5 Tips for New Airbnb Host: Insights from a Superhost

Starting your journey as an Airbnb host can be both thrilling and daunting. After three years of renting out my personal apartment and achieving Superhost status, I’ve gained invaluable insights into what it takes to succeed in this competitive space. Here are my top five tips, designed to help you maximize your income while minimizing the headaches that often accompany hosting.

Tip #5: Expand Your Reach by Listing on VRBO

Many hosts mistakenly believe that focusing solely on Airbnb will yield the best results. However, listing your property on VRBO can significantly increase your visibility and booking potential. When I first started, I was hesitant to diversify my listings, thinking it might dilute my efforts. Yet, after finally making the leap to list on VRBO, I quickly discovered its advantages.

Why VRBO Matters

Different Audience: VRBO tends to attract families and larger groups, while Airbnb often caters to solo travelers and couples. By listing on both platforms, you can tap into varied demographics.
Increased Bookings: In my experience, I secured multiple bookings on VRBO within just a month, despite having zero reviews on that platform initially. It was a reminder of how much potential I had overlooked. VRBO now represents 22-28% of my annual bookings.
Quick Setup: Transferring your Airbnb listing to VRBO is straightforward and can take as little as 20 minutes. Just duplicate your existing listing details, and you’re set to go. This means more exposure without much extra work.

Tip #4: Install an Electronic Keypad Door Lock

Managing guest access is crucial for a smooth hosting experience. Investing in an electronic keypad door lock can drastically simplify this aspect of your operations.

Benefits of Keypad Locks

Enhanced Security: Unlike traditional lockboxes, which can be targeted by thieves, keypad locks provide a unique entry code for each guest. This code can easily be changed or expired after their stay, minimizing security risks.
Convenient Check-Ins: No need to meet guests in person for key handoffs, which can save you valuable time. Instead, guests can check in at their convenience, which enhances their overall experience.
Access Tracking: Many electronic locks come with apps that allow you to monitor who enters the property and when. For instance, you can easily check the time the cleaners accessed your unit, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Automation: There are even systems available that can automate the process of sending new codes to guests, further streamlining your operations.

Tip #3: Automate Your Messaging

Effective communication with guests is key, but it can also be time-consuming. Fortunately, automating your messaging can save you a significant amount of time and effort.

How Automation Works

Built-in Features: Airbnb now offers automated messaging for free, allowing you to set up standard messages for check-in instructions, checkout reminders, and review requests. This reduces the number of individual messages you need to send.
Time Savings: I’ve found that automation can cut down my manual messaging by around 80%. I now only need to respond to unique inquiries or issues, allowing me to focus on other aspects of hosting.
Templates Available: If you’re unsure what messages to automate, I’ve created templates that you can access via my website. Feel free to copy and modify them to fit your needs!

Tip #2: Hire a Professional Cleaner

While it might seem like a given, having a dedicated cleaner can make a world of difference in your hosting experience. The benefits extend far beyond just cleaning.

More Than Just Cleaning

Property Management: A good cleaner can act as an informal property manager over time, checking for damages, reporting maintenance issues, and providing feedback on guest behavior.
Inventory Management: Cleaners can also help keep track of inventory items like towels, linens, and toiletries, ensuring you’re always stocked up for incoming guests.
Turnover Efficiency: Using apps like TurnoverBnB can help automate the scheduling of cleanings and communicate seamlessly with your cleaning team. For reference, I typically pay around $105 for a thorough cleaning of my three-bedroom unit, which I believe is a worthwhile investment. Feel free to use the code "KEVIN004" $50 in free credits with TurnoverBnB.

Tip #1: Invest in Professional Photography

In today’s digital world, visuals matter more than ever. With Airbnb recently removing titles from listings, the quality of your photos is now the main factor influencing potential guests’ decisions. Airbnb claims hosts can get up to 20% more bookings and more earnings with professional pictures. Plus this is a very quick return on your investment and usually see more bookings within days or weeks of updating pictures.

Why Professional Photos?

First Impressions Count: High-quality images can significantly enhance your listing's appeal. Potential guests are far more likely to book a property with stunning, well-lit photographs that showcase the space effectively.
Competitive Advantage: If your competition is using professional photography, failing to do so puts you at a disadvantage. The difference in presentation can be the deciding factor for guests choosing between multiple listings.
Affordable Options: You don’t have to break the bank for great photos. Airbnb offers a service to connect you with professional photographers who can take and edit pictures for you. Plus, the costs can be deducted from your next booking, making it a manageable expense.

Professional pictures from Airbnb, is surprisingly reasonably priced too. It makes sense since Airbnb knows how important high quality pictures are with helping to increase bookings. Check out the link to get a free proposal directly from Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/d/pro-photography

Bonus Tips for New Hosts

Use Third-Party Booking Software: Consider integrating a third-party booking tool to help optimize your pricing. While Airbnb has some pricing features, they often prioritize their own revenue over yours. I personally use Beyond Pricing and have noticed a 15-25% increase in average booking price with the same percentage of booked nights.
Automate Door Check-In: Apps like Yale allow you to automate the door check-in process by sending temporary codes to new guests, ensuring secure access without manual intervention.
Update Your Profile Picture: A friendly, approachable profile photo can help foster trust with potential guests. Changing my profile picture from a professional LinkedIn shot to a more casual family-friendly image made a noticeable difference in guest interactions.

Conclusion

These tips can dramatically enhance your experience as an Airbnb host, leading to increased revenue and reduced stress. I sincerely wish someone had shared these insights with me when I first began. If you found this information helpful, please subscribe and share it with others. Together, we can build a community of successful hosts!

What tips have you found most beneficial in your Airbnb journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below.