@Anna7 , @Benjamin9 , @Richard531
You mentioned my rates are too low, I do too. I had them up in the $215 a night range for daily rate, $250 for weekends, then gave a 20% discount for week long stays. But using AirBnB's market tools they mentioned I was way over priced, needing to get them down. The prices I have up now are almost all AirBnB suggested daily rates. AirBnB even mentioned to give much higher weekly stay discounts, like 45% or something like that. 45% seemed too high so I didn't offer that.
We went in low to try to get a handful of guest through, to get ratings ASAP. To date, we have had 7 different guest between Airbnb the other large vacation rental site and just through word of mouth. All of the other site's guest gave us raving reviews and the one AirBnB guest before this one gave us 5 stars and raving reviews too. I have 2 more bookings in June and July with AirBnB already, so I guess I will take your advise and bump rates up so as to not attract potential trouble guest.
I am very open to hearing strategies like higher daily rates with larger weekly discounts or an AirBnB suggested rate then put a per person adder in rate for each above 2 or anything else you have had success with.
Question on the Damage Deposit: I have $5000 in damage deposit and give them the option of buying the insurance offered through the two vacation rental sites. Should I remove the insurance option requiring them to have the damage deposit on a card? Or would that kill my business?
I feel our place is nicer than most, in an absolutely great location so it should attracts guest.
Thanks for all of you for such direct and informative suggestions. We are new to this world and really take pride in the upkeep and condition of this place. This last guest just stung a bit with how disrespectful he treated it, but I guess I better get ready for that from time to time.