Are you planning on listing your home or rental property as an Airbnb for the first time? If so, you’re making a smart choice.
Listing your property as an Airbnb is an excellent way to generate passive income but starting out the right way is important and that includes getting 5 star ratings from your guests.
Here are several tips that you can use to get 5 star ratings from your guests each time.
1. Consider guests who are new to Airbnb.
"I was, at first, reticent to rent to people who were new to the site and didn't have any previous reviews. But I still do so; I just make sure to probe a bit on why people are coming to town, what they're excited about in terms of the listing, and who they're bringing with them. It leads to some fun relationships and hopefully some happy new Airbnb users!"
2. Make sure you communicate effectively with your guests. This means answering all their questions, making sure they know what they're getting, and being responsive if any issues arise.
"I own two short-term cabin rentals on a lake in Texas. Top of the list for being a good host is good communication with guests. Be responsive to guests' questions and provide detailed information about what is included in the rental and what guests should bring with them. When things go wrong (and they do!) take care of the issue as soon as possible, and stay in contact with guests so they know you are working to resolve the issue. Our rentals are in a remote location so we provide detailed driving directions/maps.
We also provide a welcome bag with koozies, sunscreen, bug spray, and Advil because those are easy to forget at home. And for the dog owners, we provide poop bags and treats.
Make all your communications with guests personal in some way. Use their names, and make a point of mentioning the reason for their stay: birthday, fishing, family reunion, etc. Our guests pay a lot of money to stay and they deserve to feel special!"
3. Don't try to hide any "minor" issues that you think guests won't notice.
"Be completely up-front with photos of the room/place. I found that people just expected there to be certain amenities or they did not read through every aspect of the ad. Because of this, I started with some subpar reviews. Once I highlighted and mentioned things several times in my ad that I hadn’t before (like steep stairs and no coffee maker), I started getting five-star reviews consistently.
Don’t try and 'hide' flaws. People just want to know what to expect. If you deliver exactly what was promised, people are happy to give a five-star review."
4. Make the guest check-in time as flexible as possible. One way to do this is by using an electric lock to store the keys so your guests won't have to arrive only when you're available.
"If you have a private front door, get an electronic lock and send the guest a personal code. It is also good if this lock will automatically lock after some time. This will prevent issues with guests losing/taking keys or leaving your home unlocked. It will also make it easier to have a flexible check-in time, as you don't need to be there for key exchange."
5. Whenever possible, greet guests once they arrive and be sensitive to their needs when you meet them.
"They are often stressed out, so be sensitive to that and help put them at ease. Some have lots of questions; some just want to be left alone. If you can't read their body language, ask them if there's anything they need."
Contact Us
At Square House Property Management, we specialize in property management for Airbnb short-term rental properties in the DFW area and across Oklahoma City.
To learn more about the property management services that we can offer you, contact us today by calling (972) 523-1389 or click here.