All booking inquiries now are asking for discounts offers

[Elea0]

We haven’t had any bookings for the past 3 months, and all booking inquiries now are asking for discounts offers. Do you experience the same? There are so many fees involved in hosting, and if the margin drops below 10%, it’s hard for us to justify offering discounts. The price has already been significantly reduced. Noticing that guests are becoming more focused on asking for lower rates.

Are some hosts really working for just a 10% margin while doing all the labor? My place is spotless, and Airbnb has increased their fees, yet we don’t see much of that. In the end, it’s barely $8 per night if we offer discounts, there’s nothing left to earn.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Elea0 

Good question!

We do not make much at all on our hosting, once we back out our list of fixed expenses. Definitely nowhere near minimum wage, and we do not offer discounts. Seriously, if it did not bring us so much joy, we'd most likely stop.

Make a list, see how it works for you. Be sure to include extra utilities, income taxes, repairs, supplies, business-only purchases, etc. For us, this is a vocation, and offering hospitality is a very lovely thing. We are grateful for the bit of income we do realize. It supplements our social security and helps with maintenance of our home, property taxes, and the enormous insurance bills. It helps us to remain in our beloved home in our "retirement" and is a worthy "project" to keep us young and vibrantly alive! I guess this labels us "originals" in Airbnb, and we are grateful and proud of that tradition. ♥️

Just our two cents worth!

Best wishes and may your hosting be a source of joy for you and your guests!

[Joan2709]

@Kitty-and-Creek0 

Well said! 😊

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

💖

Thank you!  @Joan2709 

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

@Elea0 

Profit margins on renting rooms on Airbnb are slim for sure. I do think you are priced a bit too high for off-season and your cleaning fee is a bit high ($69) more than your nightly rate which is $60. 

Cleaning Fee

I would lower the cleaning fee ($69) to be more competitive. Perhaps $54? Whatever you decide, make the cleaning fee lower than your nightly rate though.

Min Stay

2night min reduces your visibility in guest searches. I would turn on Professional Tools and create a Rule Set that allows 1night stays in slow season during the week. Keep your weekends at 2night mins. The more you appear in guest searches, the more you will be seen and the more you can get booked.

Using Professional Tools & Rule Sets

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Community-Guides/GUIDE-Use-Pro-Tools-to-Set-Calendar-Custom-Pric...

Offer a Discount for 3+Nights

Create a Rule Set that offers a 10% discount if the guest books 3+nights. Highlight that you have a discount for 3+ nights by adding "Discounts for 3+nights" as the first sentence of your description. 

Add Some Custom Promotions

You get 4 benefits if using Custom Promotions to lower your price. Benefits are only applied at 10% 15% and 20% discounts. Even if guests don't book, you are getting free advertising for you listing this way if they click your thumbnail photo in search. I would start by offering a custom promotion for weekdays. Be careful though...if you have early bird or last minute discounts they  will stack on top of your promotion discount. We do not offer those discounts for that reason, as we use Custom Promotions alot.

Create Custom Promotions

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2982

Consider adding a 3rd Listing - Same Property

I would consider creating a 3rd listing that combines both rooms (2 gueen bedrooms each has their own bathroom) and list that for 4 guests. Many guest are looking for 2 bedrooms for mom/dad in one and kids in the other, or two couples traveling together. I would of course price it higher. Be sure to sync the calendars properly to avoid double bookings. Be advised that only reservations will properly sync on all calendars. If you want to use the property for personal use, you have to block all (3) calendars.

Multiple Listings - Calendar Sync

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1864

[Elisa]

Hi @Elea0 😊, 

Thank you so much for asking this question in the Community Center!

What do you think of @Joan2709's reply? Did it help you better understand the situation?

Don't hesitate to let us know if you need more help with this!

Warm regards 🌻