Why you should be using instant bookings on Airbnb

Why you should be using instant bookings on Airbnb

Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2019 · 231 posts · 256 votes

Let’s talk about instant bookings.

I highly recommend turning on instant bookings for Airbnb.

I always want to make everything EASY and SEAMLESS for the traveler.

Instant bookings allow the traveler to book at their convenience INSTANTLY without having to send a request to book and your listing will rank higher in the search results.

As long as the traveler meets all requirements you have set on Airbnb, they are automatically booked at your property.

Let’s talk about what requirements you should set up in Airbnb to allow instant bookings and ways to prevent a bad traveler. 

I'm not saying that things won't happen, but in this case, you are doing your best to prevent it. 

1) Government-issued ID required - Require guests to submit government ID to Airbnb in order to Instant Book. If they don't meet this requirement, they will send a request instead.

2) Host recommendation required - Require guests to have recommendations from other Airbnb Hosts and no negative reviews. If they don’t meet this requirement, they will send a request instead.

3) Pre-booking message required - Require guests to read and respond to a message before they confirm their reservation. I like to put:

What brings you to X location? What is the age range of the group? Will you be bringing any pets? If so, what is the breed and weight of the pet?

    I have found an increase in traffic and bookings by having instant bookings on! 

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    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      4y

      I turned off instant booking during covid.

      Vrbo still keeps my calendar slam full and at top dollar. So I see no need to turn it back on.

    • Real Estate Agent · Smoky Mountains, TN · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 984 votes
      4y

      My property management company has instant booking but we are picky! 

    • Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2019 · 231 posts · 256 votes
      4y

      @Leslie Anne Morris For sure! Definitely important to stick to your standards! 

    • Michael BaumPro Member
      Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
      4y

      Nope. No way I will use instant booking. I vet each and every guest that stays with us and it hasn't impacted us at all. I believe it has prevented bad guests from staying with us.

    • Cliff H.Pro Member
      Rental Property Investor · Nashua, NH · Member since 2014 · 587 posts · 477 votes
      4y

      Not sure I understand this post: Instant Book, at least as it exists on AirBnB, does little/nothing to screen guests. Email, phone, picture, and a recommendation from their friend whose AirBnB bedroom they stayed in for a 5 star review: is that what we’re supposed to place our trust in? Don’t get me wrong, no disagreement with the SEO impact of Instant vs manual approvals on new listings, but as others have said once you’re established as one of the more active listings on any of the booking sites you’re similarly ranked unless guests go out of their way to check the Instant Book filter.  

      And while others have rightfully point out the rarity of having to cancel a guest with an instant-approved booking, the new AirBnB penalties of $50 - $1000 for any cancelled guests stays is worth understanding before finding one’s self in a situation where you’re paying a lot of money just to cancel a potentially problematic reservation

    • New Bern, NC · Member since 2017 · 246 posts · 173 votes
      4y

      @Bailey Kramer

      Hi Bailey. I agree. I've been using instant book since I started in 2019. I love it. It's simple. Occupancy stays high. Most of my guests have been great.

    • New Bern, NC · Member since 2017 · 246 posts · 173 votes
      4y

      @Bailey Kramer

      Hi Bailey. I agree. I've been using instant book since I started in 2019. I love it. It's simple. Occupancy stays high. Most of my guests have been great.

    • Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2019 · 231 posts · 256 votes
      4y

      @Patricia Taveras Glad to hear it is working well for you too!

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