New user, critique my listing, honest but gentle feedback welcome ;-)

[Nicholas1097]

Listed a week or so ago. We now have 5 bookings for 7 days already. Plenty more enquiries pending, a few tire kickers.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1536222982904351409?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=506a3056-f...

Thoughts?

Nick

[Nicholas1097]

Hi Elisa,

Going good, just working through things.

We got 5 bookings within a few days for 7 stays/total, also plenty of questions from interested guests, so its going well so far, i just want to keep up the momentum and ensure everything looks good from you the more experienced people.

Nick.

[Elisa]

Hi @Nicholas1097 😊, 

Thank you for letting me know, and well done!

I’ve seen so many comments from our hosts, have you implemented anything new in the meantime?

How is it going so far?

[Tom4999]

Wow what a house, I love it. I mean I am jealous. I would burn down my place just to stay a night in yours lol. If I could offer a suggestion (keep in mind I am new to hosting only 5 months). Put that hot tub as one of the first 5 pics, hot tubs sell stays all day. After that I have instant book on and I do not require people to have previous stays. It is working out well for me, most of my guests actually only have 0-2 stays. I find if you have a well finished property people will treat it with respect. Also I could not get a look at the prices but I would recommend to never allow 1 night stays, Party people come for 1 night. Also the hassle and expense of 1 night then a clean on a property that size cannot be worth it. Last tip look at some of Dave Cordner's videos on youtube, he does over £4m per year in Belfast and freely gives advice in every video.

[Cory249]

I second Tom's recommendation on not allowing guests for a single night...

GREAT LISTING!  Nice job!

-Cory

[Oksana127 · Accepted solution]

Great work on getting 5 bookings in your first week — that’s a fantastic start! 🎉 Here are some honest and friendly notes from my  perspective to help sharpen your listing even further:

✅ What’s going really well

The fact you’re getting bookings so early indicates your pricing, availability, and initial presentation are working.

Your home is listed as a “Luxury large detached house in private grounds”, which is a strong value proposition and helps you stand out.

You’re engaging with the community for feedback — that attitude will serve you very well.

🔧 Opportunities for improvement

Photo variety & hero image

-Make sure your cover photo is the absolute “wow” shot: bright, inviting, maybe showing the private grounds or a beautiful interior detail.

Ensure you have clear, high-quality photos of all rooms, bathrooms, the exterior, and the special feature “private grounds”.

If there’s a unique selling point (garden, terrace, view), give it its own image early in the carousel.

-Description & storytelling

Even though the listing describes the house as “luxury” and “private grounds”, you can add why it’s special: is it the quiet location, the gardens, how it feels to wake up there? Connect emotion + function.

Mention nearby attractions or conveniences (e.g., local shops, transport links, countryside walks) so guests see context not just the house.

Clarify for your target guest: families, corporate groups, weekend escapes — this helps them self-select.

-Refine amenities & filters

Double-check all key amenities are ticked (WiFi strength, parking, outdoor space, kitchen specs). These filter into guest searches.

Highlight your “private grounds” and detached nature — many guests in the UK countryside will value privacy and space.

-Pricing & availability strategy

You have momentum: use it to test pricing slightly higher (with justified reasons) or test shorter minimum stay options to capture more weekend bookings.

Keep your calendar fresh and reflect any special availability. Freshness helps with search visibility.

-Guest-experience touches

Since you’ve listed a luxury home, think about experience extras: welcome basket, local guidebook, cozy touches (lights, throw-blankets), maybe outdoor seating. These small extras can boost reviews quickly.

At checkout, invite guests to leave feedback and mention “we’d love your 5-star review if you enjoyed your stay” — early reviews build trust fast.

🎯 Suggested title tweak

Current title is strong, but you might try:
“Luxury Detached House with Private Grounds – Family & Group Friendly (Stafford)“
This emphasises “group friendly” (important for large detached house) and keeps key keywords.

Overall — you’re in a very good position. Getting this many bookings early is a strong signal. If you deepen your story, polish the photos, and refine your guest experience, you’ll likely lock in solid occupancy and reviews.

Keep up the great work and good luck!

[Nicholas1097]

Hi Oksana,

Thanks for the lengthy reply, much appreciated.

I tried to amend the title description, unfortunately i ran out of characters, so have added your suggestion to a sub category. I have also rearranged the photos to highlight the stand out features.

I will test the Wifi and upload the results.

Thanks again.

Nick.

[Oksana127]

That’s great to hear, Nick! Rearranging the photos and adjusting the title are smart moves — they can make a huge difference in how guests perceive your space at first glance.

Testing and sharing your WiFi speed is also a great touch — guests really appreciate knowing they can work or stream comfortably.

You’re doing everything right — keep the momentum going, and your listing will only get stronger!

[David13337]

Hi @Nicholas1097 , I think that your listing is definitively a stand out. The property itself looks absolutely great and the photos were shot with perfect lighting. A few minor points that can get you to perfection: list the wifi speed and specify if it is available throughout the property including the outdoor space; I am not sure about your area, but it could sound unusual that all amenities are provided other than the dryer, especially because this is a luxury stay; I may have missed it but you could elaborate how to go about pets in more details. Reviews are coming your way in no time, good luck with your listing!   

[Nicholas1097]

Hi David,

Thanks for the feedback and kind words, much appreciated.

Ill test the Wifi speed and upload the rsults.

I will also add links to local attractions, as not everyone will know the area well.

Best Regards.

Nick.

[Tara0]

Hi @Nicholas1097 I would delete photos 9-12, very grey toned and unwelcoming. 

Likewise, delete photos 19-20, which are inferior versions of 21 & 23. You don't need 10 photos of every room, just post around  2 of each room, especially on a house this big. Nobody wants to wade through 70+ photos. You should be able to 'sell' it on the basis of 20 photos and a good description. But people look at the photos first. 

I can see that you've mixed two different sets of photos, and one set is really inferior to the other. Get rid of the inferior photos, for a start. 

[Nicholas1097]

Hi Tara,

Thanks for the feedback, I will look at this later today.

Nick.

[Gernide0]

Hey Nick 👋

That’s awesome — 5 bookings already in just a week is a great start! 🎉 Looks like your listing is getting strong traction early on. I had a peek, and the photos and description do a nice job showcasing the space — very welcoming and clear.

A quick tip: since you’re getting lots of inquiries, it might help to set up Instant Book if you haven’t yet, to secure more of those guests before they move on to another place. Also, make sure your calendar and pricing stay updated — early interest like this can be a good sign to slightly raise your nightly rate or set a minimum stay to reduce one-night gaps.

Great work so far — looks like you’re on the right track! 👏

— GeGe

[Bec3748]

What a beautiful property... you've made a wonderful start with your listing! 

Two suggestions.

1. Try to keep your photo descriptions warm and consistent in style across all photos. Use language that highlights atmosphere and experience - not just dimensions or features - so guests can imagine themselves there. It builds warmth and trust and highlights what makes each room feel special. Almost like a guided tour that invites them in. Each photo description should reflect the beauty of the image itself. For example, instead of saying;

"this is taken from the orangery, it is 8m x 4m and overlooking the gardens and water feature, a huge space for relaxing"

you could say something like

"Bathed in natural light, the Orangery spans 8m x 4m and opens onto tranquil gardens and a water feature. With its soaring glass ceiling, warm timber floors and inviting lounge, it is a breathtaking space to unwind, read, or simply soak up the serenity."

2. Try to reduce duplicate angles. You currently have several photos of the dining room taken from the same perspective. Keeping just one or two of the strongest shots will make your listing feel cleaner and help each image standout. 

The place is gorgeous - it's too lovely not to get the photos and descriptions just right 🙂

All the best

Bec 

[Nicholas1097]

Thanks Bec, Ill put some work into this tomorrow.

Nick.