SideHustleMama

Expert Insight of the Week:

Setup your Airbnb Account like a Pro!

SPECIAL OFFER: Be sure to read to the end of the newsletter to see how you can earn an extra $48 after completing your first reservation!

It can be overwhelming to setup an Airbnb online account for the first time. There's a lot of information to fill out and you want to make sure your listing accurately represents your home while appealing to as many guests as possible. Below are some things I've learned along the way.

Listing Photos

Listings Photos are so important to potential guests. This is the first look they have of your home and you want to make the best first impression. Below are some helpful tips to ensure your listing stands out!

Photos should have good lighting
Ensure the cover photo is the best picture of your home. This could be the exterior, the views, the kitchen, living area. What do you love most about your home? This is what guests will love too!
Include photos of bathrooms and kitchen
Include photos of the entrance to the home. This way guests will know they are in the right place.
Include photos of nearby attractions. For example, Mystic Mountain, Green Grotto Caves, nearby Jerk Centers, etc...
Avoid photos with you and your family in them. Just show the property!

Description

Make sure that your description includes all the positives about your home. Above all...be HONEST and forthcoming! If there is something about your home that is less than appealing, do not lie! Instead put a positive spin on it.

For example, my husband and I recently stayed at an Airbnb in Jamaica. When I look for a home I always make sure there are TV's and A/C. This particular house said it had both. When we got to the home there were A/C's in the bedrooms, but not in the living area. There was a TV in the living room, but not in the bedrooms. It would have been very helpful if the owner would have put this information in the listing. So basically, we had to decide if we wanted to sweat and watch TV or be cool and have no TV! It ended up being fine, but would have been nice to know before we arrived.

In the above example, the host could have noted "A/C in both bedrooms only" and "TV in living area only". This lets guest know more what to expect so they are not disappointed once they arrive.

It is also a good idea to add travel times in the description. For example, travel times to nearby airports, Knutsford Express, shopping. You can also include names of nearby restaurants and travel times to excursions in the area. If guests are coming to Jamaica to explore this will help them with their planning.

Amenities

Make sure you accurately fill out the amenities section. When guests search for homes they can filter by available amenities. If you do not fill out this section completely and accurately you could miss out on potential business. And as I stated earlier, be honest about what your house has and doesn't have.

I heard someone say once "Your house doesn't have to be 5 star to earn a 5 start rating!". This has always stuck with me. Your house just has to be clean and match the description and amenities to receive a 5 star rating.

Scheduled Messages

One way you can streamline messages is to implement scheduled messages. As a host, this option can be found on the Menu > Inbox > Settings > Scheduled Messages.

I use scheduled messages to communicate with guests right after they place their booking, before check-in, during their stay and after check-out. Below shows when I send messages to guests and what is included in each message. These messages are automated which cuts down on the amount of time you will spend communicating with guests. Below are some suggestions of when to send scheduled messages.

Immediately after booking
2 days before check-in
1 day after check-in
1 day before check-out
3 days after check-out

Pricing

When initially setting pricing, I suggest you research comparable homes in your area. You want to make sure you are making money, but you don't want to price your home to high, which will result in less bookings. You also don't want to underprice your home.

You should also keep time of year, peak season and holidays in mind when setting pricing. If you are aware of an event in your area you should raise rates for those dates. It is good to keep an eye on the Airbnb rates in your area for different times of year to ensure you are getting the most bookings as possible and making the most revenue you can.

Learn more in the below video: