Vacation Rental Rapid Customer Service (Airbnb)

Vacation Rental Rapid Customer Service (Airbnb)

Rental Property Investor · Orlando, FL · Member since 2021 · 20 posts · 9 votes

In todays Society, a review can make or break your business. In the vacation STR realm, on a platform such as Airbnb it is no different and often even an inaccurate review can have this effect.

In my experience dealing with countless issues, whether big or small, “quickly” understanding the current guest, their needs, and their perception of your property is paramount. 

With vacation rentals I have come to understand that you are advertising a perception that must meet each individual guests reality in order to maintain a 5 star experience for each individual. Each guest has their own idea of what a five star experience should entail. So how do you deal with the outliers? 

Building an effective system to deal with specific common issues quickly without putting in my time and effort has been extremely beneficial to me. Understand things you are willing to compensate for and decide a fair amount for those things. Above all, keep track of each instance. This can help you with trending and give you a more accurate estimate of where and when and who your problems could be moving forward.

Last year just two of the properties (Smokey Mountain, TN/ St Augustine,FL) had over 120 guests who brought an average of 6 people with them. Thats over 700 individual people, each with their own thoughts and ideas on what your property SHOULD be. 

Bottom line… if you aren’t great with dealing with people this type of property might not be for you. 

Maximizing on rapid customer service and effective honest advertising will keep you on track for these cash flow cows. 

Looking to hear what others think on this topic.. all perspectives. Just wanted to start a conversation that could help some individuals on the fence about this or in the midst of it.


If you have a specific concern or comment feel free to message me directly! 


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Dave StokleyBusiness Member
Property Manager · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 705 posts · 799 votes
4y

Congrats on your success Scott. I'm gonna preface this by saying that my company goes above and beyond to provide amazing experiences to our guests. Our goal is to be the best and we think we are (AirDNA recently validated that), and we know what we're signing up for with that goal. We have over 3,800 reviews and maintain SuperHost status. I offer this not-so-humble brag so that what I'm about to say isn't interpreted as us not caring.

So all that being said, I really believe that you have to have to understand your limits and set boundaries, manage expectations, and just get comfortable with a few realities of the business we're in...

#1 You can't please everyone. The sooner you accept THIS the easier your life as an STR owner will be. Doesn't mean you should blow off unhappy customers, but decide what your level of service is going to be, don't overpromise, and deliver what you do promise. To that end...

#2 You are not operating a hotel. Don't try. You don't have staff at the desk 24/7, you don't have 20 other rooms next-door to clean if a guest decides they want to stay longer, and you are not (despite many peoples' perception) a large multinational billion-dollar corporation. 

#3 Allow yourself some grace. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while. I know your guests do it all the time and you probably let it go the vast majority of the time. We have high expectations, hold ourselves and our employees to them, and only keep people who live up to them, but when someone makes an honest mistake... hey, it happens! As Phil Knight said in Shoe Dog "It's never just business. If it ever does become just business, that will mean that business is very bad." 

Cheers everyone!

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  • Dave StokleyBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 705 posts · 799 votes
    4y

    Congrats on your success Scott. I'm gonna preface this by saying that my company goes above and beyond to provide amazing experiences to our guests. Our goal is to be the best and we think we are (AirDNA recently validated that), and we know what we're signing up for with that goal. We have over 3,800 reviews and maintain SuperHost status. I offer this not-so-humble brag so that what I'm about to say isn't interpreted as us not caring.

    So all that being said, I really believe that you have to have to understand your limits and set boundaries, manage expectations, and just get comfortable with a few realities of the business we're in...

    #1 You can't please everyone. The sooner you accept THIS the easier your life as an STR owner will be. Doesn't mean you should blow off unhappy customers, but decide what your level of service is going to be, don't overpromise, and deliver what you do promise. To that end...

    #2 You are not operating a hotel. Don't try. You don't have staff at the desk 24/7, you don't have 20 other rooms next-door to clean if a guest decides they want to stay longer, and you are not (despite many peoples' perception) a large multinational billion-dollar corporation. 

    #3 Allow yourself some grace. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while. I know your guests do it all the time and you probably let it go the vast majority of the time. We have high expectations, hold ourselves and our employees to them, and only keep people who live up to them, but when someone makes an honest mistake... hey, it happens! As Phil Knight said in Shoe Dog "It's never just business. If it ever does become just business, that will mean that business is very bad." 

    Cheers everyone!

  • Cambridge, MA · Member since 2015 · 652 posts · 736 votes
    4y

    I wish I could find the BiggerPockets posting from a 5-Star host a few months ago. She outlined some very simple steps that have kept her listings with close to 5 star ratings. I received some unusually low ratings in January that had brought my overall ratings down to 4.89. In April I made some changes, following her recommendations, and I'm now up to 4.92 and still climbing. I've not gotten an "overall" rating of less than 5 stars after implementing these tips and the majority of ratings are all 5 stars in every category but I still get an occasional 4 stars on value.

    (1) I swear the most effective tip has been sending a message to guests the day following checkin: "[guest first name],  It's Carolyn. How's your stay? Do you need anything? Don't hesitate to reach out if there is anything you need." Guests mention in reviews how well attended to they felt.

    (2) I changed my treats to croissant from a bakery that is a block from the apartment & freshly roasted coffee beans from a nearby locally owned coffee house. The reviews now often mention the treats.

  • Real Estate Agent · Panama City Beach, FL · Member since 2021 · 19 posts · 8 votes
    4y

    Thanks for the good tips Carolyn!

  • Real Estate Agent · Panama City Beach, FL · Member since 2021 · 19 posts · 8 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Dave Stokley:

    Congrats on your success Scott. I'm gonna preface this by saying that my company goes above and beyond to provide amazing experiences to our guests. Our goal is to be the best and we think we are (AirDNA recently validated that), and we know what we're signing up for with that goal. We have over 3,800 reviews and maintain SuperHost status. I offer this not-so-humble brag so that what I'm about to say isn't interpreted as us not caring.

    So all that being said, I really believe that you have to have to understand your limits and set boundaries, manage expectations, and just get comfortable with a few realities of the business we're in...

    #1 You can't please everyone. The sooner you accept THIS the easier your life as an STR owner will be. Doesn't mean you should blow off unhappy customers, but decide what your level of service is going to be, don't overpromise, and deliver what you do promise. To that end...

    #2 You are not operating a hotel. Don't try. You don't have staff at the desk 24/7, you don't have 20 other rooms next-door to clean if a guest decides they want to stay longer, and you are not (despite many peoples' perception) a large multinational billion-dollar corporation. 

    #3 Allow yourself some grace. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while. I know your guests do it all the time and you probably let it go the vast majority of the time. We have high expectations, hold ourselves and our employees to them, and only keep people who live up to them, but when someone makes an honest mistake... hey, it happens! As Phil Knight said in Shoe Dog "It's never just business. If it ever does become just business, that will mean that business is very bad." 

    Cheers everyone!


     Great advice Dave!  It can be hard to realize that no matter what you do, not everyone will be happy.  We do our best, but we are human.  Thanks for the reminder!

  • Ryan MoyerBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Orlando Kissimmee Davenport Salt Lake City, Park City · Member since 2019 · 996 posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    If you have less than 5 or 10 units, it's not that hard.  We all have phones with us all the time.  When you get a message, answer it right away, even if you can't take action right away.  You'd be surprised how many people are completely satisfied that it's something you're acknowledging right away.

    I have 4 listings, all with 90%+ occupancy.  One of them is 9 bedrooms.  So lots of guests coming through.  My star rating is 4.99.  As in I have hundreds of 5* reviews and one single lone 4* review.  I don't do anything that special other than respond to people quickly.  I can't always resolve it quickly, sometimes not at all.  But the guest just knowing that I'm on it and am going to do what I can to help in a timely manner is enough in, well, 99.99% of cases.

    Cosmic Vacations4.9174 Reviews
  • Cambridge, MA · Member since 2015 · 652 posts · 736 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Ryan Moyer:

    If you have less than 5 or 10 units, it's not that hard.  We all have phones with us all the time.  When you get a message, answer it right away, even if you can't take action right away.  You'd be surprised how many people are completely satisfied that it's something you're acknowledging right away.

    I have 4 listings, all with 90%+ occupancy.  One of them is 9 bedrooms.  So lots of guests coming through.  My star rating is 4.99.  As in I have hundreds of 5* reviews and one single lone 4* review.  I don't do anything that special other than respond to people quickly.  I can't always resolve it quickly, sometimes not at all.  But the guest just knowing that I'm on it and am going to do what I can to help in a timely manner is enough in, well, 99.99% of cases.


     I think the reality is no hotel ever reaches these kinds of ratings! We talk about 5* hotels but, no, it never really happens. But I do see really high ratings for some Airbnb units and I'm totally convinced it is because the hosts are completely "customer" focused, which does not mean solving all problems but it does mean responsiveness, never responding defensively, communicating that you care. I was stunned when a light sleeper who was awakened at 7:00 in the morning on their vacation by the water we were running for a few moments in our kitchen sink upstairs from their apartment, still gave us a solid, straight 5 star review. 

    I really enjoy learning hospitality industry skills.

  • Member since 2018 · 58 posts · 24 votes
    4y

    I agree with Dave above. Like him, I run great propertyies, and care deeply about guests having a great experience.

    But with that said, I strongly feel that the STR reviews process has been completely bastardized by AirBNB, and it is spreading. Coming from a Hotelier background, bad reviews can be useful; and ALL 5 star reviews become meanings. A review should not be a commodity that guests can sell; and Hosts are not doing that industry a favor by purchasing them. Every property, should not necessarily be every guests' cup of tea. A negative review can help Hosts keep the guests that that Host does not want (but other Hosts may very much want) from booking. Therefore, guests can be matched up approiately with the right property for them.

    For example, I do not want smokers of any substance, inside or outside of my property. Book elsewhere. Many Hosts don't mind outdoor smoking, or even indoor marijuana use. I state it many times in my listings, and in every pre-arrival and arrival message. But I still have a guest message me after check-in (after acknowlwdging the no smoking policy), "So where can I smoke, since I can't smoke outside." When I explained (basicall) anywhere, but here, she lectured me on how it isn't her fault that she smokes, and don't I think that she wishes that she didn't, and how hard it is being her. Then she proceeded to smoke in our laundry room (which is in an out building in the backyard, and shared with another unit.) I don't actually remember if she reviewed us, but if she did give a negative review, I would have answered, "You are not welcome back." I would have written to furture guests to not come here and smoke. Book another property in you smoke. There are many choices.

    I personally, do not think Hosts who regularly give guests refunds should be bragging about their reviews. I give refunds when my team or I screw up; which, frankly, is slightly above never (we have, but really rarely).

    That's my two cents.

  • Nathan FaseltBusiness Member
    Rental Property Investor · Iowa City, IA · Member since 2019 · 94 posts · 35 votes
    4y

    In addition to @Carolyn Fuller point of ask guest do they need anything. ( after night 1 )    I have had a lot of luck asking after they have left ( We strive for a five star experience. Is there any feedback/ suggestions or items to improve the home for the next guess stay?  )   This allows them to help you out for free and saves you the time to get the thing they suggest right NOW to them. but rather offers the past guest a peace of mind knowing they may have made the stay for future guest better.  And if they were thinking about putting this in a review you can over compliment/ praise  their idea to be implement potential waiting the information to be added in a review 

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