New Airbnb Hosting Question

[Quincy34]

Hi my name is Quincy, my fiance and I have just opened our home to hosting on Airbnb. We have offically had our first 2 guest stay and we now have a total of 4 guest booked. Is there any tips any host out there can give for first timers? We've ran into minor issues but fixed them with ease, what can someone just coming into the hosting business expect from guest. Give us the good and bad 🙂 We have a 2bedroom 1.5 bathroom townhome in Maryland with a furnitured backyard, fully stock kitchen, and W/D available for use.

[Bhumika]

Hi @Quincy34 , you've come to the right place to find tips! How was your experience hosting your first 2 guests? 

I am tagging some experienced hosts if they can share some tips for hosts who are first-timers. Hi @Lamberto-and-Enrica0 @Daniel14755 @Supriya29 @Branko38 @Casa-De-La-Tierra0 @Anika191 @Carrie643 , do you have any tips for new host @Quincy34 ? Thanks everyone in advance for your suggestions.

Regards,

[Daniel14755]

Hey Quincy,

I've only got a few things I might suggest to "improve" the listing. You've got a beautiful space, that's for sure!

First, I would change the title to something catchy. AirBnB tells me it's the entire home, so don't waste your headline telling me that. Tell me something that'll hook me right away. "Modern, convenient, game day ready" or something that's suits your target guest. 

The only other thing I would do is replace the photos. There are several that are crooked, I don't feel like I see enough of the place (I'd shoot for roughly 30 if possible), and I'd even like to see a hair wider lens (which is rare) so the rooms don't look smaller than they are. Your photos are the first impression, so load the best few up front, and then use the rest to show me why I need to stay at your place. I don't see anything outside (private back yard), and I'd love to see some aerial drone shots if possible (I know DC is almost impossible to fly depending on where you're at). The space inside will sell itself. Show me more so I can get that much more excited about your place!

That's all I would actively change about the listing from a guests perspective honestly. From there, make sure the pricing is right for the area (we chose to undercut the market by a fair amount), and your guest experience is on point. We attacked our market on both fronts to make sure our value is off the chart, and we're slowly bringing the price up closer to market. Above all else, make sure your guests have an experience they can't help but smile about. In my opinion, that's the single biggest priority you can have as a host. Staying at an AirBnB isn't cheap as a guest, and for the money spent, they deserve a level of service that justifies the price. Most hosts simply won't make the effort, so the bar really isn't that high if you ask me!

Wish you all the best,

Daniel

[Quincy34]

Hi @Daniel14755 ,

Thank you so much! Me and my wife are going down to the property today and we will forsure get some better pictures and try to get outdoor photos. As of right now its snowy so I dont kow if thats the best to capture but we can def try to shovel a bit to make it look more appealing. Since we are 3/4 hours away from the property trying to update photos on a good day can be a bit hard but we will do our best. Our pricing right now is pretty fair, considering the football season is basically over we are relying on the holidays to bring in our guest. We have been booked for Christmas (since the Commanders play that day) and for only being up for 2 weeks having 5 bookings is pretty good. We've made our first reimbursement claim already which was sad to make but Airbnb was good at handeling the issue. 

Thank you for the input!

Quincy

[Daniel14755]

@Quincy34 You’ve got some really good feedback from several people looks like, and you’re obviously in front of most of the issues, so well done! 

I always recommend someone professional for photos. Cell phones are getting pretty good, but it’s just impossible to beat a DSLR or full frame camera with a nice piece of glass attached. The scale is right, the clarity is better, and any good photographer will edit them (at least moderately) to get the colors to stand out. It’s not often cheap, but long term it can be the difference between your property looking like a side hustle and a high end magazine worthy place that stands out among the rest (your ultimate goal). Do what you can with the snow, but you might be able to market that as a winter wonderland for the time being. Come spring you can have shots done for your summertime portfolio. Again, it’s money spent, but I see it as an investment in advertising. 

Sad to hear that you’ve had to file a claim already… I can’t help but think that’s directly related to a game day target guest, but hopefully they’re few and far between for you. 

Somebody mentioned your guide book. We also have one, but we did our digitally so a guest can’t swipe it, spill something on it, or rip a page thumbing through. Maybe something to consider if you’re leaning toward the “techy” side of things. This is ours: https://tinyurl.com/LittleFootLodgeWelcomeGuide

Again, sounds like you guys are doing a great job being proactive and setting a good expectation, so keep on refining the little things! Distance is a pain (we’re about 5.5-6 hours from ours so I get it), but find those few people you can rely on to take care of the little things so you're able to focus on the higher level needs. 

Keep crushing it!

[Lamberto-and-Enrica0]

Hi there and welcome to hosting! 😊
When you’re just starting out, everything can feel a bit overwhelming, but it gets much easier once you understand the basics.

A couple of things that often help new hosts:

• Start simple — make sure your listing is complete, with clear photos and a straightforward house manual.
• Think about the guest experience from arrival to check-out, and update your process as you go.
• And don’t worry if the first reservation raises questions — that’s completely normal for every new host.

If you want to share a bit more about the situation you’re facing, I’m happy to help clarify things.

Wishing you a great start! 🌿

— Lamberto

[Quincy34]

Hi Lamberto,

With every guest checking in we've tried to put ourselves in their shoes as far as coming in to the property as a guest. Making sure if they are coming for game day, stopping by for 1 night to rest up during a road trip, exploring Washington D.C or just a comfortable place to call home for a few days. 

We've added a Welcome Binder for our guest to view and we will be updating it as time goes on with resturant suggestions, activities and more. 

Thank you for the well wishes and the advice

Quincy

[Lamberto-and-Enrica0]

Hi @Quincy34 ,

That sounds wonderful — you’re clearly putting a lot of thought into the guest experience.
A Welcome Binder is one of those small touches that guests really appreciate, and updating it over time with local tips makes it even more valuable.

Seeing the stay from the guest’s perspective is exactly what creates smooth, memorable check-ins. It’s great to hear how you approach it.

Thanks again for sharing your workflow — always inspiring to see how other hosts refine their process.

Wishing you a great weekend as well!
Lamberto STREasy

[Bhumika]

@Quincy34 , having a welcome binder for guests is such a great idea! As of now, what all information have you added in there?

[Supriya29 · Accepted solution]

Hi Quincy! 

Big congratulations to you and your fiancé on starting your hosting journey . and already having 4 bookings! That’s a wonderful start 

Here are a few tips from my own experience that might help you as new hosts:

What to Expect (Good & Bad):

1.Most guests are amazing. respectful, friendly, and appreciative of a clean, comfortable space.

2.You’ll get occasional small issues (like questions about appliances, check-in confusion, or missing items), but quick responses and clear communication usually solve 99% of them.

3. Set clear house rules and keep expectations simple. it prevents misunderstandings later.

4. Be prepared for last-minute requests. flexibility helps, but don’t be afraid to say no when needed.

5.. Keep your listing + photos updated. the more accurate, the better the reviews and smoother the stay.

 A few hosting tips:

1. Create a simple welcome guide (WiFi, check-out instructions, nearby stores/restaurants).

2. Keep extra essentials stocked (toiletries, towels, coffee, trash bags).

3. Respond quickly . even a “working on it!” message builds guest trust.

4. After the stay, send a short thank you message and kindly ask for a review.

Your home sounds lovely. a fully stocked kitchen, backyard, and laundry are huge plus points! You’l are definitely off to a great start.

Wishing you both amazing hosting experiences ahead 

[Bhumika]

Thanks for sharing these amazing tips @Supriya29 ! 

I've read many threads where hosts seek advice on how to encourage guests to leave reviews. Do you think a thank you note can help with it? Have you noticed that guests tend to actively leave reviews if you send a thank you note at the end of the stay? 

[Supriya29]

Yes @Bhumika Thank you for sharing this insight. I completely agree. a warm thankyou note at checkout does make a difference. In my experience, when guests feel appreciated and valued, they are far more likely to leave a review on their own. It creates a positive closing touchpoint and gently encourages them without asking directly. I havee seen a noticeable improvement since adopting this approach.

[Bhumika]

Makes so much sense @Supriya29 ! I am glad that you've seen a noticeable improvement since adopting this approach.

Are there any similar communication tips that have been super helpful with your guests?

[Bhumika]

Thank you so much @Lamberto-and-Enrica0 @Supriya29 @Daniel14755 for sharing your support with @Quincy34 🌻

@Quincy34 , how are you progressing with the tips? Is there anything that the hosts can clarify for you?

Keep us posted!