What questions did you have as a new Host?

[Bhumika]

Hi everyone!

We all are beginners when we initiate something new, be it business or in your case publishing your very first listing and starting out as a Host.

When you created your first listing as an Airbnb Host, you might have had a fair share of questions! Do you remember the early questions you had when you first embarked on your Host journey? Today, we invite you to go back in time and reflect on the initial questions and concerns you had when you were a newbie on Airbnb.

Did you have questions about how to set a competitive pricing strategy, optimize your listing, attracting guests or were unsure about what kind of photos to include in your listing? Or maybe you were uncertain about the best ways to communicate with guests, handle difficult situations and ensure the safety of your property.

So, what were your basic host questions when you were a newbie on Airbnb? We would love to hear more about it and help create a guiding resource for our new hosts, joining the Community Center!

Bhumika

[Fred13]

The first thing we learned in hosting was that this was very different than manufacturing (my background) and even running a hotel (the wife's background). This was more personal.

But the myriad of specific steps one must learn one by one as with anything else is not the biggest hurtle, but understanding human nature as how it applies to hosting guests and dealing with the provider (Airbnb) was.

I bet most hosts have never dealt with fellow humans on such a constant day-to-day business basis, like retailers do all the time, for many that is really a whole new experience.

Moreover,  Airbnb is a 'youthful' company in its thinking, of the major booking agency it may very well be the youngest, and that reality present yet a further challenge to be successful as a host with them.

A lot to learn in many ways, more than logictics.

[Bhumika]

Hi @Fred13 ,

Thank you so much for bringing up the most interesting and important aspect of Hosting. We all would agree that hosting involves a more personal connection with guests and requires a good understanding of human nature.

Is there a particular challenge that stood out during the transition from your previous job to Hosting?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Bhumika I honestly can't remember having any questions. We muddled through and got to grips with the website fairly easily. We had the advantage of having holidayed in many self catering places around Europe so we had a good idea of what we expected and hence what we should supply to our guests. We then added sensible extras if requested by a guest ignoring the more esoteric (read expensive) suggestions.

[Bhumika]

Hi @Mike-And-Jane0 ,

It is a treat to hear about your Hosting experiences and how it all started (and I totally get how relatively easy it must have been for you to navigate through the site due to being tech-savvy😋.)

Which is the most important decision you took for your listing based on your own experience as a guest? 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Bhumika The most important thing is to provide free of charge dishwasher tablets, bin bags and cleaning gear. This way people wash the dishes properly and don't use shopping bags as bin bags which leak everywhere. Its a small cost and a big benefit

[Alicia753]

It is not so much that we had questions specific to Airbnb. Our questions really were STR based as a macro. 

Things like (in no specific order of importance):

How to walk the razors edge for pricing? The need to balance keeping the prices low enough to stay competitive yet high enough to not undercut our earning potential.

What was the best strategy for listing titles?

What things were important to have in our listing titles, descriptions, rules, photos ect, to help us ensure that we were providing the best algorithmic approach to Airbnb's search parameters? 

How standard photos for real-estate were different from the photos that drove the best guest interest. 

Aside from, what we considered to be, the basic necessities to be supplied in an STR what else should we supply for free to our guests and trying to ensure that the decision was based on facts and not hubris or supposition.  

What were possible security concerns were there going to be for our properties. I.E.- What is the best lock system for guest access (one that is scalable)? Are security cameras needed to cover the outside of our property (If so what parts or all)? 

What are some of the most common questions that guests have during their stays that we can anticipate and have canned replies available? 

What items should we have readily available as backups (aside from consumables)?

Is there such a thing as too much guest communication?

What kind of "how-to" signage should we have in our properties? Any? None?

What third party apps will be most useful to us when we are starting and what third party apps may we need as we gain more listings?

We have been able to answer all of these questions over time and many of our answers have also evolved as we have grown.

[Bhumika]

Hi @Alicia753 ,

It is so insightful to hear what pressing questions a Host may have when they start their Hosting journey.

As you mentioned, many new hosts on our Community Center usually have questions about pricing a listing too. How did you navigate through setting up a competitive price for your listing and what things should new hosts keep in mind?

[Alicia753]

I couldn't figure out how to get the link to the specific post that I made in another thread about this but I copied it and will paste it below. Pricing is something that we have spent a lot of time working through the many aspects of. There is a fine line to walk with pricing. If you price to low you will probably fill up but you are leaving money on the table. If you price to high you will probably get few to no bookings. 

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My reply in another thread to a "where to start pricing" kind of question-

That being said, there are ways to start with a "good idea" at least. There are actually a lot of ways to do it but I will list a few below to at least give you a start.

3rd Party Programs-

1) Airdna- go to the renalizer section (you can utilize this section in the "free" version). It will give you a "starting" point. If you pay for the market area you will also be able to see other Airbnbs in your area that are comparable to your listing. You can then utilize that info to look at those specific listings and their pricing structure. 

2) PriceLabs- This section could be an entire post since there is a lot to this program. Short end of this program is that it will help you set your pricing structure based on data that they are able to collect from access to Airbnb API about other Airbnbs in your general market area.

Doing the work on your own- 

You can search for Airbnbs in your general area, act as if you are trying to book the listing and check their pricing structure month by month (be sure to keep in mind cleaning and other fees can make a big difference on prices). This will give you a good idea of where to start with your pricing at least. 

No matter what route you decide to take keep in mind that a new listing is an unproven commodity. Keeping your pricing structure towards the lower end of the data for the first 6 - 12 (at least until you get a bunch of positive reviews) months will help your listing stay better ranked. Also, remember to take into account the "total price". Cleaning fees, resort fees, ect... 

[Laurelle3]

@Bhumika The idea of having an Airbnb was after reading an article in the travel section of the weekend paper in 2014. We thought we would try before we buy (saying) knowing we were holidaying in the UK. We chose to stay mostly in shared homes because of the price, and hosts typically provided a light continental breakfast as the standard norm then.n. Very few had private bathrooms and about half offered a shared kitchen and a few offered washing machines and dryers. As we had a hire car and we were not looking for transport close to Airbnb's. 

By trying and using Airbnb, it was also to be a learning, observing properties and seeing what they offered. We found that there were different rules set by hosts and we asked hosts lots of questions. 

What we took away was that there were different types of accommodation, some good and some not as desired and or true to their description. Hospitable hosts and others that just wanted your money  and they really didn't really make you feel welcome.

Some of the questions asked were;

Were their any any council rules or did they have issues with neighbour? Occassionanally a neighbour would complain but the UK was allowed lodgers in the past.

What was the positive aspects of hosting and what were the negatives? Meeting people from different countries or they felt some people wanted more than they were offered and some host didn't feel  safe at times but this was with a host that lived by themselves. 

Was their a big outlay in setting up? Most said no because it had been their son or daughters bedroom and they just bought some new linen.

What we had observed in Australia comparrison to the UK was that our homes were of a different style, larger, no real historical significence. Australians also have different lifestyle, needs and way of life.

After trying Airbnbing in the UK I went looking on the internet about articles how to start an Airbnb and what we had to do, what were the rules, how to set up an Airbnb? I then went looking at Airbnb's in my local area, what prices they were asking and what they offered?

Then we set out a plan to start an Airbnb which took about 4 months to go online as I wanted everything to be just right and no negative reviews. 

Times are a changing and most of the Airbnb's in our local area by the beach have been newly fitted out or built. Or look like as if the accommodation is in a magazine or a Real Estate window. 

[Bhumika]

Hi @Laurelle3 ,

Thank you for sharing how you started your Airbnb journey and how your own experience as a guest has helped you make sane decisions about your listing. It is so super interesting to hear!!😍

I have noticed many of our new Hosts find it a bit difficult to get accustomed to city's STR regulations and check if they meet requirements. Do you have any handy tips for them on how to navigate through regulations during the listing set up phase?

[Laurelle3]

@Bhumika you question of how to address STRA regulations?

Local council rules was mainly the building structure was passed for living. 

Number of nights you can have paying guests.

In 2021 STRA had to be registered with the NSW State Government.

My main tip is to find out what your local council rules and be aware that they are changing all the time. To keep up to date

[Avi15743]

1. To better understand what happens if the renter does not show up on their first day?

2. What if they don't leave my place?

[Diana2344]

I have one big question about a specific type of rental: A private Room in your own Apartment. 

1. How do you know guests won't be dangerous?

2. How do you interact with them? Is welcoming enough? or, what I prefer, is giving them the freedom to get inside and be like roommates? 

I just started my listing last weekend so far everything has been great but I wonder if an in-person interaction would be appropriate? 

[Bhumika]

Hi @Diana2344 

Welcome to the Airbnb Community Center!🌻

It is understandable to have these concerns as a Host and thank you so much for sharing your questions with us.

I am reaching out to our lovely members @Robin4 @Helen3 to share their experiences and insights with you!