NO bookings??

[Fred6]

We moved our home and had our hosting account on pause for a while. Then we delisted our old apartment and listed our new house at the beach a few months ago https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15189935?s=51
 Despite having had the busiest tourist season ever in our city  - we received not one enquiry. I have no idea why. Our old listing used to get frequent enquiries since we are in a prime locatiuon and lots of toursts. Can you please take a look at the listing and let me . know what might be the problem. We currewntly have a minimum of 4 days, which would put off some people, but lots of people spend multiple nights in Tel Aviv so I don't think that would be a reason for us to have Zero enquiries. Please help.

[Ben551]

@Fred6  Not sure, but I did see that you have 1 review saying this:  "The host canceled this reservation 87 days before arrival. This is an automated posting."

[Ben551]

@Fred6  Sorry, but have you checked out your competition lately? 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9074776?adults=1&guests=1

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/235062?adults=1&guests=1

The first two I spotted in your area look to be half the price of what you are charging on average, and they look stunning... I suggest doing a full search around your area, look where you are placed in search results against these listings... check out the quality of your competition... the price... etc.

[Sarah977]

@Fred6  Hi, and welcome.

A few things that jumped out at me when looking at your listing. Although you have a lot of great reviews from your previous place, the only one on this listing says Host Cancelled. Altho it was 87 days before, so doubt it negatively impacted the guest, it doesn't look good and may put people off- they don't want to think you might cancel on them. But not much you can do about that now, just hope that as you get bookings, and more reviews, that one will get buried.

I think you need to work on your photos. I realize it's your home and you're obviously busy, vibrant people with a myriad of interests, the place just looks incredibly cluttered. Every surface is packed with stuff, everywhere you look is jam packed with stuff. Try to clear some stuff away for the photos. The kitchen counters are full- where do you prepare food? There isn't one clear surface I can see. You take a shot of your nice bathroom sink, but there are so many products behind and around it, it just loses the effect of a high-end fixture. Clear all that stuff off before taking a photo. What's with the toilet shot? Close the seat lid when you take a bathroom photo, and the dark colored rug with the corner messed up and bits of stuff on the rug? It just looks dirty and messy and doesn't showcase the tiled floor at all, it detracts from it. You only have one shot of the bedroom, just a photo of the bed. Guests want to know what the bedroom looks like- is there a closet, a desk, a chair, a bedside table, a reading lamp? More bedroom shots from a few different angles. Make the bed look a bit more luxurious- a nice throw draped across the bottom, some more pillows. 

I do love that dark red color you use though 🙂

Maybe you need to enlist the help of a friend who's good at staging a place for photos. Of course, you shouldn't make it look barren, as it obviously will never actually look like that, you don't want to give false expectations, but personally, I'd not be able to relax in the midst of so much clutter.

But other than that, you guys sound like awesome people, and your past guests obviously loved staying with you. BTW I lived in Israel for 2 years back in 67-69. Kibbutz Ma'abbarot, then Herzeliah Bet. I'm sitting here at my house in Mexico right next to a brass hookah base I bought in Jaffa almost 50 years ago.

[Kath9]

@Fred6,

Firstly, as @Ben551 said, it may be that your price is too high - there seem to be a lot of places around Tel Aviv-Yafo that are much cheaper for a similar offering.

Secondly, while I think your house looks really lovely and colourful and interesting, I fully agree with @Sarah977 that your photos could be better, especially for the price you are charging. For that price, your guests want something that looks clean and uncluttered with a bit of a 'luxury' feel. I don't think you need a photo of the tiles in your toilet, but you do need more photos of the bedroom itself.

Thirdly, if this is a new listing with no reviews, it will appear far down the list so many people won't see it - I would try dropping the price at least initially to build up your profile and reviews.

Fourth, your one and only review is a cancellation.

Lastly, I did a search of homes in Tel Aviv-Yafo with 'Private room' as a filter and your place didn't appear. Are you sure it is active? If not, contact Airbnb to see whether there is a glitch.

[Ben551]

@Kath9 @Fred6 I think I see another problem, in addition to those above...

As Kath said it looks at first like your listing doesn’t appear in search results, but I found it eventually. It is there but there is a problem. When I search generally without the map open, your listing appears as the second to last listing in a loooooong list. 

But... if I open the map to view the location of properties (as many will in your area, to judge distance to the beach) your listing vanishes off the face of the earth. Airbnb don’t pin it on the map. It could be that it doesn’t recognise your address somehow.

[Robin4]

@Fred6 

I think you have a few issues here Fred which could be affecting your inquiries.

A/.......You have set a 4 night minimum stay!

B/........Your base price is for one person only.

The net result of this is the very minimum including service fees a couple is going to pay for your private room is $854.51 AU

Now Fred that is a big ask compared to other Private Room listings in your area. One other listing for a similar private room lists at $55 AU per night with a one night minimum stay and the minimum cost to book that listing inc service fees is $132.33 or $380.00 AU  for your same 4 night minimum!!

I feel you may be pricing yourself out of a market. It is all very well setting a price you want to receive but, in the end your guests will tell you what they are prepared to pay! This listing is almost a third the cost of yours and looks very much more enticing....bright, clean and tidy!

https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1165946?adults=1&guests=1

C/...... I am not trying to be rude Fred but your property is a nervous breakdown of clutter. Inside and out I would be afraid to move. Clean your benchtops off move stuff out of walkways, get rid of that tangled jumble of hoses in the back yard....make your property look nice and appealing to a guest! Make it look as though you are serious about hosting and are making a genuine effort to make your place look nice.

A couple of comfortable chairs on the back lawn and a small table with a couple of nice high glasses, a jug of water and a small bowl of fruit and some nuts....make it look inviting, not as though the guest will feel like he will get tangled up in someone elses impedimentar!

D/......Your visibility is suffering because of inactivity on your site. Airbnb rewards success and the more activity you can culivate on your site the higher you will appear in a general search. Change some details of your listing....photos, description. Put the price up a bit one day and down again the next. Get some friends to hit the Contact Host tab and ask you a question. It doesn't commit anybody to anything but it gets a bit of activity happening and this will help your listing placement!

E/........And the other thing is that host cancellation, Fred that can be the kiss of death. If a hosting cannot take place get Airbnb to either relocate or refund the guest,. don't accept responsibility for the cancellation yourself. And remember in that situation when an automated notice like that is put on your review section you will be offered the opportunity to leave a public response as to why the reservation had to be cancelled. In many instances this can help the host because future guests are possibly going to be a bit more forgiving if you can mount a good reason why a booking could not be honoured.

All the best Fred, just try tweeking a few of these details and your guests will start coming!

Cheers.......Rob