@Huma0wrote:
Hi @Lizzie
Some of the tips are already mentioned above, but I think these are the things that make a difference for me:
WELCOME: I consistently get 5 stars for this one, so it must be helping with the Superhost status! I am here for each guest's arrival and offer them a drink on arrival and to help carry their bags. I give them a proper tour of the house, which I never rush unless they are in a hurry/too tired. I check if there's anything else they need and let them know I am available to them.
DECOR: It might not be the case for every Airbnb, but I believe it's one of the main reasons guests book my place. The guest rooms are decorated and furnished with as much care, if not more, than I would my own bedroom. I make the beds up as nicely as I can and have extra thick mattress toppers to make them super comfy. The rooms are practical, but everything in them is also pretty!
CLEANING: I'm particuarly fussy re keeping the guest bedrooms spotless and I will offer to clean them again for longer-term guests. Obviously the house should be clean when they arrive, especially kitchen and bathrooms, but I've found that I often get 5 star ratings for cleanliness if the guests have seen me cleaning again during their stay. I don't just mean keeping the place clean, but them actually SEEING me in the process of doing some cleaning. It has some sort of positive effect on them subconciously!
INFORMATION: I have spent time building my guidebook and send a link to all guests (as well as directions to the house) a few days before arrival. I will send other information that might be useful, but play it by ear as some guests like a lot of help, whilst others don't. However, most like money saving tips! I'm happy to help with recommendations and if a guest asks me something I don't know the answer to, I'm straight on the computer to find out.
KITCHEN. Guests have unlimited access to a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, which most appreciate because eating out in London isn't cheap. I make sure each guest has a shelf in the fridge. Although I don't provide breakfast, there is coffee, sugar and a selection of different teas for them.
COMMUNICATION: This is mostly covered in the points above, but I also try to be honest and accurate about my listing so as to manage expectations. Yes, I will highlight the selling points, e.g. how close we are to the tube station, but I'll also mention that a particular bedroom faces the road and can be a bit noisy. I let guests have privacy, but if I sense they want to socialise, then I'll happily sit and chat with them. I make sure to follow up with guests during their stay to see if they need anything and send a thank you message after they leave (and sometimes a gentle reminder to leave a review).
THE EXTRAS: Most popular is the customised chalk board with the guests' names on them. I'd say 99% love this! As well as books, there are leaftlets on stuff to do in London and if I can, I also leave them local magazines with listings and recently I started collecting magazines in different languages too. As well as travel toiletries in the rooms and useful things like sewing kits, hairdryer, travel adaptors, there are full sized bottles of toiletries in the bathrooms labelled for guest use. At Christmas I leave cards and for birthdays and anniversaries. I tried leaving bowls of fruit, but these mostly went to waste. Sometimes I leave fresh flowers. I'm thinking of adding little pots of Spring bulbs when they come into bloom and maybe a sweet jar.
Hello I totally agree with all you have written I myself don't hear same but instead I offer small muffins or canele as I live in Bordeaux along with a bottle of wine my apartment is ancient with moldings stain glass three room with fire place I am very particular about cleaning and having my place spotless my apartment is situated in Centerville of Bordeaux with a view from the stain glass or the balcony called Porte de Bourgogne since I listed my apartment all of my guest gave remarkable reviews I even made friends with one of my guest I provide all shampoo, hairdryer fresh towels washing machine and dryer etc for bathroom, Kitchen coffee tea etc, living room everything is brand new etc dinning table and chairs plus canapé brand new etc, bedrooms and linens all new.
But as much as you try hard to make your guest comfortable sometimes your liking is not someone's else taste , my deco I have succulents and catus they all compliment the decorations, I even bought two pouf/open out beds and order surmatelas protection so it comfortable, I have a working area office with desk all equipped with WiFi desk chair and books, I know for myself I do the best I can I host like it's an 5 star hotel and not an apartment I even fold towels into swans, sprit bed with lavender, my flooring is wooden it's always shines from the reflection of the stain bay window.
Communication with my Guest is unbelievable remarkable they are so comfortable with me that mist of them don't even message on Airbnb chat they send me text or Whatsapp I respond immediately to all request I am there for arrival with they keys total tour of the apartment and then present the wine and cakes etc, Upon departure I am there 10 mins for a walk through therefore I will continue to do what I am doing Because apparently it's been a great job I am doing so far all of my guest are in Centerville if Bordeaux with restaurant although I do Catering I propose to all there is my cards, books, and programs of things to do and visit all the monuments around Bordeaux even far as saint emillion, the ocean arachon, ledge cap ferret etc although I have guest from Germany, Austria and all region area's in France.
I will keep up the good work and hopefully be a SuperHost soon.