If you’re a host specialising in short-term rentals, because of today’s media it’s likely that you are affected by confirmation bias. We all are to some extent. Those who write for the media just love to publish articles on the web about how very...
Of course, it isn’t. You know it isn’t. So why do so many hosts complain and/or comment on their guests’ personalities and little foibles?One of the most frequent is that ‘guests are so entitled these days’. Er, well, for me the fact that...
Most people are just fine. Yes, there are a few weirdoes in the world and a few strange folks but if you operate a short-term rental you’ve no doubt found that most people are are perfectly fine human beings. This is why, more than likely, when I’ve heard...
Go to any STR forum or questions-and-answers setup, and you’ll find that a common question is regarding co-hosts. When an owner has a property they want to rent out as a short term rental, but for whatever reason they can’t take care of it themselves, they...
We’ve all heard a million times that first impressions count. And they do, it’s true. But if you’re running a hospitality business, especially in the field of short term rentals, then it’s important to remember that last impressions count a lot...
So many Airbnb hosts aren’t business people. They are renting out rooms in their homes, or their second homes, for various reasons. But few have solid backgrounds in business skills. Their hospitality skills, on the other hand, are often outstanding.This...
If you run a short term rental, then it’s going to happen one day. Your phone will ping and a message will tell you that guests you had scheduled in your calendar won’t be arriving after all.No big deal – it happens to everyone. But how do you...
If you’re an STR host have you ever found yourself wondering “why do guests always…?”Whatever that ‘always’ thing is will vary from host to host. With some hosts, they find that guests are always arriving well after check-in time...
There is a popular fallacy going around the internet regarding your listing’s placement in the Airbnb search. Many hosts are certain that in order for their listings to be shown in the first few search results, it’s essential that the host goes to their...
There are some people who are under the impression that Airbnb is still the same as it was when the company first began in 2008. But if anyone is in any doubt that the company has come a long way since its early days then a quick look at Airbnb Luxe will show exactly...
It’s a common complaint from Airbnb hosts – “I can’t find my listing if I search Airbnb in my area!”But this doesn’t mean that potential guests aren’t finding your listing. As we’ve mentioned before, there are many...
It’s happened so many times … I’m checking out previous reviews that hosts have written for Airbnb guests and see the phrase ‘More suited to a hotel”. It makes me want to scream, Truly. What on earth does that mean?True, when you stay in...
Just a quick post, this one.But did you know that Airbnb and Delta Airlines have a reciprocal system whereby you can earn air miles on your Airbnb stay? Neither did I until recently which is why I’m letting you know about this.Apparently, this has been in effect...
And I know that seems like a silly question but increasingly, people who run STR accommodation have come to the conclusion – erroneously – that every guest misdemeanor can be solved by creating a ‘house rule’ about it.You know the sort of...
Choosing where you’re going to stay on your trip isn’t something that should be left to chance. The accommodation you choose can make or break your vacation. More and more people are using Airbnb (and similar sites) to make their accommodation plans and...
At time of writing there are over two million properties listed on Airbnb. So it’s safe to assume that a lot of people stayed in Airbnb rentals last night, will tonight and will tomorrow night. And I suspect that 99.99% of them had a trouble-free and wonderful...
If you’re offering rental accommodation to the public, then it’s likely that you’ll have to write about it. It might be that you list your property on Airbnb or a similar site, in which case you’ll have to write about your place for your...
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...
Have you noticed that as a society we’ve become more and more liable to compete for … well, nothing? Human beings are competitive – we wouldn’t have got as far as the twenty-first century if we weren’t – but today our competitive...
I admit that I really don’t understand what comes over some people when they become Airbnb hosts. Is it the prospect of earning a ton of money or what? Why is it that they suddenly become blinkered to human nature? Why do they suddenly forget what the world is...
I know it’s tricky. As an Airbnb (or other site) STR host then you know that you have to be firm with your guests – but you also need to be sure that you don’t annoy them. If you’re using Airbnb or another site that encourages guests to leave...
You’d think it was sometimes. A power struggle, that is. A relationship between host and guest is supposed to be symbiotic. If it’s little early in the morning for you to understand such words, here’s the definition. A symbiotic relationship is: a...
At the time of writing, despite hosts muttering about the problem for years, Airbnb asks its guests to rate the location of the accommodation they stayed in. Hosts have, possibly understandably, been up in arms about this issue forever. Well, almost ever. Let’s...
The insurance people, Geiko, have recently launched a video entitled The Best Airbnbs Have These Things in Common. So I thought that I’d enumerate them and see how our own listings (here in fabulous Fort Lauderdale) compare. We have two – both are in a...
Host or guest, enter the Airbnb numbers into your phone now. You’ll find them by using the button below. HOW TO CONTACT AIRBNB Airbnb has grown enormously – worldwide – since the service started in 2008. To be honest, I suspect that even the founders...
Yes, if you host on Airbnb, the company is going to send you ‘price tips’. And so many hosts are insulted by these… ‘My nightly rate is $150 per night and Airbnb tells me to reduce it to one-third of that – how dare they?’ Well...
Some hosts have guests staying with them in their own homes – and allow the guests to use the family kitchen. Some hosts rent apartments, suites or entire homes that, naturally, also feature kitchens. In both cases, it can be helpful to the host to...
I have just realised – belatedly, I know – that there are some Airbnb hosts who actually pay attention to the somewhat ludicrous ‘price suggestions’ that Airbnb email to them or show them in the sidebar when they are adjusting their calendar....
From time to time, you’ll find them on the internet – those horror stories about Airbnb guests. Or sometimes about Airbnb hosts. Well, do you know how many people stayed in Airbnb accommodation last night? Or how many will tonight? Or tomorrow night?...
Thinking about using Airbnb or a similar short-term rental service? Well here’s how to really piss off your host. If you’re looking for bad reviews and a definite thumbs down (meaning you’ll have a hard time renting from that service again) then just...
You’ve allowed for just about everything your guests will need when they’re staying at your Airbnb or rental. There’s the first aid kit, you supply toiletries, a fire extinguisher is on hand, there are board games for rainy days, towels to take to...
Have we lost the habit of conversation? It really wouldn’t surprise me if we have. After all, today we are more accustomed to our conversations and interactions with others being by text, email, Snapchat, What’s App, Instagram… And for the older...
Meeting and greeting your guests is an important matter and one that should be carefully considered. However, it’s equally important for you, or your co-host, to be on hand when your guests leave your rental. Some hosts would say that it’s more important....
When you’re travelling, especially if you’re sticking to a budget, there can be the temptation to sneak an extra person or two into the accommodation you’re renting. Maybe you’ve rented a place on Airbnb or a similar site and the host charges...
The fact is that Airbnb doesn’t want their hosts to cancel bookings. Your guests don’t want you to cancel bookings either. Understandably. If you cancel, then your guest’s trip is in jeopardy. Airbnb – and similar services – need...
Question to hosts: It’s Friday and your guests have just checked out of your rental. The next guests aren’t arriving until check in time on Sunday. When do you get the space ready for the guest? Do you do it on Friday afternoon and get the job out of the...
If you consider the internet to be a good research tools giving accurate results then it might surprise you to know that research has shown that in the hotel industry, twenty to thirty minutes is considered to be an acceptable time to prepare a guest room (plus...
Did you realise that when you become a guest at an Airbnb rental you join an elite group? Or at any rate, you can if you so wish. That group is made up of Airbnb members who have been given five star ratings by their hosts – ‘superguests’ if you...
When you rent out property for vacation or short-term rentals, it’s important to create a log book / house book for your property. This applies even if you rent out only the spare bedroom in your home. As time goes by, your home logbook will prove to be invaluable. If...
Where ever you’re going on your trip, the chances are that you’ll find plenty of accommodation options to choose from on Airbnb. It might even be hard to select one. There’s no problem at first – even if you can’t decide between your...
Yes, I know that today smoking a cigarette, pipe or cigar can be classed as the eighth deadly sin. I am also aware that the last cigarette I smoked, after what seemed to be a lifetime of the habit, was in June 2017. So I’m an ex-smoker. But I’m not one of...
You’re wrong. There is a purpose to this article. Other than, that is, an excuse to post a photograph of a rather hunky chap. That’s a pretty good reason in itself of course, but the real reason behind this article is to encourage local repair people,...
Since the last century, I have been explaining to clients that there is more nonsense written on the internet about search engines than any other subject. And in recent years, this has extended to the search facility on the Airbnb website. There is so much...
Several times a week – no, many times a week – new Airbnb hosts post on forums with some variation of the following message: ‘Help! I tried to search for my listing on Airbnb and it’s just not showing up! What should I do?’ Actually,...
There does seem to be quite a lot of confusion online from short-term rental guests who don’t understand what the so-called cleaning fee is all about. Note that not all hosts charge this as a separate fee but wherever you stay – hotel, guesthouse B &...
Most people in the world are friendly, law-abiding folk. who just want to get on with their lives. And yet if you were to read comments on, for instance, a forum for short-term-rental hosts, you might get the idea that as soon as a normal, average person turns into a...
It’s something that short-term-rental hosts and owners complain about all the time. ‘Guests don’t read’. Actually, guests do read. They read all the time. But they read what they want to read. They just don’t read your long and boring...
Most Airbnb hosts realise the advantages of greeting their guests in person and giving them a house tour. But what some don’t realise is that it’s equally important to be around when your guests check out. To be honest, if I was given a choice –...
Wandering about on the internet today, I found this on Wikipedia: Of course, anyone can edit any page they like. But this page had not been edited for three weeks. So in those three weeks, anyone checking out that page on Airbnb has been warned about Royal, the host....
Many Airbnb hosts have noticed the recent increase in older guests. There was a time, let’s say during Airbnb’s first few years, that the majority of guests were in a younger age bracket and – quite often – the more techy type. : But in 2018...
Regular readers (all two of you) know that I love Airbnb. I enjoy hosting, which I’ve been doing for ages, and I enjoy using Airbnb when I travel. I’ve met a lot of terrific people, online and ‘in real life’ thanks to Airbnb and I’m all...
I was brought up by parents who themselves were brought up in the Second World War in the UK. This means rationing, make-do-and-mend, growing your own food and recycling just about everything. Frugal. And therefore I am too. But the cheapest isn’t always the...
If you have an Airbnb or similar rental, who is cleaning it for you and preparing it for guests? If you’re not able to do it yourself, how do you choose a cleaning service? It might be more important than you think. Sheila Perera FIH is the manager of the...
For some years now landlords, Airbnb hosts, hotel designers and the like have been warned that glass shower doors in rental apartments or rooms can cause trouble both minor and major. The chances are that you’ll recall that this began with a well documented...
There has always been a demand for accommodation for people with mobility problems – that’s nothing new – and Airbnb have demonstrated their knowledge of this by acquiring Accomable, a service that introduces less-abled travellers to people who...
The initial concept of peer-to-peer accommodation services such as Airbnb was simple – have a spare room? Then rent it to travellers. Win-win. However, we all know that today, many of us are preparing rooms or full apartments specifically for rental. No longer...
If you hosts guests via Airbnb or a similar service then it might be that you avoid have a second set of guests arrive just hours after your last guests have left. After all, Airbnb suggests that checkout time is 10 am and check in time 3 pm. Some hosts baulk at the...
If you have a rental apartment or house that you list on Airbnb or a similar service, then no doubt at some times you will have considered the possibility of using a keyless entry system to allow your guests to check themselves in. But is this really a good idea?...
If you operate a short term rental, using Airbnb or a similar service, then it’s important to realise that greeting your guests and the house tour can be one of the most important aspects of your business. They say that you don’t get a second chance to...
When they are considering renting out a room, suite or apartment on Airbnb, Homeaway et al, one of the first questions new hosts ask is ‘how much should I charge for my accommodation?’ The standard answer – which I disagree with – is to look at...
Eddie and Clarrie Grundy are considering renting out rooms in their house using an online service such as Airbnb. Eddie has had to persuade Clarrie to do this as she will be the one who has to make the beds, clean and cook the breakfast. Clarrie has also been...
In February 2017, Airbnb released the video you see below. It was shown during the Superbowl and the text reads: “We believe no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love or who you worship, we all belong. The world is more beautiful the more you...
If you’re a new host on Airbnb, it’s a good idea to make the most of the ‘new host boost’ that you’ll get when you first add your listing to the site. WHAT IS THE AIRBNB NEW HOST BOOST? Airbnb wants to encourage you to keep hosting with...
It’s a wonderful feeling. You’ve prepared your apartment or room in your home and made it ready for Airbnb guests. You’ve taken some lovely photographs of the place and uploaded them to your listing page. You’ve spent ages writing about your...
Are you considering renting out your spare room or other accommodation? Are you thinking about using Airbnb to advertise your rental? If so, then you’ve probably seen the videos that the company produces in order to show hosts what fun they can have entertaining...
Do you have a rental property? If so the chances are that you advertise it by using Homeaway, Airbnb or one of the similar sites that list short term rentals. You might also have your own website. But how can you go above and beyond to promote the accommodation you...
You’ve probably heard about people who do this. With all the various home rental service that exist today – such as Airbnb – it’s easy to find people who want to stay in your home when you’re travelling. And many people find that...
If you’re just starting out as an Airbnb host or if you’re an experienced host looking for the best products for your bathroom, then we’d like to introduce you to our favourite bathroom goods. Your bathroom is an important part of your guests’...
As you know, Airbnb is a service that is run on trust. The guest trusts that the host will provide them with pleasant accommodation and the host, in turn, trusts that his or her guest will be respectful of their property and possessions. With this in mind, both the...
So often I hear the same complaint from new Airbnb hosts. It always goes something like this – ‘help! I started renting out a room on Airbnb a couple of months ago and everything was going great. Now I find that I have no bookings and am getting no...
Only a few months ago I wrote an article about Airbnb hosting. It’s something that I love doing and I’ve been in the hospitality industry for many years. But in recent months, I’ve noticed that many new hosts are simply unprepared for the realities...
If you’ve used Airbnb, or browsed the site, then you’ll know that guests can leave reviews for their hosts and vice versa. This is an excellent system as it keeps everyone accountable. Increasingly, I’m seeing online questions from guests whose hosts...
Approximately one million people stayed in Airbnb accommodations last night. The same will happen tonight, and tomorrow, and the next night …. and it’s more than likely that every single one of those people had or will have a great stay with no problems....
I like Airbnb, as both a guest and a host. It’s a wonderful service and has a huge variety of fascinating places to stay all over the world. But these days, scams are everywhere. And remember, this is no fault of the Airbnb itself – respected institutions...
More and more people today are hosting guests in their own homes. Often, it’s friends or relatives who are staying with you. Many have found that renting out their spare bedroom or separate suite using Airbnb or similar sites helps them to earn money to maintain...
Have you noticed that so many people today are choosing to arrange their business travel with Airbnb rather than the more traditional hotels? It makes such good sense. When you select one of Airbnb’s ‘business travel ready’ properties, you can be...
Have you thought about being an Airbnb host? I highly recommend it and it’s a great way to make some extra money. But have you got what it takes? It sounds easy, doesn’t it? It’s fun too – you’ll get to meet people from all over the world...
The Freebird Club is often referred to as ‘Airbnb for seniors’ and at first, I wasn’t quite sure that I liked that. And that’s mainly because the service caters to those over 50 and I don’t consider being aged fifty as being senior. But...
In a very clever marketing move, Audi has partnered with Airbnb to provide the ultimate driving and accommodation experience.It was announced in September 2016 that guests could rent a fabulous Mid Century Modern styled home in Scotty’s Junction in the Nevada...
You’ve no doubt read the many articles that exist on the internet proclaiming to the world that you can get rich renting out your spare bedroom, your basement or your camping trailer on Airbnb. Have you considered doing this? It’s true that it’s a...
Are you thinking about using Airbnb the next time you travel? If so, you’ve made an excellent choice. Airbnb offers such a wide selection of accommodation types so whatever kind of place you’re looking for, you’ll find just the right place for you. A...
