What Airbnb Hosts Look For In The Perfect Guest

Corey — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 23:12:54 +0000

I have been hosting Airbnb for a long time now. One question that frequently pops up is – “How can I be a better guest?”. Here are some quick answers from my experience.

There are many answers to this question and although many of them are valid; I have found in my experience that most of the basics can be boiled down to a set of a few simple tricks and tips that anyone can practice. Don’t fear being too needy when it comes to being a guest, part of what the host is offering should include a level of comfort and yes – even caring.

So firstly, you must expect your host to care. It’s simple but effective and will help you communicate with your host for all your needs and questions; as well as open the door for more.

Avoid Asking for Discounts

The reality of the market is that many houses or rooms that are listed on Airbnb are ALREADY discounted so that asking for additional discounts will just make your host uneasy about having you stay in their listing. It’s best to just find an initial price that you are comfortable with and is within your price range – and don’t try to haggle. Take some time building up the host/guest relationship before expecting too many “bonuses”.

Be Vocal About Problems as They Happen in Real-time

You can’t expect a host to fix anything if they don’t know it’s broken. You kind of have to ride the fine line between being helpful and insightful in a constructive way and being too “critical” of the listing. Try to frame every comment in a positive manner or better yet, save small details and observations on a notepad and send them privately to the host after your stay.

Your host will appreciate the candor and may even hook you up with some perks on your next visit to town, for helping them increase their value they provide in their guest experiences. Being vocal about issues can allow the host to add the issue onto their vacation rental cleaning checklist in a timely manner.

Read Given Materials

Always read everything that is posted in the property. Is there a plaque on the wall? Read it! It most likely has the WiFi password on it. Did the host put a travel guide on the dresser? Read that too, because it may have valuable information in it.

Checking in Early or Late? Call Ahead

Let your host know. Or better yet, ask permission. Most likely it will not be an issue, and if for some reason it is an issue due to a cleaning schedule or another booking, sometimes you can leave your luggage in a garage or a hallway in the meantime if you just ask.

Following these guidelines will not only help you become a better guest when you stay at an Airbnb, but they will also help you become a better host.

The post What Airbnb Hosts Look For In The Perfect Guest appeared first on Turno.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Making on New Airbnb Property

Corey — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 00:56:56 +0000

These five mistakes to avoid will help you start off on the right foot with a new Airbnb property. This article will hopefully provide you with new information and the ability to learn from the mistakes of others.

1. Make a Plan for Your Property

If you haven’t already done this – it should be your top priority. Don’t just go into things with a rough idea of the steps you’ll take – actually write them down! What can seem like a daunting task initially will turn into the blueprint for how your Airbnb operates. You can either write them in a note book or on your computer. Whichever you feel more comfortable with, it will help reduce the amount of mistakes. Write down in simple words exactly what steps you’ll be taking – you won’t regret it.

2. Get a Dumpster

A common mistake that I find is hosts that try to haul trash bag by bag, or just plain not getting a dumpster. Seriously, your first step with the new property (if it is a house) should be to officially move all trash off the premises. The fastest way to do this is to just rent a dumpster (usually between $300-$500. Pay someone to throw it all away for you, and you won’t have to worry about spending days or even weeks waiting for the property to be ready for your walkthrough.

3. Have a Master List of Repairs Written Out

Once you have your property cleaned of any trash or debris, you should take the opportunity to make a list of repairs and fixes for the house, try to do it all at once and if you need you can write in extra things as you come across them. Failure to do so will likely result in things seeming to spring out of nowhere, or different issues going unnoticed or simply forgotten. Make time for the list and it will help you prioritize and delegate repairs accordingly.

4. Make Sure All the Appliances & Furniture are in Place

This includes coffeepots, tables, chairs, the refrigerator and washer / dryer combo. The beds, fresh linens, a plunger, and even a laminated card or plaque to help guests with many of the easier fixes, i.e. WiFi password and where to locate the breaker box in the event of a power outage.

5. Make Sure you Get a Feel for the Unique-ness of your Airbnb Property

You should always be looking for ways to let your Airbnb stand out or provide that extra something. In one particular case last year I was prepping a house in Des Moines, Iowa for rental and was able to capitalize on the increased traffic from the Iowa state fair that was happening nearby. If I had not done my research into what made the property special, I would have missed an opportunity to cash in on extra income.

While I believe these tips are helpful to new vacation rental hosts, you should always be striving to learn different ways in which you can make hosting less stressful and more productive.

The post Five Mistakes to Avoid Making on New Airbnb Property appeared first on Turno.

Corey, Guest Author at Turno