f you want to get 5-star reviews and become a successful Airbnb host, you’ve got to have a good idea of how to interact with guests. That means you need to have a good understanding of Airbnb etiquette.
It’s the set of commonly accepted rules and practices that most users on the platform (hosts and guests) abide by. These universal rules are essential for the Airbnb community because they ensure that everyone has a positive experience.
So what makes good Airbnb etiquette, and how can hosts use it to their benefit? Read on to find out.
Airbnb Etiquette: Tips for Hosts
Here are our best tips for hosts on getting Airbnb etiquette right to ensure a successful vacation rental business.
Be clear about your rules
The first step you should take to encourage good etiquette is to be clear and upfront about your house rules. You should provide information about house rules in your Airbnb listing and include them in your welcome book or your welcome letter.
It’s also important to include clear instructions for how to use any appliances on your rental, the property’s full address, and your phone number in case of emergencies. Then your guests won’t need to bother you with questions as most answers will be in the house manual. If you have any special requests, you should send them to your guest in an Airbnb message.
Communicate with your guests
Staying in contact with your guests is an essential part of good Airbnb etiquette. That means you need to communicate with travelers through the booking process until they check out.
You should do your best to communicate everything you can with your guests about all aspects of their stay and answer their questions fast. That will surely give your guests peace of mind, especially when they’ve been planning this stay for months. Then they will enjoy their stay more and will leave you positive reviews.
Being available to your guests at any time can be challenging, but you can ensure perfect communication by automating your guest messaging with Hospitable.com.
Have conversations with your guests even when you sleep
Be accommodating of guest requests where possible
Although it’s important to have rules for your rental, you should put your guest experience first. So if your guests have a special request, you should try to accommodate them when possible. Going the extra mile for a guest can make their stay memorable.
But you will need to weigh up each request before accepting it. In some cases, a request might not be practical. So you should be willing to help guests when you can, but don’t hesitate to decline a request that won’t work for you or could be troublesome.
Be transparent
Never try to trick travelers with deceptive marketing because misrepresenting your listing is the easiest way to get negative reviews. Guests like to know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. So be precise when describing your rental and include high-quality photos to help guests get a clear idea of what staying at your listing is like.
Make your rental spotless
Your rental space must be exceptionally clean. That means you need to pay attention to even the smallest details—polishing the fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen, dusting everything, wiping out the microwave and refrigerator, etc. Don’t miss a spot with our cleaning checklist.
It’s simply unacceptable for travelers to arrive at a messy rental, and for a host, it’s a fast way to earn bad reviews. Your home or apartment must be spotless, and all rooms should be tidy and ready for use.
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your property is a rather time-consuming task, so you may want to outsource some of your responsibilities. If you rent out multiple properties, you may want to gather a team that includes a co-host, a cleaner, a plumber, and an electrician.
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Be warm and welcoming
Remember that being a gracious host is just as important as offering an inviting and clean space. If your guests discover a problem or have a complaint, try not to argue with them or be defensive. Instead, listen and try to understand the situation and their point of view.
Polite Way to Say No Extra Guests on Your Rental
Uninvited extra guests are a nuisance everywhere, but it’s a common problem that many Airbnb hosts have to deal with. These are unregistered visitors who stay at your rental property with booked guests, for example, family members of your guests or their friends.
It’s up to you to decide whether you allow visitors to bring extra guests to your rental property. Some properties simply can’t take additional guests because of their size or the short-term rental regulations of their zone or state.
Besides, having extra guests at your property can create problems, such as wear and tear of household items and a need for additional cleaning services.
If guests come with extra people, you have the right to turn them away. Airbnb doesn’t offer customer service or insurance to people who don’t have an official reservation through the platform, and any liability waivers you may offer your guests won’t apply.
The polite way to say no extra guests on your property is by communicating this information in your house rules on your listing page. You should state your maximum occupancy limit and be clear that you don’t permit off-site visitors on the property. You can also include your guest limit in your rental agreement.
If you can accommodate extra guests at your rental space, you can add a fee for each guest you’re willing to put up beyond your standard limit. Highlight the extra guests’ fee in your pricing. How much you decide to charge is up to you, but remember that your new fee only applies to future reservations. You can’t apply this extra guest fee if the guest has already checked in.
Final Thought
Airbnb etiquette and good communication with guests are vital aspects of running a successful short-term rental business. Still, being a perfect host is not as challenging as you may think. It’s all about creating a five-star experience for your guests.
