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Make excellent hosting easy.
Not an Airbnb host yet, but thinking about trying it out? Find more information about it here.
We asked the BuzzFeed Community for their best Airbnb hosting tips, and here are some of their responses!
Although not all of the tips here are from BuzzFeed's Community — others come from the Airbnb Community's Superhost and Above and Beyond threads, along with this Reddit thread, and this one, and this one.
1. Take clear, well-lit photos of your space, and make sure to show every single room.
Whether you hire a professional, ask your friend who's good with a DSLR, or just take the pictures with your phone, good photos make a listing stand out. And don't skimp on the photos — make sure they give your guests a full sense of the space.
2. Occasionally update your photos and listing to show any changes you've made — you want potential guests to know exactly what your space is like.
3. And if you struggle to come up with good photo captions, try using the good things previous guests said about the space in reviews.
For example, the caption on the above photo, from this listing, reads: "The Villa is close to all the main attractions but still tucked away in a cozy and calm locality. We would surely like to go back to Whistling Palms for our next trip to Panchgani."
4. Do your research in your area to figure out the best price to charge — search the way a guest would search to see other comparable options and their pricing.
Airbnb
Set up your search with dates, your property type, the number of guests your place can sleep, and adjust the price so you don't see the listings that are way more expensive than you are. Check out the rates of local hotels, too. Then adjust your price (higher or lower!) based on ~the competition~.
The more regularly you do this and update your profile/pricing because of it (like every day or every week), the more likely you are to get the more bookings at the right price.
5. When you're getting started, consider only taking short bookings, so you can figure out what works and what to change — and so you can rack up those good reviews.
CBS / giphy.com
You'll have some rules to start, but as you have more guests, you may decide to change or add to them. And if you have a not-so-great guest, they won't be in your space for very long.
6. Although don't think you have to have the lowest price in your area to get bookings.
TBH, you may not want the guests that'll go for the absolute lowest-priced rooms.
7. Always require one day's notice for an instant book listing, or if you want to allow same-day booking, switch to booking requests instead.
Paramount Pictures
If you use instant book, require one day's notice for instant. If you want to allow same-day booking at all, set it to require booking requests, not instant. This will save you if you haven't had time to do a turnover when you weren't expecting a guest. —k449711b6f
8. Consider requiring that any potential guests have the verified ID checkmark and a clear picture of them in their profile, so you can recognize them when they show up.
Airbnb will verify that a guest is who they say they are through a simple process, you'll just have to verify your ID first. This just helps everything be on the up and up.
9. Set up a security deposit: it won't cost you bookings, but it could help you if something goes really wrong.
Syfy
Read more about security deposits, and how to add one to your listing.
10. When you do confirm a booking, send a short thank-you note right away, and longer arrival instructions 7-10 days before your guests arrive.
NBC
Via the messaging on Airbnb, of course.
11. Replace the lock your guests will use with an electronic smart lock that you can program with personal codes, so you don't have to worry about keys, ever.
If you have a private front door, get an electronic lock and send each guest a personal code. It's also good if this lock will automatically lock after a period of time, to prevent issues with guests losing or taking keys or leaving your home unlocked. It'll also make it easier to have a flexible check-in time, as you don't need to be there for a key exchange. —k449711b6f
Get a lock has options for all of those features on Amazon for $177.95+ (two styles available, each in two colors).
12. Obviously, keep the space sparkling clean, especially the bathrooms and kitchen.
Hire help if you need to — and pass the cleaning fee onto your guests, if you want! But new guests seeing any evidence of your last guests = not good.
And if you ask guests to clean up after themselves, don't be surprised if you have to touch it up a little. While most people will probably clean up after themselves pretty well, it's still on you to make sure the space is good to go for your next booking.
13. Have a ~complete~ packet or binder with suggestions for stuff to do, restaurants or cafes to check out, and information about your home.
Bryan Gardner / marthastewart.com
I’ve only stayed in two Airbnbs so far, but the best touch I’ve seen was a binder FULL of stuff to do in the town. It had everything from bars and restaurants with their favorites highlighted, to museums and galleries to visit.
—katyk478cb7069
A whole basket of pamphlets of stuff to do, restaurants menus, how to work different appliances, where you can find household appliances.
—gabygay
Plus other practical things like the house rules, where to find more toilet paper, and the Wifi password.
From Martha Stewart.
14. Or go above and beyond with a decked-out dollar-store welcome basket — especially if they're staying with you over a holiday or for a special event.
buzzfeed.com
I can't have people in my home without treating them like friends/family. I get really anxious thinking they won't feel at home and since I'm not there, I go above the call of duty so they have a treat when they check in. I had Americans stay at my place near Ottawa for this summer's big Canada 150 celebrations, and I made a special trip to the dollar store so they could be all kitted out for the big day and experience some Canada-only treat. (The ketchup chips didn't make the picture, but they were there.) —8bookcases
Guests celebrating a wedding anniversary? Give them a bottle of champagne. Family there for Christmas? Have a little wrapped gift for them.
15. If they have kids, consider suggesting fun things nearby that the kids would enjoy specifically, and have board games or other kid-friendly options in your space.
16. Have plenty of spare sheets and extra towels on hand, just in case — and stick to white for the sheets so you can easily bleach out any stains.
Have spare sheets and lots of extra towels. This will make back to back bookings easier because you don't need to wait for everything to be washed and dried.
—k449711b6f
There aren't too many white cotton sheets that can tolerate bleach, but one of our writers swears by these 400-thread count cotton sheets from Target that can; get them for $29.99+ (21 colors available).
17. And protect your mattress with a waterproof cover before a guest spills red wine all over the bed.
If you provide sheets on the beds, invest in some kind of waterproof lining that can go under the sheets without making much noise! That way, if your guests have an accident or make a mess, you don’t have to buy a new mattress, just wash the sheets! I’ve had this happen to me multiple times so I’ve learned my lesson!
—arashpreetg
If you're worried about it the noise, layer it underneath another mattress cover, then put the sheets on top — that may help. Get one that reviewers say doesn't make crinkle noises on Bed Bath & Beyond for $32.99+ (available in sizes twin through king, including twin XL.)
18. When they arrive, use your ~intuition~ to figure out how much they want to talk to you — if at all.
Disney
Assuming you want to greet your guest in person. There are no hard and fast rules here, just that some people will be happy to chat, while others will want to keep to themselves... and sometimes its hard to tell.
19. But when you're walking your guest through the space (or messaging them beforehand), be friendly but clear about your boundaries and expectations — and be specific.
Whether or not they want to make small talk, your boundaries are important — and so is seeming welcoming. For example, if you're sharing your kitchen, say something like, "You're welcome to cook dinner in here, just be sure to wash all of the dishes you use, leave them in the drying rack here, and wipe down the counters with these wipes, please."
Get this rules sign from Rustic Pine Designs on Etsy for $65.
20. If guests break small things like glasses and dishes, don't try to charge them for it — think of it as a cost of doing business.
It was probably an accident, and they're more likely to give you a good review if you don't charge them.
21. Thank your guests at the end of their stay, whether you're communicating in person, on the phone, or via text.
Disney
And if you ask them to text for checkout, do what one reddit user does, and text back: "Thanks for your business. Please consider leaving a positive review, we're going for five stars!"
22. And consider asking for feedback from them, especially if you're new at hosting — "was there anything missing that would've made your stay better?"
US National Archives
23. And remember, even though the guests come and go, this is *your space*.
This is especially true if you're renting out an extra bedroom and sharing your living room + kitchen with them. You can be welcoming, but ultimately your guest is your guest, and you can review them accordingly if they broke rules or did other things you asked them not to do.
If you're thinking about hosting guests in your home or extra space, learn more about it here.
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed
