What could we be doing better?

Question

Is anyone interested in looking at our airbnb listings and recommending what we might be able to improve in our offerings?

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2997125?adults=12&chi...

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4630816?location=Ocea...

We never intended to get into the vacation rental business, but we are now in a position to get it right. We want to put our best door forward. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Paul Sandhu · Answer

The first link, Home in Paradise.  That first picture reminds me of certain news stories....

News stories that involve a group of people holed up or barricaded in a COMPOUND and surrounded by the ATF, the FBI, and state and local authorities.  News helicopters are in the distance and take pictures of the COMPOUND to show during the broadcast of the news article of the stand-off.  Your aerial picture makes your property look like a COMPOUND.

Don't make your property look the Boyd Compound.

Linda S. · Answer

@Kevin Boyd,

It's $750/night... hire a professional and get better pictures!!!!!  Hire a stager..  pictures are everything!!!

It looks like a gorgeous place, but I put  pic #3 as the main picture.. once I looked around I was wowed.. but based on the first picture, it looks like you were taking pictures with an old camera... hire a photographer ASAP.

Dan H. · Answer

My wife wanted me to provide her input.

As most noted photos can be improved but she also thinks the units can use an interior decorator.  She thinks it can benefit from little things like area rugs and different arrangement of furnishing.  She also hated seeing the floor fan in a picture.  It goes in the closet and hopefully is not needed.

To me I see all the fun things and care little about area rugs but I will say the wife books almost all of our accommodations. I do not know if that is normal but in our house it is much more important to convince the wife that it is a place we want to stay than it is to convince me.   So believe her recommendations.

For me fun accommodation and fun things to do nearby.   For the wife she wants the place to look much nicer than what we live in.  She does not need to go on vacation to live in a place decorated similar or worse than our place.

So you get the male perspective in my earlier post and the wife’s perspective here.

Good luck

Bruce May · Answer

@Kevin Boyd Can't agree more with getting professional photos done, especially for your San Marcos home. I don't know the rules for photos, but if allowed I'd add photos of the Oceanside beach and pier, Legoland, Seaworld, Zoo, etc..

Kevin Boyd · Answer

Thanks for all the fantastic advise. We just had pictures taken and have updated our listings. Any more advise is certainly appreciated!

https://www.vrbo.com/683068#photos

https://www.vrbo.com/653034

Aaron T. · Answer

remove anything about remodeled, this would only be good if you are selling it. The photos will speak for the quality and currency of the property. try not to list the property like you are selling it.

honestly, my only advise is if you have a home that big, go out and spend money on someone to put together a description, photos, website, and a marketing package. if you are doing this one your own, you are missing the mark.

Luke Carl · Answer

First review:

"Bring your own bedding, firepits don’t work, jacuzzi not too warm, carpets are dirty/stained, loose tiles on deck & top of stairs so watch your step, got bug bites while asleep ..other than that it was a big place for families to hang out."

If this was my market I'd never get another booking. Anything less than 5 star everything and people will go with the guy next door instead of me.

Bug bites while sleeping? Not good. Call the exterminator. Start there. Then get yourself some sheets. If your fire pits are not useable get rid of them. Replace the flooring. Fix the jacuzzi. Sounds like you need to get to work. Anything less than a 5 star review should ruin your day.

Fix everything then reply to these reviews with the fact that all issues have been addressed. I wouldn't even click on a listing that had 4 stars and no superhost. Maybe your market isn't as competitive as mine, but if this were in my market you'd get swallowed.

Robert Callaway · Answer

As many are mentioning photos I thought I'd give you a good option to really take it up a notch.

https://www.dronehousemedia.com/

Having a drone take pictures will give you the best angles.

Bettina F. · Answer

Partner with caterer and a minister and offer "turn key"  weddings for an extra fee.  It would be a great location for a second wedding where families brought their kids.  You would have to greatly increase the cleaning fee -- no one wants to clean up after a wedding!

What could we be doing better?

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