Must do's and don'ts when using Airbnb

[Martijn0]

Hi Guys,

I am thinking of renting my place via Airbnb this summer. Looking for some good tips and tricks. Please share your experience (good and bad) so i'll know what i am up for this summer. 🙂

Thank u very much!

[Allison2]

There are thousands of conversations on this forum with great advise, so trying to condense it down into one post would be pretty time consuming!  

You can start here:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/getting-started/how-to-host

Then look at what other hosts in your area are doing - see what you want to do by looking at super-hosts & well-rated places. Learn what NOT to do from lower rated places. You can also get a good sense of where your prices should be based on how your offering stacks up.

After that, it's really a marketing exercise - what type of person would enjoy your space? What would you need to change/add to make them feel comfortable. How would you communicate that vibe through pictures and description? Walk through your place as if you were a traveler - what would be confusing or different for a person traveling from another country? (You'll want to cover that in a sign or your house manual)

What things could a guest do that you'd find upsetting? Smoking? Wearing shoes inside? Loud noises after a certain time? Unclear arrival time? (Cover those in your house rules)

Keep reading the community boards - I've learned SO much from other hosts.

As for my experience, it's been awesome. I've met so many interesting people and I love providing a great space for them to use as home while they explore my city. I feel a great deal of responsibility to my guests - if I'm on my game, I can do a lot to add to the joy of their vacation. The money isn't too shabby, either!

Best of luck!

[Martijn0]

Hello @Allison2!

Also great tips! It is really a marketing-thing i guess. Good advice to take the people in mind whom would enjoy my place instead of just start and hope to get some bookings going.

Haha and yes, I reckon the money isn't bad at all 😉 

Any other places is should check for some good advice? Like social media perphaps, or do you swear by the Airbn-community?

[Ed-and-Hugh0]

@Martijn0 The only recommendation is to do your research and to have fun. Spend some time in the Help area. Then browse this community to get a feel for the common issues. Check out the old Groups before they go away as there is a ton of good information there. Take a look at similar listings in your area. Check their calendars to see which ones are most booked. Keep your price low until you get some (hopefully positive) reviews.

[Martijn0]

Hi @Ed-and-Hugh0,

Thanks for the helpful advice. Good idea to check other places their prices and calendar! Will keep that in mind. So if I get this right, old groups will dissapear over time? Sounds to me like really unhandy?!

[Clare0]

@Martijn0 as @Allison2 said, it's hard to condense it all into a simple message.  If I were to pick the most helpful links for you to read, it would be these: 

https://community.airbnb.com/t5/Community-Help/Community-Help-Guides/m-p/23100#U23100  (especially the article about the difference between a Reservation Inquiry and Reservation Request)

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/805/what-are-some-things-i-should-consider-before-hosting-long-t...

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/427/can-i-book-on-behalf-of-a-friend-or-family-member

http://globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/455/red-flags-hosts

And, finally, familiarize yourself with how to contact Airbnb should you need direct assistance from them.  The best way is through twitter @airbnbhelp so if you don't currently have a twitter account, set one up.   Here's a link for all the ways to get in touch.

Wish you the best of luck!

[Martijn0]

Wow @Clare0,thanks for the nice links! So Twitter is the best way to get in contact with Airbnb, is it because of the quick answers you get? Also I saw that Airbnb has a Facebook page with lots of followers/likes. You reckon this is also a good way to get in contact with other hosts?

[Clare0]

@Martijn0 Yes, Facebook is also an effective means of communicating.  The downside with Facebook, though, is that your message is public for all to see and you might get some unwanted comments.  

I like Twitter better since I can send them a DM (Direct Message) which is private and you are not limited in the number of letters.  I use it all the time, including to find answers for hosts in this community where I want the answer too. I usually get a response within 10 minutes unless my query is so complicated it has to be routed to a specialist.  Here's how to send a DM:

https://support.twitter.com/articles/14606

If you send a public tweet, be sure to never include your email address as scammers read them and I've heard of people receiving phishing messages shortly thereafter.  Airbnb always ask for emails so they can locate your account, but always reply in a DM.

Hope this helps!

[Martijn0]

Thanks for all the good help and crystal clear advice @Clare0, sounds to me you are pretty experienced as it comes to Social Media.

Good to know that facebook is a bit sensitive for bad reactions. Never thought of it in that way. So for now, lets try out Twitter 🙂 haha.

[Victoria57]

@Martijn0 make sure your description and what you provide and the amenities is all very accurate. Also, make sure your communication is good and be welcoming and friendly. Above all, enjoy having a range of visitors come to your place. They won't all be your type of people but we've met some very nice guests from around the world. It's devastating when you get your first bad review - I guess it's happened to us all -  but don't dwell on it and be confident in what you provide and make it as good as it can be. We've found the last 15 months of AirBnB great fun.

[Martijn0]

It sounds so obvious, that my visitors won't be allways my type of people... Thanks for the heads up @Victoria57. That is what this world is all about isn't. Meeting all sorts of people, also one of the reaons why I intend to use Airbnb in abroad. Every person has a story (don't know if it is an actual saying in English, haha)

Also about the first bad review, again, thanks for the hands up, things like this happen. Just like you say, make it the best possible; have a little faith and make fun I guess :)!

Thanks Victoria, if you have anything else you'd like to share please let me know! 🙂 Nice to read different experiences.

Just curious, are you using Airbnb as a Host aswel as a traveller?

[Donna37]

First make sure you can legally rent the space. Check insurance. Advise the neighbours. Enjoy the experience!

[Martijn0]

Also very important! @Donna37! Thanks

[Azul0]

epending on where you are, the AC can run a pretty high bill if your guests are abusive.  Mine have been.  WIll you be also living in your apartment at the time?  if not, make sure when they come in you show them everything is working just in case they break something down.  In general, I have had pretty good experinces except with the last who had three dogs and were so picky and abusive in the ac depertment.

[Martijn0]

Hmm, like @Victoria57 said, these things happen. Lucky I live in the Netherlands and don't need an AC :)! @Azul0