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Make excellent hosting easy.
Not an Airbnb host yet, but thinking about trying it out? Find more information about it here.
We asked the BuzzFeed Community for their best Airbnb hosting tips, and here are some of their responses!
Although not all of the tips here are from BuzzFeed's Community — others come from the Airbnb Community's Superhost and Above and Beyond threads, along with this Reddit thread, and this one, and this one.
1. Take clear, well-lit photos of your space, and make sure to show every single room.
2. Occasionally update your photos and listing to show any changes you've made — you want potential guests to know exactly what your space is like.
3. And if you struggle to come up with good photo captions, try using the good things previous guests said about the space in reviews.
4. Do your research in your area to figure out the best price to charge — search the way a guest would search to see other comparable options and their pricing.
5. When you're getting started, consider only taking short bookings, so you can figure out what works and what to change — and so you can rack up those good reviews.
6. Although don't think you have to have the lowest price in your area to get bookings.
7. Always require one day's notice for an instant book listing, or if you want to allow same-day booking, switch to booking requests instead.
8. Consider requiring that any potential guests have the verified ID checkmark and a clear picture of them in their profile, so you can recognize them when they show up.
9. Set up a security deposit: it won't cost you bookings, but it could help you if something goes really wrong.
10. When you do confirm a booking, send a short thank-you note right away, and longer arrival instructions 7-10 days before your guests arrive.
11. Replace the lock your guests will use with an electronic smart lock that you can program with personal codes, so you don't have to worry about keys, ever.
12. Obviously, keep the space sparkling clean, especially the bathrooms and kitchen.
13. Have a ~complete~ packet or binder with suggestions for stuff to do, restaurants or cafes to check out, and information about your home.
14. Or go above and beyond with a decked-out dollar-store welcome basket — especially if they're staying with you over a holiday or for a special event.
15. If they have kids, consider suggesting fun things nearby that the kids would enjoy specifically, and have board games or other kid-friendly options in your space.
16. Have plenty of spare sheets and extra towels on hand, just in case — and stick to white for the sheets so you can easily bleach out any stains.
Have spare sheets and lots of extra towels. This will make back to back bookings easier because you don't need to wait for everything to be washed and dried.
—k449711b6f
There aren't too many white cotton sheets that can tolerate bleach, but one of our writers swears by these 400-thread count cotton sheets from Target that can; get them for $29.99+ (21 colors available).
17. And protect your mattress with a waterproof cover before a guest spills red wine all over the bed.
If you provide sheets on the beds, invest in some kind of waterproof lining that can go under the sheets without making much noise! That way, if your guests have an accident or make a mess, you don’t have to buy a new mattress, just wash the sheets! I’ve had this happen to me multiple times so I’ve learned my lesson!
—arashpreetg
If you're worried about it the noise, layer it underneath another mattress cover, then put the sheets on top — that may help. Get one that reviewers say doesn't make crinkle noises on Bed Bath & Beyond for $32.99+ (available in sizes twin through king, including twin XL.)
18. When they arrive, use your ~intuition~ to figure out how much they want to talk to you — if at all.
Disney
Assuming you want to greet your guest in person. There are no hard and fast rules here, just that some people will be happy to chat, while others will want to keep to themselves... and sometimes its hard to tell.
19. But when you're walking your guest through the space (or messaging them beforehand), be friendly but clear about your boundaries and expectations — and be specific.
Whether or not they want to make small talk, your boundaries are important — and so is seeming welcoming. For example, if you're sharing your kitchen, say something like, "You're welcome to cook dinner in here, just be sure to wash all of the dishes you use, leave them in the drying rack here, and wipe down the counters with these wipes, please."
Get this rules sign from Rustic Pine Designs on Etsy for $65.
20. If guests break small things like glasses and dishes, don't try to charge them for it — think of it as a cost of doing business.
It was probably an accident, and they're more likely to give you a good review if you don't charge them.
21. Thank your guests at the end of their stay, whether you're communicating in person, on the phone, or via text.
Disney
And if you ask them to text for checkout, do what one reddit user does, and text back: "Thanks for your business. Please consider leaving a positive review, we're going for five stars!"
22. And consider asking for feedback from them, especially if you're new at hosting — "was there anything missing that would've made your stay better?"
US National Archives
23. And remember, even though the guests come and go, this is *your space*.
This is especially true if you're renting out an extra bedroom and sharing your living room + kitchen with them. You can be welcoming, but ultimately your guest is your guest, and you can review them accordingly if they broke rules or did other things you asked them not to do.
If you're thinking about hosting guests in your home or extra space, learn more about it here.
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed