Advice Needed Please

[David416]

Hello Everyone, So the first month I started hosting I had my place filled 80% of the month. Now it has been almost two weeks and I haven't gotten a single booking. I'm starting to get concerned because I am depending on this to help with the mortgage. Does anyone have any words of wisdom? I don't know if you can see my listing so here is the link.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13698052?sug=50

Is there anything I can do to increase bookings? I don't know what has happened? 

[Lacy-and-Jonathan0]

Your listing says it has a sleeper sofa and a couch. You should up your listing to "sleeps 4-5" or whatever you can accommodate. That will increase your audience. Best of luck!

[Annette33]

Your place looks great, don't despair! I think brand new listings are highlighted by Airbnb, that could have helped your bookings at the very beginning.
I think overall, things are slowing down pretty much everywhere, goes with the seasons. And there is no rhyme or reason to things.... I had a longer stretch without inquiries end of August, and then, one after the other....
good luck!
PS: quite a few of new hosts fail to educate themselves about the ins and outs of Airbnb, particularly how cancellations you do are really hurtful to you.  So maybe use the "quiet times" to familiarize yourself with all the rules and regulations - but maybe you did already 🙂

[Andrew90]

Good news is your place is visible and you have good placement in search results.  You have good pictures, 5* Reviews and you accept instant bookings.

You may need play with price, you seem to on the top end but I typically argue for this but you need to figure out a price point that gets to business but does not attract the cheapies who expect everything for nothing and leave crap reviews. 

On a side note I'd incrase the security deposit and change your tems to strict. 

[Kelly87]

Here are some ideas:

1) You can lower the price for this week, if you want to get a booking ASAP

2) Can guests lock the door so they have privacy? If not, put a lock on the door. There is also a check box for this in the listing details, some people look for it. You can just use a standard interior door lock, or buy an electric handle lock, they are about $60 on Amazon.

3) Consider accepting pets. You can put in the description that it is conditional and you need specfics before approving. Demand for pet friendly listings is higher than supply. (Oh, just saw you do accept pets.... will leave this here for others)

4) Your listing says parking, but you have not checked free parking on premises.

5) You have other amenities (iron, hangers, etc...) not checked. Why not? You dont offer an iron?
6) Reduce the security deposit. Or elminate it.

The price is pretty good, so I am surprised you don't have bookings. Hopefully some of these changes will help. 

[Kelly87]

Here are some ideas:

1) You can lower the price for this week, if you want to get a booking ASAP

2) Can guests lock the door so they have privacy? If not, put a lock on the door. There is also a check box for this in the listing details, some people look for it. You can just use a standard interior door lock, or buy an electric handle lock, they are about $60 on Amazon.

3) Consider accepting pets. You can put in the description that it is conditional and you need specfics before approving. Demand for pet friendly listings is higher than supply. (Oh, just saw you do accept pets.... will leave this here for others)

4) Your listing says parking, but you have not checked free parking on premises.

5) You have other amenities (iron, hangers, etc...) not checked. Why not? You dont offer an iron?
6) Reduce the security deposit. Or elminate it.

The price is pretty good, so I am surprised you don't have bookings. Hopefully some of these changes will help. 

[Kelly87]

Oh, and use the Price Tip tool. Airbnb will calculate what rate it thinks you should charge. Check is this is signficantly lower. Let us know. 

[Olivera-And-Russell-John0]

Have you done any reasearch to see what occupancy levels are like in similary properties at various times of the year.

Don't put all your eggs in the Airbnb basket.  There are other, better booking sites (whose commision may not be as high).

I not a comment about price tips.  Certainly for our properties they are useless, we'd be bankrupt if we followed them.  You are better off doing your own research on prices to make sure you are in the right area

Is supply greater than demand in your area?

Be patient.