5 mistakes to avoid in your Airbnb listing

Are you looking to list a property on a platform like Airbnb or Booking? It’s time to create your listing. However, a small mistake can quickly discourage travelers or influence their decision. Today, your bnb concierge service shares its expertise in seasonal rentals by providing a summary of the mistakes to avoid in your listing.

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1) Neglecting photo quality

If you don't pay special attention to the visual aspect of your listing, it will be immediately apparent. While your description might be written to perfection, a great first photo is what will primarily attract travelers during their search and entice them to click to see the full listing.

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Blurry photos, poor-quality shots, and lack of lighting are to be avoided. And portrait mode is also a no-go! The competition is such that you cannot afford to neglect this point. The rule is simple: you must make anyone who sees your listing want to stay at your place. To do this, your property must be perfectly tidy and staged before taking these photos. Choose a sunny day, make the beds as if guests were arriving that very day, minimize the presence of personal items in the home, and don't hesitate to vary the angles within the same room.

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Also, highlight every unique aspect of your rental. A playroom for kids? Photograph it. A patio set? Show it off. Do you offer breakfast to your guests? Include a photo of a well-set table in your listing. Adapt to the audience you are hosting and the services you provide.

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Another tip: don't hesitate to take a photo of the building's facade, as well as the view. This will help future travelers visualize the space and also find their way once they arrive.

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2) Slacking on the description

Just like with the photos, you should take great care with the text content of your listing. A catchy title that stands out from surrounding rentals and a complete absence of spelling errors will get you off to a great start!

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The goal is to be as comprehensive as possible while remaining concise. To achieve this without too much difficulty, simply put yourself in the travelers' shoes and anticipate all the questions they might have about your rental. Be specific about the number of beds, the size of the property, and clearly indicate what is provided for guests (towels, parking space, coffee, shower gel, etc.). The fewer questions they have, the more bookings you'll get!

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In addition to presenting the property and its amenities, tenants are also very fond of suggestions (restaurants, museums, markets, parks, lakes, viewpoints, etc.). Once again, adapt to the type of audience you generally host.

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3) Hiding the truth

Is your rental apartment on the 5th floor of a building with no elevator? Is the only bed in your rental a sofa bed? Don't wait for guests to arrive to mention it. Similarly, don't downplay distances or overestimate the quietness of the neighborhood. If it's a lively area, just say so.

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If the property you are renting has some negative points, it is still best to include them in your listing. Trying to omit them can sometimes be worse than highlighting them, as it can lead to bad reviews after a stay. And these can have negative repercussions on your ranking in search results! Indeed, when there are too many, bad reviews lead—on Airbnb—to your listing being paused, which has a direct impact on your bookings.

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4) Ignoring bad reviews

Once posted by travelers who have stayed at your place, reviews are, whether you like it or not, an integral part of your listing. They define your overall rating and can therefore be a crucial criterion for many travelers. Furthermore, Airbnb places great importance on host responsiveness and response rates. It is therefore in your interest to respond to every review and address negative feedback with special attention.

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While remaining diplomatic and empathetic, thank the travelers for taking the time to provide feedback and apologize when a problem occurred during their stay. Your responses are not just intended to clear the air with the authors of these bad reviews; they are also often consulted by future tenants before they decide whether or not to book a property. So, keep them in mind when writing your responses.

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5) Not updating your listing

Finally, your listing must always be up to date. It is necessary to evolve it over time, whether based on the reviews received, your availability, or changes made to your property.

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Based on comments from your previous tenants and the questions they may have had before and during their stay, complete the rental description. This way, your future travelers will be less likely to lack information. Furthermore, you can also update suggestions for places to visit by adapting to the season. For example, mentioning a water park won't be very relevant once summer is over.

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In addition to the property description, be very careful about updating your calendar to avoid cancellations, which are very unpopular with guests. If you resort to them too often, cancellations and booking rejections can, just like bad reviews, cause your listing to be deactivated.

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Finally, the update also applies to pricing! A rate set for high season cannot remain the same during the off-season. It should be adjusted based on factors like demand, competition, and market trends.

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By following all these tips, you maximize your chances of optimizing your occupancy rate and earning the title of Superhost on Airbnb!

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Your Welkeys Airbnb property management service takes care of your listing

With our full-service management offer, we handle the rental process from A to Z, from managing bookings to welcoming guests. We also take care of creating your listing, distributing it across multiple platforms, and responding to all guest reviews.