Newbie feedback needed😊 (listing feedback)

[Linda4721]

Hi there, 

We have thought hard and long  about opening our family home in Goa to guests. It’s been a tough one but have finally listed it and now hoping for the right guests who will love and respect our home as much as we do 😊

I am aware that more needs to be done and better photos need to be uploaded, but we would love your initial response to our listing. 
Thank you so much.

Lin

🌟 Listing link: Home in Vaneli · ★New · 3 bedrooms · 4 beds · 3 baths

[Content modified by OCM]

[Karen4131]

Hi @Linda4721 

From a guest's perspective, I am really happy that you have chosen to list your house on Airbnb. It's simply the dream of Goa or India for a tourist!

I backpacked in Goa when I was younger and stayed uncomfortably in a bungalow on the beach 🙂 But if I were to return now as a "much older" person :-), your house would be exactly what I would choose for my family and myself. The photos sell themselves very well. It looks luxurious, clean, and inviting.

Of course, you could consider taking some pictures in full sunlight with lots of blue sky, but there is also something special about the slightly misty monsoon atmosphere that makes the place attractive, so keep a few of them. - However, I hear you are already considering updating your photos, which sounds great, and using one of these as a cover photo, as I think they would sell really well.

There are, however, many other things you should consider if you want to ensure that your listing appears among the first when people search on Airbnb in your area. If you're interested in me going into more detail about this, reply to this thread, and I'll elaborate further.

There may also be more good suggestions for optimization from the community in the coming days.

Best regards,
Karen

[Linda4721]

Hi @Karen4131Thank you so much for this feedback. It is very encouraging and helpful. Yes.. we have stayed in some very interesting places in India over the years😅
Yes please to any other advice you may have. 
Thank you so much.

Linda

[Quincy]

Hi there @Linda4721, I've added a tag with Karen's  name to your comment. To tag someone, tap "@" and select the host's username from the dropdown menu. This way, they will receive a notification 😊

[Linda4721]

Thank you

[Karen4131]

Hello again @Linda4721 

The first thing I do is check how a listing ranks compared to other similar listings in the area. It’s crucial to aim for a spot on the first few pages of the 25 pages and 300 listings that Airbnb shows for any given search. Currently, your listing is being boosted because it’s “*New,” but this boost doesn’t last forever, so it’s something to keep in mind in the long run. (And it’s something you have a lot of control over if you work strategically on it.)

Firstly, I’d like to reiterate that your family property has all the potential to become a great success because it truly “has it all.” Architecturally, it’s a fantastic house with a sleek, luxurious interior, a pool, etc., so you just need to understand what will ensure a good position on Airbnb in the long term. I have put together a list of key points to consider below:

1. Cancellation Policy: I see you’ve chosen a strict cancellation policy, which is reassuring for hosts as it secures bookings. However, guests on Airbnb, Hotels.com, etc., have become accustomed to the flexibility of canceling closer to the arrival date. Many guests hesitate to book a place with a strict cancellation policy. Airbnb's search algorithm takes this into account, so having a strict policy might negatively impact your ranking.
   
   

2. Instant Booking: I'm not sure if you’ve enabled "Instant Booking," but if not, consider doing so. Airbnb offers an option where only guests with good reviews can book instantly, while others must request to book. This is also said to improve your ranking.
   
   

3. Photos: Your photos should be high-resolution, bright, and of the real estate quality you often see in property listings. Your current photos are already attractive, partly because your place is so appealing. However, I would suggest brightening them up, hiring a professional photographer to retake them, and ensuring that 75% are taken on bright, sunny days. Also, make sure to include captions and visual descriptions for all your photos.
   
   

4. Description: It’s said that the Airbnb algorithm favors longer descriptions. Make sure to fill out all the sections, including "Listing Description," "Your Property," "Guest Access," and "Other Details," which together form the description guests see. Ensure you complete ALL fields in the Airbnb listing panel. This can give you a ranking advantage.
   
   

5. Pricing: In the beginning, it’s very smart to price slightly below the market level, both to rank higher on Airbnb and to attract guests who can leave 5-star reviews. Once you start receiving good reviews, you can begin to raise the price to market level and eventually above if you’re doing exceptionally well. Consider using Airbnb’s option to create special offers as well—this can also boost your listing’s visibility.

These are five important tips. If you really want to dive deep into how to improve your visibility on Airbnb, try Googling “How to beat the Airbnb search algorithm” or something similar. There are plenty of great suggestions on how to improve your listing, and it’s worth the effort since not everyone takes these steps. This will give you a competitive edge.

Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions. I’m a relatively new host myself, but I’ve managed to rank highly and receive excellent reviews by researching how to “do everything right” on Airbnb. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this continues, but I’ve been surprised at how much you can influence your success with the right strategies.

Best of luck with everything!

Best regards,
Karen

[Linda4721]

I shall attempt to accomplish all of these things :). Thank you so much Karen.  You are a very kind, helpful lady.

Let’s see if I can crack this 🙂

Linda

[Karen4131]

You are welcome @Linda4721  🙂

[Lorna73]

You've just started with Airbnb and as you say have thought long and hard about sharing your home, and I am sure it's a decision that will bring you lots of reward and freedom. However as newbie to the platform (there's lots to learn I made lots of mistakes when I first started) I would at first be cautious about instant booking, dip your toe first with full control on who you accept into your home, get to know and understand the platform, how support works etc.  With instant booking it is exactly that - the property is available the guests books and its automatically confirmed, without any input from you the host.  You don't know anything about the guest until  after the booking is confirmed and if you see something in a the guests reviews that makes you uncomfortable  you have to have a very good reason to cancel without penalty from the Airbnb platform.

[Karen4131]

Hi @Lorna73  and @Linda4721 

I understand the concerns surrounding instant booking, but I have chosen the “good track record” option, which provides an extra layer of security, as shown in the image below.

I trust my fellow hosts to provide some level of assurance that a guest is reliable.

Of course, there are no guarantees that a guest will adhere to every specific set of house rules.

However, Airbnb’s mutual review system is a significant advantage compared to traditional rental methods, where guests and hosts were not evaluated.

I have decided to place my trust in this system and go all-in, as it is also a ranking criterion on the platform.

Naturally, each host must individually determine what they are comfortable with to ensure they feel secure when renting out their space.

- Karen

[Linda4721]

Thank you @Lorna73 @@😊

[Linda4721]

Hi Karen,

So, we’re having doubts about this. Maybe you can help?

My husband and I are 65 and 64 and this is our first home. We became first time home owners two years ago. We have put all our savings and inheritance into it.. making it comfortable and beautiful for us and our family. 

Our son suggested we put it on Airbnb to try to recover  and to generate some finances for our retirement. 

I think we’re feeling pressure now to make our home perfect so we can get good reviews and more business. The thought of having guests going around nitpicking and looking for negatives is making us think twice. 

We would love guests to stay knowing that it is a lived in, comfortable family home and just enjoy it as it is. 

Is this unreasonable? 

Any thoughts?

[Linda4721]

We also found it amusing that someone told us to hide the bucket in the bathroom 😊In India, if there’s no bucket, it’s not a good bathroom😂 

[Karen4131]

Hi @Linda4721 

I think you should see all the great advice and suggestions you've received as a very clear sign that people truly see the potential in your property on Airbnb. I rarely see such engagement and so many responses here in "Ask About Your Listing." It's great to get lots of advice—and yes, it's also good to get some small warnings, which you've also received, but it can have a downside, too. I can see you're feeling a bit unsure about whether you can live up to all this and if guests are generally very critical.

From my experience, Airbnb guests aren't like that if they come to a place where there's a focus on "Cleanliness, Accuracy, Check-in, Communication, Location, and Value"—the six key areas that Airbnb listings are rated on. And from what I can see with you, this is something you and your husband can definitely deliver on with your wonderfully inviting place and the way you already communicate.

If guests receive a welcoming check-in email from you well in advance of their arrival that makes it easy to find the way and check in, arrive at a nice, clean house that looks like the photos, and if you or a co-host are available (either physically or via the Airbnb app) for questions during their stay (which you handle right away), and you make sure to send a check-out email asking for their review of the place and their stay—maybe even asking them to write in the private section of the review if there's anything you could improve on for their next visit—I believe you can definitely nail it.

To start with, focus on these fundamentals, and trust in the warm, welcoming experience you're already creating. I'm sure you're going to do great!

Feel free to reach out again! - I wish you and your husband all the best with your Airbnb hosting journey!

Best,

Karen

[Linda4721]

@ Karen4131

Thank you so much for this very helpful and encouraging advice. We’re going to go for it. 
A question .. I’ve just searched for our listing and it’s not there or showing up on the map of Airbnb in our area. Is there something I need to do?