Renting on Airbnb? Read These Tips First.
Renting on Airbnb? Read These Tips First.
As people are starting to move around more, vacation rentals are picking up speed and more bookings than before.
If you intended to become an Airbnb host, you will be competing on the most used platform for short-term rentals. That comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Having your own website is only a good idea if you are the property manager for multiple properties but the listing for an Airbnb property is where most of your work is going to go toward.
The vacation rental industry was in a rough spot for a while but with ever higher vaccination rates people will feel safer going out for short stints to get away from their day-to-day.
Get a good location.
The most important thing for an Airbnb listing is whether the Airbnb rental property is somewhere that people want to visit.
Before you start hosting, put yourself in the shoes of your target guests. The first thing they will be looking up is the location of the short-term rental.
While some people may just need somewhere to sleep, going forward with this idea in mind will mean a lower nightly price than what you are aiming for. Great Airbnb hosts find a way to make a location shine.
Make sure your property is in great condition and up to date with all necessary amenities.
When people are looking for a short-term rental, they don't want to rely on their phone's mobile plan for the internet.
A great way to deter people from booking your Airbnb rental is to prevent potential guests from having access to necessary things like laundry, internet and a decent kitchen.
If the location you secured does not have those amenities, people will bounce off of your Airbnb listings very quickly. An Airbnb business, like all businesses, requires some investment. It's a bad idea to expect people to settle for your listing when another property offers more amenities.
The price of the investment can multiply the returns on the vacation home you're offering.
Design a great listing.
Make sure to create a complete listing where you inform potential renters about an outdoor area, free parking, and your flexible cancellation policy.
Your property description should sell your property while telling the truth. Use the best photo you have of the property as the first picture.
If you're renting out a property by the beach, make sure to feature a bright sunny picture that shows off both the home and its proximity to the beach and ocean.
The short-term rental business is a hyper-competitive contest between listings and where photos are the first point of contact.
One thing many people look for is space. When you're taking pictures or when arranging the furniture in the listing, be sure not to crowd it out. A big part of comfort is the ease of moving around.
To stand out from the search results, a stunning view of your rental property is essential. Pick the best thing about it and use that image as the first on the Airbnb listing, on your own website, and on social media when trying to find potential guests.
Speaking of social media, don't underestimate it.
Advertise the rental on social media.
Before you can get your first reviews, you first need guests. To that end, try to sniff out a Facebook page in your area that tourists would most likely use.
A well-placed, well-timed Facebook post can help you break through the initial issues everyone has when first starting out.
Before you post though, make sure that you clean up your social media presence without denaturing it. Many vacationers tend to be careful about who they do business with and will look up the hosts. Remain yourself but pick a wholesome picture for your cover photo on Facebook instead of one born out of a night you don't remember. Keep your social media pages relatively clean and it should help with creating trust with potential tenants.
Bonus points if you use a recognizable picture on both your social media and your Airbnb account.
Social media platforms can lead to business but be sure to stay tuned to the house rules of a Facebook page you're tempted to post in.
How to get positive reviews.
Your Airbnb listing will get more bookings than others when your guests have a great experience.
Guest reviews are one of the biggest drivers that get people to book a stay. Just as one glowing review can get you more bookings, a bad one can tank your rating and with that the number of people willing to give you a chance.
A quick way to know what guests want and what they value is to do some snooping.
Go to competing listings and read the reviews. Here's what a lot of people value: clear contact details, responsiveness, a personal touch, and a sense of care.
Emulate the best vacation rental policies as much as you can. Offering weekly and monthly discounts or giving special bonuses for a holiday season can help set you apart from other listings.
Getting more bookings is often a question of offering more quality for the same amount of money. Breaking out from the pack when you just started can be tough but incurring a loss in the very early stages to establish your presence as a good host can see you soar through the rankings of the website.
When you get your first few bookings, do everything you can to give your guests the best time possible. If there's a problem with a shower or if there is an issue with a mattress, you need to acknowledge their issue quickly and deal with it swiftly. Should something go wrong, a bottle of wine or something similar accompanied by a sincere apology can get you a better review than if everything goes well.
If you've done everything from taking great pictures to remodelling but still can't figure out how to make your Airbnb listing more enticing, then it's time to look at obtaining some feedback.
5. Collect feedback from guests after they stay so you can improve your listing for future renters
An Airbnb listing for a vacation rental lives or dies based on the experience of your guests.
Pay attention to the words in guest reviews, these can clue you in to what is missing from your Airbnb listing or what they appreciated.
Don't take the reviews personally if they seem harsh, remember that your review scores affect your livelihood. If you can respond to a negative review with a simple apology, an offer to help out their next trip, and a promise to work on any issues, you can turn an unhappy customer into one who returns.
6. Track your progress and keep your listings active at all times
Whenever you set out to start something new or grow something long-running, it is of utmost importance that you track your progress. Airbnb itself keeps track of your history and you can find that through your Airbnb profile.
However, it's best to keep your own records to see whether your rentals are going well or if the competition is catching up. See if you need to add services or amenities to stay competitive or if you can afford to charge more money based on what your Airbnb listing provides over the next best vacation rental.
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