If you’re an Airbnb host and for some reason, you don’t want to accept guests for a particular period of time, Airbnb offers you several options.
There are many reasons why you might want to opt out of hosting for a while – personal issues, building maintenance, your own vacation overseas … or often just for a break. Some people find that hosting guests can be a stressful experience.
But how does this impact on your business?
To understand this, you need to have an insight into the way Airbnb works.
Airbnb is a fantastic service for both hosts and guests. It’s almost like a dating service – putting potential guests in touch with the ideal accommodation and host. But we do have to remember that it is a business.
What Airbnb wants is for people to use their service. The company wants to turn the casual browser into someone who books a place to stay. That’s how they make money.
After all, there are no membership fees, no advertising fees.
But something that hosts sometimes forget is that Airbnb just wants that booking – Airbnb really doesn’t care if the guest books with you or with someone else.
AIRBNB WANTS GUESTS TO BOOK EASILY
Are you a host who uses Instant Book? Or do you demand that potential guests jump through the hoops of your interrogation?
More importantly, are your dates always open? Or do you block off dates? Have you, in the past, snoozed your listing? If so, you have not upheld the Airbnb criteria of being available at all times.
Sorry, but snoozing your listing will make you ‘a host who doesn’t want to have guests all the time.’
So don’t. Okay?
IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO…
Any actions you take that mean that your listing will not be accessible will affect your placement in searches. Blocking off large chunks of time will have the same effect.
If you have previously relied on the Airbnb search system to fill your rental now is the time to plan your campaign elsewhere to ensure that you drive traffic to the Airbnb platform. This is something that all hosts should do – have a campaign ready so that you don’t have to rely on the system.
ARTICLE BY:
Jackie
JJ is originally from the UK and has lived in South Florida since 1994. She is the founder and editor of JAQUO Magazine. You can connect with her using the social media icons below.