Happy guests mean even happier hosts
You’ve spent months getting your airbnb property ready for holiday let management and you’re almost ready to go. The decor’s impressive, you’ve bought some new furniture and you’re already attracting interest from potential guests who’re enquiring as to when they can stay in your property.
Great news then and you could make it even better. A few small finishing touches can make all the difference to the overall experience your guests’ receive, leading to better customer reviews and an even higher demand for your property in the future. And you don’t have to break the bank to make your guests feel right at home, it’s relatively simple. Some may consider the following points a tad churlish, but research suggests that guests really appreciate hosts who are seen to go that extra mile.
There are several straightforward ways to help your guests have an enjoyable stay at your property – but here are just a handful of Elite’s recommendations:
Create a phone charging station
It seems in the digital age that we’re depending increasingly upon our mobile phones and when we’re travelling, it’s totally essential for any form of emergency contact. Therefore, why not provide a DIY charger station, within your home, making it easy for your guests to immediately contact their loved ones shortly after arrival. They can also continually charge their phones and other electronic devices, as and when they need to for the duration of their stay.
Have miniature products to hand
We’ve all been caught out by the liquids ban on flights at least once. Should this happen to your guests, you can lessen their stress by keeping miniature product samples you have lying around in a jar with a note inviting them to help themselves. Fresh water, toothpaste and even perfume and aftershave miniatures, will be greatly appreciated by a guest in need!
Make sure there’s enough tea, coffee and soft drinks
If there’s one thing jet lagged guests will always be grateful for when they arrive at your property, it’s immediate access to a comforting cup of their favourite hot drink. Set up a small beverage station in your kitchen area to help refresh them and ensure it’s equipped with sufficient mugs, tea, coffee and anything else you’d like to add, to give it a really personal and welcoming touch.
Create a welcome basket
You may already have a Welcome Pack prepared which will give guests a range of information about your property, the immediate area and perhaps things to do during their stay. But if you really want to make a lasting impression on your guests, play to the human love of a good freebie. Welcome baskets don’t need to be over the top luxury hampers - although they can be if you want to – simply snacks, a little bottle of body wash and a personalised welcome note is enough to show you’ve gone the extra mile to make them feel at home.
Don’t forget the WiFi password
Now you may have this covered in the aforementioned Welcome Pack, but why not make it even easier for your guests and place the WiFi password somewhere where it’s clearly visible. Attached to a picture frame or posted on a cork notice board in the kitchen area are two places easy enough to find.
Prepare a comprehensive Welcome Pack
If there’s a single thing that makes staying at an airbnb property really special for a guest, it’s the chance to really get to know the city they’re visiting to get the most out of their experience. It really helps if you can add your own personality to the welcome pack - perhaps in the form of a laminated guide - and provide as much helpful information that you can. As a comparison many hotels tend to adopt a one size fits all approach, which often actually serves to confuse rather than inspire the traveller. Let your guests into the secret of a few hidden gems and it’s a sure way to obtain a 5-star review later.
Provide an adaptor
Ever gone on an overseas trip and forgotten your adapter? We all have! There’s no need for your guests to be irritated because they’ve had to buy a brand new plug adapter – have one or two universal adaptors ready in your home for them. But just remember to make sure it’s clearly marked as yours, as it’s easy for guests to accidentally take it away with them if you don’t.
Pin a world map to your kitchen wall
Airbnb’s logo, known as the Belo, brings to life a vision where people feel like they belong anywhere. To bring this to life for your guests, it’s suggested that hosts set up a world map on a wall in their property where every guest is invited to add a pin to reveal where they come from. After a few lets, you begin to see a rich variety of guests from all over the world adding their pins. It creates an interesting feature in your property, letting your guests know that you’re genuinely interested in them, and makes them feel part of something a little bigger. And best of all – it only costs the price of a world map.
Elite can help you manage your guests
If the preparation and actual letting of your property sounds like hard work, it needn’t be. The good news is that Elite Property Management can help. Our team of dedicated Airbnb property management experts can arrange everything for you, reducing your time commitments and your daily stress levels, letting you get on with your busy life. Elite works very closely with you at all stages throughout the letting process.
As well as helping you get started as a host, we’ll take all the pressure off you, by carrying out the following services:
we can automate all of your guest communications and create an inviting welcome pack
we’ll clean and maintain your property to a very high standard
we can help with the meet and greet, if you’re unavailable
we’ll help you to get five star customer reviews
So, what are you waiting for? If you’ve got the property, we’ve got the Airbnb management expertise to get things off the ground for you, allowing you to fully enjoy the financial benefits. Contact us today to find out more.