13 Tips: How I became an AIRBNB super host & earned $20k in 10 months

Do you have an extra place that you don’t know what to do? Or are you looking for extra income by welcoming guest in your home?  AIRBNB is a website that allows you to rent out your space for travelers, family, friends who are looking for a place for a night, weeks or a month.

In my first 2 months of hosting AIRBNB, I was so shocked that I ranked as AIRBNB super host for a short period of time. It was mind blowing since I don’t have any experiences on listing places, I didn’t even go to school to study hotel management. We just share our home and hospitality, major reasons why our guests give us 5-star ratings. After 10 months as a host, I have learned and experimented how to satisfy and provide the needs of my guests on their vacation. Not only that, we also earned more than $20,000 and welcomed people from all over the world.

13 TIPS HOW TO BECOME AIRBNB SUPER HOST

1. Retouched or Design your Home

As a traveler and a host in Airbnb everytime I booked a place, number one thing I look for a home aside from the rate is the design of the house. I think everybody does this, who would like to stay in messy or empty place. We love to find a place that will suit our needs.

Before I listed our place in AIRBNB I did some major retouched in our space. Since we have an empty apartment, We bought new items of furniture, paintings, curtains, kitchen ware etc..to give our guest a convenient and memorable stay. I redesign it and make it looks fresh, unique, spacious and modern to capture the guest attention. I’m not saying you need to buy new stuff also, you just need to redesign it or fill up the missing things at home.

2.Make an awesome AIRBNB Profile

A Key to become AIRBNB super host is having an awesome profile. This means you need to MARKET your home. To become a successful business person we need to do sales talk to gain attention.  So this will be your moment to describe your home, Give reasons why the guest should choose your place over millions of place listed on AIRBNB. Highlight the important details on your home to give guest insight and what to expect.

3. Upload Quality and attractive Photos

A picture worth a thousand words.

 

Other things to note, before listing your place, take beautiful photos of your home. If you’re not Pro in taking Photos you can hire a professional photographer to come and shoot your place. This TIPS matter the most since guest can’t see your place before they arrive, use this tool to market your place as well.

Related article: Check our Airbnb listing in Boracay Click here! 

Read our Boracay Guide: OPTIMAL GUIDES AND TIPS: FOR FIRST TIME TRAVELER TO BORACAY ISLAND

4. Be Honest

If you want to become an AIRBNB super host be Honest! Guest love to stay in a place where they met their expectations. If there’s something wrong with the house, if there will be constructions at the neighbor, or they need to walk and climb more steps to reach the house TELL THEM ahead of time. I remember this kind of incident when our guest complain why there is no electricity at home and they wanted a refund. I talked to them personally and explain it, It was unexpected and we can’t do anything since there was a typhoon in the island and for the safety of everybody. I’m sure guest will understand your side also.

5. Start with a low price

Obvious right? start with a low price.  When we started listing our place we have an empty review so it so challenging for us on how to welcome our first guest.The easiest way we get noticed is by pricing lower than our competitors.In our first month, we started at $40 per night and we welcome guest almost every day. We’ve now raised our prices to $120-$150 per night since we already build our profile and gain a lot of 5-star reviews.

6.  Allow guest to do Instant Booking

Though it’s not really advisable, for our own safety as a homeowner and it is nice to be able to know guests a little more carefully and to be able to turn down guests if they aren’t a good fit. However, this will help build our profile to become an AIRBNB super host. There is a guest who loves to books last minute booking,  so this feature will help this kind of guest to get the accommodation immediately.

7. Quick Response

Guest love when the host response so fast, this will going to start your communication and got to know them better. Either inquiries, complaints, heads up, booking issues, always look on your notifications. Prompt response will make them feel they’re important and valued. Communication is a key to become an AIRBNB super host. Download AIRBNB app to get notifications or give your contact number to the guest whose booking is confirmed so it will be easy for them to call you.

8. Clean and well-maintained house

Before the guest arrival triple check if everything is clean and well maintained. Spray air freshener to smells fresh, check the cabinets if its clean, double check and flush the toilet bowl if it’s working. Change beddings, pillow covers, blanket, and towels.  Don’t let your guest leave a bad review on your wall due to a smelly blanket or small toothpaste scattered in the lavatory. Guest love to complain even a small problem so be ready always.

9. Meet the guest on their Arrival

In our case since we live abroad and not all the time were there, I hired someone who can be trusted to hand the key, Welcome them and drive guest to the apartment. I want the guest to feel more secure and feel the hospitality in our home. Our apartment is located on the third floor and we assign our assistant to live on the ground floor so it will be easy for the guest to reach them in case they need something.

10. Provide Guest Book or Welcome Note

Leave a note in a desk, dining table or put it in fridge magnet that will easy to find. You can either make a guest book or welcome note, this way will make the guest know what to do at home. Don’t forget to HIGHLIGHT the WIFI PASSWORD. In our apartment, I make a Welcome Note and we listed all the important details at home even the fire exit, contact number of the clinic, police etc in a case of emergency. We also provide them a tourist information and Map in the island so they will know what exactly to do.

11. Don’t forget to provide extra Toiletries and other basic needs

Make your guest feel they’re staying in a hotel like home. Provide free tissues, shampoo, toothpaste, towel and other basic needs. I know for sure the guest will give extra credit and awesome review for you. In our apartment, we even provide a free shuttle, basic cooking ingredients, changing of towels every other day, cleaning assistant. Make them feel they paid worth it.

12. Keep in touch with your Guest

We don’t leave our children for a couple of days without checking them. Just like doing Airbnb, We need to Check our guest every other day to make sure everything is fine and good. We are also responsible for their safety since they’re staying in our place. Don’t just leave them alone in your house after they check-in.  Guest love it when homeowner values them. But please don’t spam their inbox so it will not sound annoying.

13.Give feedbacks as well

Be the first to initiate to give feedback or review to your guest after they check out, so they will push them to effort on giving reviews in your house. We know that the number one key to becoming an AIRBNB super host it having a reliable and consistent review.

So are you ready to welcome your first guest now? Sign up AIRBNB account or claim your $20  discount code click here!