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Did you manage to sort things out? It can be daunting when you are welcoming guests into your property, I'm not sure of the details in terms of your concerns - was your property not physically ready or were you not feeling ready yourself?

As a minimum rule, your property should be secure, clean, well-presented, and contain essential supplies to make your guests feel at home. A welcome book (complete with house rules, useful instructions and details of local events, etc) is a great way to enlighten guests. Concentrate on the basics, get some great reviews under your belt and keep making improvements.

If you were just not feeling it as a host it could be a case of nerves? It can be daunting letting "strangers" stay at your place. Screening guests can help to make you feel a little better about opening up your property. You could also invest in security measures such as smart locks (so you don't have to worry about lost keys, etc)

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Either way, hope you have everything sorted out and are feeling a bit better about hosting?

Hi

There are so many things you can do to market your Airbnb property, remember to focus on your positives - living out of town can be a great bonus!

• Not everyone wants to be in the heart of the action! Promote your home as a "retreat" from the daily grind.
• Make its location a USP rather than a hindrance. Nature spots nearby? Make this a feature, there are plenty of nature lovers out there, and bird-spotters too!
• Link up with a guide (or do it yourself if you are confident enough) and offer guided nature walks. Guests value an experience along with nice accommodation. Ditto for offering a meal at a local restaurant or a made up picnic hamper as an added bonus if they book your place!
• Offer special touches such as binoculars, cosy blankets, flasks (so guests can head out fully prepared to be at one with nature).
• If light pollution is not a problem you could get a telescope and encourage your guests to enjoy the tranquility and reach for the stars!
• Make sure your listing rocks! A great description and clear photographs are both essential. You could even add a video to make your listing stand out from the crowd?
• Build up your reputation, that means making sure your communication is top-notch, the property is in great condition for guests and you deliver on guest experience.

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Good luck going forward and happy hosting!

There are a few things you can try to draw interest:

1. Make the most of your property -can you improve the exterior /interior?
2. Optimize your listings - make sure it highlights all the great features you offer
3. Makeover your titles, a catchy title can make a huge difference.
4. Use great photographs - declutter, add flowers, make sure your lighting is right, etc (you could look at get some professional photo's done, but this might cost you)!
5. Consider adding a video to your listing to show off your property fully.
6. Find your USP - who's your target market? If it's families go all out on making your place kid friendly.
7. Offer experiences, join forces with local attractions and offer your place in conjunction with outward bound experiences e.g. horseriding, or maybe offer hiking/walking tours or painting sessions with a local artisan? Lots of options. 
8. Make your rental appeal all year round. If you're near a beach flag it up and make your place the perfect summer retreat. In the winter sell it as a cozy bolthole complete with stormy seaside vistas, snug-as-a-bug throws, and complimentary hot chocolate.
9. Check out your pricing strategy  -what are your competitors charging? Can you change your prices in line with demand?

Marketing is key, so really go for it! Promote via Instagram and social media and if possible partner with a couple of local attractions (promote each other via websites etc). 

Keep smiling, fingers crossed you will start to get more bookings soon!

Can we add another useful list? (We do love a list)! This one covers all the essential bits and bobs you might need to keep your guests sweet!

Ah that's nice, it's great to hear nice stories about lovely guests, makes the hosting journey worth-while.

You could always ask them to join you, offer it as a celebratory meal and champagne on you as it's their honeymoon (extra host brownie points)! They might prefer to be alone as they are on honeymoon, but asking casually won't hurt (if they decline you could still deliver fizz and flowers as a special touch to say congrats)!

Making your guests happy is the key to success - you will leave them with great memories, encourage them to stay again, and hopefully provide you with a fab review too!

First off clarify the situation - your tenant might need a gentle reminder that the ensuite bathroom is for the guest staying in the adjoining bedroom - not for all to use!

House rules are important if you want to set clear boundaries, so if you haven't included this "rule" on your list then it's time to add it. Make sure guests are aware of the setup and read house rules prior to booking.

Digital locks can be pricy but if you are hosting a number of guests at the same time security needs to be at the fore. Might be worth the investment - and you can include the feature on your listing. Safety conscious guests will be drawn to your place!

It is key that you screen every single guest and, therefore, it is good that you're asking questions like this. As you've mentioned this guest does have one good review which is a good start. Other things that you can watch out for when screening a guest is the tone of his/her conversation. Also, be sure to ask your guests additional questions to find out more about them and their needs.

Like the other comments have suggested, it all depends. Though, what is important is that you when you're writing your listing you clearly describe all the amenities that you do offer. The worst part is guests arriving only to think that you have a washer/dryer. Also, if you do decide to get one, make sure that you mention in your house rules what's allowed and what's not (for example, some hosts restrict their guests to one load per week).

Yes, automation is definitely the solution. When you install a home temperature automation unit, you can ensure that the ambient temperature at your property is always reasonable because you can easily check it periodically from your smartphone. Plus, you never have to worry about guests injuring themselves or damaging your property while trying to adjust the temperature themselves.

You can also get sensors. Sensors can be integrated with automation software to allow you to create rules on how you want your home automation devices to respond. For example, you can set up a rule that stops the HVAC from running while the front door is open to save energy or a motion sensor can turn lights off when not in use helping you to save on the electric bill.

You can check out the AirGMS blog. AirGMS vacation rental software has a great blog with the latest industry updates and valuable insights.

I would recommend that if you want to go this route mention it in your house rules too so that guests can plan beforehand.

Something that this article fails to mention is that Airbnb hosts should be screening guests. There are basic things that a host can be on the lookout for that could possibly signal problems in the future such as wanting to communicate outside of the Airbnb platform.

Your rooms look lovely - hope things are going well so far?

As others have mentioned photographs are really important - definitely include clear pics of all common areas and state clearly what guests can expect on your listing. Meeting the expectations of your guests is a top priority or any host! Marketing is key too, promote yourself well and check out what your competitors are offering in terms of price and amenities.

Best of luck with everything and happy hosting.

Sounds like you've found something that suits your needs - anything that can make the hosting process easier has to be a bonus doesn't it? I hope you don't mind if I chime in with another option? AirGMS has recently made a few changes (they are now called iGMS) and they now offer:

• New integrations and a fully equipped channel manager.
• Expanded customer services team and longer opening hours.
• More tools and features to help busy hosts (manage bookings, create listings, export calendars, automate pricing) all from one place.
• Free demo and better still, iGMS is free to use for up to 4 listings.

Take a look, it could help you to save time and grow your business. Happy hosting all!

Death and taxes - as the old saying goes, the only two certainties in life! There's a myriad of information out there on Airbnb taxes, so do a bit of research, or get some help from a fellow host.

Keep a careful log of your incomings and outgoings, this will be essential when completing tax returns. You need to check out the rules and regulations surrounding tax in your locality to make sure you have everything covered.

Good luck x

Sounds like a great idea. It's always good to try and get into the mindset of your guest, it's easy to forget comfy as a host (and forget about the masses of competition creeping up with bigger and better ideas on how to keep guests happy)!

Small, special touches can really appeal to guests - after all, we all want to feel welcome when we stay somewhere. As a host you can add value by leaving a small gift, personalized note and useful extras (such as games, books, craft items etc).

Or you could consider intertwining your property with an experience- based on your location and what you can offer e.g accommodation and cookery lessons, accommodation and walking tours

Lots of opportunities!

There are a whole host of insurance companies waiting in the wings to provide you with insurance for your property - perhaps you could use a comparison service just to sanity check your options?

You could also think about charging a security deposit, not all hosts do (in case it puts guests off booking), but it's a good way to protect against damage to your property. Might be worth a thought?

I would just send a brief and friendly message, something along the lines of

"Hi, you expressed an interest in booking my place, just wanted to check if you would like to go ahead or if you have any further questions you would like to ask about it? I look forward to hearing from you."

Communication does eat into your time, but I guess it's something we just have to get on with in the aim of securing those bookings! This might give you a few ideas: https://www.airgms.com/airbnb-communication-strategy/

Happy Hosting!

Stating you are pet-friendly is a bonus to those who want to bring their four-legged friends, but you can always add a few parameters! As others have pointed out you can define what you are comfortable with - e.g. "two well-behaved dogs welcome on request."

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As you have said, stating you can't accommodate pets would be tricky now - but you can state that you aren't able to accommodate four pets! That's a big ask after all, plus puppies can be messy house guests! Do you have any house rules in place for pets? E.g. no pets on the furniture etc? Some hosts also pt to request a security deposit in case deep cleaning is required! There's a useful post on this just in case you want to have a look:

https://www.airgms.com/airbnb-security-deposit/

At the end of the day, I guess it's just down to whether or not you feel comfortable accepting this (very) dog-friendly booking request!

While a property management company is experienced at their job, it can be hard to find one that will cater to your specific needs.

Another solution is to invest in software. You can for instance get AirGMS. Vacation rental software like AirGMS enables you to immediately respond to messages with the help of template answers, it offers a single inbox for all your messages, lets you create very detailed financial reports and helps you to manage your cleaners much more efficiently.

If you're going to list both your whole house and a private room on Airbnb, it's a good idea to invest in vacation rental software that can help you to sync your separate calendars. In fact, AirGMS has a very useful feature for this situation. It boasts a parent and child booking management feature that enables you to see if just the room has been booked or the whole house.

Unfortunately this does happen from time to time to most hosts. One way to prevent this from happening again in the future is to send a reminder about the checkout the previous day. Luckily with the help of vacation rental software like AirGMS, you can create a template and automate such a message so that it doesn't have to be another time-consuming task.

Check that your listing mentions that it is indeed an older place, that way guests will know what to expect. Also, when you do receive a negative review, replying to reviews can show that you care - just remember to stay rational and calm.

It's been our experience that becoming a Superhost is for sure worth it. If you want more information regarding the perks of becoming a Superhost, you can check out this article, Airbnb Superhost Status: The Definitive FAQ Guide, on the AirGMS blog. Hope this blog post answers some of your questions.

It will not count against you per se. Though, by leaving a review first, your guests will be more likely to return the favour and leave a review for you too. Needless to say, reviews are crucial if you want to remain a Superhost. If you're finding the review process to be too time-consuming in general, you can check out AirGMS. One of the features offered by AirGMS is automation of guest reviews.

So, the insurance programmes offered by Airbnb does not offer complete protection as there are many terms and conditions. Also, your existing home insurance programme will not cover you as they usually exclude business activity. This means that you will need to get extra insurance that does include business activity (be sure to mention that you will be listing your property on Airbnb).

As Airbnb is getting increasingly more popular, it is a good idea to list your property on other sites too. For example, VRBO attracts families and specializes in travelers to US destinations. Here's an article that lists the top 10 vacation rental sites that will be of help.

With regards to what else you should provide to your guests, here's a list with all the essential items. Take a look and see what applies to your listing. Hope it helps!

This is always a tricky situation. There's not much you can do, but always remember to ask your guests to report any issues that they may experience immediately upon arrival. Though, as pointed out in another answer the bites might only have appeared later. Here's an article that actually gives advice about what to do with "imaginary infestations". Good luck!

One tip would be to make sure that you describe the set up (that it would be a private room and that guests will have to share certain places with you) clearly. Also, make sure that you list all the amenities that you will be offering clearly and accurately. In short, when writing your listing you don't want to create any confusion.

If the majority of your bookings are coming via Airbnb, you might want to consider investing in Airbnb automation software. For instance with the help of AirGMS, you can sync your calendar. As it boasts seamless integration with Airbnb's new API, there'll be no time lag. You can also use it to sync your calendar from all other third-party platforms via iCal.

Your house rules are so important. Basically just ensure that the rules are simple and explicit. Nothing in your house rules for your room listing should be left open for interpretation.

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With regards to writing your house rules, here are two top tips:

1. Make sure the rules are simple.
2. Be as explicit as you can so that you don’t leave anything in your house rules open for (mis)interpretation.

Good luck!

To add to the other answers, you can invest in Airbnb automation software like AirGMS that will automate this review process for you. With the help of the AirGMS guest reviewing feature, you will be able to build the templates for guest reviews using predefined elements. This way you'll save loads of time!

It depends on the location. Though, have you considered turning it into a short-term vacation rental? That's another avenue that you can explore. A study that was conducted by LearnAirbnb revealed that about 70 Airbnb hosts in the United States earn more than $1 million in rental income annually!

That being said, it can be time-consuming and really calls for a lot of hard work. If you’re considering renting your whole apartment on a short-term basis, you should definitely download the Short-Term Rental Expert’s Guide.