Just posted a listing . Appreciate your comments

[Orlagh1]

Hi I have just published a listing. I am maybe a little premature as it is just complete and we have a few weeks finishing outside but i didn't want to miss Spring / Summer Bookings. I have blocked out until March 21st until I know everything is 100% complete and I will update photos as I go along.

https://www.airbnb.ie/rooms/1224637915288464400?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=5256f047-7d5c...

Looking forward to hearing your comments 

[Cameron447 · Accepted solution]

Hi, Im a newbie to hosting but love your cottage!

[Andrea6232]

Ciao @Orlagh1 ,

Fantastic cottage! If I were you I wouldn't put the listing active until everything is ready, so as to benefit from the grace period that the Airbnb algorithm dedicates to new listings and which lasts a few weeks 😉

good luck!

Andrea

[Amber1016]

I second this! Airbnb will push your listing once it’s live, but only for a few weeks. It has to be near perfect for optimum results.

[Amber1016]

Hi there! Very sweet cottage. My suggestion would be to dive into your listing. The first few sentences should explain why people should book with you, pack a punch and hook the reader. ChatGPT is a great tool for this.

After your intro, I’d list your property highlights— the best parts of your cottage right at the top. Then after property highlights, list each room and the amenities/details of that room. People also like to read in an “F” pattern. Google this for explanation.

Other tips:

—Put plants in the home where you can (real is preferred, but fake is ok too)

—Put a filter on photos to lighten them

—A snack and handwritten thank you card for each guest goes a long way (if you’re managing the property yourself)

Hope this helps! Best of luck!

Amber

[Catherine3503]

Congrats on the listing. You might not like what I am going to suggest if you had professional photos taken. 

You need to reshoot most of your photos and make them horizontal photos instead of vertical. Airbnb's algorithm  doesn't like vertical shots. 

You should have different prices every day of the week. You used 1 week and 1 month discounts however you can set discounts for all stays from 2 days to 2 month stays. 

Rewrite your title and highlight your amenities and/or something that guests come to your area that you are close to. 

Do a general search of Airbnb's near you and then look at filters for that area and it will show you popular amenities guest are looking for and make sure you have them if possible. 

Make sure you have checked every box and/or add information in every section of your listing. The more you fill out and the boxes you toggle on the more the algorithm will like you. 

I agree with the new posting boost so by going live and blocking your calendar immediately is not a good idea. If you can not change this then pause the listing until it is ready.

You did a good job staging your dining room table but put a colorful placement under the setting. Do more staging in your photos such as pots and pans on your stove. Coffee or tea center. 

hope this helps 

[Barry477]

Congrats,

Love the cottage.

I  was very nervous when I started several months ago go, but I have learned a lot in a short period of time 

Overall I am sure you will do well. 

I agree with a good number of the suggestions you already received.

1. Retaking some.photos and there brightness. Eye catching and attention to the highlight details of your home.

2. Repost it as a place that accommodates 4. 

3. Also make sure you are specific with your rates for a 5th person.( you are providing a additional service to provide a sleeping area for a 5th person.) 

4Also a reminder for them to register all guest prior to arrival. 

5. Edit down the Hallway and door photos ( although I do like the Bath door pic)

6. Re write the post and add a bit more descriptive language 

7. Make sure you update photos to current to align withe season and calendar 

Don't be afraid to be very specific with house Rules, charges for violating house Rules and also charges for additional accommodations for services. Guest dont like surprises in there cost. 

Cheers and Goodluck

[Carolyn31]

It is beautiful. 

Here are the things that would improve your listing for me as a traveller:

Either add air conditioning or make note of why AC isn't needed in the summer.

Add a washing machine and dryer.

Remove all the checkout requests. As a host with a ton of checkout requests, I discovered that the requests were inconsistently followed and it did not impact what my cleaning crew charged me. As a traveller, I have come to really appreciate hosts who ask me to lockup but otherwise, just checkout on time.

[Amanda2723]

Great to  e meet you Orlagh

Lovely property and listing.

My feedback and recommendations are as follows:

worth changing the title and going for something more punchy and appealing. You are missing an opportunity. Have a look at Airbnb examples to give you some ideas and inspire you 

maybe lose some of the Christmas tree photos as you are aiming for spring and  summer bookings now. Perhaps just leave one Xmas tree photo with the log burner 

go for new listing promotion designed to help new hosts 

include some photos of a welcome pack showing the effort and extra mile you go to for your guests

I personally wouldn’t go live until everything was in place. Work can take longer than anticipated and could result in you having to cancel bookings and let guests down.

Airbnb put a lot of effort in showcasing new listings and supporting new hosts, worth waiting until you can showcase your property at its' best

I have every confidence your property will be a great success, just worth a little tweak here and there to make it really tiptop

All the best

Amanda

[Alexandra85]

Suffice it to say I will never host again on this or any other short term property platform -- All guest has to do is give a valid ID to gain access to your property. And, all of your property if you live there - this platform takes over your own home and all of your property, too. Too dangerous, too much risk, hosts can lose their valuable property. Believe me when I say be very wary, carry additional insurance, and find another way to earn income from your valuable rental - read media accounts of vacation properties being used for drug parties, manufacturing bombs, and drugs with little support from cheap support staff, resolutions slow to get help and pay if at all. they delay, delay, delay and deny, deny, deny. No  income in meantime - even post damages. Get local short term rental company that is immediately available for assistance - esp if you have a guest for 30 days or more. Guests have priority over hosts.

[Brisa40]

I would highly recommend that you use the price "Discounts" suggested by AirBnB. It will help you obtain more bookings, this suggestion is based on your area. It has worked for me amazingly! 

[Carina354]

Hi Orlagh! 

What a job you have done!  The cottage looks really neat and well finished. 

I second the opinions about not adding the listing untill you are ready, we missed out by closing the calendar in our beginning. 

i have a few suggestions, from my point of wiew.

I would love to see some brighter pictures from outside and the suroundings, i scrolled right by them- with a feeling thinking i missed out a bit.

Add some vibrant ones, maybe from different seasons if you have some?

There is a lot of door pictures, by door i mean i see a door in the picture, that "takes away the whole room". Make sure you clip some of them out and maybe add window wiew,  and then the pictures have to be fairly right angled.

I would change the first photo, your head photo to the one with only the door or take a new one from further away and use as your header.

Like the picture from before renovating!

Add that picture to the wall in thr house and not in you listing.

The place looks stunning but the scenery should come out more.

In the pictures i would love it if you added some flowers or books maybe, in the windows or other places.

Read your descreption of the place a second time, change what you dont love and dont use the *** . Use bigger words for your description ABOUT the place, and dont get stuck in the explaining what to do or how so much, a few tips of nearby area is nice.

Make short but strict house rules , guests dont read everything if its to long. 

Add a printed house book instead for them to open if they have questions!

Hope it goes well, the place sells itself by the looks of it, a fairytale place 😊 

Greetings from the north

Carina