Whether you’re the owner of a vacation rental or you list your own home on Airbnb, the main goal is to attract guests to rent your home in exchange for money. Many real estate investors have become successful from investing in single-family residential properties and many people have even seen a lot of success from hosting guests on Airbnb. The key to this success is to have guests choose your property on a consistent basis. How can such consistency be achieved? It’s achieved by creating an effective listing description for your property.
Be Honest
There’s no need to over embellish your listing description on sites such as Airbnb. These days, people can tell when someone is overselling them, and that can be a turn-off when searching for a temporary place to stay. All you need is a short and simple description that lists all the amenities and any unique features you think will be important to note. This can probably go without saying, but you should never claim that your property has certain features or amenities when it doesn’t.
It’s also a good idea to start the listing off with the best feature of your property like an inground pool or a composite deck to hang out. This is a way to entice potential renters. If your property has several good features, it’s okay to mention them later in the listing. And even if your property doesn’t have any unique features, just being honest about what the renter is going to get can be enough to attract guests.
Don’t Neglect Pictures
“A picture is worth a thousand words” isn’t just a cliche quote. High-quality photos help bring your entire listing together. Cameras today have amazing quality, and smartphones have just as good, if not better quality. Pictures should also be taken at the time of day when the lighting is at its best. Photos are literally the first impression that potential renters get of the property.
Even if your home isn’t located in a picturesque location, you can still make it look appealing. Many listings get booked on Airbnb that aren’t in the most luxurious locations, so you have to use what works for your location. Hosts in simple locations have still managed to earn passive income on Airbnb, meaning that even you have the potential to make a good bit of money. Some have made enough money to invest in an actual vacation rental later on.
Highlight Your Property’s Best Feature(s)
You may not think that your property is unique enough to attract guests, but you’ll be surprised at what kinds of interesting homes you can find on Airbnb listings. Guests may find solace in the fact that your property is located within a quiet neighborhood, or maybe they’ll find it very convenient that it’s in the center of the city. Use the location of your property to your advantage.
Another effective listing technique is to make note of any nearby amenities and/or attractions. These nearby activities should be relevant to your location. For example, if you’re near a beach you can state how close or how far away your property is in proximity. If there are any major events happening in your city or town, you should also include how close your property is to these events. If you’re ever unsure of how to go about this process, you can always talk to a realtor for tips and advice.
Conclusion
Writing a rental property listing shouldn’t have to be hard. The main thing to remember is to be honest about what your property has to offer and to not oversell any of your best features. Clear, well-lit pictures are also important. You can have the most beautiful property and luxurious amenities, but if your photo quality is bad, potential renters are not likely to choose your property.
The last thing to remember is that once you start seeing renters (either short-term or long-term), it’s important to develop and keep a good relationship with them. Word of you being a great host increases the chances of your property being rented again in the future.
