When the idea of home-sharing was first mooted, no one would have ever imagined how the hospitality industry world over would be revolutionized. Indeed, Airbnb has significantly changed the holiday experience as we used to know it. Today, holidaymakers can enjoy vacations across the world at a much-reduced rate. Previously, you had to put up in a hotel and in the process incur hefty bills but in the present-day, your old vacation budget can get you so much enjoyment while putting up in an Airbnb. This has created a huge market for homeowners who want to rent out their spaces.
Nowadays, property owners use Airbnb to market and let their property and have found much success in doing so. At Sultan Palace Beach Retreat, we already have a few holiday homeowners/investors listing their units on popular online accommodation reservation services like Booking.com, Agoda, and of course, Airbnb. However, the increased competition among Airbnb hosts means that you can’t be lacklustre with your unit. As a holiday homeowner, you need to ensure that your Airbnb is always teeming with guests who leave wonderful reviews owing to their superior experience.
Renting out a holiday home successfully is undeniably a fine art. What Airbnb doesn't explicitly say on their site is that by being an amazing host, you're likely to make more money over time — because you'll probably have a steady stream of users, who will choose your highly-rated place over other options. Below are a few tips to get you started:
1. Always be honest and transparent with your guests
We’ve all been dishonest at some point in our lives. However, being truthful can go a long way in helping you avoid many problems as a result of lies that we tell so often. If you are letting your holiday home be sure, to be honest in your presentation and as far as all the nitty-gritty of your Airbnb go. For example, if there are extra charges for a particular service or feature, let your guests know well in advance instead of arriving to a rude shock when they are checking-in. They may stay at your abode for that visit but they won’t surely come back after such a disappointing experience. Always remember that people are happiest when you manage their expectations. Let what you communicate and promise online be done in reality.
2. Be flexible with check-in and check-out time.
One of the reasons why Airbnb got popular from the onset was its flexibility. However, as time went by with thousands of holidaymakers looking for accommodation, most hosts have naturally drifted to operating a tight check-in and check-out schedules, just like the hotels. Although this is advisable to ensure that you operate optimally and make decent profits, you need to make small allowance to cater for guests who may run late for one reason or another. For example, you can make adjustments for guests who experienced flight delays. This goes to demonstrate that you care about your guests and that you understand that in life, there are unavoidable inconveniences that can make us tumble. So endeavour to loosen up things a bit for deserving guests.
3. Always do a bit more than you promised in the listing
While we’ve said that you should always be honest and transparent with your guests, it doesn’t mean that you can’t surprise them with a heartwarming gesture when they check-in to your Airbnb. The appreciation ideas don’t have to be grand in nature, expensive but rather just little things that would make the guest delighted. For example, you can give a stock some snacks or drive them to the shopping mall to get a few supplies for their stay etc. The point is to go the extra mile in some way, big or small.
4. Clean your Airbnb
On the face of it, this tip may seem like common sense but you will be shocked by the level of cleanliness in some listed homes. Of course, we must acknowledge that our hygiene levels vary markedly but there are minimum irreducible levels that would be acceptable to the majority of us except for those with Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Most guests will appreciate an extremely clean Airbnb. There is no better way to make a good impression than by giving each guest a meticulously cleaned accommodation. This means cleaning the shower, toilet, sink and floors after every guest has checked out.
5. Give them a quick tour
If you live onsite or in the greater locality, always welcome your guests in person. Give them a cup of coffee, tea or even a glass of water/juice if they are not in the mood for something hot. Thereafter, give them a quick tour of the home so that they know what’s what and what’s where. Use this time to find out if they have any questions that could make their stay more pleasant. However, if you are not there, leave them notes that explain where all the essential items are: towels, cleaning supplies, paper products, etc.
Well, there you have it, folks! You can easily get a steady income stream from letting your holiday home by placing it on Airbnb and a host of other online accommodation reservations spaces. If you aren’t yet a holiday homeowner, you need not worry. We have holiday homes for sale at Sultan Palace Beach Retreat in Kikambala, Kilifi. For more details, call Fena 0702 666 777 or drop an email fena@spbr.co.ke.