Introduction
Airbnb is an amazing service that enables you to rent out your home or apartment to travelers. There are a lot of benefits to being an Airbnb host, but there are also some things you need to know before renting out your space. Here we’ll discuss some best practices and Airbnb host tips to help streamline your booking process for future guests and increase revenue.
Things to Keep in Mind before becoming an Airbnb host
Before you take the plunge, there are a handful of things to keep in mind.
Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that govern Airbnb hosts.
For example, if you’re planning to rent out your home for less than 30 days per year, you may not be required to register as an Airbnb business. But if you plan on renting out your home for more than 30 days per year or hosting Airbnb guests for less than seven nights within that time period, then it’s likely that you’ll need to register as an Airbnb rental business.
This can involve paying taxes and other fees that vary depending on your location. It’s also important to know what type of insurance coverage is required by law before becoming an Airbnb host. Many cities require hosts who rent via short-term housing platforms like Airbnb or HomeAway/VRBO (a vacation rental site owned by Expedia) to carry liability insurance (which covers damage caused by guests while staying at your property).
Understand all applicable tax laws related to short-term rentals in your area before launching any Airbnb listings! In some cases landlords are responsible for collecting and remitting taxes such as sales tax; however, this varies from city to city so check with local officials first! If any taxes aren’t being collected correctly then penalties will apply later down line too so learn now instead of later 😉
Treat hosting like a business.
Treat your Airbnb property as a business. The most important thing is to be as professional and organized as possible. Treat it like any other job, because that’s exactly what it is: a job. You should have everything you need prepared before your guests arrive so that you can avoid the stress of preparing last minute. This includes having professional pictures and an optimized Airbnb profile as well.
Be sure you’ve got insurance and read all the terms and conditions of your policy thoroughly before signing up for anything—and definitely before accepting your first guest!
Accept instant bookings
When you’re a host, there are a lot of things that can slow down the process of getting your place rented. You want to make sure that the place is in the best possible condition, and that any damage done by previous guests has been repaired. You also want to make sure to do some spring cleaning—and maybe even hire a professional housekeeper or two!
But when it comes down to it, you might be tempted to keep your calendar open as much as possible so that you can take advantage of every last booking opportunity.
However, this isn’t always the best idea for hosts: if you don’t have an instant booking option set up on your listing Page, then you might miss out on some people who would have booked if their dates were more flexible.
Get your space ready
Before you start accepting guests, make sure the apartment is ready to be shown. Do a quick once-over and make sure it’s clean, tidy, and appealing to guests. This includes making sure that the bed is made and that there are clean towels in the bathroom.
If you don’t have an extra room with a closet where they can store their luggage out of sight of other guests, consider buying some storage bins or cheap luggage stands so they can put their bags down somewhere out of sight when they arrive.
Provide fast Wi-Fi
coffee-chatting-with-his-girlfriend-enjoys-day-1.jpg" alt="fast wifi" class="wp-image-1844"/>In this day and age, slow WiFi is the biggest complaint from travelers.
Provide fast Wi-Fi. It’s as simple as that.
Provide guests with the password to access their own private hotspot or router on your home network. If they don’t have one already, make sure to provide one if you can!
Don’t forget to include instructions on how to connect in the house manual or listing description so that guests can find it easily when they arrive at your place!
If you have cable TV service, include information on how to use it.
Be honest and upfront in your listing
When writing your listing, be honest about the amenities and space. If you are listing a studio apartment, don’t say it’s a one-bedroom house. If there is no parking onsite at your property and you want to use nearby street parking, make sure to clearly state that in your listing so guests know ahead of time.
Make sure everything listed in the description will be available for use during their stay (i.e., if you have access to WiFi but mention cable TV as one of the amenities provided). Listing items such as dishes, towels, or other essential household items can also help potential guests feel comfortable with staying at your place—and they may even save some money by bringing their own!
Make sure guests have the basics
If you’re going to be an Airbnb host, it’s important to make sure your guests have the basics. Give them soap, shampoo, towels, and toilet paper.
Have a hairdryer available for them to use if needed. Providing an iron will also help if your guests are coming in from out of town and need something pressed before heading out for the night.
If you can afford it, having an extra set of keys on hand will allow guests to easily check themselves in when they arrive at their destination.
Finally, create a welcome note with instructions on how things work in your home so that they don’t have any questions or concerns during their stay with you!
Have a good answer to “What’s nearby?”
This is a question that’s bound to come up during the conversation, especially if you’re staying in an area with limited public transportation or other options for exploring the area. Asking your guests what they’re interested in doing can help narrow down the list of recommendations.
You don’t have to be an expert on everything; just be honest about what you know and don’t know, and offer suggestions based on what you do know. Or, if all else fails and there are truly no nearby attractions (or even restaurants), make sure your Airbnb listing has an excellent guidebook that covers essential info like where to find food and drink within walking distance so guests can make their own plans!
Write a clear and informative house manual
An important part of being a good host is writing a helpful manual for your guests. A valuable house manual can make the difference between an amazing stay and an unsatisfactory one. It’s also a great way to help your guests feel welcome and comfortable in your home. Your manual should include information about:
The neighborhood – Where is it? Is there anything nearby (restaurants, grocery stores, etc.)? How far away are other attractions like parks or historical landmarks?
The local area – What do you recommend people do while they are staying at your place? What are some unique activities that aren’t well-known but should be? How far away from each other are multiple attractions in the city/town/village where you live?
The house – Are there any special things about this particular house (decorations, amenities, quirks)? Do I need to know anything before renting it (such as parking restrictions or noise ordinances)? Are there any rules about smoking inside or leaving food out overnight that I should know about beforehand so I don’t get fined later on down the road when someone calls Airbnb customer service complaining because they saw cigarette butts all over my lawn after having stayed here before me?
Expected behavior from both parties – This includes everything from how often we expect guests to clean up after themselves before leaving each day so as not too leave behind extra messes when moving out at end time; how many hours per night must be spent cleaning up after ourselves versus sleeping or otherwise enjoying ourselves during their stay; what kind of behavior constitutes inappropriate behavior toward fellow guests (such as making racist comments openly), etc.;
Make check-in easy and secure
Provide a code to unlock the door, and make sure it’s easy to remember: Don’t use your birth year or street number as your keycode! A digital lock box is a good option if you don’t want guests having their own codes, but we’ve found that most guests are eager to be able to come and go as they please. If this is something that concerns you, consider installing a lockbox in addition to providing access through an app or digital keypad.
Set check-out expectations
You should also set clear expectations for check-out. Make sure your guests know what time they need to be out, and only allow flexibility if it’s early in the day or late at night. You don’t want them to feel like they’re overstaying their welcome or rushing out at the crack of dawn because they’re worried about making you late for work.
It’s also important not to forget about their cleaning fee! If they’ve been messy, let them know that cleaning fees are not for enormous messes.
Consider being pet-friendly
Many potential guests are looking for a place where they can bring their furry friend along for the ride. If you’re willing to let them stay with you, you’ll have more people request your listing and you’ll get a lot more bookings overall.
Decorate your space for the holidays.
Holiday decorating is a great way to add some flair to your Airbnb space. Don’t be afraid to add holiday decorations! It’s fun, and it can make for an even more memorable experience for your guests.
For example, I bought lots of festive lights and added them around my windows, which made it look like Christmas all year round. Then I added a few Christmas trees around the house so that visitors would feel cozy when they arrived at night.
I also decorated my bathroom by adding adorable snowmen figurines on top of the toilet paper dispenser and toothbrush holder (I’ve been told this is not standard protocol). These small touches made such a difference in how people felt in my home—it was like being transported into a magical world where everything smells like peppermint candies!
Get a co-host
Male-friend-touching-fist-1.jpg" alt="airbnb co-host" class="wp-image-1845"/>If you’re a bit nervous about the responsibility of being a host, consider getting a co-host. A co-host can help with things like cleaning, check-in, and check-out. They can also be a good source of advice and feedback on how to run your Airbnb better.
A second person in the mix can actually share the workload pretty evenly between you two. You won’t have to clean as much if your partner does half the cleaning during their stay; they’ll be there at night when guests arrive and make sure everything goes smoothly; they’ll handle any problems that arise that day so that each of you doesn’t have to deal with them twice (or more).
Finally, having someone else involved means less work for one person—and it’s Nice not having all the pressure yourself!
Create a pricing strategy
Pricing your listing correctly is one of the most important things you can do as an Airbnb host. The goal is to earn the most profit possible while ensuring that your guests have a great experience and will want to return in the future.
Airbnb pricing can be tricky, because there are so many factors that go into it: location, amenities offered, date of visit, etc. It’s not easy to find other listings in your area that provide similar value compared with yours. To get started creating a pricing strategy for your property or room rental business:
Conduct research on other properties in your neighborhood and determine what they’re charging per night (including cleaning fees).
Calculate what percentage of revenue you want from each booking (this will vary depending on how many guests you expect over time). Determine how much money this would be if all bookings were full-price reservations with no cancellations or no-shows—and then consider whether this fits within your budget while still satisfying both parties’ needs adequately enough!
Optionally add security deposit fees into this calculation so guests know exactly how much they’ll need upfront when making arrangements before arrival date(s). This way everyone knows exactly where they stand financially once everything is said and done without any surprises along the way–which makes it easier for everyone involved!
Don’t be tempted by charging a higher cleaning fee.
No matter how much you think your guest could have done, it’s always best to clean up after them. You’ll get a bad review and you might even lose the next guest who comes along. Charge a reasonable fee to keep your place clean and tidy but don’t get greedy.
Be a good host to get positive reviews.
You might think that being a good host is as simple as providing an affordable place to stay, but there are actually quite a few things you can do to ensure your guests have the best trip possible.
Your guests will be most comfortable if you make sure their accommodations are clean and tidy. They’ll also appreciate it if they’re safe and secure at all times, so make sure you keep things locked up when they’re not around.
Leave soap, shampoo, etc.
When you’re an Airbnb host, it can be hard to know how much information to give your guests. You want to be as helpful as possible without intruding on their vacation time or annoying them with unnecessary questions and requests.
Leave soap, shampoo, and other toiletries in the bathroom for guests who forget these things (and/or don’t have any at all).
Make sure there’s a note welcoming them with all the important info: where they can find towels and linens; how many people live in the house; what times of day are best for checking in and out; whether there are pets on the premises…the list goes on! If you have any special instructions or requests about how they should treat your home while they’re staying there—for example, “Please don’t eat my food!”—make sure they know about those too. A little bit goes a long way here; nobody wants their vacation spoiled by an unexpected mess or destruction of property!
If possible, leave some other personal touches behind: photos of yourself or others who live in the house may help guests feel more at home during their stay. If you have kids (or grandkids), consider leaving some toys around so that younger visitors will feel comfortable playing around while waiting for check-in time.
Add coffee or snacks
Bar" class="wp-image-1846"/>Provide coffee or tea. You don’t need to go out and buy the most expensive coffee maker, but make sure there is one in your unit.
Provide snacks. It’s a good idea to provide some snacks for your guests so they don’t have to immediately leave your place when they Wake up hungry—especially if you live in an area where no good restaurants are nearby or you’re hosting people who don’t know their way around yet. Snacks like chips and fruit are easy options, as well as breakfast items like cereal and toast that can be prepared before bedtime (or overnight) by leaving them out on the countertop so they’re ready in the morning.
Stock up on sugar cubes and creamers if possible—some people prefer their coffee black!
Check-in with your guests
The guest will likely be new to the city and may need a little help getting around. Make sure they’re settled in, and check in with them at least once during their stay. You can ask if they need anything or have any questions about the property; you could also offer to give them a tour of the neighborhood, especially if it’s a good neighborhood for food or entertainment.
If you notice that your guests are enjoying themselves and having an incredible time on their trip, it might be worth asking them if they’d like to extend their stay! This is not something we recommend doing automatically—if this is something that interests your guests but doesn’t come up organically, it could feel awkward or even pushy on your part. However, it’s always nice as a hostess when your guests want to stay longer than originally planned! A polite way of putting this would be: “I hope you’re having such an amazing time here in [city]! Do any plans change if I were able to extend your reservation by another night?”
You can also ask if there are any comments about how things went during their stay—this helps both parties get honest feedback from one another so that future travelers can benefit from seeing what worked well (or didn’t!).
Always make up for something that goes wrong unexpectedly
When someone asks you what’s nearby, you don’t want to say something like “Well, not much of anything.” If they’re looking for a quiet place to relax, and they hear that there’s nothing to do in the area except walk around aimlessly, they might decide not to rent your place at all. But if you can say something like “The best part is how close we are to everything in town” or “There are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance”—and then follow this up with a list of your favorite local spots—they’ll be more likely to feel good about booking with you.
Being an Airbnb host does not have to be daunting if you stay on top of things and stay organized.
Being an Airbnb host does not have to be daunting if you stay on top of things and stay organized. A lot of the work is done for you, but it’s up to you to maintain a good relationship with your guests and make sure they have everything they need during their stay.
You should expect emails from guests at all hours of the day, so having a great email strategy is key. You need to make sure that every one of your guests gets answered quickly and politely in all situations, even if there are multiple messages coming in at once or very late at night. The easier it is for your guest to get in touch with you, the better off everyone will be! If something goes wrong during their visit (like a leaky faucet), then being able to respond right away can keep them happy so they don’t write negative reviews online later on down the line when they return home after their trip has ended.
If you decide to host, make sure you follow these Airbnb tips.
With all the information and tools you’ll get, you’re sure to have a great experience as an Airbnb host.
Conclusion
Airbnb hosting can be a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of work. If you decide to host on Airbnb make sure you follow these Airbnb hosting tips. Staying organized and always being prepared for any situation will help make your experience with hosting as smooth as possible.
Leave a Reply