What kind of Airbnb host are you?

Today, you can find hundreds of articles and tips to help you become a great host. However, this advice isn't necessarily right for everyone. Before you figure out which tips apply to you, discover what kind of bnb host you are.

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At Welkeys, by assisting you with the management of your vacation rentals, we have been able to identify two types of host profiles with different needs. In this article, we will help you determine what type of host you are and what your needs are. We will also explain, based on your category, which areas might cause you to lose stars on your profile. Finally, we will give you some tips to overcome your challenges. First, let's try to understand what kind of host you are. Based on our experience, most hosts fall into these two categories, and each category has its pros and cons.

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The "Make Yourself at Home" Host

If, after spending a vacation in your vacation rental, all your guests say they felt "right at home," it's clear that you fall into this category. Your short-term rental is also your primary residence. You travel often, whether for work or simply because you can't sit still, or perhaps because you have the opportunity to stay with friends or family regularly. In short, you can list your apartment on platforms like Airbnb or Abritel whenever you aren't home!

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As a result, your apartment is filled with personal mementos you care about deeply. And even if you enjoy welcoming your dear guests, there's always that little voice in your head saying, "I hope they don't break my vase from China!" Since it's your home, you think you can handle everything yourself. In fact, you very often leave your keys with friends or even under the doormat, and you aren't able to prepare a proper move-in inspection with your guests. In which categories might you lose stars?

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Value for money Cleanliness
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The Welkeys Tip

Since you can't do everything yourself, especially when high season arrives, the best advice Welkeys can give you is to get help from a cleaning concierge for your vacation rental, as well as someone to handle your check-ins and check-outs. By hiring one of our Welkeys concierges, you will undoubtedly improve your quality of life, as well as the profitability of your vacation rental. You will be able to go on vacation with peace of mind while a professional concierge takes care of all the logistics for your rental. By turning to an Airbnb concierge service, your keys will be secure, and your concierge won't hesitate to ask your guests to be careful around your Chinese vase.

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Regarding your value-for-money stars, we advise you to adjust your prices based on seasonality. It is obvious that your rental will not have the same nightly rate in high season as it does in low season. Nevertheless, nothing stops you from personalizing the welcome for your guests during high season. One or two thoughtful touches, like fresh flowers or a bottle of wine, are enough; your guests will have paid more, but with such a pleasant welcome, they will feel they got their money's worth. By adjusting your rates according to the time of year, you will also be able to rank higher in the Airbnb search engine more easily, leading to more inquiries and bookings! Do your vacation rental a favor and entrust its management to one of our Airbnb concierges!

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The Serial Host

Do you manage at least two apartments as vacation rentals, and do you live in none of them? You are a true short-term rental mogul—in other words, a "serial host"! Despite this, you still strive to provide quality service to your guests and make it a point of honor to welcome them in the best conditions. This is why your apartments are perfectly equipped in the same way, with the bare minimum (perhaps even a bit too much), and this is what stands out most in the reviews on your Airbnb or Wimdu listings. Furthermore, you are running around so much between your bnb rentals that sometimes you don't even remember which guests you've been communicating with. Not to mention that your properties are so "perfect" that they lack history or personality. In fact, when you show them around, you rarely have a little story to tell about that strange painting at the back of the living room. In which categories might you lose stars?

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Communication Check-in
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The Welkeys Tip

As we mentioned a few lines above, you have several properties, and for the sake of convenience, you have equipped them all the same way. However, when your guests arrive, they also want to discover the soul of your apartment. If you have one or two little anecdotes about the painting above the fireplace, or if the previous owner sold your vacation rental to travel the world, don't hesitate to share them! You can also ask your guests questions. For example, you can ask them why they chose your city and your listing on Abritel. Additionally, show your guests that their well-being is a priority for you by giving them some practical tips, visits, restaurants, or outings based on their interests.

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For you, the serial hosts, it is primarily about creating a connection with your guests, and by creating this connection, you improve your rating in the communication category, as well as in your check-in management. Indeed, even before they arrive, your guests need to feel that they are being taken care of and that their needs are being met. Your guests' check-in begins as soon as they book; for it to go as smoothly as possible, we advise you to follow three steps: before / during / after.

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Before the booking

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As soon as the booking is made, send a message to your guests to introduce yourself and provide some information about your vacation rental. Ask your tenants what mode of transport they are using and arrange a meeting time to welcome them. You can also prepare a list of nice places to go for a walk or have a drink after asking them a few questions. Believe us, your guests will have only one wish: to arrive at your place!

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During the booking

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When your guests arrive, show them that you are interested in them. Make sure their trip went well and that they have all the necessary information regarding public transport in your city. Once again, during the tour of your short-term rental, tell its story whenever you can. Finally, before letting your guests settle in, give them some good recommendations and, above all, make them understand that you remain available throughout their stay to answer all their questions.

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After the booking

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Your guests need a little extra care, and once they've checked in, they need to know they can reach out to you if they need anything. You can send them a message halfway through their stay to see how everything is going. It only takes a few minutes and will leave your guests with a great impression.

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By following these three steps, your check-ins will go smoothly, and you'll be able to manage your schedule much more easily. However, if you really don't have the time to handle all your rental check-ins, or if your properties are a bit too far apart, you can call on a Welkeys concierge. After all, no one is more experienced at welcoming your guests than a super concierge 😀. Once you've shown them around your apartments, our concierges will be happy to handle the three check-in steps for the well-being of your guests. We hope you've been able to identify which host category you fall into and that these tips will be useful to you.

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And if you ever find you don't have the time to put all these solutions in place, the Welkeys team is here to take care of your check-ins, check-outs, and cleaning for your Airbnb. We are also at your disposal to help you maximize your rental income. With our Welkeys Premium offer, stay stress-free while we take care of your guests.