Create the Experience You Want to Experience
Airbnb is Not Passive…
but it is income. whether you signed up for it or not, when you own an airbnb or short term rental, you are now in the hospitality business. And it pays to care.
The first three things to consider when starting an Airbnb are location, interior design/architecture, & interior decorating. (*This post is continued from my last post.*) So, you took my very expert advice and did all three. What’s next?
Setup Budget: This does not include construction or renovation costs. The cost of buying the essentials adds up quickly. Especially since doing it right means spending a little more up front. Nicer towels, linens (100% cotton or other natural fiber only) and duvets (I’m a duvet cover girl only). Oh, and the mattress better be like sliding into a soft yet firm cocoon (oxymoron is the name of the game with mattresses).
*The rule of thumb, don’t put anything in the Airbnb you would be devastated to lose. Get items that are durable, but also expect to replace items. Broken glass, stained towels, sheets, or duvets, it’s just the cost of doing business.
Good sleep is your top priority: A short term rental is, first and foremost, a place to sleep. Do not buy pillows you haven’t tried or love or have very good reviews, etc., etc.
Stay in Airbnbs. This seems obvious, but it’s not. I’ve learned a lot from staying at good and bad places.
The bad ones teach you as much as the good ones. Like sleeping with such a terrible pillow, I rolled up a towel and slept on that instead. Or a full kitchen with no snacks, coffee, coffee pot, or plates.
But also, stay in places with 5 star reviews. Those hosts know what they’re doing. They consider every guest expectation and exceed it. And they listen to guest feedback. The most important feedback is when more than one guest mentions an issue. Good hosts fix it immediately.
My friend, Angela and I, play a host game called, ‘How Could We Do It Better?’ We stayed in this cute number in Cape Charles over the weekend. It was delightful but we also talked about what else we could do to add to our experience.
Five star reviews are IMPORTANT. The market for Airbnb is certainly flooded. But you can make yours stand out by caring. And caring means the algorithm cares, too. The difference between my first and second Airbnb is clear. Guest experience is a top priority and it starts with guest expectations.
I could go on and on but I won’t bore you too much. If you’d like to talk about starting an Airbnb or getting help with systems and design, email me! I’d love to help.