New future host here — what’s one thing you’d tell a beginner?

[Lauren5082]

Hi all! I’m in Mesa, AZ and looking into hosting my first Airbnb. For anyone who’s been hosting for a bit — what’s ONE thing you’d recommend a beginner prioritize? Could be anything: setup, pricing, guests, cleaning, whatever.
Thanks in advance!

[Helen3 · Accepted solution]

I would say that you look at the useful community guides on how to set up your listing . @Lauren5082 

1. Turn off instant book so you can ask vetting questions to make sure your listing is a good fit before accepting a booking 

2. make sure you have set your pricing, uploaded photos and written a full description before letting the listing go live 

3. I would only take shorter term bookings until you become more familiar with how to vet guests. 

[Lauren5082]

Thank you! This is super helpful. I didn’t even think about turning off instant book at the beginning, but that makes a lot of sense. I’ll definitely check out the guides and take it slow with shorter stays.

[Wendy-May0]

That is a smart question, especially starting in a high-demand area like Mesa.

My recommendation would be to ignore pricing and photos for a minute and prioritise logistics. The single most important relationship you will build is with your turnover specialist (cleaner). They are not just cleaning, they are your quality control and your stock manager. If this person fails, your whole system collapses during back-to-back bookings.

You must find someone who already works for STRs, not just a domestic cleaner. They understand the urgency of the 4-hour changeover window and the level of detail required. This is what stops host burnout.

Feel free to ask me any questions about setting up your automated task management. Do you plan to use a local linen service, or manage all the washing yourself off site?

[Gernide0]

Hi Lauren! Welcome and congrats on starting your Airbnb journey 🎉

If I had to choose one thing for beginners to prioritize, I’d say:

dial in your cleaning + turnover process right from the start.

Here’s why:

A spotless space + consistent turnovers =

✔ better first impressions

✔ smoother guest experiences

✔ stronger reviews (which boosts your visibility fast)

✔ fewer complaints and stress for you

Everything else — pricing, décor, even amenities — you can tweak as you go… but a solid cleaning system sets the foundation for success.

A few extra tips that helped me when I started hosting:

• Create a simple checklist for every turnover

• Make sure your beds, floors, bathroom, and kitchen sparkle

• Keep backup linens and supplies on hand

• Take fresh photos after your clean to help troubleshoot issues later

Once your cleaning system is locked in, the rest of hosting becomes so much easier.

Wishing you all the best on your first listing — you’ve got this! 🌟

[Fiona256]

I would advise doing the cleaning and all changeover tasks yourself, at least to begin with, so you get to know what is involved and how guests leave the accommodation. This will give you an accurate idea of all that is required in operating a successful STL.  Your own attention to detail will be considerably greater than anyone you would employ to do the work.

It's rewarding to be more hands on - and it's educational. You can take pride in what you offer, rather than passing on the responsibility to others who won't care so much. Of course, if all you're looking for is return on investment and providing an anonymus, standardised place for a short stay, by all neans let someone else do the work if you can afford the cost. 

When I read of hosts who employ others to set up their listing and run it for them. I always feel that is an impersonal place I would never stay at.