{"id":95824,"date":"2020-01-14T12:00:14","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T19:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/renewsblog\/?p=95824"},"modified":"2024-02-19T13:58:58","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T20:58:58","slug":"rave-reviews-airbnb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/rave-reviews-airbnb","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Earn Rave Reviews on Airbnb (&#038; Maximize Your Income!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm?e=BIGPOC3111276262&amp;light=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s face it: If you\u2019re an Airbnb host, you likely face stiff competition that is only getting worse. There are almost thousands of listings in Denver alone. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the sharing economy grows, so do the number of short-term-rental listings nationwide. Case in point: hosting isn\u2019t getting any easier, and if you rest on your laurels, your business will slowly profit less and less as more supply hits the market. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is unless you stay on top of your game and do everything you can to differentiate yourself from the competition. Better reviews equals more bookings equals more money. Your Airbnb property is not <a href=\"\/renewsblog\/2013\/01\/04\/how-to-rent-your-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">your average rental<\/a>. It is a hospitality business that requires thought and careful attention to detail. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It isn\u2019t rocket science, but most people overlook key aspects of hosting. This results in leaving money on the table. And no one wants that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some tips and suggestions that will help you earn five-star guest reviews and more money. We use these strategies every day while managing our properties, and in my opinion, they work! \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">5 Ways to Earn Rave Reviews on Airbnb and Maximize Your Income<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Be Responsive<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may be the most important thing you can do to improve your revenue and attract more bookings. Many guests don\u2019t look solely at your listing, they shop around and send out multiple inquiries at a time. These guests are looking for instant gratification. They aren\u2019t willing to wait hours or days for a response. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Aim to reply in five minutes or less.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Guests will thank you for your quick reply! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_95827\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-95827\" style=\"width: 702px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/help\/article\/430\/what-is-response-rate-and-how-is-it-calculated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-95827 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/hostingstds-1024x613.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"702\" height=\"420\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/hostingstds-1024x613.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/hostingstds-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/hostingstds-768x460.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/hostingstds.jpg 1096w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-95827\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Response time is factored into your listing&#8217;s SEO.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>2. Be Proactive (Not Reactive)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thinking ahead is paramount to running a short-term rental business, even if you only have one property in your portfolio. If you are reactive and not proactive, you\u2019ll quickly find that you end up spending hours running around town fulfilling guest requests. Plan ahead, and\u00a0you\u2019ll prevent emergencies before they happen. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, I\u2019ve found that most guests don\u2019t want to interact with the host. They don\u2019t want to meet you to get the key, text you for more toilet paper, or have you drop by to say hello. Make sure to\u00a0stock your home\u00a0with all guest consumables, batteries, spare keys, (etc.) so that you never have to make a mid-stay visit because you forgot something. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which brings me to my next point&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. Go the Extra Mile (Running Over Pots and Pans on Christmas)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes you can\u2019t plan for everything. Recently, on Christmas Eve, a guest messaged me at 7 p.m. to say that <em>all<\/em>\u00a0of the pots and pans were broken inside the house, rendering them unable to cook a family meal that night. We had no idea this had happened. Honestly, we thought the kitchen was fully stocked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of apologizing and offering a discount (losing money), I ran to Target and hand delivered them a brand new set of pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. One of the rare cases when I like to personally visit the property is when guest issues arise. There was little we could have done to have avoided this issue in advance, but the extra effort truly wowed the guest and made their stay. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More importantly, it helped us avoid a bad review and cleared the way for more bookings in the future! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/renewsblog\/2016\/04\/12\/10-dos-donts-airbnb-short-stay-landlords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Top 10 Dos and Don&#8217;ts for Airbnb Short-Stay Landlords<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_95825\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-95825\" style=\"width: 702px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/learnairbnb.com\/airbnb-essentials-every-listing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-95825 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3144-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"702\" height=\"527\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3144-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3144-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3144-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3144.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-95825\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Total cost = $3<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>4. Give Guests Free Stuff! (Hair Dryer, Iron, Water, Snacks, COFFEE)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most Airbnbs I stay in offer your standard towels and sheets, maybe a coffee maker or water, but very few hosts provide extra amenities. There are so many things you can offer that cost almost nothing and add huge value to your place, bettering your guests&#8217; experiences. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of my favorites are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Granola bars<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bags of chips<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crackers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bottled water<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coffee<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q-tips<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Makeup removing pads<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb\u2019s cofounder and chief technology officer, has found that offering a hair dryer earns hosts on average $10 more per night. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My entire \u201cguest freebies\u201d package costs me less than $10 per stay (which I bake into the cleaning fee) and truly wows most guests. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/renewsblog\/earn-8-cap-rate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How I&#8217;m earning an 8% Cap Rate on My Vacation Rental<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_95826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-95826\" style=\"width: 702px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/learnairbnb.com\/ultimate-cleaning-checklist-airbnb-maidthis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-95826 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3093-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"702\" height=\"527\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3093-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3093-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3093-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3093.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-95826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Bathrooms need to be 100% spotless. A bright and inviting bathroom is a great way to earn a five-star review! Total cost = $4<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>5. Focus on Cleaning<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your Airbnb property has one good quality, let it be cleanliness. Guests scrutinize cleanliness heavily and having a less-than-spotless home is the quickest way to get dinged. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carefully train and hire your cleaning crew to pay extra attention to the kitchens and bathrooms to make sure they are 100 percent free of dirt and hair. Remember to check things like microwaves and refrigerators that can often contain hidden messes or unexpected food items. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And don\u2019t forget to dust! This is often overlooked but is a very important aspect of a clean Airbnb rental. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/real-estate-investment-calculator?utm_source=renewsblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-91220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/blog_ads-02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"85\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/blog_ads-02.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/blog_ads-02-300x36.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>What tips do you have for getting great Airbnb reviews?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Share them below!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With vacation rentals, better reviews equal more bookings equal more money. Maximize your monthly income and earn rave reviews by following these five tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":304917,"featured_media":113975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7119,7271],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-95824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biggerpockets-daily","category-short-term-rentals"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/304917"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95824\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}