What is home sharing? Home sharing allows property owners to provide short-term rentals to vacationers, travelers and business people in much the same way hotels provide lodging. The experience is often a unique one, in which guests get to see a part of town they otherwise would not, visit restaurants off the beaten path and often get free Wi-Fi, laundry and breakfast. Platforms like Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO help match those looking to rent space with property owners who have space to rent. Airbnb is unique in that it always collects payment, provides insurance and remits taxes on behalf of owners in certain cities. Investors value the company at more than $25 billion.