You’ve finally done it. You’ve purchased a property or decided to rent one out that you already own, you’ve created a thorough and attractive listing for your vacation rental, and you’re ready to start booking your space. While you might be excited to get your first request, there’s still one base to cover: providing everything a guest needs to have a positive experience.
Figuring out what you need to offer alongside your accommodation can be tricky. After all, there are requirements laid out by Airbnb and then there are things that you can do to enhance the guest experience that you won’t find to be required in the terms and conditions. What should Airbnb hosts provide? Let’s take a look at the essential amenities and further considerations that will help you take your listing to the next level.
Key Amenities to Offer Guests
There are certain things that hosts may choose to offer that aren’t required, but there are many amenities for your Airbnb that you have to provide your guests. These Airbnb essentials like toilet paper, body wash or soap, shampoo, bedding (linens, pillows, etc.), towels, and items that guests can not do without must be on all Airbnb properties. Providing such in your Airbnb rental is non-negotiable, and your Airbnb guests would not be remiss to report you as a rental host and write a negative review if they find that you don’t offer these things.
With that out of the way, it’s worth noting that there are technically non-essentials you aren’t required to provide but should anyway if you want to keep guests happy and your ranking high. This might include laundry detergent for on-site laundry, cookware and diningware (and cleaning supplies for the dishwasher), and even small snack items in the kitchen that other hosts don’t provide. Put simply, if they can’t take care of themselves as they would on other rental properties from check-in, you’re probably doing something wrong.
The Level of Service Offered by Airbnb Hosts
Airbnb can’t expect you to drop everything and give your guests a massage if they request it, but they still do require you to provide a certain level of service and communication that will determine how well you fare on the platform. For example, all hosts are expected to respond to guest messages within 24 hours. If you don’t, you not only risk upset guests, but you can get your listing bumped down further on Airbnb’s search engine, making it harder for guests to find and book your property.
More than that, you should be making sure that you’re responding to any concerns promptly. For example, if a toilet becomes severely clogged or an HVAC system stops working, you don’t want your guests to have to spend the rest of their visit without a functional bathroom or having to deal with severe temperatures that they can’t defend themselves against. This basic level of service is something that all guests should receive.
If you choose to go the extra mile beyond these two things, that’s entirely up to you!
Personalized and Customized Offerings
One thing that hosts should provide but that host aren’t required to provide are personalized and customized offerings. These small items are acts of kindness that show you care about each of your guests and that you’re dedicated to providing them with the best possible experience that they can have on the Airbnb platform (something that will inevitably be appreciated and displayed through your positive reviews). Some ideas for personalized and customized offerings include:
- Welcome Baskets: Welcome gift baskets are always a great treat to give guests because it’s the first thing they notice when they step foot into your home. There are a ton of gift basket ideas that you can use as you get to know more about your guests while they’re going through your screening process.
- Shower/Bath Goods: You already provide basic toiletries for your guests, and they may be enough. However, you could always do a little bit more and impress them with various goods like luxury lotions, face masks, or even bath bombs. So many seemingly high-end bath products are quite affordable and add a nice little touch that guests are sure to appreciate.
- Wine and Candy: Are your guests celebrating a special event like an engagement? If so, why not go out of your way to get a labeled bottle of wine and some candy? It’s a small gesture that won’t go unnoticed by guests who are going on vacation for a special reason rather than a quick getaway.
- Tickets to Local Events: One of the top ways to treat guests and get more bookings is by adding personalized recommendations. However, hosts who want to go above and beyond will take this one step further and offer some tickets to a nearby event that they believe their guests might like. This might not always be possible, but it’s a nice bonus when it is.
- Gift Cards: Along the same vein of thinking, getting gift cards for your guests can be another way to follow up on the personalized recommendations that you’ve given them earlier. Unlike tickets to events, gift cards aren’t exclusive and are almost always available.
So, why might you want to do all this extra work?
- It helps guest feel more appreciated and seen, which pays off once they leave your property and review their stay.
- It can leave a major impact that may lead to further bookings via word-of-mouth or even repeat business.
- You establish a reputation for being one of the better hosts in the area that guests will surely want to stay with.
What Should Airbnb Hosts Provide? Beyond the Basics, It’s Up to You!
When it comes down to what Airbnb hosts should provide, there are things you must offer and there are things that you could offer to improve your reputation on the platform and how guests perceive you. Regardless of what you’re looking to achieve, the insights above will help you understand how to thrive on Airbnb and what’s expected of you as a host moving forward.
