It’s exciting and daunting to start hosting on Airbnb. The prospect of earning extra money on your property is so attractive, and yet most Australian hosts make rookie mistakes from the very start. Those mistakes cost you bookings, damage your reputation, and have you wondering why your listing isn’t performing.
The good news? Most hosting mistakes are completely avoidable. You can skip the costly trial-and-error approach and start hosting excellent visitors from day one by avoiding mistakes made by other hosts. Follow are three major mistakes that confuse new hosts and how you can completely avoid them.
Error 1: Failing to Invest in Good-Quality Photos
Your photographs are the first impression of your home on your guests. Poor lighting, cluttered rooms, or fuzzy images can turn off your booking opportunity even before your guests get to your description.
Most home hosts stuff a cellphone photo in no matter the composition and light. They photograph rooms during the day with ugly, awkward shadows or at night with low, yellowish light that is not flattering to rooms.
You don’t need to use up your entire budget on professional photography. If you can’t afford a photographer, take some time to learn the fundamentals of photography. Clean and declutter every room before you photograph it. Roll back blinds and open curtains to allow natural light to fill the room. Take pictures during golden hour when the sun is warm and soft.
Keep in mind that travellers are booking away what they’re viewing through your images. If your images are not showing your property or are not showcasing its strongest selling points, you can’t compare to the other properties within your market.
Error 2: Ignoring Guest Reviews
Reviews are the lifeblood of your Airbnb listing but often ignored by novice hosts. Some hosts become defensive when they read positive feedback, and others simply ignore reviews altogether.
Customer reviews provide insights to what’s going right and what’s going wrong. When a guest tells you that your Wi-Fi is inconsistent or your shower water pressure is low, you’re learning a lesson on how to make improvements to make future stays better.
Replies to reviews make would-be visitors aware that you’re active and that you care about their trip. Respond to positive reviews by thanking reviewers and to negative reviews by answering their concerns. It is the right thing to do and demonstrates the desire to improve.
Don’t take bad feedback personally. Instead, take it as gratis consultancy feedback. If many visitors comment on the same issue, try to fix it first. Your next visitors will thank you, and your reviews will be enhanced as a consequence.
Error 3: Not Working with an Agent
The majority of new hosts attempt to handle everything themselves, but it’s a recipe for burnout and horrible guest experiences in the making. Property management becomes unmanageable when you’re balancing inquiries, cleaning, upkeep, and guest interaction.
It will transform your hosting experience after you partner with a professional Airbnb agent. They are aware of the local market conditions, pricing, and expectations of the guests. They will optimise your listing, handle guest communication, take care of cleaning and maintenance, and make your property completely compliant with all of the local regulations.
While professional management isn’t free, the extra fees, higher rates, and time saved will more than pay for it and then some. Your agent will also protect you from costly mistakes like having your property priced incorrectly or being in non-compliance with local short-term rental rules.
Try to start with partial services if complete management is too large a step. À la carte services like listing optimisation, price management, or guest communication assistance are provided by most agents.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Avoiding these three mistakes is all it takes to convert a dormant listing into a thriving rental enterprise. Good photos drive bookings, reviews responded to establish credibility, and professional help ensures hassle-free operations.
Spend a few minutes reviewing your current strategy. Are you featuring your best assets in your photos? Are you actually listening to the feedback of your visitors? Might professional assistance allow you to do even more? Work through these areas in an organised way, and you’ll be well on the path to hosting success.