Airbnb Hosting 101 || My Top Ten Tips
Photos by: Warren Creavalle
Hey guys!
This post has been a long time coming. I have been meaning to do a proper post about my experience with Airbnb for the longest, and finally got around to it because I have some pretty awesome news!
Airbnb has reached out to me and a few other hosts to share our experiences hosting and offer tips on frequently asked questions and ways to ensure that your hosting experience is safe, fun, and meaningful!
Below you’ll find a Coffey Break Chat video on my top hosting tips and photos from a typical day of preparing for guests. Enjoy!
Xoxo -Chels
This post is sponsored by Airbnb.
Top Ten Tips For Hosting:
Before you get started, ask yourself if you have the time to host and if you like working with people. This will be a great way to asses how to set up your business and what services to bring in. Outsourcing obviously comes at a premium, but if it’s the better fit for you, it will be worth it!
Do your research! I spent hours and hours watching Airbnb hosting videos on YouTube to help me get a better understanding of hosting roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
If you don’t have one already, identify a design aesthetic that you can maintain for your property. When I first started hosting, I was surprised to see how many people had sought out our listing simply because they liked our design style.
Get a cohost. It can be a friend, family member or someone you hire. The benefit is that you have a second person that guests can reach in the event that something comes up.
Hire a cleaning service. Whether you prefer to clean your space yourself or want to hire a cleaning service from the get-go. I highly recommend building a relationship with a reliable cleaning service so that you don’t have to scramble when a last-minute booking comes in.
Know your market. Pricing is one of the trickiest things about hosting. Running comps regularly on the surrounding listings is a great way to benchmark your price point.
Set your standards high. One thing that all the super hosts had in common whose videos I watched was that they went above and beyond when it came to attention to detail. Clean behind the beds, pull out the appliances, was the duvet every time -even if it looks clean still (it’s a nightmare getting that thing back on I know haha). In short, don’t cut corners, and you’ll keep guests happy from check-in to check-in!
Communication is key! I do my best to keep my phone on me while we have guests. No, your home is not a hotel, but I would be steering you wrong if I didn’t let you know that part of hosting is somewhat of a concierge role. Guests will want tips on parking, check-in, where to eat and drink, activities, the whole nine. Save yourself the time by checking your phone regularly and research things to do in your city regularly so that you’ve got recommendations easily at your disposal.
Budget SMART. Just like any other industry, Airbnb ebbs and flows. There are high seasons and low seasons, and it’s crucial to your business to get in tune with when those seasons are so you can budget accordingly. I’m not going to lie, this is one of the toughest parts about hosting, but the good news is that if you have your calendar open as far in advance as possible. promo your listing, and keep track of pricing trends, you’ll most likely be pleasantly surprised to still see bookings roll on in. Just be patient and willing to offer incentives like a discount promotion or lower nightly rates until you enter a busy season again for your city.
Treat others how you would want to be treated. Energy is really important to me, and in the case of Airbnb in particular, it’s especially important to see to it that guests always feel welcome in my home. Whether it’s a private room booking or the entire space, be sure to lead with all the good vibes so that your guests know you appreciate their support of your business and enjoy their stay.
