With Airbnb, your house is your business.
More importantly, your rating is your ticket to getting more guests to book your home. But there’s a catch.
Your rating relies greatly on how well your guests review your space, depending on how comfortable and enjoyable their stay was.
Setting up your space for guests can be an arduous task, so what is the best way to do it?
There are actually three easy ways to become an Airbnb superhost and set up your success.
These tips will help prepare your home, and help you become a great host. So, read on and make a five star out of it.
Safety First
Before you let your guests in, you need to carefully walk through your property and make sure you have taken all the necessary safety precautions.
Make sure there are no potentially hazardous items lying around your property, such as exposed electrical wires, loose steps, tripping hazards or dysfunctional electrical systems.
You also need to confirm that safety components and features within the house are working, too.
This means that the fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors need to be fully operational and checked.
Always make sure you leave your phone number and email address on the key ring or in another easily accessible location, in case of any emergencies your guests may experience, so they can reach you, if necessary.
Work on Presentation
Once your guests arrive at your house, your presentation will form their first and lasting impression of your property and set the expectations for the duration of their stay.
Consider the following tips to make sure you get their stay off to a great start.
Remove very personal items
You don’t want your guests stumbling onto your personal items.
This may make them feel uncomfortable, and more like they’re intruding into your personal space.
Therefore, put away any personal hygiene items, documents or clothing from areas they may use.
It’s also a good idea to take any valuables such as cameras, laptops or other gadgets out of your home, to prevent theft.
Create a homey environment
Getting rid of very personal items doesn’t mean getting rid of every personal item you have.
Leave a few family photos or other items around, to help provide a homey feeling to your guests, especially if they provide entertainment or local information.
Feel free to leave out your video games, a local directory, personal magazines, movies, local brochures, books, and a cheat sheet for translations of common words in your language, if the guest is foreign.
Create a clean, fresh atmosphere
Laundry is a key part of making sure your home is presentable and welcoming.
Ensure your sheets, towels, blankets and kitchen linens are clean and fresh.
Don’t forget this step when choosing the photos for your listing as well.
Great photos with fresh, folded towels and blankets help attract guests to your space.
Make sure the space overall does not feel cluttered.
A room full of extra items can feel dirty or dusty, while a roomy space free from clutter can help create a fresh, airy atmosphere.
It may be worth it to hire a third party to do some cleaning for you, as long as it does not offset your profits too much.
Liox Clean, a company that offers commercial laundry services New York, suggests that your contractor of choice should offer competitive rates for small businesses, which includes your Airbnb.
Provide Detailed Instructions
Guests will always have a flurry of questions.
So, to limit the number of inquiries you receive during their stay, be sure to leave detailed instructions, including how to use the key amenities in your property and how they should check-out once done.
If your home has a complex entertainment system, be sure to include instructions on how they can use the remote control for the TV and other electronics in the house.
Provide them with the WiFi password, instructions on how to use the dishwasher, clothes dryer, stove, security system, and any other amenity or device they’ll need.
You also want to make sure “house rules” such as no parties, no smoking, and no loud music past 10 p.m., for instance, are clearly articulated.
Wrapping Up
Preparing for your guest’s arrival is a key part of ensuring they love their stay and leave you a great review for the next guest.
And with these three tips, you’re also set for a nice hosting experience with your Airbnb.