You may be inclined to leave some things out of your listing when putting up a short-term rental ad. However, not being honest can end up hurting you in the long run. Say, for example, you live above the short-term rental, and you don’t mention that you have a dog. Then, people reserve a stay and get frustrated when your dog barks. Your residents could also be allergic, and if your dog loves people, this could cause problems. It’s best to be upfront about things. That way, you’ll only book guests who pair well with your property.
Your photos should represent your property well. You don’t want people to expect one thing and get something entirely different. If guests’ expectations aren’t met, they’ll be less likely to leave a favorable review. So, for example, say you ride bikes and you happen to have them next to the short-term rental when you capture the picture, but you don’t allow guests to borrow those bikes. That could be a disappointment to renters expecting to have that amenity available to them.
Use the pictures you take to really show off the property. Choose a beautiful day when the sun is shining through the windows to capture some well-lit photos (and make sure the short-term rental has been freshly cleaned). Get pictures of every room, as well as the rental’s exterior. Let guests get a clear picture of the property they’ll be staying in, so they can make an informed decision. Pictures are also a great way to show off the amenities that you offer, like a hot tub, pool, or pingpong table. Next, think through which pictures you’ll put first in the listing. Guests often form an opinion right away, so it’s important to highlight the best photos first.
Pair your pictures with an honest description of your property and what it offers. Make sure to list everything that guests want to know. Don’t forget to list all of your amenities, even if they’re captured in pictures.
Being honest in your listing and providing excellent photography to back it up, can help you achieve bookings from the right guests. It can also increase guest satisfaction which, of course, equates to more positive reviews and potentially more bookings. Give us a call if you’d like to know additional ways on how to keep guests happy:
