Booking through Airbnb or Vrbo feels familiar to guests. Booking through an owner’s website means they need to feel comfortable with someone they may not know yet.

Here are five things I’d check on a direct booking website:

• Clear photos showing the rooms and spaces guests will actually use.
• Information about the host and an easy way to contact them.
• Guest reviews with a way to see their original source.
• The full price, cancellation policy and deposit details before payment.
• A simple booking process that works well on a phone.

Try opening your website on your phone as if you’ve never seen the property before. Can you quickly find those answers?

For hosts already getting direct bookings, what questions do guests usually ask before they feel comfortable booking?