One thing you can be sure about is that the moment the current situation goes back to normal, you'll see people going on vacations like a bunch of bees swarming about. With this suspected increase in traveling, you need to make sure that your Airbnb stands out.
While many people think that you need loads of extra money to make yourself noticed, that is not the case. All you need to do is be smart. Airbnb is a business and who wants to go out of their pocket to make sure their business is sustainable, no one.
Before you invest your hard-earned money in things that might not make a difference, read ahead and find some useful Airbnb listing tips.
1. Hire A Photographer
I'm pretty sure you've heard the saying that goes; the first impression is the last. It would be best if you kept that in mind when you sign up for your listing.
A listing without a picture rarely gets any visitors. You wouldn't blame them, would you? Who knows what a place may be like, especially if it has no pictures? No one will be willing to go stay and a random person's place just because they have a listing on the internet.
So, the first thing that you need to invest in is a decent photographer and ask him to take pictures of the interior and the exterior. If you have a patio or a small lawn, people will be more interested in your listing. That, however, does not mean that you can't get visitors if you don't have one.
2. Add A Welcome Package
Who doesn't like a proper welcome? Most travelers will be attracted to your listing if they know that they have something to snack on when they get there.
While traveling is amazing and all sorts of fun, it is also immensely tiring. When you plan on going somewhere to sleep for the night, you'll surely go for an option where you'll have something to snack on.
The welcome package doesn't need to be too high end. You can go with putting a few cans of beer in the fridge, frozen yogurt, soft drinks, or just a few packets of crisps. If you want to go a little over the top and have the budget, you might make them cookies. That will make sure you're the only host they look up whenever they're in town.
Remember to add the amount to your rent price, being too generous can cost you a lot of money.
3. Look Into Airbnb SEO Tools
If you're a newbie and don't know much about the AirBnB business system, one of the best things that you can do is to look into an Airbnb SEO tool.
The SEO tool will surely help you figure out your ratings. It will also help you understand the business model much better to increase the ratings.
As newbies, it is often hard to grasp things that we aren't previously used too, and an SEO tool can be precisely what you're looking for.
4. Keep Your Place Clean
This should go without saying, but keeping your room or apartment clean is a great way to attract people to your listing.
Ensure that you don't have cords hanging out from behind and that the linens are clean. You should make sure that you clean them after every visitor leaves. You'd be surprised how much cleanliness attracts people rather than fancy places.
5. Invest In Your Bathroom
Rather than investing in overpriced things, you should invest in your bathrooms. Make sure that the water is running and that the towels and shower curtains are clean.
Even if you have a small bathroom, you can use a few photography skills to make it look a little bigger.
Remember, if your guest is anyone like me, your bathroom will be the deciding factor for choosing your place.
6. Be Very Responsive
Know that as a host, people will be asking you a lot of questions. They'll be asking you many questions about what places are nearby, where they can eat out or about the nightlife.
You need to be patient, and you need to make sure that you are responsive. Customer service is an excellent part of any business, and you need to make sure that you keep that in mind.
Taking pictures can help a great deal in that department as a single picture can say a lot about your listing and the location.
You can also pin the main attractions that are close to your home. People who love traveling want to have a local experience, and your posting pictures can be a great way to attract customers.
7. Don't Oversell
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that you don't need to oversell. If you oversell your place, you'll excite the customers' expectations, and that can lead to unsatisfied experiences and bad reviews.
Apart from that, overselling can seem like trying too hard. You wouldn't want to seem too needy now, would you?
Try to stay true to yourself and your customer as that is important for a pleasant experience.
Final thoughts: If you've gone through the tips mentioned earlier, you now know where you can invest your money. If you're a first-timer, there will be a few things that you'll learn from experience. However, I suggest that you stay open to these experiences and learn from them as they can lead to a significant increase in your finances.
Remember that this is a business. You need to treat it like one and be clear and polite in your rental dealings. While you have to give them a good experience, trying to make them your friends will not work out. So, follow the instructions given above, and you'll be booked throughout the traveling season.
Keep in mind that you need to be careful with bookings and always let someone close to you know whenever you have a guest.
