If you’re not getting 5-star reviews you’re losing money

While it’s no secret that reviews are important in today’s market, especially for Airbnb hosts. The more positive reviews you get can make your business skyrocket to new heights! So let me tell you about some tricks and tips on how I’ve been able to help short-term rental hosts get those 5-star ratings they need to stand out from the competition – all while asking guests just one simple question: “Would you leave A review?”

The sharing economy has dramatically changed the way reviews are treated in the decision process. When you’re shopping from a reputable brand you know what to expect from that experience, but when you’re purchasing something from a tiny business or an individual you’re taking a leap of faith. As hosts not only do negative reviews hurt your ability to attract great guests the Airbnb algorithm will de-prioritize your listing and it will get lost in the thousands of other short-term listings for your area.

Some amount of negative feeback will happen even if you’re working tirelessly and that’s to be expected. However, you want that inevitable bad review to come from a guest that was way outside the norm in booking your house like someone who booked your rustic cabin and expected a New York City penthouse, or a guest who had a party and feared their own bad review retaliates against you. What you don’t want are avoidable misunderstandings and simple mistakes that will cost you repeat guests and tens of thousands of dollars.

What do guests want anyway?

Before you can provide your guests with a great experience, you need to understand their expectations. What are they looking for in an Airbnb? What do they want to get out of their stay? Once you know this, you’ll be able to tailor the experience to them and make sure they have a great time.

How do you anticipate guests’ expectations?

You set your guest’s expectations every step of the way, but the critical expectation is set in your listing photographs, description, and in your first messages to your guest.

What type of photographs does your Airbnb need?

If you want to make sure that your Airbnb listing is booked full of guests, then you will need to have some professional photographs taken of your listing. This is because potential guests will be able to get a better idea of what the property looks like and whether or not it is suitable for their needs. In addition, professional photographs can help to give your listing an edge over the competition. Once your short-term rental is set up and ready to go this is the single greatest marketing investment you can make. I am biased being that I was a professional photographer for 15 or so years but the data speaks for itself and every single booking platform has the same message.

Write a great description

When you’re creating your Airbnb listing, make sure you write a great description. This is your chance to sell your property to potential guests, so make it count! Include information about the amenities, the location, and anything else that makes your property special.

Ensuring an end-to-end great experience for your guests should be your number one priority as an Airbnb host.

Be Honest in your property description

When you’re writing your property description, it’s important to be honest. Don’t try to trick guests into thinking your property is something it’s not. This will only lead to negative reviews down the road. Be upfront about what your property offers, and you’ll attract the right guests who will appreciate what you have to offer.

How to get more reviews for your Airbnb vacation rental

Your number one priority should be to provide your guests with a great experience. If you do that, then the reviews will take care of themselves. Here are a few ways to make sure your guests have a positive experience:

Be responsive

One of the most important things you can do is to be responsive to your guests. If they have any questions or concerns, make sure you address them right away. This will show them that you care about their experience and that you’re willing to go the extra mile to make sure they’re happy.

Provide extras

Another great way to get positive reviews is to provide your guests with extras. This could be anything from a welcome basket to discounts on local attractions. Anything you can do to make your guests’ stay more enjoyable will go a long way in getting positive reviews.

Everyone loves a freebie, so this is a great way to get more reviews.

Be flexible

Another thing you can do to get great reviews is to be flexible with your guests. If they need to check in early or check out late, try to accommodate them. This will show them that you’re flexible and easy to work with, and it will make their stay more enjoyable.

Be polite and professional

It sounds obvious, but it’s important to be polite and professional with your guests. This will make them feel comfortable and appreciated, and they’ll be more likely to leave a positive review. If a guest asks a question that annoys you take a breath and wait until you’re less bothered when you respond. Have a snack! When I’m feeling grouchy about a request I ask myself if I were less hungry would I be as bothered?

Don’t intrude

One of the worst things you can do as an Airbnb host is to intrude on your guests’ privacy. They’re paying to have a private, relaxing experience, so make sure you respect that. Don’t go into their rental without permission, which has all sorts of negative ramifications aside from bad reviews.

Personalize their experience

Make your guests feel like they’re getting an individualized experience by personalizing their visit. This could be anything from leaving a handwritten note to providing them with a personalized itinerary. Ask them what brings them to your area, and then make a recommendation from that response. This 15 second text message can make a huge difference.

Make your guests feel like they’re locals

Airbnb’s entire original marketing message was about making guests feel like locals. I remember budget travel at the time being an abysmal experience and luxury travel being so far out of reach and secretive that it was best not to imagine it at all. Then Airbnb came along and told you you could find that hidden fantastic café because a local would show you where it was! Everyone who was attracted to this type of experience flocked to this type of travel so you don’t want to get so far into the weeds setting up your Airbnb that you forget to share a little bit of that local magic with your guests.

Don’t drop the ball after your guest checks out

I’ve stayed in so many hotels and short-term rentals where the host barely reaches out and certainly never messages after I head home and this is an incredible missed opportunity. Literally, reach out and thank your guests. If you’re not in the habit of thanking the people that give you the money you should start the practice immediately. You will see an incredible response.

The art of the follow up

Once your guests have checked out, make sure to follow up with them. Thank them for their stay and ask if there was anything you could have done to improve their experience. This will show that you’re interested in feedback and that you care about your guests’ experiences.

Asking for Reviews

Once you’ve provided your guests with a great experience, it’s time to ask for a review. The best way to do this is to send them a message after their stay. Thank them again for their visit and let them know that you would appreciate a review. Keep your messaging super casual and low pressure. The high-pressure review requests I get from the phone company or a car dealer make me feel like if I don’t want to leave a stellar review someone is going to lose their job is a real bummer.

How many reviews should an Airbnb have?

The answer to this question is that there is no magic number. Every host’s situation is different, and therefore each will need a different strategy for how to get reviews on Airbnb. However, as a general guideline, it is always good to aim for more than 50.

There are a few reasons why having a large number of reviews is beneficial. First, it shows potential guests that you are a reliable and trustworthy host. Having a lot of positive reviews makes it more likely that guests will book with you, as they will feel confident that they will have a good experience.

Second, Airbnb gives preference to listings with a large number of reviews in their search results. This means that if you have a lot of reviews, your listing is more likely to show up at the top of the search results, which will result in more bookings.

Finally, having a large number of reviews makes it easier to recover from any negative feedback. If you do receive a negative review, it will be much less impactful if you have hundreds of positive reviews to offset it. If you only have 2 reviews and one of them calls you an egomaniac jerk and the other one is lovely what do you think is going to stand out for potential guests?

Tips for getting a 5-star rating on Airbnb

There is no one guaranteed way to get a perfect rating on Airbnb, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances.

Here are 10 tips for getting a five-star rating:

-Make sure your listing photos are accurate and up to date. Guests should know what to expect when they book your space.

-Be responsive to guests’ messages. They will appreciate knowing that you are available if they need anything during their stay.

-Create a detailed guestbook with instructions for things like Wi-Fi, parking, and local attractions.

-Leave a welcome gift for guests. This could be something like a bottle of wine or some local snacks.

-Make sure your space is clean and tidy before guests arrive. This is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a positive experience.

-Be available to answer any questions guests may have during their stay.

-Respect your guests’ privacy and give them space to enjoy their vacation.

-Thank guests for their visit and let them know you hope they enjoyed their stay.

-Under promise and over deliver. If you set expectations low, guests will be pleasantly surprised by their experience.

In conclusion

Although it may seem like a daunting task, getting great reviews for your Airbnb can be simple if you follow some basic best practices. By setting expectations, delivering on them, creating a unique experience for your guests, and then thanking them after their visit, you give yourself the best chance of receiving positive feedback.

What’s the most difficult part of hosting for you? Let us know in the comments or send us a DM and we’ll help you out!