How to Explode your Airbnb Bookings

4. Complete your Personal Profile. Make sure to have a friendly picture and write an interesting description of yourself. People want to feel like they are staying somewhere safe with a responsible host. Being able to read a few lines about the host will set them at ease.

7. Quality Photos are a Must. If you can’t hire a photographer, remember to use a good camera, clean the property, and make sure there is enough light. Make sure you describe your space well and that your title and description is attractive and detailed. Clearly explain what makes your space unique, including any extra amenities you offer, proximity to attractions, etc. When taking photos, consider adding some fine touches: Prepare a wine and cheese plate for your dining table, fold towels in the bathroom to make it Spa-like, create an immaculately made bed, and add a photo or two of your biggest local attraction!

9. Start with Lower Standards. To get your first bookings consider being less strict. This doesn’t mean you should events and pets on your property but have lower cleaning fees,  a flexible cancellation policy, and minimal house rules will help you get your first bookings.

10. Turn On Instant Book. Instant book option shows how flexible your listing is and therefore, matches more potential guests’ targeted searches. Instant Book listings will get booked more often and are therefore favored by Airbnb. Responding quickly to reservation requests in a friendly way will show guests that you are a welcoming host and they are more likely to book. Also, note that having Instant Booking turned on will attract last-minute reservations and improve your response time.

11. Reply As Soon as Possible. Hosts who reply within an hour have a high chance of getting their listings booked. Nothing is more frustrating to a guest than to contact a host about a stay and to get a response hours or days later. To be more responsive, you should definitely install the Airbnb app on your phone as it will allow you to reply to guest requests instantly from anywhere on the planet. You’ll get a pop-up like any text message and you can reply immediately. To make life easier you can create saved responses ready to use over and over within this app. Common responses like A booking welcome, directions, check-In instructions, and even a reminder to write a review.

12. Keep your Calendar Up-to-Date. Airbnb’s algorithm identifies hosts who often update their calendars as both active and responsive. And with Airbnb, hard work pays off: active and responsive hosts are rewarded with priority seating in the search rankings.

13. Be a Great Host and reach Superhosts Status! Airbnb works with ratings, the more Five star ratings you get, the higher you will appear in the search results. Great reviews will also attract more potential guests. A Superhost status places you higher in the Airbnb search engine. Guests have the option to search only Superhost listings. If you want to know how to become a Superhost fast read my book The Ultimate Superhost Guide

14. Invest in Modern furniture. Airbnb users are usually younger people looking for modern accommodation. It does not have to be expensive. You can make your property look like a boutique hotel on a budget by shopping at places like Ikea. Think about investing in furniture, as you will be renting your space over years. Once you have your new furniture, update the photos and highlight the new furniture in your home.

16. Use Technology. You have probably noticed that there are new tech gadgets introduced on the market almost daily. The good thing is that most of them are inexpensive and you can definitely use them on your rental property. For instance, you can invest in automated thermostats, smoke alarms, video doorbells, and few other things. These things will make your home feel safe and look modern which will boost the interest in your Airbnb property.

17. Know When to be Present or Not. Many travelers love Airbnb because they like meeting the local hosts as much as exploring the surroundings. Then again, there are other guests who would rather have the level of privacy they get at a hotel. The trick is to know which guests want more attention. It’s usually easy to see from the first email communications who is looking for that special greeting and who would rather check-in independently. If a guest books a place for a few nights using the instant booking tool and you never receive an email from them, they probably don’t desire a lot of personal attention. But, however, if someone books a two-week stay and reaches out for advice on activities and dining, be sure to meet them and point them in the right direction.

18. Provide a Guest Welcome Book. A Guest Welcome Book is essential for setting the tone for an awesome stay with you. When guests know what to expect (and how to work the T.v ) they are more likely to relax in your place. You can mention any quirks your place may have, add in tips about local restaurants and attractions and let them know the check-out time and process. If a guest can’t turn on the T.v or can’t find the Wifi code they may become annoyed and it will show up in the reviews. Set out a clear and concise Welcome Book and your guests will be less likely to message you with the same questions.