You know what is a great compliment is? An Airbnb guest wants to extend their stay. This happens more than you may think. Maybe flights changed, or someone simply fell in love with your home. Either way, you want to have a plan in place to handle a guest requesting to extend their stay.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!

Why would a guest want to extend their stay?

Before addressing how to handle these change requests, it helps to understand why they arise. Common reasons include:

• Flights change all of the time. Whether it be bad weather or other things out of our control, travel plans change.
• Maybe they just love your place and don’t want to leave!
• Business travelers may need to stay longer if their project or meetings are taking longer than anticipated.

Why allow extensions?

Being open to extensions doesn’t just benefit the guest; it can also work well for your business. Here’s why:

• A longer stay means more money for you.
• If you can accommodate a guest’s requests, it increases the chances that they’re going to leave you positive reviews.
• It can help reduce holes in your calendar.
• This type of flexibility breeds loyalty among guests.

How to handle extension requests

As with any good thing, you need to have a plan in place. With prior preparation comes great reward! Here are some easy-to-follow steps to help you accept Airbnb extension requests.

Step 1. Check availability

First and foremost: check if you have availability. If not, the conversation ends pretty quickly. You can use Host Tools, your property management software, to quickly do this. If you’re renting a home with multiple private bedrooms and you don’t have availability, you could suggest the guest move to a different private room if they can’t stay in the same room as their original reservation.

Step 2. Adjust pricing if needed

Consider the timing. You may be missing out on potential income if you don’t increase the rate, or you may drive folks away. Consider the following:

• Prices could go up for peak travel or holiday seasons.
• Airbnb allows you to offer discounted rates for longer stays.
• You could offer a slight discount to encourage guests to stay longer if the dates might otherwise remain vacant.

Step 3. Communicate clearly

Communication is key when handling an extension request. Respond quickly and courteously to make the process easy.

Here’s an example message to send:

Hi [Guest’s Name],

Thank you for reaching out! I’m glad to hear you’d like to extend your stay with us. I’ve checked, and the dates from [start date] to [end date] are available for $[updated price]. Please confirm if you’d like me to adjust your reservation, and I’ll take care of the rest. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Always keep interaction within Airbnb or your short-term rental channel for transparency and to ensure compliance with platform policies.

Step 4. Update your calendar

To avoid double bookings, be sure to update this change immediately in your calendar.

Step 5. Update cleaning and turnover schedules

Make sure your cleaning crew or property managers are informed of the new departure date immediately. Host Tools allows you to integrate cleaners into your booking schedule effortlessly. Their turnover calendar feature ensures smooth communication and avoids scheduling conflicts.

Step 6. Double-check their payment

Just make sure that everything has been processed with the extension. Better to handle things upfront then trying to track down money later.

Step 7. Exceed guest expectations

If your guest is extending their stay, it means they’re already enjoying your property. Take this opportunity to go the extra mile. Provide extra amenities like a snack basket, fresh towels, or other little things like that. Be sure to send a thank-you note. A personal touch goes a long way in this business.

Tools and Best Practices for Managing Extensions

Successfully managing extended stay requests is easier with the right tools and strategies.

Use automation tools

Property management platforms like Host Tools simplify many aspects of hosting. For example:

• Automated messaging can prompt guests to extend their stay before the checkout date.
• Calendar syncing ensures all your booking platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) are updated, avoiding double-bookings.
• Turnover calendars keep your cleaning schedule organized when receiving a trip change request.

Include extension requests in your house rules

If possible, outline your extension policy in your house rules. This way, its clear from the get-go of a guests stay.

Be flexible but still protect yourself

While flexibility is appreciated, don’t sacrifice your business interests. Evaluate each extension request carefully, especially during high-demand seasons.

Final thoughts

When possible, accommodate these extended stay requests. Its a win-win situation for you and your guests. Plus, with platforms like Host Tools, managing your rental doesn’t need to be so hard.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!