Some spaces may be shared

[Inna22]

 I noticed that now my listing says some spaces may be shared. I marked off that the backyard in the garage will be shared with long-term tenants on other floors. My guests get their own dedicated parking space and their own table and chairs outside however I did check off that button that it’s a shared space with other.  I would imagine that prompted this language front and center on my listing. Would guests now think that they will be  sharing spaces inside the house and click right past my listing? As we know, nobody reads in more detail and I could not even find the part where Airbnb explains what is shared and what is not. I spell it out in my listing but I can’t find where that prefilled information goes. But again, spell it or not, as we know people glance through without reading so I’m worried now everyone will move right past my listing. I have not had any activity on this listing  since I put it up. 

https://abnb.me/ckJeEJTd4Y

[Emilia42]

@Inna22, I cannot find anywhere on your listing where it says 'some spaces shared.' They must still be testing this or haven't rolled it out completely yet.

[Inna22]

@Emilia42 I can see it on my desktop but not on my phone

[Nina75]

My reccommendation is to take that off, even though it is semi-shared. You are splitting hairs.

I had 2 listings in Venice beach one property was "Larger nicer 7 beds" and one property was "Smaller not as nice, 5 beds". The "Smaller not as nice, 5 beds"  Property always booked out sooner than the ""Larger nicer 7 beds"" even though the difference was only $25 dollars or so, and sometime it was the same price or less. I came to the conclusion that its because "Larger nicer 7 beds" I listed as Shared Outdoor Patio. 

The "Larger nicer 7 beds" has 2 yards and the back yard was semi shared, and the front yard was full Private ( I had it Blocked off with some old furniture).... I had Surf Boards Boogie boards Beach stuff there that families could use. Most people never even saw the other guests because they had their own Sepearate entrance but I had people Inquire a few times and ask if the backpatio was shared and I said yes, and I never heard back from them. Only 1 guy complained about the shared back patio in his review.

Id take it off and if they complain you can just offer them $20 gift card or let em cancel or something. (At my No one ever Cancelled because of that)

[Inna22]

@Nina75  garage is my may concern. If I tell them it’s not shared, they will take over the entire garage and I will forever have problems with the second space that does not belong to this unit. Even now, when it’s clearly spelled out, every once in a while somebody takes both spots or parks in the middle and then there is drama. 

[Nina75]

Even though I rent my entire properties out... They dont own them. There are parts fo my properties that they can use and there a parts that they cannot. But I meet all guests and I explain everything to them, so that there is no confusion..  

[Inna22]

@Nina75  another problem is dogs. Some people rent a space expecting a private backyard and want to let their dogs out. They frequently ask about that. It will be a huge problem if somebody comes with unfriendly dog expecting a private backyard to discover that other tenants are there.  If somebody rents the house expecting a private backyard for their dogs to roam, they will be rightfully upset to find out something entirely different  

[Nina75]

I dont allow dogs...

[Suzanne302]

@Inna22 I have this setting on the back end of my listing too, but I've looked up and down and don't see it anywhere on the public view. It may be another one of those where they show it selectively to guests for testing responses? Who knows? I wouldn't worry about it affecting your bookings.

As for making it clear, I use bullet points in the section for "Guest Access" because it seems easier to read. I don't know if that would help in your case. Maybe something like:

-GARAGE: Room for one car only. (shared space)

-BACKYARD: Guest has dedicated table/chairs but space may be shared with other tenants

[Inna22]

@Suzanne302 I don’t have a single booking for that property. Not one. And since I am doing everything the usual way, I am thinking this is somehow effecting it. Maybe they are not even showing it to people looking for entire place?

[Suzanne302]

@Inna22 I did a search in an incognito window and your place came up as "Entire Place." Chicago is a large market though...so many listings!

[Nina75]

Again do a test drop the price down to $49 then up the cleaning fee. to see if you are getting bookings. Turn off instant book and do a $49 1 day special. You will be suprised when the price is really low how quickly your reservations will come in. Do some test marketing. I have some other reccomendations but they are kinda sketchy and I dont reccommend them to Novice hosts because you are manipulating the system in a way. But you get the idea.

[Inna22]

@Nina75 I am far from novice (this is property number 5 for me)  so I would love to know your other ”tricks”

[Inna22]

@Suzanne302 Thank you for doing it! Was it buried far?

[Suzanne302]

@Inna22 When I narrowed the map to  your area, you came up as 4th or 5th I think?