NEWBIE ALERT

[Angela3507]

Hello everyone.  My name is Angela; I am very new to the AIR BNB hosting.  I would love and am open to any suggestions that will make this as smooth as journey as possible.  Thanks so much...

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Angela3507 first things first - You need a profile picture as guests will want to see who they are dealing with.

[Angela3507]

Thank you sir.

[Joelle43]

Hello @Angela3507 and welcome!

There are lots of great articles done by Airbnb for new hosts and great videos on the net to watch too.  Look at other hosts listings to compare too especially your competitors.

Had a look at your listing - lovely by the way but noticed that your calendar is completely blocked off.  Is this intentional?

Joëlle

[Angela3507]

Hello Joelle!   Thank you so much for bringing this MISTAKE to my attention.  Guess I'm living up to be a NEWBIE..🤣.  I'll correct it NOW!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Angela3507 you have no check out time set so theoretically guests could check out at 23.49 which is not, I am sure, what you want!

Also I am confused re beds/bedrooms. Its nice to see a host not cramming people in but what beds do you actually have in which rooms? Now you have published the listing whole heaps of other stuff can be filled in.

[Angela3507]

Thank you Mike; I am have been making the corrections you suggested.  I will make sure I change the "CHECK OUT TIME".  Thanks again sir; much appreciated.  

[Joelle43]

Hello @Angela3507 

Your calendar is now open for 90 day minimum stay which I imagine is due to local restrictions?

May I suggest Angela that you go back to the list of amenities for your listing as I'm sure there are loads more that you offer - there's even one for hot water!  I did note that you have ticked the box for no heating? Is that correct?

You have a lovely property Angla but I feel that you need a lot more photos  - there is no picture of the bathroom and not enough photos of the 4 bedrooms that you offer.  Comment on the photos as people generally look at the photos and hardly read the description - sad but true😂

Don't hesitate to have a look at what your competitors are offering - always a good way to see if you are competitive and to see how their listing is displayed.

There is so much to learn on hosting on Airbnb and thanks to other hosts on the CC, I learn something new everyday😊

All the best

Joëlle

[Angela3507]

You are truly wonderful.  Thank you so much for taking the time to review my listing; it is heartwarming to have someone that is  "well seasoned", point me in the right direction with such great suggestions.  It is truly appreciated.  I have a question Ms. Joelle, if you don't mind answering.  What is the best rates to set for the EXTRA GUEST, DAILY CLEANING and per day PET CHARGES?

Again, thank you so much; I love the LEADERSHIP.  🙂

[Joelle43]

Hello @Angela3507  it's always a pleasure helping out fellow hosts and especially so when we receive such lovely messages in return so thank you🤗

So I can see that you have been busy as you now have a lot more amenities showing! Great.  A few more pictures too but I still fee like you can still add more😉That second bathroom picture does not show if there is a shower, bath - just doors really and towels hanging.

As there is a 90 day minimum stay, your guests are really going to need as many pictures as possible and a detailed description to be able to establish if your property is a good fit.  If you have a floor plan for example that's a great thing to add.

There are still things that you can do to make your listing more complete - for example there is a section "where you will sleep" and this can show the pictures of the 4 bedrooms.

As for your questions, I would look at what your competitors are charging to establish your pricing.  Bear in mind that a pet fee is for the whole stay and not a nightly fee.  From experience, cleaning after a long term stay takes more time than a shorter stay.  Are you doing the cleaning yourself or have you a cleaning team lined up?

Now that you have gone live, you can go back to your listing and can complete several new sections where you can describe the layout and what makes your house special.  Go onto the listings of the hosts that have replied to you and you will see what I mean.

I have created a wish list of the properties that I deem to be in competition with - you can only do this if you are in guest mode and I regularly go back and check their pricing to be sure that I am correctly positioned.

All the best

Joëlle

[Patricia2526 · Accepted solution]

Hello Angela, 

Here’s what I did when I was new to hosting.

1. Price competitively, especially when you’re just starting out, rate your property a lil lower than your competitors so you can easily get the bookings you need.
2. Write a detailed and accurate description of your listing. Highlight everything your guests need to know about your property.
3. Pay attention to your photos especially the cover photo it’s the primary thing guests notice in search results.
4. Don’t cancel reservations. Airbnb takes cancellations seriously. Learn to manage your calendar, block off dates if you can’t host.
5. Interaction between guests and hosts is important. Make sure you don’t miss any incoming messages. Keep the Airbnb app on your phone and be sure notifications are turned on.
6. Think of delightful touches that you would appreciate if you travelled. Be thoughtful and creative to make your guests happy. 

Join a local Host Club Facebook group to get insider access to Airbnb news, exchange hosting advice, and find out about meetups near you.  they are a great way to crowdsource local information and meet other hosts in your area.

You can find your local club here - https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Local-Host-Clubs/ct-p/en_clubs

Happy hosting!

[Stepharn0]

thanks for the advice.