Getting Started

I'm Excited!!!

You've put time, and probably plenty of money into your new unit that will go on Airbnb. Many first timers will put a completely open calendar on Airbnb, then regret it a few minutes later. Why's that?

Two things to avoid with a new unit

Airbnb may recommend you offer a discount to your first three guests. You may have also given a discount for one week, or one month stays. That can help get you some guests, but it can be problematic.

If it's a busy time for other hosts in your area, your completely open calendar may allow a long term guest an opportunity to book a place for an extended period. The problem being, 1.) you have no reviews, so you'd like a few quick one night stays where you can be sure you will get five stars. 2.) This guest is getting a discount. Giving a percentage off of a long stay may be great for the guest, but it's not a great way for you to get started. This can be doubly bad if you already have given the guest a discount for the week or month. Combine the two discounts, and you may be wondering why you're doing Airbnb, and not a regular rental (because the rate may be similar after the double discounts!).

Consider either a Rule Set, or block some dates so a long stay is Impossible

You will learn later on that a rule set lets you have better control over the bookings you will accept. You create a rule, for example, no stay over 3 nights. You then go to your calendar, and select a range of dates, maybe the first two months of your new calendar, and apply the rule. We're not saying to keep this rule forever. After you get a few short bookings, go back in and remove this rule.

Basic Approach for New Hosts

Keep it Simple

Items in the unit should need few instructions

Guests will read as little as possible. Items in your place should be simple to use. Complicatated instructions will turn off guests.

Keep the rules limited

Our only rule is no big parties. Telling an adult when they need to be quiet? If they need to be told, they aren't going to listen to you.

Checkout instructions

Again, fewer is better. A good guest is going to wash the dishes, a bad one won't. Telling them to do it will end up with less than clean items getting put away, only to be found by the next guest.

Guest Interaction

It's important to remember that guests don't book your place just to stay there, they've booked to accomplish some larger goal. Whether it's attend a concert, work in the area, or just passing through while returning home.

Don't focus on the unit

As strange as it may sound, when I interact with the guest, I try not to talk about the unit. Keep conversations upbeat and light. Let the guest steer the conversation.

Follow up by asking questions specific to why they booked in the first place

If a guest is in town to see a game, ask about that. Do you go to a lot of 'x' games? Have fun at the game, will you eat before going to the game? (Be ready with a recommendation.)

Just before the Guest Arrives

We want to send a message to the guest that the unit is clean. Maybe an hour before the guest arrives, we'll go through a unit with a final cleaning/quick inspection. We'll wipe down some of the solid surfaces with a cleaning product that will be noticeable, but not overwhelming.

We will also walk in the unit, as if we are the guest. Walkin, what do you notice that isn't quite right? Is the bed made well? Is there a new roll of toilet paper? No stray hairs in the bathroom? Did the vacuum miss anything? If there are printed instructions for the guest are they in a spot where the guest will see them? Is the heat/AC working? Is the wireless working? If you have a tv or cable, is the remote working? Did the last guest disconnect the HDMI cable?

Keep in mind that the average guest has selected your space, and in the first few minutes they just want it to be confirmed they made a good choice. We've found that if you make it through the first few minutes, for the most part, the visit is going to go just fine.