Airbnbs have become an incredibly popular accommodation option, and it doesn’t take too much effort to see where this popularity comes from. Usually a much cheaper option than traditional hotels and offering the same level of flexibility as long-term rentals, Airbnbs pack the best of both worlds neatly wrapped in one convenient package.
So, turning your apartment into an overnight stay and tapping into this lucrative market seems like an easy job, right?
Well, yes and no. With over 5 million hosts catered across the world, Airbnb playground has become very competitive. So, if you want to stay in the game in the longer term, you have to make an active effort to put your apartment on the map.
Don’t worry. Let’s take a look at a couple of tips that should nudge you in the right direction.
Streamline check-ins and check-outs
People traveling around the world are faced with countless hurdles and their plans usually, for a countless number of reasons, tend to fall through. Don’t make their lives even harder by making the check-in process overly complex. Ideally, the guests should be able to pick up the keys following simple instructions, pay for everything online, and even leave their baggage in the apartment after the check-out while waiting for the transport or doing last-minute shopping. All these things should be made transparent, clearly explained, backed up with visual materials, and, why not, even advertised.
Manage expectations
This is absolutely critical if you want to build the social proof and credibility necessary for those 5-star ratings. So, if your apartment has some shortcomings, be honest about that. You will be able to compensate for these quirks with small perks and added amenities. For instance, if your Airbnb isn’t close to the main tourist attractions show it on the map and provide explanations for navigating the public transport. You add more up the entertainment options. But, don’t hide anything, and provide detailed descriptions and quality photos. Plain honesty can score you a lot of points in the sympathy department.
Keep your apartment in the top tier condition
This is yet another way to overcome the eventual shortcomings we have just covered above. People would much rather stay in and give good ratings to an apartment that has some drawbacks but is clean, well-maintained, and tidy. So, make this your priority and be quick to react to the first signs of trouble. Keeping a close relationship with local handymen brands like, for instance, blocked drains services should make this job considerably easier and trim down the response times. Regular maintenance of vital systems like drains, air conditioners, solar hot water systems – fixing them or replacing them on time and stocking of emergency supplies should keep future issues in check.
Make the Airbnb cozy and homely
You can never underestimate the good old emotions. Well, make sure that your guests see your Airbnb as their temporary home and provide them with all the amenities, appliances, utensils, recipes, services, and entertainment options they can imagine. Also, try to make it cute, welcoming, and cozy. You can even try to pick up some theme and try to run with it. You can politely ask your guests to take care of the indoor plants or something that will make them even more at home. This won’t only make a killer first impression. You will be also producing recommendations and returning guests.
Create a warm welcome and be helpful
Speaking of first impressions, why not greet your guests with a bottle of cold wine and fresh fruit on the table? Hey, for what it’s worth you can even add the local public transport schedule, directions to the local attractions, or recommendations to must-try street food vendors. The chances are the guests will ask for this information one way or another, so rise above the expectations and provide them from the get-go. If you miss out on something, be quick to respond to guests’ inquiries or even run some small errands for them. These efforts, even small ones, summon massive amounts of good will.
Ask for reviews and good grades
Of course, all the things we have covered so far will amount to very little if your guests don’t leave a positive review of your Airbnb or give you a good rating. So, be sure to ask them and go above and beyond to do everything we said above so you don’t come off cheap. But, if you deserve to get a rub, you can lose nothing by plainly asking for one. Explain why is it important for your business and ask people to spread the word so more guests have the same pleasant experience. Also, you can throw in some bonuses, discounts for referrals, or some other incentives to keep things even more engaging.
So, there you have it – the top six tips that should help your Airbnb get more mainstream traction and score more positive customer reviews. As we can see none of these things are revolutionary and they pretty much boil to be the best and the most honest host you can be. But, even this takes a lot of effort. Fortunately, in the business of hospitality, all efforts do pay off handsomely. Be sure then to take very seriously everything we talked about above and create an unforgettable experience for anyone coming knocking at your doors.