Ultimate Guide Archives - Turno

Ultimate Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

The Turno Team — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 20:46:39 +0000

What Is an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist?

An Airbnb cleaning checklist is a physical or digital list of tasks for hosts or cleaning services to complete between guest stays. Cleaning checklists make turnover tasks like laundering linens and towels, washing dishes, and disinfecting high-touch areas easier to manage.

Airbnb cleaning often requires a fast turnaround. Cleaning checklists help to ensure every corner of a vacation rental is thoroughly cleaned – reducing the risk of repeat cleans or areas of the property being overlooked. With a streamlined cleaning process, Airbnb hosts and cleaners can provide a welcoming home that consistently achieves high guest satisfaction.

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Benefits of Using an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Detailed vacation rental cleaning checklists prepare Airbnbs for the next guests and showcase a commitment to organization and attention to detail in any cleaning routine. This level of professionalism can lead to positive reviews from guests, ultimately helping to attract more bookings. Discover more benefits of using an Airbnb cleaning checklist below:

Cleaning Checklist Benefits for Hosts

A cleaning checklist can be a lifesaver for hosts. Cleaning a vacation rental between guests can be a hectic task. Hosts often juggle multiple responsibilities, and having a checklist streamlines the process. By following a property-specific checklist, hosts know that their turnover cleaners can efficiently tackle each cleaning task and verify everything is completed. This efficiency is crucial, especially during peak booking seasons when turnovers are fast and frequent.

Consistency is key in the hospitality industry. Guests expect a certain level of cleanliness and presentation when they arrive at a vacation rental. A checklist helps maintain consistency by outlining specific cleaning standards to be met after each stay. This ensures that every guest enjoys a clean and comfortable environment, regardless of when they arrive.

Moreover, time is money. For hosts who manage multiple properties or balance hosting responsibilities with other jobs, time-saving measures are invaluable. A well-organized cleaning checklist ensures thorough cleaning and helps complete a turnover in less time. This means more time can be allocated to other essential aspects of managing the rental property or even taking a well-deserved break.

Cleaning Checklist Benefits for Cleaners

A vacation rental cleaner’s success is closely tied to the reviews given by guests to the Airbnb host. If a host receives poor feedback about their property’s cleanliness, they will look for another cleaner for their turnover projects.

A cleaning checklist helps prevent bad reviews about cleanliness by ensuring the cleaner and the host are on the same page. Checklists provide cleaners with an exact layout of what needs to be cleaned, stocked, and staged so they never miss a spot – ensuring themselves and their clients five-star reviews.

Additionally, vacation rental cleaning checklists streamline the cleaning process by enabling cleaners to prioritize the most important cleaning tasks and manage their time effectively. Checklists also help cleaning teams understand a property’s specific cleaning requirements, outside of core turnover tasks like dusting, vacuuming, and sanitizing.

Cleaning Checklist Benefits for Guests

Guests feel more comfortable in rentals that are properly cleaned and sanitized. An attractive property that is visibly free of mess and clutter can offer guests a chance to escape their everyday lives.

Airbnb guests don’t want to arrive at unclean properties. Specifically, a property that shows any sign of the last person’s stay can immediately make the guest uncomfortable and uneasy about their booking choice. Airbnb reviews tend to be heavily swayed by the cleanliness of the property. Guests are much more likely to give 5-star reviews and book again when their Airbnb is spick and span.

How to Build an Effective Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Creating an effective Airbnb cleaning checklist is crucial for both hosts and cleaners to ensure that the property is always cleaned thoroughly between guests. Here are some steps to help build a comprehensive checklist:

Identify cleaning areas by listing all the places that need to be cleaned, including bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living room, outdoor spaces, and any other guest-accessible areas.
Break down the cleaning tasks into specific actions for each area of the home. For example, in the bathroom, tasks may include cleaning the toilet, wiping surfaces, scrubbing the shower, checking and removing hair from the sink and shower drain, checking inside cabinets, and laundering and replacing all towels.
Specify which cleaning supplies and equipment are needed for each task, if applicable. This ensures cleaners have everything they need to complete the job effectively and minimizes product-induced damage to the home’s surfaces or furniture.
Determine how often each task needs to be completed. Some tasks, like changing bed linens, must be done after every guest, while others, like deep cleaning upholstered furniture, may only need to be done periodically.
Add reference photos to your checklist for all high-priority areas. This helps hosts and cleaners ensure the post-clean property matches its ideal presentation, listing images, and guest expectations.

Don’t forget to periodically review the cleaning checklist to identify any areas that need to be added or updated. Guest feedback can also provide valuable insights into areas that need extra attention.

Utilize these steps to create a thorough Airbnb cleaning checklist that helps maintain a clean and welcoming environment for guests. Regular communication between hosts and cleaners is also important to ensure any cleanliness issues are addressed promptly.

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How to Use an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

The Turno checklist feature allows hosts to create and share professional Airbnb cleaning checklists. Dozens of popular templates are available to help get started and hosts can easily customize checklists to match the exact needs of each property. Vacation rental cleaners follow these checklists to ensure every short-term rental cleaning goes smoothly.

Create a vacation rental cleaning checklist on Turno and assign different checklists to different properties. With Turno’s cleaning checklist feature, cleaning items can be added, updated, or subtracted quickly. Hosts can also add guidance photos to checklists that illustrate precisely how the space should look after a turnover. Guidance photos help ensure that every cleaner knows how to properly restage the space, even if they’re new or a backup cleaning service.

Checklists are viewable on both the website and the Turno mobile app. On the mobile app, cleaners simply check the circles next to the checklist items and then “complete” the project when finished. Turno’s checklist feature also enables cleaners to upload timestamped photos as they complete tasks. These photos ensure that the property’s decor is reset as intended and provide proof of cleaning and amenity placement, such as a photo of the remote control and user guide left on the TV console. This gives hosts real-time quality assurance.

Hosts also receive an email notification when the cleaner marks the project as complete. This provides peace of mind especially when the turnover window is tight and the next set of guests is soon to arrive.

Airbnb Cleaning Checklist PDF

We’ve created a sample turnover cleaning checklist PDF for hosts and cleaners to view and download. Our printable Airbnb checklist template is organized by room, so it’s easy to use and simple to use

Download a Free Airbnb Checklist PDF

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Simplify Cleaning With an Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Turno offers a range of features designed to streamline and automate vacation rental turnover operations. With quality assurance tools such as photo checklists, hosts can confirm that each cleaning task meets their standards before guests arrive.

Simplify day-to-day operations by incorporating Programme de Parrainage pour Hôtes into the cleaning process. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Turno is the ultimate solution for vacation rental hosts looking to optimize their cleaning management. Say goodbye to missed tasks and hello to a more efficient, effective cleaning process with Turno.

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How to Increase Airbnb Revenue in 7 Clever Ways

The Turno Team — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:48:12 +0000

What Increases an Airbnb’s Value?

The value of an Airbnb listing consists of a variety of considerations and factors. Ultimately, the better overall guest experience you can provide, the more you can charge and the more guests are willing to pay.

Providing the best environment possible for your guests and building a strong reputation are foundational steps. Host trustworthiness is a powerful influencer when potential guests are looking to book. High ratings and glowing guest reviews certainly help you stand out from the crowd.

Achieving 5-star hosting status starts with ensuring a well-designed, functional, clean, and safe Airbnb property. According to research from Boston University, “Airbnb guests pay higher rates for space, quality, friendliness, and unique experiences” when compared with traditional hotels.

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Top 7 Unexpected Ways to Increase Airbnb Revenue

While some Airbnb guests just want a clean and comfortable place to lay their heads while traveling, other vacation renters seek out extra perks and unique experiences.

With a little bit of creativity, optimizing your listing to offer a few memorable experiences and special amenities can drive your revenue skyward. Let’s take a look at 7 clever ways to increase your Airbnb revenue.

1. Rent Out Extra Storage Space

One simple way to increase your Airbnb revenue is to repurpose your property’s extra space.

Through the power of the internet and the popularity of the sharing economy, almost anything can now be listed to be rented and can serve as an easy way to earn additional income. Many different companies now make this process simple and safe.

One possibility is listing an extra storage space to act as a private storage locker for someone else.

Neighbor provides an easy-to-use marketplace where you can list your space and connect with people looking for a less expensive alternative to traditional storage units. This storage-sharing marketplace streamlines the process by taking care of logistics, such as payment and paperwork, and even providing liability insurance to limit risk.

Who knew that an unused closet, garage space, or shed could earn you extra cash every month? This can be a great option for Airbnb hosts to increase their revenue, and with a little pre-planning, can be leveraged without affecting guests’ experiences.

2. Rent Out Extra Parking

Whether you have an unused lot or an open space on your property, there may be the potential to rent out what you aren’t using and make some money from the space.

One great example is CurbNTurf. They are a listing and reserving platform that allows property owners to rent out their private land or parking areas to RV travelers. According to CurbNTurf CEO Aaron Rawlins, “the RV industry is selling a million additional RVs each year.” As demand increases, the need for parking grows as well.

With this platform, you can list any available space you have, from a single parking spot to a vacant lot. This can be a great way to essentially double your tenants — and income — overnight.

RV travelers bring their own home, and “RVs can provide their own power, water, and waste collection,” says Rawlins. However, those that offer these amenities are more enticing and can provide a greater cash flow.

Similarly, JustPark allows you to rent out an extra parking spot for cars, trucks, and SUVs. Especially if you live in a city or somewhere where parking is in short supply, renting out an extra parking space can help you earn hundreds of dollars per month without lifting a finger.

3. Make Use of a Large Yard or Acreage

If you have a larger yard, there are many cool ways you can use this to your advantage.

For example, expanding your Airbnb strategy to include glamping can be a game-changer for increasing revenue and attracting a wider range of guests. Imagine transforming your yard into a luxurious outdoor retreat, complete with cozy tents, comfortable bedding, and all the amenities of a five-star hotel. This unique offering opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your property.

Moreover, glamping allows you to maximize the usage of your property. Instead of letting your yard sit idle, you can turn it into a profitable asset by converting it into a glamping site. This not only generates extra revenue but also adds value to your property by making it more versatile and attractive to potential guests.

Another way you can utilize a large yard is by providing guests with tailored outdoor experiences. Think about your target market. Do you cater to families with children, adventurous couples, or business travelers? Enhance your listing by using your outdoor space for exercise equipment, playground toys for kids, and other outdoor-friendly amenities. Your ideal guests will appreciate and pay more for an Airbnb that has additional on-site offerings.

4. Provide Pet-friendly Accommodations

By welcoming pets into your Airbnb property, you can tap into a lucrative market segment and maximize your revenue potential. Many travelers, especially pet owners, actively seek out accommodations that welcome their four-legged companions. By catering to this demographic, you can attract more bookings and increase your occupancy rates.

Pet owners are more likely to book longer stays at pet-friendly vacation rental properties since they have the flexibility to travel with their pets without worrying about accommodation restrictions. Longer bookings mean more revenue, as you can charge nightly rates for an extended period as well as a pet fee, resulting in higher overall earnings.

Also, consider Sniffspot, a marketplace that allows you to list an outdoor space as a private dog park. Sniffspot can help you attract pet owners looking for safe and secure outdoor spaces where their furry companions can play and exercise freely. Pet owners, even if they aren’t your guests, are often willing to pay for access to private areas for their pets to roam and play.

5. Craft Unique Airbnb Experiences

Offering curated services and add-on experiences is a great way to provide a customizable experience that can increase the rates you’re able to charge.

Services such as home-cooked meals, tours of the surrounding area, or rental of equipment like bicycles can be another easy way to increase the income potential from your Airbnb. These creative additions also contribute to increased customer satisfaction during their stay, helping you gain new customers and increase your revenue with each stay.

Airbnb Experiences is another great option to make use of your knowledge of the local area or to share your hobbies and passions with your guests. Offering an Airbnb Experience is convenient because hosts can offer unique and interesting experiences for guests or tourists through one centralized platform.

6. Optimize Property Features and Amenities

Boost your revenue by leveraging property features and amenities such as pools, hot tubs, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and bars. These attractions enhance the overall guest experience and attract more bookings, especially during peak seasons and holidays. Pools and hot tubs, in particular, are sought-after amenities that can significantly increase the value of an Airbnb listing.

By installing a pool or hot tub, you appeal to guests looking for relaxation and leisure during their stay. These luxury amenities provide a unique selling point that sets the property apart from others, leading to higher demand and occupancy rates. Additionally, guests are often willing to pay a premium for access to private pools or hot tubs, allowing you to charge higher rental rates and maximize earnings.

Furthermore, platforms like Swimply offer the opportunity to rent out pools by the hour to guests in the local area – monetizing your pool investment. This allows you to generate additional income from your pool when your property is otherwise unoccupied.

With an Airbnb swimming pool and/or hot tub, you can offer special packages or amenities for guests to purchase. Items like sunglasses, sun hats, additional towels, sunscreen, and aloe make for perfect pool and hot tub-related amenities. The same concept can be applied to having an outdoor kitchen or bar! Adult beverage mixers can be a great addition to your Airbnb property’s amenities, allowing guests to enjoy refreshing drinks while lounging by the pool or relaxing in the hot tub.

7. Become an Airbnb Consultant

Being an Airbnb host can be difficult and stressful at times, especially for those who are just starting out.

If you are an experienced host, then you likely have valuable knowledge that would be helpful for new hosts trying to find success. Your insights and knowledge on how to successfully run an Airbnb business is information that other people would likely pay money for. If this sounds up your alley, consider starting your own Airbnb consulting business.

The main role of a consultant is to provide an objective evaluation of the operations and strategies of a business and help them to improve. For Airbnb hosts, some common points of improvement revolve around the content and photos of their listing, pricing strategy, not understanding reviews and competition, and trying to handle everything on their own versus implementing tools to automate operations.

Being a third-party observer who has experience in the game, and providing crucial insights, can help you form a profitable side business that builds out from your hosting experience.

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Maximize Your Airbnb Revenue Today

When it comes down to it, it just takes some creativity and a bit of extra effort to increase your Airbnb earnings.

“More options means more opportunities. Not everyone vacations the same way, and having a versatile offering may bring more returning customers who appreciate the flexibility you provide that others don’t.”

– Aaron Rawlins, CurbNTurf CEO

We hope this list provides you with some new ideas to make extra income with your vacation rental business. That said, one of the best ways to increase your Airbnb revenue is to focus on the experience that you are offering, and that starts with ensuring consistent and quality cleaning.

Programme de Parrainage pour Hôtes makes keeping up with cleanings a breeze by managing scheduling, payments, and messaging all in one place. Download our host app today.

The post How to Increase Airbnb Revenue in 7 Clever Ways appeared first on Turno.

How to Make Your Airbnb Stand Out and Beat the Competition

RedAwning — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 18:27:11 +0000

5 Simple Ways to Make Your Airbnb Stand Out

In the increasingly competitive vacation rental industry, building a strong brand is crucial for success, regardless of the size of your business. Your brand defines how others perceive your vacation rental business and your property.

Proper vacation rental branding helps leave a lasting impression on travelers and offers insight into what makes your property unique. Focus on making your Airbnb stand out by:

1. Build a Strong Brand

Whether you’re in a popular year-round market or a seasonal destination, your listing has to be found and viewed on Airbnb or any other travel website in order to get booked. Having a strong brand, no matter how small you think your business may be, is the key to winning in this increasingly competitive vacation rental game.

A brand is how others perceive you and your business. In our competitive marketplace, with so many properties vying for attention, it is vital that your listing stands out from the crowd. To do this, you’ll need to control the narrative around your brand.

Proper vacation rental branding not only helps with leaving that lasting impression on travelers searching but also gives those potential guests some insight into what is unique about your listing and who is making that difference. Branding sets you apart and makes it clear why your listing is the best choice.

Below, learn about some of the most important traits of strong vacation rental brands:

Authentic

Your listing, whether it appears on Airbnb, Vrbo, or other OTAs, is all a traveler has to go by. From the title of the property to the listing description, you have an opportunity to let that potential guest know who you are and why you are the best choice for their upcoming stay.

Your listing should have quality photos that show your property at its best. If you use a host photo on your Airbnb host profile, be sure that it exudes warmth and friendliness. It should show that you’re helpful and knowledgeable and that your property is welcoming.

Consistent

Consistency instills trust and adds credibility. Your listing, your property, and everything in between all must have a consistent message, promise, and point of view.

All the amenities listed need to be available and in good working order. The bed count, recreational equipment, televisions, and in-home entertainment should align with your online description and photos. What they see should definitely be what they get.

If you earn the traveler’s trust, you may end up with a solid advocate who will sing the praises of your property and brand all day, to anyone who will listen.

Focused

Successful hosts focus on the areas unique to their niche and that set their property apart. Travelers choose vacation rentals over hotels for specific reasons, including access to a kitchen, extra space, and privacy. Smart hosts focus on those areas.

A well-equipped kitchen separates you from any competition. Emphasizing the added space found in vacation rentals — about four times the size of the average hotel room — along with that fabulous kitchen lets many family travelers know they have made the right choice.

More business travelers are choosing vacation rentals for similar reasons. They crave more space, as it allows them to meet as groups easier and bond more readily in a larger shared space. To continue, for both family and business travelers, nearly 50% choose vacation rentals because of the increased privacy.

For these reasons, space, privacy, and kitchen access should all factor in how you inform your brand.

Community-Driven

As a vacation rental host, you are providing a valuable service to the community. Don’t be afraid to recognize and promote that.

Be a part of the community you serve. Join the chamber of commerce, as well as local business and industry associations. Participate in community events as a business. Offer discounts to local businesses; many have families and friends visiting that need lodging.

Let your local youth sports and recreational organizations know you have lodging available for tournaments and other activities. All of this increases the visibility of your brand and drives more business your way.

Always Improving

Your goal should always be to offer the best stay for your guests. You can’t always be perfect, but you can always strive to make your guests happy and satisfied with their stay.

As a host, you should always be thinking of ways to improve the guest experience. That is the core of your product — making folks feel at home away from home. Your ability to do that will say all that needs to be said about your brand.

2. Know Your Market

To beat the competition, you have to know your competition. To understand your competition, it is imperative that you know your market.

Know everything you can about trends in the local market and the vacation rental industry at large. Understanding the dynamics and attributes of your market will go a long way in helping you develop strategies and practices to beat your competition.

Free data about the vacation rental industry is all over the internet. The best sources for national data and trends are tourism and vacation rental industry trade association websites; travel and vacation rental business websites and blogs; and government websites.

Some helpful examples include:

Local market and statewide data are available from multiple sources, including Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) and Convention and Visitor Bureau Websites, state tourism boards, local news outlet websites, and government websites.

These sources can also be great for visitor data. They often have detailed information about the demographics and psychographics of the people visiting your market.

Here are a few examples of local sources for California:

Similar data is available for every area if you do a little hunting.

Also, don’t be afraid to track the competition directly. To get a handle on who is in the market, directories are a reliable source. For rate, revenue, and occupancy data, there are good paid sources such as AirDNA, Transparent, LSI Tools, and Key Data Dashboard.

The key things you should know are:

Who are the key players
Who are you competing with for bookings
What are seasonal occupancy patterns
What room types are moving
Rates, rates, rates

Create your own competitive sets in your market and secret shop the travel websites, like Vrbo and Airbnb. Develop a list of competing homes in your market and track their rates, occupancy, and features on Airbnb or Vrbo. OTAs all have special pages for destinations that show rates, occupancy levels, competitive listings, and more.

Short-term rental service providers also provide comprehensive market reports with up-to-date market data and trends. For example, RedAwning and Evolve have some of the most detailed reports across a broad number of markets. Knowing your market and knowing the facts will help set you up for success.

3. Know Your Business

From using an effective business suite like Quick Books to manage the dollars, to using every partner dashboard available to you, it is imperative to know where you are with your key performance indicators, rates, occupancy, reservation volume, and revenue.

Use your hosting sources like Airbnb for performance data, and use the dashboards provided by any service vendors you use. These may include property management software, other OTAs, or full-service providers like RedAwning. Most give you access to real-time data 24/7.

Part of knowing your business is knowing your guests. It will give you a better handle on how to attract more and keep them coming back.

Visitor profiles with demographic and other data are available from local market sources, like tourist bureaus, which we discussed in the last section. However, the best data — primary data — comes from you. Get to know your guests.

Here are tools you can use to gather more data about your guests:

In-depth interviews can be used to gather detailed insights directly from guests about their stay, your business, and the unit before they leave. It can be a phone call before checkout or a few days after they have checked out. Many guests are more than happy to share their opinion
Surveys are the most effective way to gain specific insights because they give you information from your visitors that you can quantify. They can be done by email after the stay. Online tools like SurveyMonkey are easy to use and help you analyze results.
Focus groups can be held with a small group of past guests using Zoom or another video meeting app.

Social media monitoring can also help you keep tabs on candid conversations about the vacation rental industry, your rental property, and your competitors.

How are your competitors portraying themselves on social media? What does that say about their strategy? Take time to visit their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter pages. You may learn a lot.

While you are monitoring, be sure to spend time on your listing pages and tracking reviews. A vast collection of 5-star reviews will beat the competition every time. Work with your travel partners like Airbnb to help you manage your review scores and, of course, encourage guests to write them.

At the end of the day, your primary goal should be converting first-timers to repeat visitors. That is the best way to stave off the competition. Be sure they only have eyes for you.

4. Win Over Your Guests

As we have mentioned, repeat guests are your best competitive advantage. Loyal guests know and love your brand. They recommend you to others and they ultimately spend more because they trust you.

The best way to win over guests is to beat their expectations and go that extra mile. One way to do this and set your property apart from the competition is with a guidebook. Have a published guidebook available on your listing, in your rental, and on any app that you share with the guest. It is the guests’ passport to a good stay and your built-in concierge for the local area.

Another thing that can set you apart is to have a welcome package. This is where knowing your guest comes in. Single people often appreciate wine and water. Families love a welcome kit that included breakfast and snacks. All of these types of key features make a guest feel special and more likely to book again.

Thank you notes and follow-up emails with a special discount for a repeat visit will also increase guests’ satisfaction.

5. Boost Cleanliness Ratings

Maintaining high cleanliness ratings is paramount for running a successful Airbnb business. Cleanliness is one of the top factors guests consider when choosing accommodations.

A spotless and well-maintained property not only ensures a positive guest experience but also leads to positive reviews and recommendations, attracting more bookings. High cleanliness ratings instill trust in potential guests which reinforces your property’s credibility and professionalism. Higher cleanliness ratings are an easy and effective way to have your Airbnb stand out. Guests often use a host’s cleanliness scores as a way to determine whether or not they will book their next stay.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Make Your Airbnb Listing Stand Out

How do I make my Airbnb more popular?

To make your Airbnb more popular and increase bookings, it’s essential to optimize your listing to make it stand out. Use high-quality photos that showcase your property’s unique features and write a compelling description that highlights its best attributes. Other helpful ways of making your Airbnb stand out are:

Offering desirable amenities like Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and well-equipped kitchens can attract more guests.
Keep your property clean and well-maintained, as positive reviews are crucial for building popularity. Encourage guests to leave reviews after their stay, as positive reviews increase your listing’s credibility and visibility.
Respond promptly to guest inquiries and booking requests to show professionalism and reliability.
Provide local tips and recommendations to help guests make the most of their stay.
Consider implementing flexible booking policies to accommodate different guest needs.
Host special events or promotions to attract more bookings during off-peak seasons or holidays.
Collaborate with local businesses to offer exclusive deals to your guests.
Promote your Airbnb on social media platforms and use targeted online advertising to reach potential guests.
Strive to achieve and maintain Superhost status on Airbnb, as it adds credibility and trustworthiness to your listing.

By implementing these strategies and consistently providing excellent guest experiences, you can make your Airbnb more popular and achieve success as a host.

How do I get my Airbnb noticed?

Using social media and multiple online travel agencies (OTAs) can significantly help a host get their property noticed and increase bookings. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, provide a vast audience for promoting your property. You can showcase your property through professional photos, share guest experiences, and offer exclusive deals to attract potential guests. Engaging with followers and using relevant hashtags can expand your reach and increase visibility, as well.

Moreover, listing your property on multiple OTAs, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO, exposes it to a broader audience across different platforms. Each OTA has its own user base and marketing efforts, which can bring in potential guests who might not have found your property through other channels.

By utilizing these platforms strategically, you can reach diverse audiences, increase brand awareness, and build a strong online presence. This, in turn, can lead to more inquiries, bookings, and positive reviews, aiding in boosting your property’s credibility and popularity.

What do Airbnb guests want?

When choosing a vacation rental on Airbnb, guests typically look for several key factors. These include attractive and high-quality property photos, a detailed and informative listing description, desirable amenities such as fast Airbnb Wi-Fi and air conditioning, positive guest reviews, and competitive pricing. Safety and cleanliness are essential, as well as proximity to popular attractions and transportation options.

Additionally, guests often consider the host’s responsiveness and reliability, seeking a comfortable and well-managed property that aligns with their travel needs and preferences.

Knowing Your Guests Leads to Success

New hosts are entering the vacation rental market at an unprecedented rate as the multi-billion industry takes flight. The excitement is real, the potential is real, and the dollars are real. It’s up to you whether this becomes a hobby, a vocation, or a serious business.

Make your Airbnb stand out by hiring a turnover specialist! Through Turno’s cleaner marketplace, hosts can connect with professional, reliable, and affordable Airbnb cleaners. Automate your turnover schedules by hiring and assigning cleaners all from one place. Ensure quality control through photo checklists, problem reporting, and more high-quality features designed to help you differentiate your Airbnb business from your competitors.

The post How to Make Your Airbnb Stand Out and Beat the Competition appeared first on Turno.

How to Set Prices On Airbnb

Rented — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:08:50 +0000

Define Your Business Goals

It’s a good idea to understand your overall goals for your property before you list it on Airbnb. Crunch some numbers and estimate an average amount of profit that would cover your overhead while increasing your revenue. You’ll set your prices with the goal of hitting that number or higher.

Then, figure out your occupancy goals. Remember that more bookings equal more revenue, so getting as many nights booked as possible is key to hitting your profit goals.

There will be times of the year when you won’t be able to accept bookings for a variety of reasons. Maybe you like to take a week between the busy season and slow season to perform maintenance on the property, or you have upcoming renovations and know you’ll need to set those dates aside. You may even like to use the rental for your own personal use.

Estimate how many days a month you’ll want to use the rental for yourself, add the maintenance days, and voila: an occupancy rate.

Estimate Your Expenses

While the overall goal of listing your vacation rental on Airbnb is to turn a profit, you have to remember that there are costs associated with inviting guests into your property. This is particularly true for short-term rentals as they see a lot more action than long-term rentals.

Pull out your calculator and make some rough estimates of how much overhead will cost. This should include funds to manage the wear and tear, cleaning funds, an emergency fund in case of major damage, and restocking costs for things like toilet paper, towels, and cleaning supplies.

“Don’t forget about cleaning fees. You can opt to build it into your rate or add it in as a standalone fee. Planning to do your own cleaning? Be sure to factor in a small amount to offset the time and materials that you will spend on this commitment.”

– Futurestay

Establish Your Market Value

Now that you have some goals in mind, it’s time to calculate the rough market value of your property. This will be the foundation from which you set rates, helping you decide what’s the absolute minimum nightly rate you can accept and what your average rate might look like.

This is where comp sets come in handy. You can use Airbnb to search for properties that are similar enough to your own — same bedroom/bathroom count, similar amenities, same location — and look at their rates. Then, based on your business goals, you can start estimating a base rate and a minimum rate.

Understand the Makeup of Your Price

Your Airbnb rate is made up of these main components:

Nightly pricing: Here, you can decide whether you want to charge per guest or up to the maximum number of guests.
Security deposit: Some Airbnb hosts charge a refundable damage deposit to cover any potential damage that might occur during a stay.
Cleaning fee: This covers the cost of turnover, whether you clean the property yourself or outsource to a professional cleaning service.
Additional charges: This may include pet fees, additional guest fees, late check-in or check-out fees, etc.

Fees are often considered a kind of protection for Airbnb hosts and property managers — in case something does happen, the cost comes out of a separate account and not the bottom line — and they may be legitimate depending on the market or the age and modernity of the home.

But remember: expensive fees are just as much of a turnoff as overly high rates. When you can, consider incorporating as many Airbnb fees as you can into the nightly rate.

Make Price Adjustments When Necessary

Whether you have one or one hundred Airbnb listings, you can still use key principles of dynamic pricing to entice more bookings and maximize your revenue.

For example, consider lowering your prices during times of the week or season when demand is the slowest, and even consider throwing in a discount or two to achieve more bookings during slower times. When demand is high, like during your peak season, a major event, or the holidays, raise your rates to match.

Most importantly, stay on top of your calendar. In the event of a major change, such as a horrid weather forecast or a spike in overall demand, you can adjust your prices to meet it.

Should You Use Your Channel Manager’s Free Pricing Tool?

As you grow your vacation rental business and take on more and more properties, the free pricing tools offered by OTAs like Airbnb and Vrbo may not cut it.

These tools can come with a bit of conflicting interest. An OTA is, of course, looking to get bookings for itself but not necessarily for the property managers who use it. So, take any recommendations from those tools with a grain of salt.

The post How to Set Prices On Airbnb appeared first on Turno.

Why You Need Property Management Software

Uplisting — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 17:45:42 +0000

Automation and API Make Tasks Painless

Automation has achieved something of a buzzword status when it comes to software and technology, but there’s a reason why it’s so popular — and why it’s such a benefit to property owners.

Automation can take some of your job’s most repetitive and manual parts and do them quickly and consistently.

Say you want to update the availability of a particular property. Normally, you would have to update each and every booking channel by hand — including your own website. This could take an entire afternoon, depending on how many properties you’re updating and how many platforms you’re on.

With automation, you only need to update once. Your change automatically gets pushed out to every single booking channel, which allows you to perform multiple updates in a single sitting.

A PMS can also automate a process and make it run without human intervention, such as cleaning a property in between bookings. As soon as a guest checks out, the PMS can immediately schedule a cleaning crew to do a changeover — all without you lifting a finger.

All this is possible thanks to the platform’s API — a piece of software that allows different apps to talk and send each other instructions. It’s like having an extra set of hands!

Create a Quality Guest Experience

As you probably know by now, a good “guest experience” doesn’t just cover their stay at your property. It also includes every interaction they have with you, whether that’s online or offline.

This means having an attractive website. It means a smooth and painless booking experience. It even means regular and helpful communication with your guests.

Remember the automation we mentioned? You can send out automated messages to guests at designated points of their stay — right after they book, before they arrive, and on the day of their departure. This is super useful if you want to send them important reminders.

Guests will know where they need to go, when they need to get there, and what they’ll need to do (and not do) once they arrive. You remove all confusion and uncertainty from this part of their stay so that they can focus on enjoying themselves.

Yes, you can certainly accomplish this on your own, but a lot of things could happen. You could get busy or forgetful, or you might mistakenly send the wrong details to the wrong person. It’s just added responsibility that you don’t need to take on.

More Efficient Operations

A short-term vacation rental business covers more than just listing properties and booking guests. If you’re going to be successful, you need to get good at every aspect of managing a property’s operations, from clean-up to marketing to team performance.

By leveraging the capabilities of a property management software platform, you’ll be able to:

Increase housekeeping efficiency: Automate cleaning tasks and use an online calendar to manage job schedules. Communicate with crews online and make it easy for them to track jobs and update you when they’re complete.
Keep all your data in one place: No more swimming through paperwork. All of your business data can be kept in a single virtual space, where it can easily be searched, updated, and referenced at any point. And if you do happen to need a hard copy, no problem — just export and print.
Improve customer data management: Do you want to know what else you can do with all that data? Learn more about your customers! Dig deeper into who your best guests are, how much they’re earning you, and what you can do to attract more like them.
Enhance employee productivity and engagement: By automating your booking process and other aspects of your operations, you’ll be able to pull employees (and yourself) away from time-consuming, low-value tasks. They’ll have time for the more important work, and have a greater impact on the success of the business.

Increase Revenue Growth

Guest bookings may be your main source of revenue, but they’re not the only way you can increase your bottom line.

A PMS excels at introducing operational efficiency and improving guest experiences in ways that will dramatically improve your short-term rental profit margins.

Get Listed on the Biggest Booking Platforms

Many of the best property management platforms have existing partnerships with the biggest booking platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, which make it easy to get your properties in front of thousands of potential travelers. Posting on multiple platforms is a snap and, thanks to automation, very easy to keep up-to-date.

Accept Direct Bookings

Third-party booking sites are great for getting in front of guests, but this advertising comes at a pretty steep price. Their fees can take a significant chunk out of your profits.

Fortunately, you always have the option of creating your own independently-hosted website and accepting direct bookings. A PMS like Uplisting can help you accomplish that thanks to a no-code interface that is easy to set up and get running — with no commission fees.

Strong Data Security

In today’s privacy-focused society, it’s ever more important for you to protect your and your customer’s data from malicious hackers and identity thieves. But what if you don’t have a dedicated IT team — or even a security-savvy employee?

That’s all right. You don’t need an IT budget to protect your data because a PMS will protect your data for you. Many of the top-shelf property management platforms have the equipment, software, certifications, and expertise required to protect crucial data from bad actors.

Of course, you and your staff still need to behave responsibly when it comes to being secure, but your PMS partner can take care of data protection on their side.

What Most Hosts Encounter Without a PMS

Over the course of speaking with hundreds of hosts across different regions, maturity levels, and company sizes, we’ve discovered some common challenges that property managers encounter when they don’t leverage a PMS. Learn more about these pain points below.

Managing a Rental Business Dominates Your Schedule

Short-term property rental is a multi-faceted business with many moving parts. It can be challenging to run smoothly, even while employing full-time staff. Without any sort of management software to assist, it can easily take hours to perform a single task.

Take managing your different booking apps and listings, for example. You’ve got properties listed on Airbnb, Flipkey, Booking.com, and Vrbo just to name a few. Any single update you make to one of your listings has to be applied across every single one of those digital platforms.

Basically, you’re doing the same task multiple times.

The same can be said for juggling resources like cleaning crews. Which job are they on? Have you told them about their next job? How many jobs do they have pending? Coordinating all of this by hand is a nightmare (and may even lead to nightmares).

Manually Updating Bookings Leads to Errors

A single booking by itself doesn’t contain that much information: customer details, property details, and the booking schedule are generally the extent. So it’s not a huge lift to update your records and calendar by hand.

It’s a different story when you multiply that by all of your other properties. Updating your records and consolidating all of those bookings into a single updated spreadsheet (even a digital one) becomes a juggling act — and you may eventually fumble.

Double-booking a property is the most common mistake. This happens when you record a booking for a property in one spreadsheet or document, but neglect to do the same to another.

This can easily happen during peak seasons or when dealing with needy or fickle travelers. You’re preoccupied and in a rush, and bouncing between different platforms, apps, and documents doesn’t help. The additional complications just add to the chaos and lead to more mistakes.

Mental and Physical Fatigue

As we already mentioned, manually listing your properties on multiple channels can take a physical and mental toll. If you repeat this inefficient cycle day in and day out, you’re not going to get better at it. On the contrary: it’ll just get worse.

Tension and fatigue are going to build up at the same rate as your backlog of tasks. Your day will become more unorganized, and your tasks and priorities will become more scattered. You may end up feeling lost and unsure of what to do next and feel increased frustration as a result.

Any mistakes you make during this period or additional workplace crises will only increase your stress levels. Without intervention or assistance, you might even burn out. And who wants that?

Inefficiency Inertia

Many property owners and managers are trapped in something we call “inefficiency inertia.”

This is when you know that a process is obsolete and inefficient, but you stick with it anyway even though there are better options.

There are a few reasons why you might decide to stick it out: maybe you’re already used to the old way and think it will be more effort to learn the new system. Maybe you’re skeptical of the new system and don’t believe it will do the job properly. Or maybe you think upgrading to a technological solution will be prohibitively expensive.

Whatever the reason, you recognize that it’s time to find a streamlined process that improves your operations, but you can’t or don’t move past your current state.

Save the Headache and Grow Your Airbnb Business With a PMS

If you’re looking to increase your productivity — and your revenue — then a property management software platform may be just what you need.

Any hosting inefficiencies you’re already working through will become much worse as you get more properties, more inquiries, and more channels to manage. You’ll become even more burdened with managing your business and sink deeper into the quicksand of disorganization.

And this is how things will be — unless you make a change.

Luckily, with some elbow grease and help from automation and management software, you can grow your business and build an Airbnb empire.

The post Why You Need Property Management Software appeared first on Turno.

Tips to Select Vacation Properties and Build Your Portfolio

Uplisting — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 23:46:41 +0000

Is It the Right Time to Add More Properties?

“When is it time to buy a second, third, or fourth rental property? Renting multiple properties can allow you to increase your monthly income, lower individual repair costs by purchasing in bulk, and add a small cushion for times when one property is vacant. Best of all, you’ve already learned how to hack it in this business, so you don’t have the same learning curve to contend with.

If you’re thinking it’s time to purchase another property to use as a short-term rental, you’ll want to begin by analyzing your finances in much the same way as you did when purchasing your first property. Check for liquid money for the down payment, and keep your bank statements squeaky clean.

To fully decide if you’re ready, think critically about the challenges you’ve faced in being a host and candidly consider whether or not you are ready to deal with those challenges multiplied.

Assume Murphy’s Law here. If the air conditioner goes out at both properties, can you keep your head above water? Most importantly, do you have the time needed to effectively manage both properties? If the answer to these questions is yes, you’re ready to begin expanding your business,” says Futurestay.

What to Consider When Adding More Properties

You may be looking to start scaling your vacation rental business by adding more properties to your portfolio as the next logical step — and it’s a good one. But this phase is very risky.

Even a single new rental property represents a hefty financial investment, so you want to make sure you’ve done your due diligence and taken all the crucial factors into consideration, such as:

Stay Local or Expand to a New Area?

If you only started with a couple of properties, you may want to consider staying local. There are a couple of reasons why this is more ideal.

First, it’s easier to manage multiple properties if they’re all within easy driving distance. This is important, even in an era of online bookings and remote property management, because you never know when you may need to make an in-person visit to help a guest or resolve an incident.

Second is familiarity with the market. You already know all the pros and cons of each neighborhood and the demographics of the local population. Moving to a new area removes this advantage, forcing you to have to relearn quickly.

Which New Area Has the Best Opportunities?

Sometimes it’s expanding to a new area that is the best move, and not signing another local property. It’s best to move slowly when you consider expanding your borders, almost as if you were starting over from scratch (because in a way, you are).

Consider the ideal guests for your new property. What age? What group size? Business traveler, tourist, or student? Establish a purchasing budget that won’t strain your Airbnb cash flow. Then, carefully analyze which city or neighborhood would provide you with the best business opportunity to match.

Once you’ve finally landed a property in the new area, focus on developing this new property first and run it for at least a quarter or two before expanding further.

Develop Your Infrastructure First

Before you sign the contract on your new property, you should first make sure that your rental property business has the manpower, cash flow, and infrastructure required to run it effectively.

This could mean:

Hiring an administrator to be in charge of the new area (even more important if there are multiple properties involved)
Researching the bylaws, ordinances, permits, and fees required (especially if you’re opening in a different state)
Finding and hiring contractors in the new area — maintenance teams, cleaning crews, security, etc.
Upgrading software tools to dedicated accounting and/or property management software

If you open up your new rental property without these pieces in place, you risk being caught flat-footed if things go sideways.

You’ve Selected Your Next Property — Now What?

You may have gotten into a groove with managing your first rental — but the more properties and booking channels you add into the mix, the more you’ll need to look for ways to improve your efficiency.

Before you start listing this new property, consider how you’ll navigate the additional hosting tasks while still juggling your other responsibilities. You can’t add more hours to a day, but there are tools and software on the market that can help you maximize your time.

The post Tips to Select Vacation Properties and Build Your Portfolio appeared first on Turno.

Choose the Right Rental Property Bookkeeping and Accounting Support

Ximplifi — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 23:43:35 +0000

How Accounting Supports Your Business

Accounting means different things to different people, but it is certainly not a one-dimensional department.

There is the operational and administrative, day-to-day bookkeeping for the business, which involves accepting deposits from guests, transacting management fees, and paying out to owners, as well as everything in-between. This is what most managers picture first when they think of accounting, but there is a second part that is equally important.

The second part of accounting addresses the long-term view of what all those transactions add up to, reflecting how the investment and strategy are performing in the bigger picture. This includes aspects of accounting that produce information for budgeting and planning.

Accounting Skills to Seek Out

It can be easy during the first few years of a startup for bad habits and patchwork processes to start seeping into your accounting department, especially if it’s being done by only one person.

One of the key internal control procedures for accounting is the separation of duties. This means that no one person should handle a transaction from beginning to end, for example, bookkeeping, deposits, reporting, and auditing.

Sharing responsibilities between two or more people or having co-workers review critical tasks can help provide some controls against errors or fraud. But you still need to have someone with the right experience and skills to know how to manage the accounting for vacation rentals in the first place.

Certification

Each state has different requirements for accountants to become certified to work, but there are also continuing professional education hours that may be recommended or required.

The most common certification is the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This license is a versatile designation for accounting professionals pursuing a variety of roles.

There are many other certifications that can also indicate an accountant’s level of expertise in a certain field.

Industry Experience

Trust accounting for short-term rentals is a time- and labor-intensive activity that occurs on a monthly basis. When that is coupled with the unique operational aspects of vacation rental management, it is a special area of expertise that not many accountants have.

Someone who understands the industry of short-term rentals specifically will be able to help you make strategic choices and provide insights based on relevant experience.

Accounting Experience

The fast-moving nature of the vacation rental industry requires extremely detailed accounting.

For hosts with multiple ventures on the horizon, you may have multiple business models that all need accounting support as well. Therefore, you will want a professional on your team who can perform a range of functions to support your near-term and long-term interests.

Technology Enablement

Whether you choose to keep your accounting services in-house or select a partner to outsource, the person who is at the helm of your accounting should be an expert in the software that your business needs today. Not only that, but they must also be able to implement new technologies as the needs of the business change.

This requires them to stay involved in both strategic and operational aspects of the business and be able to scout the market for current technologies.

If you choose to hire outside accounting help, make sure you ask what systems they are certified to work on and what types of integrations they can support.

This will tell you if they have capabilities that go beyond what you could accomplish in-house.

Types of Accounting Support You Can Choose for Your Business

For vacation rental startups, starting with a good foundation of support in your accounting processes is crucial.

Bookkeeper

Running a one-person show can really only work for so long. Some hosts are better to start off with an employee who maintains the company’s books (sometimes called a bookkeeper). This is the person assigned to oversee all the financial transactions administered by the business and help you draw insights from financial statements.

Accounting Consultant

What about going outside the organization? Your accountant doesn’t necessarily need to be an employee. After all, there are professional accounting consultants that you can hire on a temporary or retainer basis if you want to go that route instead.

This may be a good way for new hosts with little accounting experience to get started without being responsible for the expense of a salaried, permanent staff member.

Accounting Firm

This arrangement might work for a few years, but remember, bad habits grow quietly. Without proper oversight and careful workflows, small errors in accounting records or late filings can have serious consequences for property managers and owners. As your operational workload increases, so does the risk for human errors.

If you are concerned about absolute accuracy and compliance, you may want to consider an accounting firm to completely outsource these functions. With outsourcing, you don’t have to gamble on whether or not someone will have the right combination of skills. Nor will you have to make tradeoffs for what is most important to you.

Selecting a firm can be easier than hiring an individual because you can set higher expectations. Refer back to those accounting skills we mentioned, and quiz your prospective firms before making a decision.

Moreover, choosing an outsourced accounting firm isn’t like working with other vendors — it’s a partnership. Successful outsourcing requires a good working relationship and trust between the firm and the client. You should never settle for services that don’t satisfy 100% of your needs. If they don’t have the complete package, keep looking.

Vacation Rental Accounting Support Through Software

As an entrepreneur, you will likely start off wearing many different hats for your vacation rental business. If you’ve studied accounting, or have your CPA certification, you definitely have an advantage. But as we’ve demonstrated, trust accounting is not a hands-off process.

One way to start lean and still run efficiently is to choose the right software and automate every manual process that you can.

This is where resources like VRPlatform come into play. These tools receive PMS data, such as management commissions, guest invoices, and payments, and automatically record the proper entries in the accounting system. They eliminate the manual process of re-keying data into your accounting system to make tasks more efficient.

Design Your Accounting Roadmap

Using the information discussed here, you can start planning out how accounting roles will be assigned for your business and how that structure might change over time.

Remember, good accounting and bookkeeping processes are not a box to check. Your success as a vacation rental host depends on your ability to make the right decisions for your business, and you can’t do that without accurate and organized finances.

The post Choose the Right Rental Property Bookkeeping and Accounting Support appeared first on Turno.

How to Screen Airbnb Guests Without Compromising Guest Experience

SUPERHOG — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 23:27:14 +0000

Balancing Security and Guest Experience

The guest experience plays a big factor in either making your hosting experience successful and enjoyable or simply disappointing.

There’s the possibility that you might damage the guest experience by implementing too many security measures that are strict, invasive, slow, or not implemented properly. But without the right security, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable as a host. So, what is the right balance?

There’s a fine line between balancing security and guest experience. As an Airbnb host, you need to strike the right balance so that you’re protected with comprehensive security measures and there’s no negative impact on guests’ experiences.

3 Simple Ways to Balance Guest Screening and Experience

With the right strategy and tools, you can adapt or develop a booking journey that ensures a great experience but also keeps your asset(s) safe. Here are three simple steps on how you can do it:

1. Put the Guest First and Prioritize Their Risk Profile

It’s not rocket science. The guest is your customer, and if they have a bad experience, they may cancel their booking and even consider not booking with you ever again. Word travels fast, and Airbnb reviews travel even faster, so one bad experience can put a mark on you as a host to other potential guests.

Every guest comes with a different risk profile, so don’t treat them all the same. Decide what level of risk you are comfortable with and implement the right tools to help you deal with that level.

To do so, ask yourself the following questions:

What kind of behaviors and acts will you not tolerate?
What do you expect of guests?
What do you consider mandatory for all guests?

Once you have sorted your risk tolerance levels, tailor your security measures to that level. The best way to do this is to introduce a dynamic screening process to your guest booking journey. A dynamic screening process means that different guests do different types of verifications depending on their risk profile.

As an example, if a single Airbnb user was looking to book a four-bedroom house for a one-night stay, and you know that there is a festival happening nearby, this is an instant red flag. If you were unsure and wanted to go ahead with the booking to not miss out on the revenue, you could ask that guest to verify their ID, validate their credit card, and pay a security deposit.

But if a family sent a booking request for the same house for a week or longer, you might enforce fewer steps in your guest screening process, because the overall risk is lower.

The key takeaway from this is to think: Does the reward outweigh the risk?

2. Inform Guests About Security Measures Right From the Start

The key to providing a good guest experience when it comes to processes like screening and other security measures is to set expectations early.

If possible, on the Airbnb profile for your listing, outline your guest screening processes, any Airbnb security cameras, and the house rules that you require all guests to follow.

To protect yourself further, reiterate this in any rental agreement that you have the guest sign, showing that they legally acknowledge the information you have provided.

By clearly communicating your security measures, you’re weeding out bad guests, as they will be deterred from booking. Your good guests won’t bat an eyelid when it comes to completing these measures if they have been made aware of your expectations. In other words, keeping guests in the know helps create a good guest experience.

3. Transparency About Personal Data Is Key

Even though we live in an increasingly digital world, people are still very wary about providing their sensitive information online. Unfortunately, the vacation rental industry is also plagued by crimes such as fraud and identity theft, so how you handle a guest’s private information is crucial.

To show that your processes are legitimate and secure, build trust with guests through transparency. Let guests know what personal information you collect during the screening process and what happens to that information, making it abundantly clear that your process is compliant with all privacy and data protection laws.

Does Airbnb Do Background Checks?

Every time a booking happens, hosts place their faith in Airbnb, trusting that the platform will adequately screen their guests. However, the harsh reality — which a lot of hosts have found out the hard way — is that Airbnb’s processes are not as thorough as they would like.

Airbnb may perform an identity check, however, ID verification is not a mandatory part of the sign-up process for guests. In the same vein, Airbnb does offer background checks, but these are not available globally and are dependent on a lot of external factors.

According to Airbnb, they use a guest’s first and last name along with their date of birth to run a background check. The company also uses public state and county criminal records databases, as well as state and national sex offender registrations, for their investigations, but these are limited to the U.S. and India only. Airbnb checks all users of their platform on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list for terrorist designations as well.

This means that very little is done when it comes to screening guests who are booking from outside the U.S. Airbnb states: “We may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and to the extent available, obtain the local version of background or registered sex offender checks.”

When Airbnb’s background check finds that a user has severe criminal convictions, they suspend that user’s account for further investigations or wholly remove them from the platform.

Why You Can’t and Shouldn’t Rely Solely on Airbnb’s Background Checks

Hosts are ultimately responsible for who they allow into their homes, and, therefore, need assurances that their guests behave appropriately and are exactly who they claim to be.

Airbnb clearly states that their background checks should not be completely relied upon when it comes to accepting guests. As they rightly mention, a background check does not ensure the guest in question won’t commit a crime during their stay. Because Airbnb doesn’t continually check its guests, the validity of the background check can be called into question.

Here are the limitations of Airbnb’s background checks as stated by Airbnb:

Scope of search: Confined to just the U.S. and India
Guests of guests: Only the lead guest is checked
User information accuracy: Checks only work when people give Airbnb their correct full legal name and date of birth; if the ID is stolen, Airbnb has no way of knowing if the guest provides the details on the stolen ID as their own
Infrequent checks: Airbnb may only conduct the check once and this may be months before their booking with you
Inconsistent reporting: Due to variations in local U.S. laws and reporting systems, criminal record information that’s searched and reported in each type of check can vary by state and county
Incomplete search results: The databases they check may be incomplete

For these reasons, hosts need to look to specialized independent screening providers to make sure that every guest they host is vetted and screened fairly and comprehensively.

Make Your Hosting Experience Safe

Owning a vacation rental business can come with its own safety precautions. Hosts are consistently around strangers that are coming and going from their property. It is important that hosts feel comfortable and safe around all new and returning guests. This is why guest screening is so important to a host’s experience owning a short-term rental.

Airbnb’s guest screening is a reliable tool to count on for an initial test of who your customers are, but it’s recommended to do guest screenings on each person staying at the listed property. This will ensure that the host is aware of every guest entering and leaving.

The post How to Screen Airbnb Guests Without Compromising Guest Experience appeared first on Turno.

Sending Automated Messages on Airbnb: 6 Best Practices

Hospitable — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 23:21:01 +0000

Best Practice 1: Respond Immediately

The average guest spends 2-3 minutes scanning a listing to decide whether or not to book a stay. So, responding to their questions within 24 hours isn’t enough — you may miss your opportunity to convert your lead into a booking before they start looking elsewhere. You need to respond instantly.

Use automation software that responds to guest messages to generate human-like responses to inquiries. This can save you dozens of hours each week while also ramping up your booking rates.

Guests that get responses before they’ve moved on to the next listing are more likely to book your rental as you’ve quickly answered their inquiries and started building a rapport with them.

Best Practice 2: Personalize Your Communication

Make your communication more personalized so your prospective guests don’t feel like they’re speaking to a robot. Many software tools allow you to use tags for your guests’ names and other information, giving the impression someone has taken the time to read their message and personally respond to their inquiries.

As you answer their questions, tailor your upsells based on their queries and make sure your tone is polite and welcoming throughout the entire interaction. Guests expect to feel welcome from the start. A cold response to their inquiries may deter them from booking your rental.

Find software that allows you to create responses that match the way you prefer to converse with your guests and your tone. You can apply shortcodes, conditions, and triggers using templates to customize your automated responses for content, tone of voice, and language. Make the inquiry process feel authentic for guests who are none the wiser.

Best Practice 3: Use Canned Responses

Create canned responses for frequently asked questions. This saves you valuable time and brain work while improving your response time within that crucial 2-3 minute window. Use a system that can take response automation a step further by allowing you to embed your property, reservation, and guest details in your responses when you want to, automatically.

This allows you to personalize the interaction with your potential guests even in your sleep! An automation platform can expertly use tags to identify your customer by name and give specific details when responding to them.

Guests will be delighted to receive a warm, personalized response — especially if they’re making queries at unsociable hours.

You can set up your desired response timeframe for each inquiry or let an automation platform hold the responses so you can review them before they’re sent. This allows you to further personalize your responses if needed.

Best Practice 4: Manage Your Reviews

Request reviews after your guest has completed their stay. Your reviews directly impact your booking rates, as 90% of consumers scan them before making a purchasing decision. But it also follows that a bad review can have a lasting negative impact.

We all try to avoid it, but there may be times when you encounter a guest who doesn’t have a good experience. You’ll be able to determine early on if they’re unhappy if you’re communicating with them throughout their stay. Some signs that they aren’t enjoying your property could include them complaining about its conditions, not adhering to the house rules, or flat-out being rude when they communicate with you.

Some providers allow you to automatically delay bad reviews if you want to. Since Airbnb provides guests with a 14-day limit for leaving their reviews, you can save pending reviews for guests you think have had an unsatisfying stay.

This delays the review to the last minute, making it too late for your guest to leave their review.

Best Practice 5: Remarket to Previous Guests

Encourage previous guests to book again by remarketing to them via the OTA and your email funnel. But do not do this immediately after their stay. Instead, target your previous guests closer to the time they’re likely to book a vacation.

Your guests won’t be ready to book another vacation a week after their stay, so sending them marketing emails and messages through your booking platform will more than likely land you in their spam folder.

Instead, send out your marketing messages at least 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the last time they visited your property. This is just around the time guests usually start planning their next vacation.

For example, use an automated messaging platform that can send your previous guest a personalized message highlighting an exclusive offer. This guest will be targeted by your marketing strategy and feel as though their business is valued since you took the time to personally reach out to them with an offer.

Best Practice 6: Fill Gap Days in Your Calendar

When available, offer your guest a discounted rate on gap days in your calendar if they choose to stay an extra night. This allows you to generate income with minimal effort while providing additional value to your guests — a more affordable stay and an extra night.

Some tools offer a calendar management feature that protects you from double bookings across multiple booking sites, but you can also use it to fill those gap days with an automated message to your current guest. The application will check for availability, verify which guest is currently staying at your property, and then generate the discounted offer message and send it to them.

Depending on your guest’s response, the platform will help them schedule the extra night and alert the booking sites of the discounted stay rate.

Automate Your Guest Communication to Save Time

Automated Airbnb messaging removes the labor-intensive process of manually responding to your guests. It also dramatically improves the response time, which directly impacts your booking rates.

To ensure your automated guest communication runs smoothly:

Respond immediately to consumer inquiries to avoid them bouncing from your listing within minutes
Personalize your responses with a friendly tone and key information
Use canned responses to speed up your response time
Use predetermined strategies to prevent bad reviews
Strategically remarket to previous guests to promote return bookings
Fill gap days using a calendar management system

Short-term rental automation platforms like Hospitable run your short-term rental on autopilot while offering all the personalized guest communication best practices mentioned above.

The post Sending Automated Messages on Airbnb: 6 Best Practices appeared first on Turno.

Understanding How to Source Rentals

Rabbu — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 23:09:44 +0000

Taking a Bird’s Eye View of a Market in Flux

Low volatility and high returns have traditionally characterized the real estate asset class, making it a great way to diversify a portfolio and achieve safe but significant gains.

In some ways, the vacation rental market offers an even better equation. Short-term rentals have higher average daily rental rates than traditional accommodations, as well as long-term rentals, and payment events occur more frequently, bringing some liquidity into the investment.

But the recent market disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the volatility in the market, and home prices have risen to new heights faster than they normally would move. As purchase prices continue to change along with consumer preference and traveler demand, it’s important to take a big-picture view of the short-term rental market at the sourcing stage.

The Digital Starting Line

A pandemic-era article named browsing homes on Zillow one of the more popular pandemic pastimes. For an aspiring host, this first browse is more than just escapism. It’s important to be thorough in the first digital search, using standard real estate listing sites like Zillow, realtor.com, and others to start to get a sense of the market as it stands.

Using the locational considerations reviewed above, hosts can begin their own online audit, understanding the purchase prices in those areas and what kinds of properties remain on the market. Crossing those findings with a basic revenue predictor analysis, also covered above, can help to give hosts a sense of their potential bottom line.

This aspect of the purchase process is another place that the COVID-hand of innovation has left fundamentally changed.

Today, more artificial reality (AR) empowered open houses, 3D video tours, and automation software can make it easy for hosts to get a real sense of the properties they’re assessing without spending too much time playing phone tag with property representatives or traveling on a whim to see a property that might disappoint.

Hosts can use this new look behind the scenes to their advantage for a fast and effective first phase.

Time to Go Local

When a host has a sense of the market as it’s represented through digital listing sites, it’s time for them to get in touch with a realtor in the surrounding area.

As the ascent of short-term rentals has become more pronounced, many realtors have a strong sense of the Airbnb market in their areas. With their experience and immersion in the dynamics of the specific market a host is targeting, realtors are invaluable at this stage of the property search.

If a host is approaching the property less for personal use and more for portfolio optimization, they might need to further explore the asset independent of locational considerations. Once they’ve narrowed down their interest, they might then need to be in conversation with multiple realtors in the different market segments they’re considering.

Don’t Re-Invent the Data Wheel

Airbnb investing isn’t rocket science, but it is increasingly data-intensive, and as is often the case for fail-proof investing, more data is better. But this shouldn’t deter hosts who might not find their calling in the facts and figures side of things. Partnerships at this stage are absolutely crucial to sourcing a property that has the right potential for each individual host.

Hosts can use the Rabbu platform to set individual and personalized investment criteria, then browse a “Zillow-like” experience (but with specific STR stats) to find properties that match it, or view all sourced properties across the U.S. These on- and off-market deals come accompanied by rich data projections to allow for efficient sourcing and analysis.

With a pulse on how property values and rental demand are changing in real-time, this strategy helps to make sure that investors don’t have to be chained to their desks to have access to a time-sensitive deal. It also reduces the mental fatigue that can set in at this stage of property sourcing, when the numbers blur and all of the properties start to resemble one another.

By leading with specific data inputs, the host will only be alerted to the properties that fit the terms of their interest and correspond with what they’ve prioritized for their acquisition.

Find Your Community, Early

Tech, experts, and data — all of these things are great to have on your side. But there’s nothing like connecting with a community of like-minded people who have walked the same path.

New-to-market companies have online communities in which hosts and experts can connect in casual conversation. Further, the ever-present corners of Reddit, LinkedIn, Discord, Clubhouse, and Quora are full of experienced hosts who would love to help.

It’s always beneficial to survey frequent travelers and guests at the acquisition stage as well. Understand what guests have loved in their own Airbnb experience.

Think of the trips your family has taken that will stay in your memory for the many years ahead. What made those experiences special? What makes people want to come back? Those insights can help guide the sourcing process just as much as a balance sheet can.

Find Calm in the Property Search Storm

A thorough property search takes time. But there’s no reason for hosts to go through the process alone.

Digital searches now have enhanced property viewing capacities, allowing hosts to get a strong sense of the market without leaving the comfort of their homes. Having spent some time on Zillow or other listing platforms, engaging a local realtor will be the best next step.

From there, turning to market partners that have made the data easy to leverage will be crucial. Rabbu’s short-term rental investing platform takes a lot of the stress out of the search and allows relevant listings to find investors, rather than the other way around.

Through it all, keeping in close conversation with an experienced and forward-thinking community will help the property search process feel exciting, engaging, and full of potential.

The post Understanding How to Source Rentals appeared first on Turno.