You might have heard that becoming an Airbnb host is a great way to earn passive income.
Well that’s right!
Among other things, it’s one of the main reasons people tend to utilize their houses or apartments as Airbnbs.
However, having your own Airbnb isn’t a piece of cake; there are several things you need to take into account to make sure that people choose to stay there during their holidays.
We know that being a great Airbnb host might be slightly overwhelming, which is why we’ve put together a list to help you find your way and offer an unforgettable guest experience!
P.S: We’ll share with you an actionable checklist at the end, so stay tuned!
Let’s dive deeper into things.
How to Become an Airbnb Host Step-by-Step
First things first, it’s important to explain how you can actually become an Airbnb host, before seeing how you can become great at it.
If you already are one, feel free to skip to the next section (we won’t be offended, well maybe a little).
Step #1: Create an Account
When visiting Airbnb’s website, on the top right corner select “Airbnb your home”.
You’ll then be redirected to another page where you’ll be asked to create an account.
After providing the platform with some basic information about you and confirming your phone number, you’re all set to continue to the next step!
Step #2: Describe your Place
Next up you need to describe your place to Airbnb. What we mean by that is selecting whether it’s a:
- House
- Apartment
- Hotel
- Treehouse
Or even a castle!
Assuming your place is an apartment (as in most cases), you need to choose if your guests will have:
- The entire place to themselves
- A private room in a shared apartment/house
- A shared room
Once you do that, you also need to provide your place’s exact address (it can only be shared with guests after they’ve booked it).
Last but not least, the platform will ask you to provide more details such as how many people your place can accommodate, as well as how many bedrooms, bathrooms and beds it has.
Step #3: Make your Place Stand Out
What you’ll have to do next is enter some information to “make your place stand out” as the platform states.
In other words you have to select what your place has to offer, in terms of:
- Essential amenities (WiFi, TV, kitchen etc.)
- Extra amenities (Pool, hot tub etc.)
- Safety items (smoke alarm, first aid kit etc.)
Once you do that, adding some beautiful photos of your place can’t be undermined (we’ll explain their importance later on).
Plus, don’t forget to write a nice and engaging description about your place to entice visitors!
Step #4: Arrange Final Details
Last but not least, some final details are essential to get your Airbnb up and running.
In other words: what will the pricing be?
This is an important one, so make sure you remain competitive while setting a price you feel is fair for both you and your Airbnb guests.
You can also select potential discounts for longer stays and you’re all set!
You’re now ready to rent your Airbnb property to visitors from all over the world and offer them an amazing experience.
But, how can you offer such an experience?
What do you need to have in place before welcoming your first guests?
No need to worry! That’s exactly what we’ll cover in our next section, so keep on reading.
10 Things to Help You Become an Unforgettable Airbnb Host
Congrats, you’re now officially an Airbnb host!
This is just the beginning though; there are several things to consider in order to become a successful one.
Here are some of them before we share our checklist with you.
#1: Provide Essential Amenities
How will your Airbnb stand out, if you don’t start off with the essentials?
Offering basic amenities such as:
- Toiletries
- Clean towels
- Bed Linens
- Cooking utensils
- Pillows
- Air-conditioning
Is essential to make your guests feel comfortable and that they have everything they need.
After all, it’s no coincidence that Airbnb itself strongly encourages hosts to offer such amenities.
Let’s continue.
#2: Cleanliness
They say a clean place is a safe place, right?
A sparkling clean property is the cornerstone of a great Airbnb experience.
Ensure that every nook and cranny is thoroughly cleaned, from spotless surfaces to fresh linens, so guests can relax in a hygienic and welcoming space.
After all, don’t forget that cleanliness is a major factor for visitors when evaluating their stay and they can even review a place based on it.
Notice how many of these reviews mention the place’s cleanliness; it’s undoubtedly one of the most important house rules for Airbnb hosts to keep in mind!
#3: Luggage Storage
Let’s switch sides for a moment and pretend you’re the Airbnb guest.
Imagine this:
Your check-in is at 2PM but you’ve arrived at your destination at 8AM.
That’s a 6 hour gap, what will you do for so many hours?
Dragging your luggage around until the check-in time arrives is very tiring, and you usually can’t leave your bags at the Airbnb since the previous guest most likely hasn’t left the place yet.
Thankfully, your host has been proactive enough and has arranged a luggage storage space for you!
If you’re an Airbnb host, arranging such a space is a really great touch and definitely something your guests will appreciate; here at Stasher we know this very well.
What you can do is share a coupon code with your guests so they get a discount when storing their luggage, in over 3.600 locations across 890+ cities worldwide.
Less headaches for you, a better Airbnb experience for your guests, and more 5* reviews. That sounds like a win-win situation!
All in all, anything you can do to make your guests’ lives easier will definitely count towards your positive reviews.
#4: Responsiveness
Whether you’re a seasoned host or just starting, your ability to promptly and effectively communicate with your guests can make all the difference in the world.
Being responsive when your guests are messaging you through the Airbnb app or website is important for several reasons:
- Improves guest satisfaction and trust
- Higher chances of gaining positive reviews and more bookings
- You can gain a competitive advantage
- Guests are more likely to recommend you to others
Plus, similarly to cleanliness, communication is an important factor that users consider and can evaluate you based on it.
In a nutshell, try to be as responsive and polite as possible to guest messages to cater their needs!
#5: Safety & Privacy
Any traveler wants to feel safe when visiting a foreign destination, especially when staying at an accommodation albeit a hotel or Airbnb rental, which is why safety and privacy are of paramount importance.
In fact, doing a safety check beforehand is something Airbnb itself prompts its users to do, so hosts need to be prepared.
This can involve having fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, as well as making sure the place is well secured.
#6: Personal Touches
Typically, guests expect the basic supplies covered, so it’s always a pleasant surprise when they notice something extra.
For example, you can personalize each stay and offer your guests food or sweets from their own country.
Nice touch, right?
Other things you can do, include:
- Adding a welcome note
- Offering a welcome package/basket
- Providing guests with guidebooks and maps of the city
- Sharing you personal recommendations for restaurants, cafes, and hidden gems in the area
- Offering board games, puzzles, or a collection of DVDs for entertainment during downtime
These personal touches not only make guests feel welcomed, but also demonstrate your commitment to ensuring they have a fantastic and memorable stay!
#7: Flexible Check-in/Out
Offering flexible check-in and check-out times is generally considered an important aspect of successful hosting.
We understand that this can be difficult, considering each apartment/home has to be thoroughly cleaned before and after each stay.
However, the more flexible you are, the more the guests will appreciate it.
For them, flexibility provides peace of mind; knowing that they won’t be left waiting for hours to check in or forced to rush out early. This can result in a more relaxed and enjoyable stay.
Needless to mention that satisfied guests are more likely to return to your property for future stays!
All in all, trying to keep your check-in and check-out hours as flexible as possible is definitely a plus!
#8: Green Practices
Something many hosts usually overlook but can play a major role in leaving a good impression, is implementing green practices to an Airbnb property.
What does that mean?
In a nutshell, using eco-friendly products and amenities can help you stand out from other hosts and leave a good impression on your guests.
To give you an idea:
- Offering eco-friendly cleaning products and toiletries
- Changing light bulbs to LED
- Providing bikes for guests to use
- Offering reusable items instead of disposable ones
Can all make your Airbnb more environmentally friendly, help you get more positive reviews and even reduce costs!
#9: Present Your Place Appropriately
First impressions matter.
This is why presenting your Airbnb appropriately is crucial for attracting guests and ensuring their comfort and satisfaction during their stay.
First and foremost, it’s important that you upload high-quality photos that accurately represent your property.
In fact, if you have some available budget it’s worth investing in a professional photographer to help you out.
Even if an Airbnb is objectively “better” than another (in terms of location, amenities etc.), if it’s presented poorly through its photos, it’s only natural that users will be less likely to choose it.
Of course, you need to pay attention to other factors too, such as writing accurate and engaging descriptions and decorating your space nicely.
#10: Encourage Feedback
Last but not least, we highly recommend you encourage feedback from your guests.
As you know, feedback is a valuable source of information that can help hosts improve their listings, enhance the guest experience, and build a successful hosting business.
Not only does it show that you care about your guests’ satisfaction and are willing to address their concerns, but feedback provides insights into what you’re doing well and where you can improve.
Makes sense, right?
You can directly message your guests through the app saying something in the lines of:
“We hope you enjoyed your stay at our property! We’d love to hear about your experience. Do you have any feedback or suggestions to help us improve for future guests? Your insights are valuable to us”
After all, even if you don’t receive a response, just the fact that you show that you care is something most guests will appreciate.
Obviously there are countless things to take into account in order to be considered a great host (or Superhost as the Airbnb platform calls it).
However, we believe the 10 factors we listed above are a great way to not only get started, but elevate your guests’ experience.
And now what you’ve been waiting for.
Steal Our Airbnb Host Checklist
Having tools like to-do lists and checklists is a great way to stay organized and on top of things.
This is exactly why we created a complete and comprehensive Airbnb host checklist to offer exceptional guest experience.
Download a copy of our checklist here.
As you can see, there are several categories (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen etc.), as well as items/actions you should take care of for each one.
Let’s wrap things up with some final words.
Now Over to You
Becoming an Airbnb host is hard.
Being a great one is even harder.
It all boils down to not only providing the bare-minimum to your guests, but going above and beyond to offer an unforgettable experience.
We believe our Airbnb host checklist is a great tool to help you out, but you nevertheless need to constantly be improving.
As we mentioned earlier, something that can make a lasting impression on your guests and contribute to your 5-star ratings is providing luggage storage options.
Simply head over to Stasher and get a 20% off discount code plus earn 10% commission on every customer you refer!
