Tips for Hosting Successfully

[Angus-and-David0]

Hi Community

These are some of my tips for hosting. Please note that they are NOT necessarily what other people may like but are things that have assisted myself in hosting and I want to share. Remember, I am NOT telling you what to do!

1. Iron your sheets, including fitted ones if you use them. It gives a professional look and demonstates they are clean. 

2.Try and use white sheets if possible, especially if you line dry them as the sun will keep them nice and bleached.

3. Invest in an electric blanket if you live somewhere that has a cold winter.............

4. Get some tourist information for the local area and leave it for guests.

5. Have a guest directory. Information that contains the FAQ's such as passwords etc.

6. Have a guide to local eating places. Airbnb does have a guidebook attached for hosts to fill in but it is not very user friendly and fiddly for guest to use.

7. Touch base with guest to see if things are ok each day. That way it helps to sort out issues and avoid bad reviews.

8. Don't stress about getting Superhost status........the evidence shows that people will generally book based on your photos, amenities and reviews before superhost status. At least half of my guests were not even aware of Superhost status.

9.Try and be pet friendly......it will pay you dividends..........!!!!

10. If you provide breakfast or food in the listing then try and cater for peoples dietry needs if possible. Are they vegan, lactose free, have any allergies etc? You can't cater for everything/everyone but the simple gesture of asking makes a world of difference to guests.

11. Try and avoid cleaning fees if possible, it is a real put off for guests. Instead, incorporate it into your listing price.

12. Have business cards made up and leave them in and around the listing. Have your Airbnb link on it.

13. Advertise in social media. Instagram is way better than FB and can showcase your listing better. You can also put your Airbnb link on your profile.

14. Read people comments and advice in these discussions rooms but DON'T take it all to seriously. What might be good for one is bad for another. However, there is some great advice on here.

15. Stick to what you believe your listing is worth!!! If you need to check that your price is right then ask the people that matter.....your guests! I am regularly told I should charge more!

16. Offer a 10% discount to returning guests. Tell them on departure to set a good tone. Helps with reviews as well.

17. If you are starting off with a listing and want to go the extra mile, then give guests a bottle of wine on arrival. It makes a huge difference.

18. If possible, try and provide a few biscuits etc for afternoon tea when guest arrive. It makes a huge difference.

19. Clean, clean and clean your listing..............most bad reviews are left because of cleanliness reasons.

20. Iron T towels.....seems silly but looks good. 

I hope that has helped a few people. Please add your own ideas for us but remember the ones listed above a a few of my things and does not mean everyone has to do it.

[Ute42]

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Hi @Sandra126 ,

Yes, I agree. @Gordon has one of the best listing desrciptions on airbnb.

[Sam397]

@ Sharon,  have a question about how you do your sheets,  do you take them out of washer then spray starch on them and then stick in dryer or do you dry them and then spray starch on them and stick back in dryer?

@Angus-and-David0, man when somebody flips your switch you just pounce on everybody dont you.  I am guessing you have had pets most of your life. I dont mean this to disrespectful nor am I insulting you but houses that have pets living in them do have oders, they are not as noticable to people who has pets themselves because they are used to the odors but to people who dont have pets they are much more noticable. Is it a horid smell, I dont know about that but I guess that depends on the person. Personally I think cigars are horid smelling, they instanly make me gag, but there are people who arent bothered by them a bit and even enjoy their smell. I can see how Gordons comment  might have been  litttle offensive to someone who is a bit sensative but why be rude to Sharon, all she did was say ironing sheets is time consuming. She wasn't lying, or trying to make you look bad.

I think you started a great post with some great tips, but that dont mean them tips cant be improved on, or acheived in a differnt ways. So to get upset and be rude to somebody who did nothing but suggest a different way to obtain the same result is messed up. Nothing a apology wouldnt fix but still messed up.

[Sandra126]

My best hosting tip is this: Make a place you yourself would be pleasantly surprised by. Would you be thrilled to see a petfriendly place? Make one! Are you an electric blanket fan? Buy one! Are you an ardent fan of ironed sheets? Start ironing! Do you enjoy grumpy hosts? Become one! In other words, we are all different and will attract different guests. Do unto others, is the motto I seek.

[Robert1168]

I am from Jamaica and loving this post, electric blanket, hmmm.

[Sandra126]

Hi @Robert1168, welcome to visit in winter any time. Guests love it, the low light outside, the bare trees against a blue grey leaden sky, the open fires, the ELECTRIC BLANKET! or lecky blanky as a friend calls it. Aussies often put an ''y'' at the ends of words.

Soon I will be in summer temperatures as our spring is very brief, we can sometimes go from winter to summer in a day. Then back again, frost biting the recently planted tomatoes. I also provide massive fake fur coats for guests so they can sit outside if they like and not be cold as the evening chill rolls in.