There was a time not so long ago when there was no rating system on Airbnb. In fact, there were very few AirBnB owners and they receive a lot of business without making very much effort.  Yes, it used to be you could pick up some furniture from Goodwill and throw a lamp in your spare room and make money.  No more!

Today, there is fierce competition among AirBnB owners in order to attract large numbers of guests to their properties. Nearly all guests look at the reviews left by previous guests to get an idea of the quality of service, the cleanliness of the unit, and the experience they can hope to expect in a particular AirBnB property. When so much depends upon positive reviews, here are some easy ways using which you can get positive reviews for your listing on Airbnb.

Ask, Ask, Ask!

I cannot stress enough the benefit of setting up a 5-Star Review from the Get-Go! 

Right away, in every communication we have with our guests, we mention...

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Walking the fine line between $$$ & Service

Not Making Enough? Check the Basics:

• • Professional pictures with the best in front?
  • Great Listing Headline that highlights your Best Features?
  • Dynamic Pricing and Good Reviews? 

Think about what your Ideal Guest wants or needs. Why are they there? What things might they want to do? How can you make it better - or special - or add to their experience - or create special

moments that they'll cherish forever? SERVICE! 

You can charge for early check-ins or late check-outs when you are able. You can charge to hold luggage. You can charge for upgrades - better quality, like strollers. You can charge for laundry or maid service. You can charge to pre-stock grocery items or breakfast or pretty much anything you can think of.

Send your guest questionnaires before and after stays to help.

WHAT BOOKS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR LINKS WERE...

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What you want to look for when acquiring properties for you STRs or your Portfolio:

Look for a Neighborhood that Looks & Feels Good.

Check it out at all times of the Day and Night.

#1 Thing - as always - Location, Location, Location!

How's the Parking?  At night?  I look for Designated Parking!

What to Avoid:

Noise! - Whether it's being backed-up to a busy street or barking dogs, noise is one of your worst enemies when it comes to renting out a property.

Bathrooms - Optimally, one bathroom for each bedroom.  At the very least, no bathrooms that force you to walk through bedrooms.  No good!  Masters need their own bathrooms, always!

No converted rooms or quirky floorplans.  A house has to have flow & it has to be re-sellable.  You have to be able to sell fast and quirky floorplans and converted rooms JUST DON'T SELL WELL.

Stairs should be wide and clear, and everything should be standard.  Steps' risers...

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What to do when the neighbor's dog won't stop barking...

First, knock on your neighbor's door and try to talk to them.

If they aren't home, leave a note. Give them time to fix it.

Check your HOA or city ordinances. Follow their guidelines, which usually asks you to contact the police or a local authority, make written notices, keep a (video) log, and follow up.

Reminder: Do your due diligence before signing on the line!

That airport didn't just go up overnight and that dog has most likely been there the entire time. Make certain you do your due diligence BEFORE you rent or buy a property. Know your neighbors. Knock on their door. Ask questions like, "is there anything you wish you were aware of before you bought your home? Is there anything you think I should know?

Michelle has an entire list of what type of house not to buy!

We split this episode into two parts because Michelle began going into the Types of Things She Avoids when Purchasing or Renting a...

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Forums are a Great Place to _____________.

A. Learn from other Hosts.

B. Bitch to and with other Hosts.

C. Learn from Guests' Experiences.

D. All the Above (Hint: This one!)

Nest is a great way to control your units when there's no one in them.

An AC unit works best when it's set no lower than 68 degrees.  Under that and you're asking for trouble because that's when units will start to freeze up, which could potentially harm your unit.

What is the definition of Host?

What is the definition of Guest?

Be a gracious host and allow your Guests to be comfortable.

A locked thermostat screams, "I don't care if you are comfortable!"

Stop the Madness!!

• No more War and Peace sized Rules
• No chore lists for Guests (they're not your kids!)
• No "fixing" the washers and toilets so they use less water (unless they are BUILT that way, ie. Energy Efficient)

You only need a few rules.  Here are mine:

01)  No Smoking

02)  No Pets

03) ...

In this age of internet and social media, if you are not making clever use of digital marketing, you are certainly missing the bus on reaching some potential guests. This is particularly true for a business-focused Short Term Rentals. Obviously, we know the importance of professional pictures.  You must be using beautiful photos of your property to entice potential guests.  But… are you placing videos to promote your vacation rental, too? Videos catch the attention of large numbers of guests and have become very popular in the STR Industry, especially in vacation rentals.  It’s the latest trend!

Here are some tips to make the most of these promotional videos.

Photos are Good.  Videos are Better.

It is almost criminal not to make use of technology when it is available to you for free. By making promotional videos of your vacation rental, you can get two steps ahead of your competitors who are still trying to catch the attention of...

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5 Ways to Stay Ahead When the Competition Gets Tough

01) Back to Basics

Take a look at your Headline/Title of your Listing.  Does it highlight your best feature?

What about your photos?  Please, tell me you had them taken by a professional.

02) Know Your Competition

Use sites like AirDNA to keep an eye on your competition.  What is their average room rate?  What is their occupancy rate?  Put a spy in their camp!

03) Don't Compete for Last Place!  

You can't win the game of undercutting your competition, so don't even try to go there.  Instead, be better and charge what you're worth.  Use dynamic pricing tools like Wheelhouse to price your units.

04) Make Your Place SHINE!

Use a theme or and anti-theme to make your place stand out among the rest of your competition.  Make certain your place looks amazing!

05) Go Above & Beyond in Service

Make certain that you offer something or do...

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This is a traveling week for Michelle and it's also our first "Best of" Episode!

Listen and somewhere in the middle of this podcast, you'll hear Michelle give you a secret word to collect a special FREE GIFT on next week's all-new episode.  Thanks for being a loyal listener.  God Bless You!  Go and grow!

For Safety and Security:

01) Emergency Contact Card (Contact Information Sent by Email, Text, and Posted Clearly)

02) Fire Extinguisher (Right by the Stove)

03) First Aid Kit

04) Smoke Detector

05) Carbon Monoxide Detector

For Guest Comfort and Overall Happiness:

06) Super-Fast Wifi (Password Sent by Email, Text, and Posted Clearly)

07) Comfortable Mattress (Consumer Reports #2 Rated is only about $500-$700)

08) Smart Television (Plus Cable, if High End)

09) Bluetooth Speakers

10) Charging Stations

11) Smart Locks for Easy Entry (For You as much as Guests)

12) Climate Control Directions (Keep Your Guests Comfy)

13)...

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THEMES WE FOUND ON THE INTERNET:

Castles

Tree Houses

Safari

Honeymoon

Ocean

50 Shades of Gray

Rock n Roll/50's Diner/Sock Hop

70's/80's Themed

Roaring 20's/Speak Easy

Wine Cellar

Cruise Ships

Vegas

Farming/Sustainability

Eco-friendly

Futuristic

Space

Soda Parlor

Arcade

Circus

Carnival

Fun House/Magic

THEMES TO EXPAND ON:

Board Games: Candyland, Monopoly, Risk...

Video Games: Mario Bros., Pacman, Fortnite, Minecraft, Zelda...

Theme Parks: Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Six Flags, Sea World...

Western: Cowboys, Horses, Saloons, Westworld...

Books: The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland...

Superheroes & Cartoon Heroes: Ninja Turtles, Batman, Ironman, & on & on...

Brands: Oreo, Coke, Pepsi, Starbucks...

Holidays: 4th of July, Christmas, Halloween...

WHAT BOOKS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR LINKS WERE MENTIONED...

Please use our Affiliate Links whenever possible and help support the show.  Thank you!

Recommended...

SHOW NOTES & LESSONS

For Safety and Security:

01) Emergency Contact Card (Contact Information Sent by Email, Text, and Posted Clearly)

02) Fire Extinguisher (Right by the Stove)

03) First Aid Kit

04) Smoke Detector

05) Carbon Monoxide Detector

For Guest Comfort and Overall Happiness:

06) Super-Fast Wifi (Password Sent by Email, Text, and Posted Clearly)

07) Comfortable Mattress (Consumer Reports #2 Rated is only about $500-$700)

08) Smart Television (Plus Cable, if High End)

09) Bluetooth Speakers

10) Charging Stations

11) Smart Locks for Easy Entry (For You as much as Guests)

12) Climate Control Directions (Keep Your Guests Comfy)

13) Coffee, Coffee Maker, Filters, and Cream/Sugar

14) Hair Dryer

15) Iron and Ironing Board

16) Washer and Dryer (a MUST for Long Stays or Active Locations)

17) House Rules, Contact Information, Check-in, and Check-out Times Clearly Posted

18) High-Quality WHITE Sheets and Towels

19) Spare Sets of Sheets and Towels

20) A...