As a short-term rental host, it’s obvious that one of your main goals, if not the main goal, is to have a high Airbnb occupancy rate. The more bookings you have, the more money you make. Plain and simple. Of course, this type of success doesn’t just happen overnight. You have to work hard and invest in creating a 5-star experience for each and every guest. This post will break down 20 actionable tips to help you improve your Airbnb occupancy rate and earn more.

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!

1. Write a strong title and description

Take time to think about and create a good title for your home. It needs to be catchy, but also something that tells people what they can expect. The same goes for the description. You want it to be enticing, but also easy to understand. 

2. Use good photos

High-quality photos are a must. Hire a professional photographer to best capture what makes your property uniquely yours.

3. Keep your pricing competitive

Keep an eye on your competition. See who is charging what for what. This helps you know that you’re listing is either over- or under-charging. 

4. Offer flexible cancellation policies

Guests appreciate flexibility. Research and try out different cancellation policies that can work for your business. 

5. Utilize tools to help price your rental

Dynamic pricing tools can help you adjust your prices in real time based on demand. These tools help you make sure that you’re always in line with what other rentals in your area are charging. 

6. Provide basic amenities (and more)

It should go without saying that guests expect WiFi, clean sheets, a coffee maker, etc. You need to up your game with the details. Add a welcome basket with some treats or a bottle of wine. Maybe you can provide a complimentary breakfast. It’s these extra amenities that will make your listing shine. 

7. Never miss a cleaning

Cleanliness is non-negotiable. The last thing anyone wants is to arrive to find their sheets haven’t been washed. You can make sure this never happens when you automate your cleaning schedule with Host Tools (more on that later!).

8. Respond to guest messages quickly

Fast communication builds trust. Prompt responses to questions can help win reservations and show guests you care. The Host Tools AI auto-reply feature can help with this!

9. Encourage positive reviews

Positive reviews are the lifeblood of this industry. One great way to up the number of reviews you have on your listing is to schedule automated reminders after a guest checks out to encourage them to leave a great review. Be sure to respond to their reviews as well!

10. Cater to long-term stays

Offer weekly or monthly discounts to attract longer-term renters. Guests often look for deals like these when they’re dealing with work relocations or extended vacations.

11. List on multiple platforms

Don’t limit yourself to Airbnb alone. List your property on other platforms like Vrbo, Booking.com, and Expedia. The more places your home is listed, the more eyes are getting on it.

12. Make the space uniquely yours 

Show your personality in your design. Think “Instagrammable.” Would this be the type of place that would inspire a guest to snap a photo and share how cool or cute it is?

13. Share the places you love

People choose short-term rentals over hotels because they want to feel like a local. Share your favorite place to grab a cup of coffee or bar to end the night with them!

14. Use a booking calendar tool

You need to ensure your calendars are synced across platforms to avoid double bookings. Luckily, Host Tools can help with this!

15. Market to business travelers

With the rise of remote work, many people are taking their jobs on the road with them as they travel. Whether it’s a proper business person traveling for a meeting or just someone working remotely, include workspace items like a desk, chair, and fast WiFi.

16. Offer discounts for last-minute stays

If you have some holes in your calendar, offer incentives for guests to extend their stay with a special offer. Host Tools can help with this by providing automated offers to guests.

17. Regularly update your listing

 Platforms prioritize active and updated listings. If you’ve added new features or changed up the furniture, highlight that sort of thing. The more up-to-date, the better for setting guests’ expectations. 

18. Allow for self-check-in

Many guests in this day and age prefer self-check-in over a formal key exchange. After a long travel day, some folks just prefer to get right to their bed with minimal interaction with others. 

19. Pay attention to what your guests are saying

If you notice a theme in your guests’ reviews, address it. Don’t let pride get in the way. If there’s a recurring issue that guests are bringing up, take a look and see what you can do to improve it. 

20. Use Host Tools to streamline your operations

All of this may feel a little overwhelming. Do not fear! That’s where Host Tools comes in to make this all a little bit easier. Between automated messaging, direct booking capabilities, and cleaner management, you’re going to have more time than ever before freed up from your hosting responsibilities. Let Host Tools do the hard part while you focus on the details that make a stay 5-star.

Final Thoughts

It’s no secret that improving your Airbnb occupancy rate requires a lot of attention to detail. With these 20 tips, you’ll position yourself like never before to increase your bookings and elevate your bottom line.

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!