Every Host should be a guest

[Letamnin0]

To all Hosts

"If my dentist does not take good care of his teeth, he cannot be my dentist and I will not refer him."

If your guest receive excellent service, they will refer.  Couple of my customer did that on their social media.  

My experience as a guest!  I do not drink coffee so I have no need for a coffee maker.  I communicated it to the host and he did not care.  A hot water kettle cost around $20 and I was staying at his place for four or five days.  As a host I would go and get an electric kettle.  So it's not encouraging to be a guest on Airbnb.  I recommend every host to be a guest so that they can have their experience on both side.

[Bettye6]

I agree with what you said @Letamnin0  though I try to not just think of my needs and realize that every guest has what makes their stay meet their won personal expectations.

With that in mind I must agree, a kettle for hot water is a must, though I also realize that there are coffee drinkers and a cup of coffee in the morning means so much as well. Every hotel gives you a small coffee pot for that morning java.

I spent the $ to get a Keurig wit the K-cups at hand and I must say my guest love it. I myself just have a coffee pot but it seemed a waste to make whole pot of coffee if one only wants a cup or 2.

I kept a book when I first started that said COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS. Not really a lot of suggestions, but for those who did take the time to write out a suggestion still gave me great reviews, even though I did not fully meet their customer experience nor expectations. I utilized their comments and thanked them for it as well with I did my private note in my reviews of those particular guests.

I now long have that book in the apartment as I have come a long way and the use of that book upstairs I felt really helped to get me to a great start.

Your advice is right on, be not just a host but a guest too. I learned so much as being a guest and modeled my AirBnB of though personal experiences.  

[Letamnin0]

Hi Betty,

Thanks for your response.  Comments and suggestions book is a great idea.  I ask most of my guest to give me their input, then I make a note of it and that's another way to engage them in a conversation.  Base on guest personality, I asked if they were a host what would they do different or what I can incorporate. 

My next step is to ask if they would like to be a host. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Bettye6 The only downside of a comments book is that some guests consider they have left their review and hence don't leave one where you need it most (ie online). We removed our book fairly quickly once this became apparent.

[Bettye6]

I have over 30 reviews & has that never happened to me. I also asked in my check out instructions to leave reviews & that has worked for me. Plus I am very quick to leave reviews & AirBnB platform reaches out to guest quite frequently to get their review in. 
AirBnB surely knows & it’s most likely part of their algorithms who follows the rules. Leaving reviews is one of them most likely. 
About 1/2 of my stays as a guest have a guest book. I even gave one to a very nice host as a gift. We are now social media friends & several years later she commented she bought another as the one I gave filled quickly. 

My Check Out Instructions:

When checking out we only ask that you place any used towels in basket in the bathroom and leave the bed(s) un-made.   

If you used the key please place it back on the welcome sign just outside the living room door.

You realized you left something behind? Reach out to me ASAP and I will leave what was left on the outside stairs as you walk in or other arrangements can possibly be made. 

Please take the time to leave a review through AirBnB. 

That is part of the algorithm that AirBnB utilizes to keep me hosting and you booking. You review me and I review you. It’s a win-win!

HAVE A VERY SAFE TRIP HOME AND PLEASE COME AGAIN!

[Letamnin0]

I love ❤️ your ✔️ out information.

[Bhumika]

Hi @Letamnin0, Very intriguing discussion! I'm certain many hosts, being travellers themselves, use their own travel experiences to enhance their guest's experiences and listings.

I recall asking our host,@Mike-And-Jane0, a similar question in this comment thread, and we discussed how the Host's own guest experiences influence changes to the listing. He shared some fantastic small tweaks he made based on his own guest experience.

I would like to ask this question to @Bettye6 and @Letamnin0 as well on how they think of it: Which is the most important decision you took for your listing based on your own experience as a guest? 

[Bettye6]

Hi Bhumkia, 

Thank you for respecting an insight from me & I’m adding again more though. I apologize ahead for any repeats. 
I have several that I personally dealt with @ other AirBnBs

-Impeccably clean (I clean myself to ensure that my place is pristine.  
-Leave lots of different toiletries from toothbrushes, nail files, toothpaste & brushes, razors, shampoo/condition, body wash, toothpicks, floss, etc.

-Clutter clutter everywhere ( I keep me place free of unnecessary clutter of course not including decorations)

-being unable to find things ( I lable drawers, light switches , closets, plus made a comprehensive House Rules Book that answers everything I could think of plus add to it as questions arise.

-I have cope of instructions to any appliance I have, plus how to work heat/A/C, etc. 
-I leave updated newsletters & my town calendar on what’s happening in my town 

-I leave cans of soup, oatmeal, granola bar, fresh fruit of the season, an eclectic mix of provision for the weary travel who checks in late & restaurants are closed or where the can have a quick light breakfast if they are off to a busy day 

-Leave plenty if bottled water. My tap water is tripled filtered & tested by my city but it seems the majority of people want bottled watered.

-Keurig with a mixture of coffee & a large variety of flavored creamers. These are used a lot

This is just a few things that other AirBnB didn’t supply & my feedback have been very positive thus far.  Feel free to message me directly if you would like more suggestions & good luck.  
 

[Letamnin0]

Honestly, my experience was not good, so I book hotels now.  I am afraid of host terror.  Airbnb did nothing about it.  

My first booking as a guest, the room advertised was not available plus more.  However, the host was receptive to correction so I let it slide.  

My second booking was outrageous, I made reports-s-s-s with pictures and ask for partial refund.  Nothing happened.  I do know that was not Airbnb standard.

[Gwen386]

@Letamnin0 I agree with you. And we hosts also need to listen to guests. Two things occurred during my hosting. I think it was my very first guests. It was two 70-ish female friends planning to stay a weekend. She asked the length of my couch because one of them would sleep there. Silly me for only thinking about couples and not singles. However, I knew I didn’t want anyone using my couch as a bed so I immediately purchased a daybed and mattress. Now, I know I was very lucky to have the space in my rental to add this, but if I had not, I would have changed my listing to single or couples only. The two ladies were really excited when they arrived about having two beds in the unit, which also offered privacy for each. 

Then another guest asked if I provided a water kettle, which I did not. But, I went on Amazon and purchased one for $14. 

Since I was and still am new to hosting, there are all kind of things hosts can learn from guests.