How to List on Airbnb

The global travel and hospitality market is witnessing a paradigm shift in terms of customer accommodation. Airbnb is one of the pioneers in the space, giving you a chance to list your property or house on a popular platform to attract more guests throughout the year. These are people looking for local experiences and comfortable stays with higher privacy and good amenities. Sounds interesting? Here’s a look at the whole process briefly, right from posting on Airbnb to getting the most out of your listing. 

Brief Overview: Introduction to Airbnb

Before learning how to list on Airbnb, there are a few things that you should know about the brand first. Airbnb started its journey in 2008 with two designers who had some shareable space, hosting three people looking for somewhere to stay. Today, it has millions of guests and hosts on the platform, with properties ranging from penthouses and apartments to villas and cottages. From weekend and business trips to family vacations, there are innumerable options available for travellers. 

There are also Airbnb Experiences with local experts as hosts, who share their passions for music, art, cooking, hiking, and many other activities with guests. Some of the core USPs of Airbnb include verified personal listings and profiles, 24-7 support, smart messaging for instant communication, and reliable payments. Let us now look at some other important aspects in this regard. 

Benefits of Being an Airbnb Host

Listing on Airbnb can actually give you tons of benefits, including the following: 

• Earn additional income from your free/shareable property 

• Set your own prices and change them whenever you wish 

• Control your schedule by letting out your property at specific times 

• Review guests, manage bookings, and offer feedback

• Become a Superhost to get more guests and higher earnings 

• Communicate easily with guests and get 24-7 support as well

• AirCover insurance that protects against damages

• Easy listing process in a few steps 

How to List On Airbnb: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wondering how to list my house on Airbnb? Here’s a simple guide: 

• Visit Airbnb.com and choose Become a host (top-right corner)

• Create your Airbnb account with your phone number or email address 

• View the form and fill it up with details like your listing type, property/home type, location, amenities, number of guests, etc. 

• Upload photos including your rooms and other areas 

• Give a title to your listing and write a small description 

• Set the pricing 

• Confirm the information and publish the listing 

After publishing, it will appear in results for searches within approximately 24-72 hours. The listing will remain as pending until your identity is verified. Once it is done, it will become active and guests can start booking your property. Listings can also be personalized with the calendar, house rules, and guest requirements. If you have doubts, reach out to local Superhost ambassadors for assistance. 

Key Elements for a Successful Airbnb Listing

Now that we’ve got the listing process out of the way, it’s time to look at some of the major components behind a successful listing. 

• Target guests (families, couples, longer stays, holiday bookings, etc.) with tailored amenities 

• Attractive title and featured image 

• Well-written descriptions containing amenities/details that will show up in specific search results. Also be accurate about the number of rooms, how many guests can be accommodated comfortably, etc. Talk about the USPs and unique aspects of the place as well

• House rules and booking processes, including minimum stays, cancellation policies, etc. 

• Suitable pricing for the property with discounts/offers for higher visibility 

• Details of added fees/charges including for housekeeping/cleaning, pets, etc. 

• Tips about the local area in the listing if possible (views, fireplaces, proximity to tourist landmarks, etc.)

Setting Up House Rules and Expectations

House rules are something that you’ll have to be clear about, once you’ve gone through the Airbnb list your property process. First choose the listing you wish to edit from the Listings section and then click on the arrival guide-house rules to make changes (don’t forget to save them). These may also be updated on the mobile browser or app. 

Some common rules that hosts usually choose include: 

• No drinks or food allowed in bedrooms 

• No events or parties 

• No smoking 

• No pets allowed 

• Loud noise not allowed after 11 PM

• Guests to treat the property as their own home

• Check-in and check-out times

• Maximum number of guests

• Policy regarding filming or commercial photography 

Choose the rules that fit your needs and set them up from the outset. 

Listing Your Property: Optimizing for Search and Bookings

After posting on Airbnb, your focus should be on optimizing your listing to get more bookings and appear more frequently (and higher) on search results. How do you do that? Here are a few tips: 

• Using dynamic pricing depending on the season (similar properties with better prices and offers in the same location usually show up higher in search results). You can use Airbnb management software for this purpose. 

• Complete the profile by filling up all the details and keep updating listings with changes in either supply/demand. 

• Update your calendar on a regular basis, indicating that you’re active (to search algorithms) and responsive.

• Use professionally-taken photographs for listings with proper resolution. Highlight rooms from multiple angles and visually display amenities. 

• Get as many 5-star reviews as you can to keep enhancing your rankings on Airbnb’s internal search engine. Always send feedback mails to guests asking for their experience, stating that you wish to use this information to improve even further. 

• Allow instant booking on the move, since these listings mostly take up the highest positions in results. If you are not fully comfortable with this aspect, then take bookings only from those with ID proof. 

• Stay away from rejecting booking requests, since this will be noted by Airbnb. The more you cancel guest bookings, the higher your drop in search rankings. 

• Try to create a crisp description within 500 characters with numbered lists and bold headings. It should be as scannable as possible. 

• Maintain a great response rate for customer queries and all other messages. 

Managing Your Airbnb Listing: Why You Need Airbnb Management Software 

Managing everything can be tricky, right from pricing and discounts to guest communication and booking details. When it comes to efficiently managing your listing, the right Airbnb management software is a necessity. Here’s why: 

• Automate bookings across multiple channels into a single interface

• Boost guest experiences with automated messaging, instant updates on bookings, and personalized offers/experiences (based on data-driven insights). You can send personalized communication on local experiences, tips, check-in instructions, etc. 

• Automate and streamline administrative and operational tasks 

• Maintain compliance with local laws and regulations 

• Automate cleaning and maintenance procedures with full visibility and clear communication 

• Automate calendars and availability for better guest experiences, while setting up dynamic pricing that adjusts rates based on demand, season, and rival prices

• Get access to insights and data-based reports across multiple parameters for future improvements

• Ensure seamless team coordination with real-time visibility, updates and tracking

• Boost Airbnb search rankings by improving response times, guest communication, and personalization (which leads to better reviews)

Understanding the Costs of Listing Your Property on Airbnb

The costs of listing your property are the service fee charged by Airbnb (usually 3% of the booking subtotal). Note that this service fee may be higher for a few hosts and is automatically deducted from your payment. For specific listing types like serviced apartments and hotels, there is a host-only fee of 14-16% of the booking subtotal. There are also sales and travel and tourism taxes for several locations, which Airbnb will automatically collect and pay on your behalf. 

As a host, you may opt to split these fees with guests or pay them personally, while using the host-only fees as your pricing blueprint. Those hosting regularly earn approximately $924 each month. 

Best Practices for Airbnb Hosts

As an Airbnb host, there are some best practices that you have to follow without fail. These include: 

• Make your check-in and check-out procedures smooth and convenient for guests. Send codes to guests (you can keep changing this periodically). 

• Create an extensive listing manual or guide for the property (not just on the Airbnb site). Guides with details of appliances and other how-tos are always welcome. 

• Personal touches like handwritten notes, welcome baskets, homemade food, or even welcome trips to local landmarks are excellent ideas. Sometimes, even a glass of water or tea/coffee may impress guests immensely once they check-in. 

• Send a welcome email once your booking is confirmed, ideally with some personalization. Store guest data for future stays and remain in touch with them to enhance your repeat booking rate. 

• Take a pro-active approach towards fixing sudden guest issues and keep them informed all throughout. If required, issue honest apologies or give partial refunds in case you cannot solve the problem. 

• Keep your property spotlessly clean, following the Airbnb checklist. You can charge separate cleaning fees to get your rental ready for guests. Try to keep the property clutter-free without excessive furniture or other items. Have neutral photographs or paintings instead of personal memories, books, games, and warm wall shades. 

• Always respond promptly to all guest requests from the time of check-in itself. 

• Anticipate the needs of your guests, right from toiletries and utensils to groceries, and more. The more you stretch yourself for them, the higher your chances of positive reviews and recommendations.