Hey so, you know all those people who somehow manage to make tons of money on Airbnb, just by being awesome hosts? The type who casually slip in the fact that Airbnb "basically paid for" their vacation?
I asked Airbnb's top superhosts for their best tips on being the greatest host you can possibly be. So here's how to make more money on Airbnb, sourced directly from the people who've done it themselves.
1. Be honest — people are happiest when you manage their expectations.
2. Be flexible with check-in and check-out time.
"That means they can count on us to have a smooth vacation no matter what flight or car delay they might encounter."
—Ken & Mario, San Diego
3. Give new folks a shot.
"I was at first reticent to rent to people who were new to the site and didn't have any previous reviews. But I still do it; I just make sure to probe a bit on why people are coming to town, what they're excited about in terms of your listing, and who they're bringing with them. It leads to some fun relationships, and hopefully some happy new Airbnb users!"
—Claire Rice, Chicago
4. Always do a bit more than you promised in the listing.
5. Send guests an email a week prior to their arrival.
"We make sure ours is personalized and includes a line or two based on the information the guests have shared about themselves. The first part is just information about the house. In the second part of the email, though, we go through information about the neighborhood, places to eat, cafes, gyms, and activities. Since we often get international visitors who don't always have access to data on their phones, they find this email very helpful. We've received appreciative messages and mentions of this email on our reviews."
—Krishna, Boston
"And ask them if they will be driving to your home. If they are, tell them about parking in your area and the parking restrictions, if any."
—Douglas, San Francisco
6. Leave small explainer notes around all of the electronics.
"This way, guests know exactly what they need to do. I also tell them which light switches to use, and ask them to leave one on if necessary."
—Susan Pham, Tacoma
7. Ask them about their food preferences right when they book.
8. Leave your guests plenty of information on what to do in the area.
"We offer our guests a complete portable series of travel books, brochures, and menus of local attractions and restaurants. We also are always on the lookout for discount coupons that might save our guests some money during their stay. And we point them to places off the beaten path, too, that might be of interest based on our conversations about their likes and dislikes."
—Ken & Mario, San Diego
"I leave them a sheet of information about buses and transportation, museum information, and short local day trips to take. I also leave them all of the local restaurant menus."
—Susan Pham, Tacoma
9. Whenever possible, greet guests at the door — and be sensitive to their needs when they first arrive.
10. And offer to carry their belongings.
"Warm welcomes put people at ease. One time, a guest called from the subway exit and was looking for directions. I knew he had lots of luggage, so I went out and found him, took some of his bags, and escorted him to the apartment."
—Yoni, NYC
11. And then offer them a drink — or leave them a bottle of wine in their room for when they arrive.
12. Give them a quick tour.
"Or, if you're not there, leave them notes that explain where all the essential items are: towels, cleaning supplies, paper products, etc."
—Susan Pham, Tacoma
13. Have soft music playing when your guests arrive.
"It's a nice way to set the personality of your space. Personally, I turn on classical music for a relaxing atmosphere."
—Susan Pham, Tacoma
14. 16. Decorate your space with interesting art, furniture, and bedding.
15. Use a key-less lock if you won't be there to greet them.
"We use a keypad that we set to a code that will be personal to the guest, which makes it easy for the guest to remember — and offers them the security knowing the guests before them do not have access. As a bonus, it allows for check-ins when you are not home, and no worries about lost keys!"
—Mick & Patrick, Denver
16. Keep it simple.
"You don't have to offer your guests elaborate gifts or have an elaborate home to be successful. A clean, cozy space that's free of clutter will make your guests feel most welcome."
—Claire Rice, Chicago
17. Leave fresh flowers all around.
18. Invest in good ambient lighting.
"One of the best ways to set the mood and atmosphere of your space is with ambient lighting. This light makes the space warm and welcoming even if you are not there. By ambient lighting, I mean no overhead or harsh lights that cause shadows. Lighting should be soft white, not bright blue or fluorescent."
—Susan Pham, Tacoma
19. Clean! Clean! Clean!
"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."
—Mick & Patrick, Denver
20. Make sure there are blankets by the couch, books to read, and fun games to play.
21. Decorate your space for the holidays.
"During the holidays, we outfit the home with holiday decor so our guests feel more at home when traveling. We also leave all our guests a gift!"
—Leslie May, NYC
22. If you live on site, invite your guests to join you for dinner if the vibe is right.
"As we see it, every guest is a potential new friend, and some have become just such. When the vibe is good, we have invited several Airbnb guests to join us for dinner at our table, sharing good food, wine and great stories."
—Ken & Mario, San Diego
23. Stock your house with snacks — the investment will pay off tenfold in your reviews.
24. Leave your guests with all of the supplies they need.
"I leave them an emergency kit: an umbrella in case of rain, a flashlight in case of a power outage, a medicine kit, and Band-Aids."
—Douglas, San Francisco
"We always have extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, disposable razors and cotton swabs. Most guests won't use them, but for the guest who gets in at 10 p.m. only to figure out they forgot a toothbrush, it will make their stay."
—Mick & Patrick, Denver
25. And be sure to leave extras of everything, too.
Because sometimes, one set of towels is not enough. "Extra amounts of items like light bulbs, extra bath towels, extra pillows, extra blankets, extra toilet paper, extra boxes of tissue so they don't run out during their stay."
—Douglas, San Francisco
Got all that? Now go give your Airbnb listing some TLC so the money can start rolling in for you, too!
