Listing critique

[Daniel15380]

I have listed my 1 bed flat yesterday which is between London and Stansted airport and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to improve the listing for maximum engagement please?

Also do you know how long it would likely be until I receive my first booking?

Appreciate any input! Thanks!

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1571155598108597496?search_mode=regular_search&adults=1&check_in=2026...

[Listing photo added by OCM]

[Marie8425]

@Daniel15380 

It can take 48 to 72 hours to ap;ear in the Airbnb Search.  Don't panic yet it gives you time to make some minor tweals.

Beautuful apartment very outstanding.

Pictures  Add seperate pictures of your table in the Dining Room Folder.  Place to have a dining arae is important.

Exterior your pictures look like common areas but the amenities list private patio and seating  Take pictures.

Amenties, list everythunf you do include essentials and you have a bedroom closet so rhar is clothes storage.

The Airbnb Platform gives you 5 pages for a listing fill it out.

Use the Airbnb New Listing Discount Airbnb promotes.

[Paula]

Hello @Daniel15380, welcome to Airbnb and to the Community Center! 😊

What a beautiful property you have. I added one picture of it to your post to draw more attention from our hosts.I hope that’s okay with you. Did you take the photos yourself, or did you hire a professional photographer?

I’m tagging some hosts here to see if they would like to share their opinions and suggestions on your listing:

@Laëtitia-Stephy0 @Alex14140 @Elise43 @Denise1657 and @Andrea9241 

Thank you everyone.

[Andrea9241]

Dear @Daniel15380 

First of all congratulations to post your first listing on airbnb.

I will be glad to give you some tips: 

- the description of your place it s a short and you insist a little about the fact that you are close to the airport which Is wonderful but do not forget to explain all the details of your house and which kind of experience your guests will have by choosing your property.

- for the first 5/10 reviews i suggest you to use the Airbnb new listings promotions after when you have a strong name and possible over 4.8 ratings you can raise up more the price and work on the calendar.

- check constantly your listing and sometimes change your cover photo to give also a little boost to the Airbnb algoritm.

This Is my personal opinion of course i don t know your area so it s what i will do in your shoes.

Thank you for sharing your listing with us.

Best regards 

Andrea 

[Elise43]

Hi @Daniel15380 

You’ve gotten some great advice here so far! I wanted to emphasize the importance of the written listing description. I mentor new hosts for Airbnb’s SetUp program, and it’s rare for me to see a new hosts who takes full advantage of the power of completely filling out the description— thoroughness is a key to long term success in this platform. 

Sometimes new hosts don't realize that the more photos and information you provide, the more likely you are to get booked. Potential guests really want to be able to imagine what it would be like to stay there, so rich descriptions of your property and the neighborhood and its attractions makes a big difference. I tell my hosts that you're selling your neighborhood as well as your listing-- and this is especially true for the many potential guests who are just looking for a cool spot to visit-- they may not know exactly where they want to go, and you have an opportunity to explain why your spot is worth visiting.

Here's some more information about beefing up your listing description: https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/sprucing-up-your-listing-description-13

I hope this is helpful— Good luck! 

Warmly,

Elise 

[Laëtitia-Stephy0]

cher @Daniel15380  et chère @Paula ,

je suis ravie de vous partager mon avis.

Tout d'abord félicitations et bienvenue parmi nous.

1/ Sais tu que tu peux bénéficier gratuitement de l'Aide d'Un ambassadeur Superhost AIRBNB pour t'aider à créer et booster ton annonce, cela favorise l'arrivée des premiers voyageurs.

C'est très utile. J'utilise ce coup de pouce pour aider mes camarades qui débutent.

N'hésites pas à l'utiliser aussi :

https://www.airbnb.fr/rp/lpaci?p=stay&s=76&unique_share_id=1b499844-731c-405d-8a2b-df59a5eb081a

2/ Tes photos sont lumineuses. c'est une atout.

3/ Je recommande aux nouveaux venus d'ajouter au minimum 3 photos de sites touristiques qui se trouvent à proximité et d'indiquer en légende le nom et la distance en temps, à pied ou en voiture ou en transports en commun (stade de foot ....de .... à 10 minutes en voiture de la maison ou bien à 6 stations du métro 12 ).

Les voyageurs vont louer un hébergement mais vont avoir besoin de savoir ce que dormir ici va leur apporter durant leur séjour. 

Pour moi : 2 photos de la chambre, prises en angles opposés suffiraient et permettraient à ton annonce de ne pas être trop lourde à charger. Pour un appartement de ce type, 15 photos maximum est un bon standard.

Il est très utile que l'annonce soit rapidement chargée sur un téléphone portable ou un ordinateur, sinon le voyageur passe à la consultation d'une autre annonce. Je dirai qu'on doit avoir le coup e coeur sur les 3 premières photos.

4/ Le self check in est généralement apprécié, bravo.

5/ J'aurai une recommandation au regard de ton profil, la photo de profil est positive et engageante et c'est une bonne première impression.

En revanche la seule information que tu partages est "Lives in London, United Kingdom".

Airbnb te permet de partager avec tes futurs voyageurs quelques informations personnelles de ton choix : tes études, ton métier, tes centres d'intérêt, une anecdote...

Ne t'en prives pas, c'est un excellent ice breaker qi tu rencontres tes voyageurs.

Et même si tu ne les rencontres pas, les voyageurs apprécient beaucoup le partage.

Pour te partager mon expérience, dès que j'ai amélioré cette rubrique cela m'a permis de recevoir des voyageurs qui partagent les mêmes centre d'intérêts pour l'Art, c'était super !

6/ Hey ! tu as le wifi, encore un atout. Peut être que tu peux mettre en évidence un espace qui peut être dédié au télétravail (bureau et chaise, petit carnet et stylo, espace libre pour un ordinateur avec lampe de bureau ? Une photo de ce type d'espace est un grand plus.

Bon je pourrai écrire des heures, bienvenue, n'hésites pas si tu as des questions.

@ bientôt sur Airbnb.

Laëtitia à Carcassonne, France

---

Dear  @Daniel15380   and dear  @Paula  ,

I am delighted to share my opinion with you.

First of all, congratulations and welcome to our team.

1/ Did you know that you can benefit from the free help of an Airbnb Superhost ambassador to help you create and boost your listing, this encourages the arrival of the first travelers.

It's very useful. I use this boost to help my friends who are just starting out.

Feel free to use it too:

https://www.airbnb.fr/rp/lpaci?p=stay&s=76&unique_share_id=1b499844-731c-405d-8a2b-df59a5eb081a

2/ Your photos are bright. That's an asset.

3/ I recommend that newcomers add at least 3 photos of nearby tourist sites and indicate in the caption the name and the distance in time, on foot or by car or by public transport (football stadium ....of .... 10 minutes by car from the house or 6 stops from metro line 12).

Travellers will rent accommodation but will need to know what sleeping there will bring them during their stay. 

In my opinion, two photos of the room, taken from opposite angles, would be enough and would prevent your listing from being too large to load. For an apartment like this, 15 photos maximum is a good standard.

It's very helpful if the listing loads quickly on a mobile phone or computer; otherwise, the traveler will move on to another listing. I'd say you should be immediately drawn to it by the first three photos.

4/ Self check-in is generally appreciated, well done.

5/ I have a recommendation regarding your profile; the profile picture is positive and engaging, and it makes a good first impression.

However, the only information you share is " Lives in London, United Kingdom".

Airbnb allows you to share some personal information of your choice with your future guests: your studies, your job, your interests, an anecdote...

Don't miss out, it's an excellent icebreaker if you meet your travelers.

And even if you don't meet them, travelers greatly appreciate the sharing.

To share my experience with you, as soon as I improved this section it allowed me to receive travelers who share the same interests in Art, it was great!

6/ Hey! You have Wi-Fi, another plus. Perhaps you could highlight a space that could be dedicated to remote work (desk and chair, small notebook and pen, free space for a computer with a desk lamp?). A photo of this type of space would be a big plus.

Well, I could write for hours, welcome, don't hesitate if you have any questions.

See you soon on Airbnb.

Laëtitia in Carcassonne, France

[Google translation added by OCM]

[Denise1657]

@Daniel15380 I will tag onto what others have said. 

Listing description:

First - if you are close to the train station, are you in Harlow?  I might even mention that in your title.

Above you focused on location to airports and your listing promotes the proximity of the train station.  Why is your place special?  Are you looking for site-seers coming to London or are you fulfilling a local need like people visiting for weddings/reunions/family gatherings.   

It sounds like you are "in a quiet neighborhood outside of London.  Enjoy the fabulous sites that are a quick train ride away and enjoy your own home away from home while visiting"

London visitors:  It sounds like the train station is the "key" to your pull for site-seers.  List those attractions that the Harlow Train can get you to quickly and efficiently.

and here's a google drop to SHORTEN UP for your potential guests to say - wow this is perfect!  

• London (Liverpool Street Station): Direct access to central London for tourist attractions, theatres, and city life.
• Cambridge: Direct access to the historic university city.
• Stansted Airport: Direct, fast connections for air travel.
• Local Harlow Sites:
  • Sculpture Town: Over 100 public art pieces, including works by Henry Moore.
  • Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens: Exhibits on local history from the Iron Age.
  • River Stort & Town Park: Scenic riverside walks and large green spaces.
• Regional Towns: Connections towards Bishop's Stortford, Cheshunt, and through to Southend-on-Sea. 

Pictures:

As Marie stated, the more is better.  Your pictures are like a walk through.  Example she provided was dining:  show the picture you have and then have one with the benches pulled out, possibly even with a table setting.  Step through your rooms with the pictures.  And definitely show how you get to the balcony - off the bedroom, kitchen, main living area?

- show an exterior of the entire building and let people know what floor you are on.  (Is there an elevator if needed?)

My own questions:

Kitchen - does it have a fridge/freezer?

TV - what kind of services are provided or streamed?  

Washer was listed - is it a washer/dryer combo?  

(I could also write for a few hours and I see others have posted more)  so I will stop there.  

Good luck!  We are all here to help you more if you have further questions!!

[Paula]

Hello @Daniel15380, There are so many great suggestions from the amazing hosts in this conversation. Which one are you planning to implement first?

It would be great if you could let us know the outcome after you’ve made some adjustments.

Kind regards,