Critique my listing - Morgan - Surfside beach, SC

[Morgan851]

Hey! 

We are new to hosting and have not received many booking yet, I was wondering if anyone has any advice on our listing?

airbnb.com/h/southerncomfort22

Thank you!

[Emilie]

Hi @Morgan851, 

Welcome to the community centre, it's great to have you with us! How have your first few bookings gone so far?

I wanted to tag in a few of our hosts who might have some advice for you: @Andrea6232 @Marisa182 @Cheri354 @Muslim4 @Joe771 @Bettye6 @Bea2137, I hope you don't mind me bringing you into this conversation - do you have any feedback for Morgan?

Thanks everyone for your help 🙂

Emilie 

[Morgan851]

Hi Emilie! 

Thank you so much! Our first booking arrives in about a week!

[Andrea6232]

Ciao @Morgan851 ,

I see you are near the sea maybe presently it is not high season?

The photos are fine, I saw that you set 2 nights as a minimum, maybe try to set (at least initially) 1 night.

Also a more flexible cancellation policy could help.

And make some discounts, then once you have some good reviews you can change things.

good luck!

Andrea

[Morgan851]

Hi @Andrea6232 

Thank you so much I will definitely change to allow one night stays and I will look into changing the cancellation policy.

[Bettye6]

Welcome Morgan to our community group! Excellent way to network.

Your place looks lovely. I'm a tad confused as it says hosted by Elizabeth though your name is Morgan.? As a potential guest that would be a major red flag for me. I would have your profile match your listing.

Completely agree with @Andrea6232 with the exception of putting towels, soap, etc. up in your bathroom pictures. Seems obvious but I frequently have read where hosts do not provide towels. We can tick off things on the listing that we offer but for me the average traveler doesn't even look.

I would show pictures of your kitchen stocked with what one would need to cook a meal.

I suggest not to use bunkbeds. When traveling with more than 2, I know of few adults that like to sleep in  a single. I have 2 queen bedrooms and offer the couch (very comfy) as a 5th spot for guests, charging $25 extra per day. (linens labeled and provided for such use)

I offer the most flexible cancelation plan, only offer discounts of 10% -7 days and 20% for 28 days

Try to give guests what they might need. Example, I had a 7 day guest inquire if I had a French press. I didn't, had one delivered overnight through Amazon and my guest was thrilled. It has been used frequently since, well worth the $20 investment. I initially had a comment book asking my guests to help me with suggestions for my new venture. I stopped utilizing the comment book after about 6 months as I received many and utilized the requests made. I found those little extra 'suggestions' have been noted in my reviews from other guests.

Offer 1 night stays and that has proven a good thing for me.

.

Don't get over whelmed. You are definitely headed in the right direction!

Best of luck,

Bettye

[Morgan851]

Hi @Bettye6 

Thank you! I am the cohost of Elizabeth - I am the smaller picture next to her on the booking page.  I see how this can be confusing but I am not sure how to change it as she is the owner and I just run the communications. I will definitely look into getting new pictures taken that showcase the amenities and I will change to allow 1 night bookings, thank you so much! We will also look into single beds down the line.

[Bettye6]

Hi @Morgan851,

Congratulations on your first booking!

I didn't even see the smaller picture on the booking page. Yes, I would get that changed to hosted by Elizabeth and Morgan with our pictures together.

Kia gave sound advice as well, give his suggestions great consideration especially with reference to so many people. 

Hope you have a very happy holiday season,

Bettye

[Kia272]

@Morgan851 The biggest mistake that new hosts make is too high a capacity. There is absolutely no reason to cram 8 guests into this condo. You even noted in your (very short) description that you'll allow up to 10 if they bring their own air mattress? Yikes! 

You have a dining table that seats 4. You have a living room that might seat 5 comfortably. Why on earth would you invite the extra wear and tear of having 8-10 people in this space? You're charging the same amount for 2 guests or 10 guests, so there's no monetary advantage. This property is not meant to accommodate 8 or 10 guests comfortably. You'll get college students or young people who will cram 10 friends in there and trash the place. 10 people at $195/night = $19.50/night per person. Think about it. 

Use the captions feature with your photos, and expand your description a bit. Good luck.