How To List A Property On Airbnb
Looking to list on Airbnb but not sure where to start?
We’ve put together 10 steps to get your first listing up and running as you begin your journey as a host.
Why choose Airbnb?
A few key advantages of focusing on Airbnb includes:
- Handling payments through their platform
- Having a large global audience reach
- Plenty of guest verification filters
- Transparency over reviews to assess the profile of your potential guests
- Host insurance for property damage or personal injury to a guest or third party
Not only will Airbnb help you set up your listings, but the platform also has ongoing safety features to help you find desirable guests and avoid parties, complaints and damage to your properties.
How to list on Airbnb
Step 1: Determine the type of listing
The first step in Airbnb’s listing process is to define the type of property you are going to rent out.
Once you have done this, Airbnb requires you to fill out the details of your property listing. You will need to decide what part of your property you want available to guests - and how many guests you plan on hosting.
Are you going to rent your entire home or just a room? How many bedrooms are available and to how many guests?
Step 2: Add your amenities
Next up, it’s time to fill out the amenities you will be offering. At this stage, be sure to add as much detail as possible so that you can paint a full, attractive picture of what your guests can expect when staying at your home. Amenities don’t just include wifi and a washing machine, but rather extend to any additional feature that might be useful to your guest. We suggest categorising these under the following:
- Baby-friendly (high-chair, crib)
- Remote working (Fast speed WIFI, desk and chair, coffee machine)
- Pet-friendly (Litter dish, food bowl)
- Leisure (swimming pool, jacuzzi, games)
These details are important for guests, particularly families and groups, as bed set-up and occupancy limits play a large role in choosing the right Airbnb.
Step 3: Add professional photos
We believe that the devil is in the details and so does Airbnb. It goes without saying that one of the main reasons guests choose to book a certain listing is based on the quality of the images.
We suggest investing in professional photography to truly capture the essence of your property.
- Take photos of the inside and outside (include all rooms, outside as well as the surrounding neighbourhood area).
- Include photos of small touches or stand-out features that your guest would appreciate, such as parking, a pool or baby-friendly facilities if your listing encourages families with small children.
Step 4: Research local laws
Before officially becoming an Airbnb host, it’s important to understand how the laws work in your city. You need to ensure that you’re legally allowed to be an Airbnb host. We suggest you familiarise yourself with Airbnb’s local hosting regulations for responsible hosting to ensure you are abiding by all the necessary rules.
Step 5: Set your price
When it comes to pricing your listing, we suggest the first step is researching the market value by looking at similar listings in your city or neighbourhood.
We like to follow 2 rules when it comes to pricing:
- Focus on maximising your occupancy
- Know when to adjust your rates. Use dynamic pricing and chance rates based on the market supply and demand
Step 6: Decide on your cancellation policy
Cancellations are a common occurrence, both for guests and hosts alike. As a result, Airbnb has a comprehensive list of helpful articles on the subject. In a nutshell, you can choose from three cancellation policy options: flexible, moderate and strict.
As a host, we recommend a flexible cancellation policy. If your cancellation policy is too strict, it will almost certainly deter guests who are still in the planning stage of their holiday. Flexible cancellation policies support guests in the planning phase as they are more likely to provisionally book and confirm closer to the time.
Avoid these mistakes
We’ve been in the property business a while which means we’ve seen it all. To ensure you learn from our mistakes, take a look at some of our tips below:
- Take photos in good lighting - bad photos can cost you a booking!
- List ALL amenities - remember, guests want to imagine themselves staying at your property, so make it effortless for them to book.
- A flexible cancellation policy to protect your business and support your guests.
- Don’t have your starting price per night too high - remember, focus on increasing your occupancy rate as a first priority.
