I used to run an Airbnb. Here are a list of easy to implement tips and tricks that I learned which you can also use to help run your Airbnb business!
Sending a welcome message is a very simple yet effective strategy to help you achieve that 5 star review! In fact, it is one of the most important communications with your guest because you set a precedent for their stay and establish a first impression.
The simplest way to get your message through is directly through the messaging service within the Airbnb app.I would suggest you to save few templates to be able to streamline this task!
Airbnb also has a scheduled messaging service which you can use to send messages to your guest upon check-in or. But I would caution to not only rely on this feature as some guests do arrive early and it is not uncommon for guests to forget to confirm check-in on the app when they arrive.
Hi {guestname},
Welcome to my home! Thank you again for choosing my Airbnb for your stay in {cityname}. I hope that you are satisfied with your experience so far.
I am aiming to earn a 5 star review from you so please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns! You can reach me through the Airbnb app or at {your phone number} in emergencies.
Please review the house rules and guide for how to use the amenities and check out my city guidebook for things to do. You can find this in the booking on the Airbnb app {or location if physical guidebook}.
....{additional important information about your Airbnb}
Thank you and enjoy your stay!
{yourname}
Most condominiums have rules on maintaining a uniform exterior look across all housing units. This means that as a condo owner, you cannot just go and upgrade your lock without first seeking approval or guidance from your condo management.
This presents a challenge to Airbnb and short term rental hosts who want to automate their check-in process. We have all seen the stories of guests going on scavengers hunt just to find a lock box hidden somewhere in a park or back alley.
There are smart locks which don't require you to change any of the ascetics on the exterior or the deadbolt. You won't need to get a new key and will still be in full compliance with your condo management!
I have personally used the August Home WiFi Smart Lock (Amazon) to manage my guest check-ins and just for regular home use. Make sure you check the compatibility of your whichever smart lock you use you first. You can use my affiliates link to find the product on Amazon here.
The August lock replaces the back plate on the interior of the door and latches onto the existing deadbolt. Once the physical installation is complete, you can pop in the batteries and connect to it via Bluetooth.
Once you are able to set up your WiFi connection and home network, you can remotely control your lock from your phone.
I always recommend to automate your check-in process and ensure that it is both smooth and secure. With strict condominium rules and guidelines, not all smart locks are an option. Make sure you check for all the alternative solutions!
Whether you want to invest in travel size toiletries or bulk sized supplies depends on how you are running your business. It also depends on your target customer demographic and their preferences. There are a few key factors to weigh to determine which option would be preferable for your business!
Travel sized toiletries will cost more, you will need to find a supplier where you can order in bulk and receive the shipments on time. If you are relying on your local pharmacy to stock up on your supplies, costs will rack up very quickly.
The travel size toiletries definitely have a better aesthetic appeal and allows you to easily customize your presentation. With that said, if you buy in bulk you can still customize your aesthetics with your own dispensers.
There is no doubt that having a fresh untouched bottled of shampoo and hand soap to yourself is far cleaner than sharing a bottle or dispenser that was used by previous guests.
If you are offering travel sized toiletries, you will need a secure storage space where you can quickly turnover new ones between guests. With bottled shampoo, you need to make sure to give it a quick and thorough cleaning between each guest.
Miniature sized supply items means a lot of waste in terms of packaging. If that is something you value, make sure to take that into consideration.
I'm going throw a curve ball and suggest to PROVIDE BOTH! Provide both single use and regular sized toiletries for your guest. What I found is that you can appeal to different types of guests by giving them the option to choose.
Won't it cost more and result in more work? Not necessarily, what I found was that very few guests (only 1 in 4) ended up using the travel sized items at all. This may be different depending on your location and the type of accommodations you are offering (most of my guests were couples renting out an entire unit for 2-3 days in a busy and accessible city).
When you are running your own Airbnb business, mishaps are inevitable. But this doesn't necessarily mean you need to get a lower rating from the guest review.
A common story I've heard from Airbnb hosts is that once in a while they may have an issue with a guest check-in. This might result in the guest taking an extra 20 minutes before they are finally able to enter the front door and feeling frustrated. The host might later decide to go greet the guests personally with a bag of goodies and apologize for the difficulty with the check-in.
Although this is a great way to remedy a bad situation, it can also be quiet time consuming. A good solution is to set up a hands off strategy to handle these situations and manage your unexpected costs. Think of your plan as an insurance policy against potential customer dissatisfaction and that you can budget for.
One simple and easy example that you can implement without needing to physically meet your guest is to set up a secure box within your Airbnb unit and store a few bottles of inexpensive wines (that can last). If at any time you need, instruct the guest about how to access the box to take one of the wines to make up for any inconveniences. This is a very low cost and low effort way of turning a negative situation upside down.
Once you set this up, estimate how many times you might need to resolve an issue. If this is happening once every 10 guests and you are replenishing your inventory with $10 items, it is only costing you an extra $1 per booking.
Do remember that not all guests will response the same. Sometimes no matter what you do to try to remedy a situation, you will just not be able to get that 5 star review. That is perfectly fine because you are still improving your score on average from all the other guests at minimal costs.
