Helpful Airbnb Host Tips That Can Make A Big Difference

By Edward Butler


In the competitive world of Airbnb, simply having a spare room is not going to make the cut. Visitors expectations are always high and they expect to get their money's worth with every stay. To ensure a great review and repeat business, there are a few Airbnb host tips that will give a competitive edge to any listing.

Be honest about the listing and take great pictures. Listings without pictures are sure to be ignored as most will think there is nothing good to see. Guests will read the listing, look at the pictures associated with the listing, and have an idea in their head about how it will be when they arrive. If you have not been honest and provided an inflated description, guests will be disappointed and will be unlikely to give a good rating, referrals, or visit again.

Be flexible about check in and check out times. Things happen; sometimes flights get delayed, a car gets a flat tire, people run into an old friend and lose time. Sometimes, flights are right on time, and there are no issues, resulting in an earlier than expected arrival. Don't be a stickler for times. Of course, guests should have the courtesy of letting their hosts know if something unplanned happens. If the unit is clean and ready, and guests show up ahead of the scheduled time, let them in.

No matter where guests are traveling from, and no matter the reason for their stay, most will appreciate information about the area and what's going on. Try to tailor the information to the guests, for instance, if they are traveling with children, they might be interested to know there will be a parade during their stay. If it's a couple, a wine tasting event might appeal. It only takes a few moments to gather the information.

Get a keypad entry system and learn how to program it. This is a great way to allow guests to enter if the hosts will not be home and to assure the guests that there are not a bunch of spare keys floating around. A keypad can be programmed with a temporary guest code, which should be different for each new guest, that expires after a set amount of time. This allows for a lot of flexibility and assures security, as the same code would never be used again.

Clean is one thing. Spotless in certainly another. Going above and beyond to make sure everything is immaculate will jot be overlooked by guests. Having a list to ensure nothing is missed helps ensure consistency. Once the cleaning has been completed, double check everything to make sure guests have nothing but good things to say.

Spending a few extra dollars to stock up on amenities will be appreciated by any guest. Arriving to a bottle of water and an assortment of snacks is wonderful, and very inexpensive. Keeping some toiletries handy can be a lifesaver. Providing books and magazines, a deck of cards, or a few movies handy will get wonderful reviews. Guests are sure to comment on how thoughtful their hosts were and others will notice.

Small changes can result in increased business. Taking time to look after the details can mean the difference between a customer for life and a one time deal. Anyone considering a rental on Airbnb will certainly take the time to read past gust reviews, so go out of the way to make a positive impression every time and reap the rewards.




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