Day: 7 February 2020

Short-term rentals can leave you with a consistent flow of guests opting in and out of your listings. While this can keep you absolutely busy, there are some effective ways by which you can minimise your workload.

If done correctly, you’ll end up with a happy set of guests and homeowners too. Having said that, it will take a little while for you to set things in motion even when you’re employing the right strategies.

However, most of it will simply be polishing what you are currently doing. In addition to that, you’ll also be able to expand your business to scale better heights and reach probable clients faster.

9 Ways to Delegate Your Vacation Rental Management Tasks

1. Maintain an Optimized Listing

This is the first step to planning and implementation. Maintaining an optimized listing gives you a clear perspective on your property and improves your conversion rate as well. In other words, there’s less confusion regarding the queries you get right from the start. Remember to re-optimize your listings frequently, at least semi-annually.

2. Setup Automated Software

There are various software and apps on the market that come with useful automation features. They save you time by automating various aspects of the management process, including up to 90% of guest communication.

Some other software tools also allow you to create messages that will automatically be sent to your staff updating them regarding any new bookings or canceled reservations. Ensure you use auto-management tools that don’t need frequent maintenance and updating in order to save you time and effort.

3. Setup Hostfully

An electronic guidebook is the best to help your guests make the most of their stay while saving paper in addition to reducing your time and effort. It also makes things more professional and organised on your front. This resource Hostfully will not need much updating and maintenance. What’s more? You can plan your guidebook to be sent to your guests via Guesty a couple of days before check-in.

4. Setup NoiseAware

This software is so that your neighbors are equally satisfied with your service along with your guests. This precise, little gadget notifies you when the noise level in your home exceeds a certain limit and when it starts creating a nuisance for the neighbors.

By recognising and addressing this issue right at the start, you will save yourself time, money, and effort in the long run. After the initial setup, all you need to do is send a message or make a phone call to your guest if you receive an alert regarding an exceeded noise limit.

5. Setup PriceLabs

Maximising occupancy and regulating night rates is the crux of any Airbnb business. And in order to do that, you need a smart pricing tool as well. The best one happens to be PriceLabs in this regard.

These tools automatically update your calendar in addition to offering multiple customizations like enabling a guest to make a one-night booking or cancellation.

It also increases your nightly minimum for reservations far into the future. This resource takes about a minute of monitoring each week after the initial setup which is pretty much automatic.

6. Install an Electronic Lock

An electronic lock is more than a necessity in today’s times, especially in Airbnb listings. Companies like Slickspaces and VirtualKEY have features like a keyless entry that makes guest access hassle-free and removes the need to coordinate key exchanges between parties. This works by giving each guest a unique code that allows them access to the rental. This code expires upon checkout so that the property remains safe and secure.

7. Hire a Cleaner

This is, perhaps, the most crucial part of the entire process of automating your Airbnb process. In addition to being a cleaner, they must be responsible, punctual, efficient, and reliable to be able to do this job to the optimum best. Hiring the right people for this job will lift a huge burden off of your shoulders which will keep your involvement minimal.

In addition to that, a cleaner must be able to look after other aspects as well as changing bed linens, purchasing and restocking consumables and disposable amenities.

Do not consider budget here since their job is extremely demanding and time-consuming. Consider this as an investment for your business which will only fetch you maximum returns in the future.

• Low-quality cleaning
• Late or missed cleanings
• Use of stained or mismatched linens
• Lack of attention to details, like folded towels and presentation
• Failure to complete essential tasks specific to vacation rentals like restocking supplies, checking for damage, and opening windows so your guest can enter to natural light.

All of these aspects will take a heavy toll on your time and your business.

8. Have an Emergency Contact

This is an aspect that most people usually overlook. True that you may be the homeowner, but you cannot do everything by yourself which may get in the way of your regular management responsibilities. Under such rare circumstances, it is best to have a backup of an emergency contact that is equally familiar with the property as you are.

This can be a member of your staff or a separately appointed person who will back you up as an emergency contact in times of need. This will save you the trouble of rushing to find a temporary replacement if an emergency comes up.

9. Hire a Repairs and Maintenance Team

Every homeowner wants their property to be in the best shape at all times, but that is seldom possible. Sometimes, things tend to go differently than planned and not in a pleasant way.

In such scenarios, you need to have a repair and maintenance team at your beck and call. You will have to strike a deal with them to summon them during weekends, off-hours, and during urgencies whenever the time calls for it.

This may be a little daunting at the beginning, especially with the recruiting, hiring, and assembling of such a reliable team. But once it’s set up it is worth every effort and always better than your guests having a bad experience.

In addition to that, you can even hire local handymen to come to aid for smaller issues instantly. Here are some common issues and the professionals to hire accordingly.

• Issues with Wi-Fi or cable– Emergency contact or handyman, that is only after you’ve already done some troubleshooting and assured everything is properly plugged in
• Issues with heating or A/C – HVAC repairman
• No hot water – plumber
• Clogged drains – plumber
• No light – electrician
• Lock issues – locksmith

Summing it up:

Managing properties cannot completely rely on technology without a bit of human touch. However, one can always employ technology to speed up the process thereby minimising the effort and increasing the accuracy of the process in the long run.

Using these resources in the right manner will save you a huge chunk of time and effort which can be used to take on more listings and expanding your business over a period of time.

Your guests make it to your Airbnb property after a long period of budgeting and planning their vacation and are often looking for a while away from home to relax and rewind.

Most of your guests aren’t looking for human interactions at this point since that defeats the entire purpose of the holiday. People looking for extra service will most often opt for hotel rooms but those craving a bit of solitude and their own company arrive at an Airbnb.

Here is where self-check-in enters the picture. Not only does it reduce human interaction but it also sets up your process easily and automatically without having to worry about hiring extra staff. Your guests can also check-in according to their will without a hassle.

The reasons that self-check-in is taking over the tourism industry as one of the top property management solutions are obvious:

• No lock-picking
• No arranged meetings, schedule conflicts, or awkward small talk
• Latest security technology making things convenient for guests

But is self-check-in even possible? The latest trends these days are allowing guests to check themselves in which is revolutionizing privacy, security, and their travel experience.

Here’s everything you need to know about preparing your Airbnb for the self-check-in process.

Lockboxes & Key Safes

A lockbox or key safe attached to your door handle or wall can allow another inside the property by entering a safety code. This can be given to the guests at the time of booking anytime before they get onto the property. As an Airbnb owner, one needs to consider a few aspects ahead of time.

1. Placement

A good, sturdy lockbox is quite a challenge to break into, especially for burglars without any prior locksmith experience. in order to get in forcefully, one may need to break down the door, which is an even bigger hassle. Lockboxes are already pretty secure.

A strong lockbox can easily withstand about 45 minutes of banging with a hammer which is bound to attract attention before the lock can give away. The placement of the lockbox plays a key role to reduce any potential risk of theft or forceful entry.

• In an apartment or other building complexes, place the lockbox within the building or beyond the first gate or door so that it isn’t visible or accessible from the street.
• If you have a house, keep your lockbox out of sight from the main road, probably the side of the house, the backyard fence, or the garden.

2. Security

Lockboxes can either be attached to a wall with screws or hung by a metal loop around a secure surface such as a door or railing. Although both are very secure, screws in a wall are thought to be targeted less. Make sure you change the code after each guest leaves. Or even better, set up a code that expires upon checkout of the guest.

3. Lock Size

Lockboxes come in a variety of strengths, sizes, and dial formats, such as:

• Push-button locks: Allow you to set a combination you can punch in any order.
• Wheel models: This model has four scrolling wheels with numbers or letters to form a combination.
• Dial models: Similar to a classic high school locker padlock, with one rotating dial for entering a combination.

Dial models have been proven as the hardest to break into. The right kind of lockbox is not just easy-to-use but also strong enough. Make sure you find the perfect blend of all benefits that even include placement as well.

Virtual Keys

This concept uses a door that requires no material object to open like a key or card. A secret code or a private scan is all that it takes to gain entry onto the property. There’s no doubt technology will continue to evolve beyond this, but it’s honestly hard to see how with tools already so convenient. Such convenient tools make it even better, safer, and easier both for guests and Airbnb owners.

Time equals money for any property manager or a homeowner looking to acquire additional properties and expanding their business. And trends like these can not only go easy on your pocket but save you ample time as well. Brands VirtualKey and SlickSpaces work the best in this regard. They even offer services like temperature regulations, automated staff alerts in addition to many more.

Property managers have a variety of smart lock technology to choose from, offering all kinds of beneficial features including:

• completely removing keys from the equation
• automatically sending uniquely generated codes for each guest, ensuring maximum privacy
• detecting vacancy and schedule maintenance accordingly

If correctly set up and implemented, these services will save you substantial time and money. It even automates your process making it simple and easy thereby reducing manual error as well.  Smart lock technology is one of the biggest tools we have in the modern age today that is only bound to get better and more advanced with time.

Summing it up:

Proper installation and preparation of automated self-check-in systems have the potential to make your Airbnb incredibly safe and convenient. Not only that, it even simplifies your guest’s entry and stays aspects of your guests’ stay with regards to more privacy and a flexible schedule for them. In addition to that, you will have to hire fewer staffs for the same.

We often see that some Airbnb businesses soar high with demand while others simply don’t. what is it that’s sets apart certain businesses from the rest when it comes to Airbnb?

Yes, the market has been a tough place to set foot into as far as Airbnbs are concerned. However, there are certain tactics that, if implemented correctly, are bound to work in your favor culminating in successful listings and plenty of bookings.

This is why we’ve come up with specific reasons and ways with which you can rest assured that your business will scale new heights in the long run.

Gain guaranteed Airbnb success with these tips:

1. Recognize your target audience:

Miami and San Diego are two of the most popular cities when it comes to Airbnb businesses. and this is no coincidence. One of the biggest reasons behind this is that both cities have a Disney themed park situated close to them.

In addition to that, they have the beach, the excellent summer weather, and a happening nightlife. This scales the tourism rates which, in turn, increases the demands for hotels around these sites. However, not every tourist can shell out a bomb for hotel suites. In other words, these guests convert from being hotel guests to your guests.

Having said that, it is important to recognize your target audience and zero down on a niche when it comes to scaling your Airbnb business. In addition to that, it is much more profitable to list your Airbnb as private or shared rooms than private homes. Although the individual gain will be lesser, the overall income will be much higher due to multiple bookings.

Speaking of the target audience, your underlying intention must be to provide top-notch service with the right type of rentals that local hotels can seldom provide. It is all about meeting the demand with the right supply in addition to keeping at par with the service as well.

2. Implement trendier ways of running your business:

Themes work quite well with Airbnbs. Candyland, Star Wars, Game of Thrones and similar themes along popular trends work extremely well as an enhanced visual appeal as well as can make you go viral on social media.

Not only that, you may find people attracted to your Airbnb simply to experience a theme like that. You can even use a catchy title for your Airbnb like Hidden Gem in Jamaica, or Sunkissed Uptown Loft.

That’s one way of thinking outside the box. You can even look for ways to make your guests’ stay memorable in your Airbnb by suggesting some underrated tourist sites, restaurants, and shopping spots which will only go down well with your guests.

If there happens to be a special event going on, like a fair or a concert, mention those as well. What’s good for tourism in your city is good for your rental business.

There is no limit as to how far you can go by providing your guests with the best service if only one thinks in the right direction. Make sure to keep up with the trends and popular demands to keep your Airbnb updated and ahead of the rest.

3. Don’t hesitate to show off:

But in the right manner. The basic idea behind having your Airbnb soar high with business is to establish a strong point that no other place can replicate. For instance, you can come up with a complimentary photography service for your guests under a certain limit.

Extra parking space or a swimming pool on your Airbnb property is a good way to flaunt your business and attract more guests over time. Onsite laundry or other services that you’re willing to offer must all go up on your listings and promotional content so that people can be driven to your Airbnb.

Don’t hesitate to go all out with your services while also remembering to mention them when you promote your business.

4. Be honest with your guests:

You can mention, or rather flaunt, all that your Airbnb has in store for your guests on your listings and promotional content but remember to not say anything that contradicts the truth. You need to be honest with your guests under all circumstances.

If there is a service that your Airbnb doesn’t offer, straight up tell them instead of going overboard in order to make it sound alluring.

However, what you can do is play around with words so that you make your place sound appealing while not compromising with the truth. For instance, you can swap words like ‘small’ for ‘cozy’, or ‘intimate’, and ‘simple’ with ‘understated’ or ‘minimalistic’.

This is to avoid customer dissatisfaction as well as negative reviews and a damaged reputation from your guests. Also, remember to keep your Airbnb priced at what it is worth. Going overboard with the ricing may fetch huge gains in the short-term.

But if you’re in for the long haul, remember to focus on customer satisfaction and upgrading your service more than increasing the rates. The profit will follow automatically.

5. Know your safe zone:

Keep your business legal and transparent. All your paperwork must be regularly checked and updated. Short-term rental laws differ from one place to another. Know your local laws and play within your boundaries without violating any of them.

For instance, if you’re listing in Paris, you can only lease your rentals for 120 days each year which is as per the law. Hence, you cannot take the risk of renting out your listings during the remaining 245 days of the year.

However, you may go around loopholes to extract the best of the situation. You may increase your nightly rates, but you’ll have to consequently raise your bar of service to ensure guests go back happier.

6. Work for the long run:

The easiest and the best way to get your business soring far and wide is to learn from the professionals who are already running their Airbnb successfully for quite a while now. Play the hands that you’ve been dealt with right, and soon you’ll have mastered the game successfully well.

Summing it up:

It may take a while for you to implement these tips and tactics and, perhaps, even longer, to establish your business and strengthen its footing. However, the investment in terms of time, money, and effort will all be worth it and more. The secret is to stay consistent and regular. You may want to start slow and small but being on the path consistently will set you apart from the other Airbnbs in the long run.

Alternatively, you may consider hiring an Airbnb management service. Airbnb managers have the expertise and experience in this field, they know all the tricks and tacts to get the best for your property. Oasis Stay is your trustworthy Airbnb agent in Australia. You can sit back and relax as we provide the best management and get the job done for your Airbnb.

As Airbnb hosts, each one of us wants to do a great job, but what exactly does a good host need to do to receive guest recommendations?

The answer to this lies in the perspective of your guests. What can you serve to them in order to make their stay a memorable one? How can you cater to them in the best manner possible? How can you contribute in having them extract the best possible returns of choosing your property so that they come back again as well as refer you to others?

It is important to keep asking yourself these questions regularly as well as upping your services accordingly. Here are 4 ways in which you can become a host worth recommending.

1. Help Your Guests Navigate The City

This may seem quite a cliché but is pretty useful for someone who has never visited the locality before. You may offer a city map, something you can certainly provide for them upon arrival, with a useful ‘You are here’ icon pointing at the location of their rental.

Also, make sure you tell your guests where to find important services in the city such as tourist information and supermarkets. Bring to their notice the best entertainment area along with some highly underrated tourist spots and at least one highly recommended restaurant.

Guide them with using public transport systems from the rental to central locations can be very helpful. Create a brochure of the city’s mobility options as well as chauffeur services and hand it out to your guests upon arrival.

2. Spending Time within the Property

Some of your guests may not want to venture out into the city and they’d rather spend their time indoors. In such situations, your Airbnb must hold enough entertainment so that your guests can kill time even when indoors.

A couple of snacks around the place, a deck of cards, or some board games can surely double up as good entertainment options for those willing to stay in. Cooking utensils in the kitchen are basics and go without saying. But if your house has a yard, make sure it has a grill and coals, in case your guests want to make their own barbeque dinner.

3. Provide a First Aid Kit

A first-aid kit is a must. It may not be the most exciting or fun accessory, but the provision of a first aid kit is critical. It conveys to your guests to care for themselves in order to avoid unexpected injury. In addition to that, it shows your guests that their well-being is a priority to you, as their host.

4. Be Accessible

Questions, problems and mishaps can always arise, and that’s fine and normal. The best way to address these issues is to provide a quick response to your guests.

With a 24*7 Communication Service, your guests can easily contact one of your experts who can meet their needs and resolve the issue almost immediately. This will not just ensure safety for your guests but a sense of convenience and assurance as well.

However, it can be time-consuming to self manage all your Airbnb properties, if you follow the above tips to be the best host. At Oasis Stay, we provide the best Airbnb hosting services in Australia. With our professional service and experience, your guest will enjoy the most at your property and we will make you the best host ever.