Recent Low booking rate

[Dee28]

My bookings have fallen drastically. I am usually fully booked for rhe summer by now. Anyone else experiencing this?

[Rebecca]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're experiencing a drop in bookings @Dee28. Have you made any changes recently? Sometimes keeping your listing fresh, updating the contents and photos can apparently help with visibility. 

@Karen114, @Frances3408 and @Marie8425 might be able to spot something or at least offer some support or advice. 

[Marie8425]

@Dee28 

Your issue is probably lack of display by the Airbnb Search Engine.  Once the Overall Review Rating for a listing falls below the Airbnb Standard of 4.8 your display is on a lower page, falling below the Airbnb Standard of 4.6 a listing faces possible suspension to repair issues.

You have both issues on your listings.

Review for each listing Review Categories.

Your intent is to be as close to 5 in each category.

Some things like dings on cleanliness you have to take an action to fix.

Other things like location or value, dings in those areas are a personal opinion but then you need to present differently to decrease incorrect expectations.

That doesn't mean present in a negative way, but be clear to everyone.  Reading the positive reviews on location are from people who understood your pricing is a lot cheaper than the tourist neighborhoods and very convenient for what they planned.  Accepting reservations from the wrong market has caused negative reviews to overtake positive.

You have it in you even the mad guests compliment you.

Fix the issue.

You are going to have to think what is the best sale price you cn offer.

Use Airbnb Custom Discount Tool by offering a 20% discount Airbnb will provide marketing to generate traffic.

Turning on Airbnb Instabook even temporarily will give your listing a boost in the Airbnb Search Engine.

[Marie8425]

@Dee28 

Example may help, my property is also not the hot spot of Arizona haha, but my guests all give me a 5 for location.  My price is obviously a lot cheaper than say a Phoenix rental.  

My description is al positive but only occasionally I get an inquiry that I did yesterday.

The potential message from the guest I answered just want to confirm you did note and I mentioned about 3 items that I suspected would not make this a good one month reservation.  I guess she didn't. she never responded and didn't book.  

Simple things like by the way my town doesn't have public transportation.

My normal market, has a vehicle, a positive for them not to have to deal with buses on the road.

You have a lot of positive reviews.  That is your market.  Focus on attracting your market not on scaring away your non market.  The ad positively saying a good fit for this type also tells the non market if this isn't a positive reason for you this isn't a good pick.  Achieves both goals.

[Helen3]

If most of your guests are from abroad it's probably the Trump affect @Dee28 

[Helen3]

Sorry should have checked your listing . Airbnb sees anything under 4.6 as listings that need to improve or you're in danger of getting them removed from the platform.

yours is 4.39 with complaints about cleaniness, noise and the neighbourhood.

do you manage guest expectations by mentioning your location and the noise up front in your listing and your neighbourhood  description ?

what systems have you put in place to address the cleanliness issues?  Do you do spot checks of your cleaners for example? Do you feedback on issues your guests are raising? 

[Frances3408]

@Dee28. How are your competitors faring? If they are not being booked too then demand overall is down (most likely). So remaining few travellers will be very picky. What page is your listings appearing on? Without great ratings you rank behind New listings, those getting regular bookings, Guest Favourite, Superhost and high ratings in general (per property).

Use this quiet time to go back over the criticisms and lower ratings from previous reviews and where possible, consider fixes. Ideally you need a place that is easy to clean and turnover and appeals to most guests.

I also note some issues happened because the listing was not personally checked prior to a booking. Why would you rely on contractors cleaning up to a standard required for an incoming guest? (I have done many renos over the years). If in doubt, block rather than take a 1 night that risks a poor review.

Good reviews come from being on the ground to continually check everything is working ok before every stay. If you arent able, then pay a co host to do this part with a checklist.

Also, seriously consider whether some locations are less suitable for consistent Airbnb bookings rather than say longer term rentals. The picky guests who can afford to travel in 2025 still want to spend as little as possible but expect so much more.

Hope this helps.