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Tuesday, August 29, 2017

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.

Always list with honesty. After all, this is all the guests have to go on when choosing a place to stay. Good pictures and an accurate description leave no room for argument when guests arrive. If the property doesn't have a great view, don't say it does. If local attractions are a long ways away, don't list them as being within walking distance. Honesty is appreciated and can mean the difference between a bad rating and a good one.

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.

Hosts should know the area and what events and attractions are nearby. Guests will certainly appreciate this information, especially if they are unfamiliar with the surroundings or have spare time during their travel. Know your guests as well; if they are traveling with children, there may be extra information that can be provided. If they are not, skip the kids activities. Tailored to each stay, it is something they won't forget.

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.

Never underestimate how much guests will appreciate cleanliness. Start with a cleaning checklist and stick to it, adding things as needed. Nobody wants to take a shower with hairs left from a previous guest. Streaky mirrors or dirty windows will be noticed and likely commented on in a review. Even if guests don't say how spotless the rental was, at least they also will not tell others about how dirty the floors looked or the dead bugs in the light fixture.

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 details can make a world of difference in the eyes of guests. Taking the time to make things comfortable, secure and clean can be the difference between a bad review and a very positive one. To stay competitive, hosts need to make sure that these small details will make a big impression and keep guests happy and coming back again.




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