All Forum Posts by: Carolyn Fuller

@Cody Lewis I think the important thing is to (1) make sure there is a good reason for any messages, like highlighting things that could be "gotchas" or being pro-active about making sure they have all they need and (2) make sure you aren't duplicating information that can change over time. My messages will have [short cuts] to information within the listing so when the information changes, I only have to update it in a single location.

As a guest, I can't tell you the number of times there are discrepancies between what a host will tell me in a message versus what the Airbnb listing will say. Discrepancies typically are wifi passwords and smart lock codes but they can be anything, like checkout instructions or the color of the house. I find it so much easier to put all the information that could change over time into a single listing location and then have my auto & manual quick responses use [short cuts] to that information.

As an Airbnb guest and host, I think that is too many automatic messages. Don't forget that Airbnb is sending messages, as well, so you will be doubling up.

I have 3 auto messages:

(1) Booked instantly - I let them know we are looking forward to their visit and highlight the unusual things about the listing that they might have overlooked about the listing and let them know they can cancel within 48 hours.

(2) Morning after check-in - Asking them how their stay is and if there is anything they need.

(3) 5:00 pm the evening before check-out reminding them of the check-out time and instructions.

8 days before check-in, I send them a manual message reminding them of the upcoming booking and asking them for their ETA for an in-person check-in or instructions if they'd prefer a self-checkin. It is manual because I often know their ETA and need to modify the message.

I also have a manual message I send them after I know they have checked out that has been very successful:

[guest first name],


Thanks! Safe travels and hope to host your next trip to Cambridge.


Don't forget to leave us a review on Airbnb!


Also, we strive for a five star experience. Is there any feedback/ suggestions or items to improve the home for the next guest stay?

Hi Sathya, I live in Cambridge, MA and have 2 rentals. One of the rentals, I rent mid term, by the semester to visiting scholars and the other rental, I rent short term during the summer and mid term during the academic year.

@JD Martin "My international bookings, which usually comes from Booking com, have completely dried up ever since the dollar got real strong against foreign currency."

Ditto. I usually get at least 40% international bookings. That was still true for my May and June bookings but has completely dried up since then.

 I read that Booking.com was also taking a hit and yet, I also read that the tourist industry was experiencing a boom. It's not making a lot of sense. 

I'm not sure our individual experiences are correlated to what's happening overall but I've definitely experienced many more last minute bookings than ever before. May, June and July were pretty much the same as in prior years but August is still not fully booked. I only do STR during these 4 months so I don't know what the fall would have been like.

 I also had the same issue with Furnished Finder. Visiting nurses are the least prepared for the high rents in the Boston area.

Have you tried Sabbatical Homes? 

I have always done MTR during the academic year and STR during the summer.

Mostly I have not experienced much wear and tear difference between MTR and STR rentals. The exception was when I rented to a lovely couple who had been living in town for several years. They had friends in town and enjoyed entertaining. The other exception was when I rented to a single mother with a toddler in our unit with high-end furnishings. That was just dumb. I didn't have a lot of high-end furnishings in my own home when we had a toddler. Not sure what I was thinking when I rented to the single mother with the toddler.

We managed to deal with all the wear and tear issues without too much pain, even the toddler. 

Lower your price.

Search Pulaski, NY on Airbnb on a computer and look at the other prices via the map. 

Your listing is really pricey compared to your competition. 

Pricing and vacancy trends are hyper local but I've had to drop my rates significantly from last year's rates and I still have more vacant days in August than I have ever had in over 10 years. In fact, my STR earnings in August are less than they would have been if I had been renting by the month!

I actually use apartments.com and I only have 3 units. It works fine for my needs which is just rent collection. I don't use it for anything else.