as an Airbnb Host and participant in the process to legalize and regulate short-term rentals (STRs) in Pittsburgh.

I’ve been a Host with Airbnb for nearly 15 years. What started as a way for me to pay my bills during a time of unemployment grew to my buying and operating three units as dedicated Airbnb rental properties. I first rented two rooms out of my house for five years. Then I sold my house and bought two properties — three units in total — to rent out through Airbnb.

I also moderate the Facebook group for Pittsburgh area hosts, we have more 500 members. Even though we are technically in competition with each other, we are a collegial group that share referrals, report bad actors within the community, and recommend anything from a sale on linens to a great plumber.

I am also part of the group participating in the task of regulating STR’s in Pittsburgh. We have made great strides identifying areas of concern by neighbors, zoning board, fire safety, and coding enforcement. As the old saying goes, no sense reinventing the wheel, and to that end I would be honored and pleased to offer my experience to the individuals tasked to regulate STRs for Warren County on a pro bono basis.

And if you’re considering becoming an Airbnb Host, I’d be happy to offer my assistance to you as well: email me at ransomja15224@gmail.com. I’ve been named as an Airbnb Ambassador, a program where Hosts receive advice before, during, and after listing their property online. It’s free for prospective Hosts, who receive a $100 bonus received with their first booking.

Allow me to clear up misconceptions that may exist about Airbnb owners and operations. Airbnb is a web site for people who offer property to rent (Hosts) and people who need a place to stay (Guests). Hosts offer a room in their own home, or a non-shared space in a furnished apartment or house.

Through Airbnb you can find a place for a short stay, which is 30 nights or fewer, which is the type of rental STR legislation would cover. Stays of 30 or more nights fall into a different category of housing, it’s treated like you would renting an apartment or house.

In Warren County, Airbnb already collects and pays all hotel occupancy tax from every short stay. Airbnb also reports income hosts make each year. Every penny Hosts make in Airbnb rent is reported s to State and Federal Treasuries.

Airbnb has a Terms of Service all Hosts are required to follow. Hosts must equip rental properties with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and display a safety card with local emergency contact information, location of the property exit(s), address of nearest hospital. Hosts must agree to comply with local ordinances pertaining to occupancy, building and safety codes. Noncompliant Hosts are removed from the Airbnb and face local fines and imprisonment.

Hosts and Guests review (one to five stars) each other in overall experience as well as specific areas. A “3” rating and below is considered a Host failure; Hosts receive a “shape up or ship out” email with links to resources where the Hosts can learn how to improve. Guests receive a similar email. Hosts and Guests that do not improve face a temporary suspension to a permanent removal from the web site.

Airbnb verifies a Guest’s identity and confirms payment is not from a stolen credit card. Guests guilty of a certain criminal offenses including robbery and assault are automatically banned. A “no party” policy prevents Guests from renting a property and holding anything from a rowdy birthday celebration to a pay to enter disco. Guests are not permitted to use any Airbnb-rented property as a commercial enterprise, like a pop-up store selling anything from beauty products to illegal drugs.

Many Airbnb Hosts take safety a step further, using exterior-mounted cameras and decibel monitors to confirm occupancy and prevent excessive noise.

For people who find themselves living next door or in the same block as an Airbnb property, I say this: yes, it’s a different way of renting, but it is more good than bad. In Pittsburgh, two out of three hosts report using a share of the rent they collect to make improvements on their property. Hosts say they became a Host because they needed the money due to unemployment, partial employment, or to make extra money for home improvements, college funds for their kids, or to help save money for a family vacation.

Staying at an Airbnb is different from staying at a hotel or even a bed and breakfast. Airbnb’s don’t usually have hotel amenities like weight rooms, swimming pools, a 24/7 front desk, and room service. On the other hand, hotels do not offer units with in unit laundry, fully equipped kitchens, and may not offer complimentary WiFi or free parking.

One community benefit Airbnb Hosts give is their first-hand recommendations for locally owned restaurants, merchants, and sightseeing venues. Airbnb Hosts become ambassadors doing their share of supporting local businesses and the community at large.

Unfortunately, the media have portrayed Airbnb rentals as unsafe, unclean, and risky, rented by noisy, gun-wielding anarchists. When you consider the literally hundreds of thousands of successful stays daily in the U.S. alone, you realize only a tiny fraction of experiences go sideways.

Airbnb properties get spruced up: neighborhood real estate values increase. Local vendors benefit from the recommendations of Airbnb Hosts. Hosts make necessary income to avoid losing their homes, have money to better maintain their property, or have to means for a vacation or an education fund for their kids. Guests have a positive experience and will share these experiences to friends and family. “Discover Our Good Nature” is the message you convey: Warren County’s unique combination of breath-taking woodlands and waterways in addition to some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Through Airbnb you allow people to experience this firsthand.

Julie Ransom, Proud Airbnb ambassador and owner of Briarwood Square and Briarwood Home in Pittsburgh.