my new listing

[Angel10114]

If anyone with experience can check out my new listing i'm a new host wondering what types of changes i should do or what I haven't done that I could fix. Please and Thank You!

Listing link: Home in Kissimmee · ★New · 5 bedrooms · 5 beds · 3 baths

[Content updated by OCM]

[Joe771]

@Angel10114 Congrats on your first str and being a new host. Here are a few tips, you need professional photos. Some of your photos are dark and at strange angles. Professional photos will make a big difference in bookings and the guest experience. I would also change the title. It needs to be more catchy. Something that pops and grabs peoples attention. 

Good luck.

[Elisa]

Hi @Joe771 😊, 

thank you so much for helping Angel.

Did you also use a professional photographer? How did you find them?

[Joe771]

@Elisa I did use a professional photographer. I found them by asking realtors who they use. But make sure they understand how to shoot a STR. Shooting an STR is different than shooting a house to put up for sale. 

[Elisa]

Hi @Joe771 😊, 

Thank you for letting me know!

I never thought about that, why do you think it’s different shooting an STR instead of a house for sale?

[Joe771]

@Elisa When you shoot a house you want it to look bigger than it is. You shoot it so people can see themselves living there with their stuff. Most times it is empty.

When you are shooting an STR you want to tell a story and make it inviting. You want future guest to see the experience you have created for them. While they sound the same they are not. Let me know if that makes sense.

[Elisa]

Hi @Joe771 😊, 

thank you for clarifying this.

I agree with you! Do you add any temporary items to your pictures to make them more attractive, like flowers or something else?

[Joe771]

@Elisa No not a the moment but we are thinking about it. We need to update our photos at one property and I am looking at changing up what we present in the photos. We are in some competitive markets and we need to make changes so we can stand out.

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Angel10114 

Congrats on your new listing! Wishing you lots of bookings and great guests.

Don’t forget to add a Photo Tour so your guests can clearly see the layout of your place and know exactly where they will sleep. This helps build trust and makes your listing look more organized and professional.

To set it up, simply go to your Photos section and tap the “+” sign to add rooms or spaces. You can label them properly such as Bedroom 1, Bedroom 2, Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom, and so on. Assign the corresponding photos to each room so guests can easily understand the space.

You can also activate the 20% New Listing Promotion for your first three bookings. This helps boost your listing in search results and attracts your first guests faster. Getting those first few bookings and positive reviews early will help build momentum and improve your listing’s visibility. 

[Emiel1]

@Angel10114 

"After publishing your listing, it should show in search results within 24 hours, but it may take up to 72 hours for some listings to appear in search results (pending any further review)."

Source:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1336

[Elisa]

Hi @Angel10114 😊, 

Thank you for asking this question here.

Have you been able to check if it’s visible in search now, based on Emiel, Patricia, and Joe’s advice?

[Carlo7794]

Hi @Angel10114 ! Congratulations on your new listing! I wish you great satisfaction and success in your new adventure.

If it can be helpful, my first piece of advice is to get professional photos taken as soon as possible. Guests click on your listing because of the photos! The cover image should show what you believe is the strongest feature of your property—the element that sets you apart and makes your place better or more unique than others.

Once guests click and enter your listing ➡️ choose one photo for each area to create the preview grid, and select the very best ones! Make sure the services you later select in the listing are clearly visible in the photos. To give you an example: if you offer air conditioning among your amenities, make sure it’s evident in the photos. It’s about consistency between what you show and what you claim—this is extremely important in communication!

Once everything is organized, add a description to each photo.

Then work on the main description: who do you think your ideal guest is? What do they enjoy doing, and why would they choose your home specifically? Build your description around your ideal guest, creating a story about the stay they would experience in your home. This is called neuromarketing. Just make sure that what you describe truly reflects the experience guests can actually have in your home. When you present your place and describe what guests can experience there, you create expectations for their trip—and you need to be sure you can meet them! If expectations are fulfilled, reviews will bring positive value.

Also tell them a bit about yourself—your approach to hospitality and why you enjoy hosting. Make your guest feel welcomed and cared for. If a stay lasts several days, ask how things are going around the middle of their stay to show that you care, but without being intrusive. This will make them feel your presence and help them feel “at home.”

If you use AI to build your listing, keep all these aspects in mind when giving instructions to get the output you want. But in the end, always add your personal touch!

I hope these few lines are helpful. For transparency, I’m writing from Italy and used a translator to put this into English because mine isn’t that good! I hope the meaning comes across clearly.

Good luck! 🍀

[Monica3088]

@Angel10114 

Hi Joy! Beautiful property — lots of great amenities and a prime location near Disney. Here are some thoughts that haven't been mentioned yet.

On pricing — and this is important:

Kissimmee is one of the most competitive short term rental markets in the USA. Market data shows that 5 bedroom properties in Kissimmee achieve median nightly rates of around $224, with strong performers reaching $314+ per night. As a brand new listing with only 1 review you're competing against properties with hundreds of reviews and established reputations.

The word "Affordable" in your title is working against you. In a market like Kissimmee guests are not looking for affordable — they're looking for value, experience and memories. "Affordable" signals budget and attracts guests who will negotiate, complain about pricing and scrutinise every detail. Remove it.

A stronger title would be: "5BR Modern Retreat · Private Pool · Game Room · Near Disney · Sleeps 10" — that sells the experience not the price.

Your amenities are genuinely strong — private pool, game room, massage chair, 4 king beds, BBQ, garage. These are premium features. Your title and pricing should reflect that not apologise for it. Price at the lower end of the market to get your first reviews — but not so low that you attract the wrong guests.

On longer stays and filling your calendar:

A property of this size near Disney needs a specific strategy for longer weekend bookings and extended stays. Families travelling to theme parks typically stay 4-7 nights minimum — they need time to visit multiple parks without rushing. Your minimum stay setting matters enormously here. Too short and you fill up with 1-2 night bookings that leave gaps midweek impossible to fill. Too long and you miss last minute bookings. A minimum of 3 nights with a discount for 5+ nights is a strong starting point for a Disney area property. Also consider a separate pricing strategy for school holidays and peak Disney periods — Christmas, Spring Break, Summer — where you can command significantly higher rates. That seasonal adjustment alone can transform your annual revenue.

On design — and this is where I can add something nobody else has:

The property is beautiful and modern with real potential. But looking at the photos it needs warmth. Right now it feels like a show home — impressive but not yet inviting.

The hallway where your console table is needs a plant. One tall statement plant there completely changes the energy of the entrance. First impressions start the moment guests walk in and a plant adds exactly the life and welcome that an empty hallway lacks.

The living area and dining space both need rugs. This is the single most transformative styling decision you can make in an open plan space. A rug in the TV area anchors the seating and creates cosiness. A round rug under the dining table softens the hard floor and adds warmth. These two additions would change how those spaces photograph and feel completely.

Small additions that cost very little but make a significant difference — a throw on the sofa, some greenery on the kitchen counter, a tray with a candle on the coffee table. These are the details that make guests feel something the moment they walk in.

Style it. Rephotograph it. Then adjust your pricing upward as the reviews come in.

You have a genuinely impressive property Joy. It just needs to feel as warm as it looks impressive. Feel free to message me if you need more advice or want to talk through any of this in more detail — happy to help. 😊