All Forum Posts by: Luke Carl

Scott, PM me I'll give you my number. Call me. I'll teach you everything you need to know. For free. Ok for one beer. 

If you put craigslist furniture in you’re VR you’re going to get crappy guests. Buy nice furniture. People that stay at a Hilton are too busy to steel. Or even sit on your couch. So buy a nice couch. Or have lazy people sit on it watching tv and complaining all day.

Don’t take recommendations from someone who almost bought a vacation rental but backed out that’s my first suggestion.

Message me. Let my obsessing make your job easier lol.

@Diana T. you need to talk to @avery 

@Avery Carl she’s the pigeon forge expert

@John W. what’s the address I can tell you if it’s any good. Very good chance Averys already been inside. Might even have videos. 

just buy so many cabins you don’t have time to change the codes every day and leave the same codes for 6 months. 

It’s like I always say. My goal is more to get people IN than keep them out. If someone steels my fridge I’ll end up with a nicer fridge and better reviews. 

Everyone is different! 

@John W.  if it’s  been sitting there for a couple months and it’s in Gatlinburg/pigeon forge/sevierville..... don’t touch it. Talk to Avery if you want the real deal. 

@Leslie A.@Michael Plante  you’re way too late this was 12 housekeepers ago. 

Ok maybe not 12 but this situation was already handled. 

@Andrew Wong I use the most strict instant book options. Government ID... All of my boxes are checked. I want people to be able to instant book but I want them to have to put as much effort into it as possible. I figure theres a slightly higher chance they'll actually READ the listing if they take the time to put in the drivers license. 

The best guests READ about what they're buying before they buy it. 65% of guests do NOT read the listing they just flip through pictures. I've considered adding a sign in my pictures that says "the pictures are awesome but you should READ the listing." 

My favorite is when they show up and call me and talk to me like I've never been to my own property. "I just wanted you to be aware that that road is very steep." "Yes, I know, you wanted to come to a MOUNTAIN which rises up out of the earth into the sky. And it says 4 times in my listing that the road is steep. And you had to click a box that said you were aware the road was steep. Yet you decided to CALL me on my cell phone and waste my time rather than taking 2 minutes to READ the listing. Oh and maybe you didn't realize this but this is my house. I own it. I had to go up the road before i even bought it."  Oh the things I wish I could say :) 

I wouldn't buy my nephew a $75 big wheel without reading the box and the reviews first. I wish my guests knew how to READ. 

I'm pretty strict on who I book regardless of instant book. We are 25+ only. (be careful with this airbnb doesn't like age discrimination. VRBO doesn't mind. I don't like 21 year olds learning how to drink with 7 moonshine distilleries right down the road). 

I can tell right away if someone is going to be trouble. If they ask me 5 questions that were easily answered by reading the listing I know I'm going to have to hold their hand before during and after their stay. I can generally tell if they're going to be pukers and I'll deny them. 

I find that other hosts, especially other superhosts are the worst people to have in your property. They can't relax. They spend the entire trip looking around your house thinking about what they would do differently. I have only had one host that didn't leave a snarky review and I ended up being a guru for her. She still messages me with linen suggestions etc. I will have a little chat with another host before I book them. "This is not your market. This is not your house. Will you be able to relax, enjoy yourself, and leave a great review, or will you scrutinize the whole time?" 

I'm also not opposed to offering $50 for a good review IF something happens that was clearly my mistake. "Here's a couple bucks what do you say is it water under the bridge?" Sounds crazy but it works. Learned that from one of my gurus who became a partner.