12 Key Tips for Amateur and Advanced Airbnb Hosts (2024)

With over 4 million hosts and 6 million active listings on Airbnb worldwide, how do you make your rental stand out in such a saturated space? 

Being a great host as well as getting good reviews, is a huge part of that.

But, Airbnb hosting takes a lot of hard work. What efforts you put into it affects what output you get out of it. 

So, if you desire to be a successful host, you have got to put in some figurative and literal elbow grease!

Whether you are just beginning your Airbnb hosting venture or looking for some fresh tips, here at Stasher we’ve got the inside scoop with 12 tips to become an excellent rental landlord!

Why Should You Care About Becoming a Great Airbnb Host?

Airbnb hosting is an art that, if done right, can turn your Airbnb hosting into a full-fledged business (and even earn you an impressive income!). 

But it all depends on being a great host (more on how to achieve this coming up).

Positive reviews and ratings

Airbnb favors listings with lots of good reviews, which you will get in abundance if you are a great host. 

The more and better reviews you have, the higher your listing will appear in a guest’s search!

Makes sense, right?

After all, no matter how pretty an Airbnb looks or how great the location is, reviews can really make or break a deal!

Increased bookings = more revenue

By consistently delivering outstanding guest experiences, you can attract more visitors to your Airbnb property, leading to a higher occupancy rate and, consequently, greater revenue.

In fact, according to sources, 10% of Airbnb hosts can make more than $2.000 per month, while 22% can make between $500 and $1.000 monthly.

Obviously, the more bookings you have, the higher your income will be!

Repeat guests

Overdelivering on the guests’ expectations will make them love your Airbnb experience so much that they want to return immediately.

Something else you can do is offer discounts as a repeat booking incentive, in order to have a more steady stream of guests.

Motivated to become the best Airbnb host in your town? 

Read on to find out how you can get the best out of your efforts. 

12 Airbnb Hosting Tips You Should Keep in Mind

Every tip you are about to learn from now has been tried, and battle-tested on thousands of guests – and they work.

Tip #1: Use high-quality photos in your listing

Your photos are a guest’s first impression of your property on the Airbnb search results page. 

According to Airbnb, photos result in 20% more bookings and are one of the top 3 reasons guests choose to book!

It’s only because of high-quality photos that many hosts have been able to increase their earnings by 20%.

10 photos of your space are optimal. Take photos that capture the essence of your space, its surrounding area, and any amenities. 

Professional photos will help your listing stand out from the crowd, as the average quality of photos has increased on Airbnb over time. 

Tip #2: Offer your guests luggage storage

Travelers often find themselves in a difficult spot when their flight arrives earlier than their Airbnb check-in time, leaving them dragging their belongings around the city. 

This is inconvenient, tiring, and even risky, as unattended bags can become a target for theft.

So, it’s a thoughtful gesture to offer luggage storage options to your guests, especially when they are traveling with lots of things. 

You can offer early check-in as an upsell. You can also purchase a storage unit for your guests’ luggage (just be sure to communicate this in your welcome message). 

And if you don’t have storage space onsite, you can always use a reliable on-demand luggage storage service like Stasher!

Here at Stasher we’ve partnered with hotels, cafes, and local shops, in over 890 cities worldwide to cater the needs of every traveler, looking to store their luggage for a few hours or days.

Give it a try below yourself to see how it works:

Easy, right?

And as a host, what you can do is share a coupon code with your guests so they get a discount when storing their luggage in one of our 3.900+ locations!

Tip #3: Handle negative reviews professionally

If a negative Airbnb review cannot be removed, you will want to move on to damage control. 

Replying to the negative reviews is the next good move. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind when responding to negative reviews:

• Everyone will see your reply. So, keep it professional and in a friendly tone. Don’t let emotions guide your response.
• Don’t be defensive in your replies. Thank the guests for their feedback, and mention what you have done to ensure no future guests will experience the same issue. 
• Reply to positive reviews as well. Avoid replying only to negative reviews, as this may highlight them on your listing page.

Here’s a good example below:

As you can see, the host’s response was polite and addressed the guest’s arguments in a well-mannered and professional way.

Tip #4: Personalize each stay

Create a personalized atmosphere to make your guests feel appreciated for staying with you.

When you get a booking, ask a simple question: “What is the purpose of your stay?” 

You can take advantage of this information from your guest to personalize their stay and make it more memorable. 

No matter the purpose of the trip, use this information to prepare a welcome basket or perhaps even decorate your property a bit. 

Such small actions can create a more memorable experience for your guests.

Tip #5: Offer local tips

Often, when guests book an Airbnb, they are signing up not just for the stay but for the experience. 

So, offer them helpful tips about some transportation and attractions that can be found around your area. 

These can also include information about tourist sites, subway stops, restaurants, bars, or anything else that will make someone excited about staying in that location.

You can also create a to-do list for your guests to elaborate on the previously mentioned attractions. 

Think about what you would do in your town if you were a first-time visitor and try to give your guests that experience!

Tip #6: Provide essential amenities

Much of your guests’ overall impression of your Airbnb will be based on the amenities and cleanliness they encounter. 

After all, you wouldn’t want to spend your night in a messy place, right?

You will need to provide basic amenities such as:

• Shampoo
• Hand soap
• Bath towels
• Mirror
• Towel hangers/hooks
• Body wash/shower soap
• Conditioner
• Hand towels

Ensure that all of your amenities are in working order.

But it is worth plumping for a few non-essentials as well to guarantee a more comfortable stay. This is what will create the buzz you are looking for!

And if you want to make sure you stay on top of things, don’t forget to download our Airbnb host checklist we created here at Stasher.

Tip #7: Ensure safety and security

Keeping your Airbnb guests safe and sound during their stay should be a top priority for you.

Make sure to keep safety information and equipment handy. Equip your property with the safety essentials that your guests might need during their trip, such as a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a working smoke and carbon monoxide detector. 

Tip #8: Be available at (almost) all times

It’s only natural that guests demand quick responses to their messages. 

So, try to make yourself available during the day, however difficult it seems. 

Be responsive from the moment the booking happens by automating guest messaging. After all, mobile devices have made it possible to connect with your Airbnb guests at a moment’s notice from worldwide. 

Extra tip: Prepare important messaging templates so you do not have to draft a new message every time. 

Tip #9: Set clear house rules

Airbnb recommends this is the first step you take when listing your apartment. 

You can list any rules you want to inform guests about or your expectations before they book with you.

You can set house rules about no smoking zones, quiet hours, parties and events, parking, pet rules, check-in and check-out times, and additional guest fees.

Don’t forget that although you want guests to feel as welcome and comfortable as possible, it’s also important that they abide by certain rules, right?

Tip #10: Create a house manual

Your house manual for Airbnb should include everything from instructions to adjust the air conditioning to the WiFi password. 

You should include information about where spare keys are kept and who to contact in an emergency. This set of information is not very exciting, but it contributes a lot to the overall guest experience.

You can also outline your house rules and safety information. Unfortunately, what you might consider common courtesies may not be that obvious to people from other cultures unwinding on holiday. 

So make sure you have every possible piece of information about your property covered. You will be surprised to see how the vast majority of guests will respect your rules!

Tip #11: Invest in your online presence

For long-term success, create a strong online presence beyond just Airbnb. 

Create a professional profile on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (earlier Twitter), and even Google My Business to show your expertise and connect with potential partners and collaborators!

To take things a step further, you can develop a dedicated website for your rental property with stunning visuals, detailed descriptions, local recommendations, and a smooth booking process. 

Having an appealing social media presence can be key to attracting more visitors to your listing!

Tip #12: Go above and beyond

Under promise and over deliver; you might have got this advice when starting a business. But the same applies to your Airbnb if you want to become a great host! 

Set your standards high. All the great hosts have one thing in common: they go above and beyond when it comes to attention to detail. 

Wash the duvet even if it looks clean and clean behind the beds. Provide them with free snacks, local goodies, and a good hair dryer (not a cheap one, but a good one!). 

Don’t cut corners, and you will keep your guests happy from check-in to check-out!

Sure, becoming an Airbnb host requires keeping your property well maintained and putting in some hours — which you are hopefully doing anyway — but think about what you get in return. 

You are not just making a little cash on the side; you are also meeting new people and providing a helpful service. And that’s pretty priceless!

Final Thoughts

No matter the experience you have, we hope our list of the best Airbnb host tips will come in handy.

Although things like cleanliness, safety and good communication should be a top priority for you, taking the extra step is what will differentiate you from other hosts.

And one great way to do that is by helping your guests store their luggage easily, so they can enjoy their travel before checking-in and after checking-out your place.

So make sure to prompt them to use Stasher and use a coupon code for their first booking!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s have a look at some of the most common questions you might have as an Airbnb host.

Is it worth being an Airbnb host?

Becoming an Airbnb host is extremely rewarding & not just in a financial sense. You get to meet many different people from around the world, give them an amazing guest experience, and contribute to their travel memories. 

How much does an Airbnb host make?

Data from accounting firm Tipalti reveals that US Airbnb hosts earn the most, averaging $44,235 per year. Australian hosts come in second with $27,988, followed by UK hosts at $22,196. However, your income will vary depending on factors like location, rental frequency, property quality, and services provided.

What is the ideal location for an Airbnb?

The ideal location for an Airbnb will depend on factors like close proximity to popular locations, lenient Airbnb laws and regulations, the least effect of seasonality, and reasonable property prices.