Upgrade - You've made upgrades to your listing let's say a pool, expensive artwork, new furniture

[Danielle681]

Hi guys,

We are a few months into our Airbnb entire home rental since inception. We have a large home (2 levels and a basement that can turn into an apartment) but we only rent out ground and upper level at the moment) and it takes alot of love and maintenance. We listen to our guests and have begun a few minor upgrades and considering major ones. We have confirmed bookings for later in the year. If we make major upgrades for example a pool. Are we allowed to take up our nightly rate after it's installed or do we have to wait until the year is over? I figure this shouldn't affect future confirmed bookings. Will it?

Just wanted to be sure. Still in learning process and there is so much to read on the site so this forum is very helpful!

Thank you,

Danielle

[Sarah977 · Accepted solution]

@Danielle681  You can change your pricing any time you want, and of course you'd also add the new amenities to your photo gallery and include in your listing decription. Current reservations would not be affected by the new price, and if people are booking now, for far in advance, when these amenities will be available, it wouldn't be possible to ask them for more $, if they booked before these things were in place and the listing and prices changed. After all, they booked even though there wasn't a pool- you can't expect them to take kindly to telling them there's now a pool , so they have to pay more.

What you'd want to avoid is updating the listing before all those changes were ready, like the pool, then having currently booked or future guests thinking there was a pool, etc. and arriving to find it wasn't finished yet.

If you're pretty sure the time line for completion of your projects will be accurate (and of course things always take longer than the contractor promised, in my experience), you could change the pricing now for the dates ahead when those things will be done and mention in your listing the reason the price shows as higher for those dates in the future.

[Danielle681]

Perfect. Just wanted to make sure I was on the right track. Thank you for confirming this information. This helps!

[Linda108]

 @Danielle681  I totally renovated the guest bathroom which was a major upgrade, but I cannot increase the nightly rate for those who booked before the renovation.  However, if the pool was not listed when the reservations were made, then the guest cannot claim it as an included amenity. 

Now the issue is how to handle the change for the future guest.  You could send a message about the new pool and advise of an additional charge for access if the guest wants it.  Some may not care since the pool was not part of the original search.  Some will be happy to pay a bit extra.  Alternatively, you could advise the future guests of the pool and the additional charge related to the pool access, but, advise you are including it at no additional charge as a value add.  Don't make more money but get the value add and it would usually have a positive impact on the review.

[Danielle681]

Thank you Linda. We have some options. We think upgrades are good value added. Despite many visitors come to Barbados mostly for sun, sea and sand they do like pools and saunas and so. We also have been doing well with the locals. I like the answers you gave of either advising additional charge or inclusive. 

Lots to consider. We always want to ensure each guest enjoys their stay each and every time. Thanks again Linda. You have been quite helpful