Airbnb Lessons via experience?

[Brittany Villamil]

Does anyone have a few tips or things they wish they would have known etc before they started an Airbnb!? I will be starting one this summer and am curious if anyone has any cool “tricks” they’ve learned to get more bookings, get positive reviews etc. or if there are any horror stories out there!! Things I should be aware of etc.

[Jerry Jenkins]

Whee do I start??? I started Airbnb while living in a 4 bedroom 2 bath home and renting rooms for over a year and then switch to whole house listing jan of 2017. Here are a few recommendations to consider.

1.White decent sheets. I paid $300 per sheet set for 750 thread count and after 200+reviews I have had ZERO comments on sheets.

2.Schlage smart lock with wifi linked to a Vera Lite Hub.I can program each guest a code to their Airbnb phone number and control down to the minute when the code works and get emails or texts showing who opened the lock when.  Most guests I never have to meet and they can checkin anytime.  maids also get a code.

3.Ring Stick Up Camera also linked to Vera Lite Hub motion activated so where guest arrive I have ability to see AND TALK to them if they are having problems with lock. No monthly fee unless you want cloud storage of videos in case of theft or too many guests arriving Monthly fee is $3.00 a month.

4. 2 sheet sets per bed AND 2 Comforters for quicker change over.

5 HUGE tip....Beyondpricing.com. They will give you a 90 free trial and use Hotel/Airplane pricing model that factors in local events, avg. rate of hotels, avg. rate for other Airbnb listings and their occupancy rate to change your room pricing every night.  After 90 days if you continue they charge 1% of booked revenue and you can link Airbnb/Homeaway/VRBO colanders together so no double bookings. I usually get $250 to$325 a night for Friday and Saturday and they priced last New Years at over $900 and still somebody booked it for 2 days paying me $1400.  that one booking for 2 nights paid me for their service for over a year.

Maids; have a couple of different people you can call in case one is not able to make it or if their cleaning standards drop off.

6. White towels; I put 2 per room and have another 2 per room in closet for fast change over if needed.

7.Fast internet connection with a very good router for better video from camera and guest ability to stream movies.