New Host

[Bob1190]

Aloha, I'm Bob, I'm a new host with a condo in Kihei, HI on the Hawaiian island of Maui. I have just had two guests stay in my condo this month, and this is the beginning of my hosting experiences. So far, so good! I'm enjoying this new experience of how to manage a short term rental. I've been watching several Airbnb videos on how to become a superhost, which is my goal. The previous owner has been hosting this unit on Airbnb for 5 years and has been very successful with mostly 5.0 ratings. I'm trying to follow in her footsteps. She has been extremely helpful in helping me to get started. I may be reaching out to you all on this board with newbie questions. I look forward to participating in this community.

Mahalo

Bob

[Sarah977]

@Bob1190  Glad you are enjoying hosting so far.  But getting Superhost status should not be your goal. That just stresses hosts out, which is the purpose of it- hosts then bend over backwards trying to please a difficult guest who will never be satisfied, let unacceptable behavior continue in terror of saying anything and getting a bad review, etc. 

Your goal should be to get bookings from nice guests who appreciate what you offer, and continue to enjoy hosting. That's what the short term rental business is really about. You don't need to chase the Superhost carrot. You will get it or not, it's no big deal. Hosts who had it and lost it said it made no difference whatsoever to their booking rate.

[Bob1190]

Aloha Sarah, thanks for your reply and the different perspective as an experienced owner. I will heed your advice. I have been having great guests and enjoy the owner/hosting experience. I realize that I can achieve top status by maintaining a great place to visit that is clean, comfy and relaxing. Also, I provide all the necessary info for the guests regarding local info and condo information to enhance their experience.

[Ann30937]

@Sarah977 

I agree with your comment. My lodge went live July this year and all of my guests were really lovely and I got amazing reviews from them all. Whilst it was great to gain my superhost status from the reviews I concentrated on my cleanliness and what to offer each guest before their arrival. Now it’s the quieter months hope I gain great reviews next year. ☺️☺️

[Bob1190]

Thanks for your additional comment Ann!

[Sarah4500]

Hi

I am a bit stressed. I'm new to hosting and had my first guest book a 3 month stay. From her messages I thought she wanted the room for work as she asked about car space but it turns out she is a student with a boyfriend and wants him to stay over. 

I'm having some stress and don't particularly want to rent the room to students. What should I do ?

[Judi959]

@Bob1190 Welcome to you !  I'd love to check out your place some time.  I've been a host out here on the East Coast, at the Jersey Shore, for about 5 years now and have FINALLY reached the Superhost status.  I have found the key is the small details and keeping our home impeccably clean. The location brings people to the home, but what keeps them coming back is the comfort feel once they get there.  Good luck and HMU if you are ever visiting Jersey!

[Bob1190]

Mahalo Judi, thanks for the great tips. I used to be in New Jersey twice a month in the Parsippany, East Hanover and Basking Ridge areas. I was working in research in the Pharma industry for 23 years. I'm now back in California full time. except for when I'm in Hawaii. I will definitely connect with you when I'm back there again. Are you right on the water, or within walking distance?

[Helen3]

Welcome @Bob1190 

I've never tried to achieve SH status but have been a SH since the first quarter on starting five years ago.

If you get good reviews and ratings your SH status will follow easily.

[Colleen253]

@Bob1190 Welcome to the community 😊

I concur with others about ‘Superhost’

Most important thing is to peruse the articles in the Help pages on Airbnb, read all the terms thoroughly, and spend some time here in the community center, learning the ropes. This will save you from making costly mistakes. Best of luck!

[Bob1190]

Thanks for all the very helpful comments, I've been checking our the resources online here and they have been valuable. I will also check on the board for more specific topics of interest. I appreciate the feedback and encouragement, and the welcome!

[M199]

@Bob1190 

Welcome!  Just follow your instincts! Listen to the CC.  I just finished my first year.

Had anyone had told me 2 years ago that I would succeed as an ABB Superhost I would have called them crazy.

The world works in mysterious ways.  Enjoy the journey!

[Kathy1123]

Hello I am also new to hosting and unsure if this is where I introduce myself ?? If it is could you please respond with a confirmation so I can do so properly  id hate to write a whole introduction and find out later that it is in the wrong forum and it was not seen . Thank you 

[Sarah977]

@Kathy1123  It's the right section of the forum. But you could start your own thread by clicking on "Start New Topic" or whatever the wording is, especially if you'd like a critique on your listing. It will be more easily seen like that.

Tip- if you are writing a longish post here, it will often "time out" and when you hit "Post" you get an error message and it disappears into cyberspace. So to avoid that frustration, copy your post before posting it, so if that should happen, you can easily paste it back into a new message box and post it again. It's really irritating to spend 20 minutes composing a post, only to have the whole thing disappear. 🙂

I did have a look at your listing, which looks nice, but you need to make the living situation clear in your description. Make it clear where the apartment is (a separate, private space attached to your house?) and that you are an onsite host who lives in the main house. 

And while you have mentioned the cat and the imminent puppy, it's a good idea to make that more prominent to ward off guests who may be bothered by animals. You'd be surprised how many guests don't bother to thoroughly read the info. Hosts have had guests arrive who then announced they were scared of, or allergic to animals, and tried to demand that the host lock the animal up for the duration of the guest's stay.

Something like, "Please note: there  is a cat and also will soon be a puppy on the property. They do not enter the guest apartment, but if you are fearful of these animals or have allergies, you should book elsewhere."

It's something I also reiterate in my message to guests when they request to book- "I just want to make sure you noticed that I have both a cat and a dog, in case that might be an issue for you." 

Depending on their response, that question also gives me an idea of whether they have actually read through the listing or not. If their response was "Oh, really? I'm kind of afraid of dogs, could you lock it I your space while I'm there?" I know they haven't bothered to read and also that they aren't a good fit for my place.

A response like "Yes, no worries, I saw that. I have 2 dogs of my own, though they won't be traveling with me, so it will be nice to stay somewhere there is a dog and look forward to meeting yours,"  means I can relax.

[Kathy1123]

@Sarah977  

Thank you very much for your advice I will defiantly take it as I want things to go smoothly which brings me to this .

I just joined another conversation about not being verified s as a guest which I noticed this guest here now did not have an email in his verification and has just joined in 2022.

Your precious comment has already wrung true as the guest wants to smoke indoors and I told him no ( he didn’t read the notice I guess)

I asked him to smoke in the enclosed gazebo on the deck and he said he would but he is not complying he said he will stop two  days before check out ,  I told him that is not acceptable . Being such  a new host I do not want a bad review because i want to be a super host as soon as possible .

I’m afraid this man is not going to listen and he will stink  up the unit and then write something unfair and detrimental to my good host status so far . Not sure what to do here does air bnb always post reviews even if they are from an disgruntled guest?

What do you suggest I do . I have an air purifier I could offer him but that seems to accommodating under the circumstances . ??