An Auckland Airbnb Management guide to being a better host

If you are an Airbnb novice, or even if you are an experienced in Auckland Airbnb management, everybody can improve their craft. No matter how close to perfect we think we are! This article goes over everything from the listing, to your guests leaving their reviews, and everything in between.

Be honest with your listing, description, and listing photos

Be truthful to the reality of your Auckland Airbnb management property. This doesn’t mean pointing out every single flaw, because no one wants to book at a place titled “loud, dingy 2-bedroom apartment in Grey Lynn,” but rather, don’t oversell your place/lie and keep open communication with your guests. For example, if your apartment usually has a spa but it is currently broken, amend your description and let guests know beforehand that it is broken. Because we all know how soul-crushing it can be to have your heart set on something only to realise the reality isn't as advertised. 

As well as this, be honest with is how noisy your property is. If the neighbours below are very loud, or it is near a busy main street, it could be a good idea to mention this in the description. You could also list in the description things that you provide to remedy the situation, such as earplugs.

This tip is also relevant when it comes to your listing photos. You want your listing photos to look as good as possible, but it should still look like your property. This means taking photos with a good quality camera/phone, and good lighting but not taking them from angles that exclude potential flaws in your property. Scratch on your wall? Don’t hide it, embrace it!

Provide clear guidelines to follow

As part of the booking process, guests will have to consent to the rules you have for your property, so make sure you know what these are. For example, if you live right by the beach you may want to mention that guests wash the sand/take their shoes off before they come inside. Don’t go overboard with the rules, and be aware that most people are fantastic guests but make sure to have clear guidelines and remind your guests of them again once they reach the property (you could do this in the home manual).

Allow enough time for checking in and out

You may have a clear guideline for your guests to check out at 11am to allow for other guests to come in later. However, you can’t force your guests to leave at this time (although you could have a ‘late leaving fee’) and so it is a bit awkward if your new guests arrive to find your other guests taking out a couple of wine bottles from the previous night’s antics. A good idea would be to have the next booking scheduled for the following day as this would allow enough time for a very late exit, and cleaning time.

Understand your cancellation policy inside out 

Different platforms have different cancellation policies, and if you’re with a rental property investment company such as Zodiak, they will usually deal with this side of things. However, it’s great to understand the cancellation policy to deal with people who leave early or cancel last minute. In this way, you can work out how strict you should/want to be. Because the reality is that if a guest cancels 3 days before the booking, then it will be very difficult to find a replacement, and this means that you have lost out on other guests who wouldn't have canceled.

Reviews aren’t the be-all and end-all 

It can be difficult not to take a bad review to heart, but if it’s only one of many, or it’s unreasonable, then let it be a review off an Airbnb host’s back. However, if you are getting lots of bad reviews, or the one bad review has some great suggestions, then you should really listen to what the reviews are saying and fix these problems. Also, be careful what you say when you review people yourself because you don’t want to be overly picky and negative as this could turn into an argument. Another thing to be aware of is if a potential guest has many bad reviews written about them, then you should read them and decide if you want to accommodate them or not. However, if it’s one in a hundred, then there’s nothing to be worried about.

Strive to be the best host you can be

Research, re-imagine, re-do! Being the best host you can be, requires careful research, thought, and presentation. Your Airbnb property should be something you are proud of. This means it is presented well, is comfortable for guests, and homely. Alongside your house, you should also be the most welcoming host you can be. This could mean having amenities like a detailed house manual that includes local places to visit, chocolates on the pillows, flowers, basic ingredients to cook, or all four! Communication is also a must! You should be contactable at all times and make sure that guests have multiple ways to reach you, and these details are easy to find (include these in the house manual). Your property should also be safe. This means removing hazards such as broken appliances and exposed wires, and installing fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. Being the best host you can be will not only lead to better reviews, more money, and a sense of pride but it may also mean you can become a super host (a prestigious badge worn only by the best Airbnb hosts.)

Conclusion

In conclusion, whatever your experience level, with the implementation of these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the best Airbnb host you can possibly be. Alongside this, you will also get better reviews and more income. Yes, please! For more information on this topic, be sure to check out this previous article.

Written by Lauren Middleton