Tips To Being A 5-Star Airbnb Host

Tips To Being A 5-Star Airbnb Host

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

Here are 4 tips to help get you a 5-star review every time!

1) Responsiveness

- This is a MUST!!

- As soon as you get a message from a guest, I call it “GO TIME”

 - This is your time to respond to the guest as soon as possible

- There is nothing like incredible customer service

- If there are any issues with their stay, it is your job to make sure you do everything you can to solve the problem as quickly as possible

    2) Be very clear with your check-in instructions

    - I like to say, pretend you are a first grader

    - No need to overcomplicate how to check into your property

    - The last thing you want to happen is for someone to struggle to get into your property

    - First impressions are everything and if they can’t get into the property, there is a very high chance you just went from a 5 to a 4-star review. Crazy but it sure happens!

      3) Create a welcome book (physical) or an online guidebook

      - This helps the guest get all of the information they need about the property and answer any questions they may have

      - Also with online guidebooks, a lot of times they have to put in their email to access. This is a great way to build an email list for off-platform bookings as well!

      - Put information about amenities, how to work certain appliances, how to work the TV, garbage, nearby restaurants, grocery stores, shops, bars, and local attractions

      4) Reviews

      - If the guest had a great experience, you want to write a review for the guest ASAP

      - The stay is fresh in their mind and then the guest will get an alert to write a review of their stay

      - Neither parties will be able to see the review until both people write their review

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

          I wrote an article recently on this that compliments a lot of what you said. Particularly around Superhost. I’ll try to post it this wkend on my Bigger Pockets blog. 

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

          @Leslie Anne Morris Awesome and would love to read it!

        • Member since 2020 · 223 posts · 233 votes
          4y

          I would say you missed the most important aspect. Explaining to guests that 4 stars is a below average review, and will get you kicked off their platform (literally, if your review score drops close to a 4.2 or so, Airbnb may remove you) 

          The rating system is non intuitive and people assume 3 is average. You must educate them before they leave a review unfortunately. 

          The other important aspect is that you must pay guests who are pissed off so they don't leave a bad review. It's unfortunate but extortion works on Airbnb. Unless they explicitly state 'I will leave you a bad review unless you pay up' they can easily get away with 'I had a bad experience because of X, please send me a partial refund' and you will pay them or suffer a 1 or 2 star review tanking your rating. 

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