Airbnb launched the super host programme in 2016 to acknowledge hosts that go above and beyond for their guests. The objectives of the program are to create and outline a set of hospitality standards to guide hosts. Furthermore, it aims to assist Airbnb guests select the right host and property for their travel.
The Airbnb super host badge gives credibility to hosts. It is thus imperative for hosts to fully understand the program so that they can achieve the status of super host to enhances their validity on Airbnb.
I am an Airbnb super host for a year now, and I believe that I have acquired the rightful amount of knowledge to successfully run Airbnb rentals. In this post, I would like to discuss the feasibility of the super host program and share some invaluable, less obvious tips and tricks on becoming an Airbnb super host.
Is the Airbnb super host status really worth having?
Before answering the above question, I would like to mention a saying from Ryan Scott, a very successful Airbnb super host who is currently earning more than half a million in rental income. He pointed out that “Traditional landlords are missing out, the real money is in Airbnb Inc.” I personally couldn’t agree more with this statement.
As a matter of fact, it has been proven that running short-term rentals on Airbnb will have a 20% higher profit margin and twice the amount of rental income compared to tradition long-term leases. Airbnb and many other vacation rental sites are thus growing exponentially now.
However, because of the phenomenal development of the short-term rental industry, an increasing number of traditional landlords are changing their rental strategy to better fit the current rental market. For this reason, competition on Airbnb is also growing. Thus, hosts will have to put in the extra effort to beat the competition. As of today, Airbnb has more than four million listings worldwide, and there is no sign of stopping!
Now, back to the question of “Is an Airbnb super host status really worth having?”. As a landlord, the answer is definitely YES! Having validation from Airbnb such as the super host status will help hosts stand out in front of competition in this fast-growing market. Super hosts are able to gain higher competitive edge on Airbnb. Consequently, not only can super hosts be able to raise their average daily rate (ADR) to maximise their rental income, but their occupancy rate is also higher compared to regular hosts.
Related: Airbnb vs. Traditional Renting: Which Rental Strategy Yields Higher Income?
Listing views, occupancy rate, and average daily rate (ADR) optimization
How does the Airbnb super host help in optimizing Airbnb rental income? The answer is simple – it increases the listing views. Generally speaking, Airbnb categorizes listings between super hosts and regular hosts. Airbnb guests are able to apply filters to search for super host listings only. As a result, super hosts are able to get more views in the sense that guests can always choose to see their listings first and give them priority. Nonetheless, it has also been documented that listings of super hosts have a 5% increase in listing traffic.
In the same way, the Airbnb’s algorithm system, which is based on Airbnb reviews, also tends to put super hosts’ listings to the first few pages of the search results. Research shows that the majority of online consumers do not conduct extensive search before making a decision. Most travellers including Airbnb guests will not browse more than 10 pages of search results to make a booking. Appearing on the first few pages of search results will thus strongly drive up your Airbnb occupancy rate. For instance, a property listing that I own showed a significant increase of 80% occupancy rate after it received the super host stamp of approval!
Related: 5 Ways to Boost Your Airbnb Occupancy Rate
Lastly, the super host status adds financial value to your listings. With increased listing traffic and occupancy rate, it is natural that the daily rate increases too. After all, Airbnb is a vacation rental business. Higher demand means higher price. Therefore, super hosts are able to adjust their price accordingly to meet the demand of the market. Nevertheless, if you are not yet a super host, don’t worry! Below I provide you with some advice on how to get that status.
Always try to enable instant booking
I have written several articles on the fundamental guidance of becoming an Airbnb super host. Now, I would like to share some tricks and tips that are less obvious.
Many hosts on Airbnb might not agree with me on this one as they think that screening guests is an important procedure. Many hosts think that instant booking will only leave their property in less control. However, I personally believe that enabling instant booking brings more pros than cons.
First of all, instant booking saves response time. One of the requirements to become a super host is to have a 90% response rate. Enabling instant booking will save from response time greatly and will help Airbnb hosts accomplish the requirement more easily.
Second of all, enabling instant booking will further enhance your listing traffic. If you haven’t noticed, listings with instant booking are favoured by Airbnb and will appear at the top few pages of the search results.
Lastly, allowing instant booking will help build trust among guests and will make you look more like a professional rental business. When guests book with an Airbnb host who enables instant bookings, they will have a peace of mind knowing that their booking is already confirmed and do have to wait for the host to respond.
Take Airbnb guests feedback seriously and make adjustments
One of the many mistakes that Airbnb hosts make is not knowing how valuable their guests opinions are. Many hosts tend to ignore their guest feedback and do not want to improve their listing. As an Airbnb super host, I believe that this is a very serious issue in the rental business.
Super hosts will always take their guests feedback seriously. For example, if a guest lodges a complaint stating that the property is unclean, the host should be fully aware of the situation and make sure that the next guest will not face a similar problem.
Seek professional help in the form of rental property management if you need and do not let negative Airbnb reviews damage your overall Airbnb rating.
Related: Why Are Airbnb Reviews of Guests So Important to Real Estate Investors?
Additional services for guests
My dad always told me that it is the small things in life that make life great. If it’s within your capability, always try to offer more than you have promised in you Airbnb listing. For example, if the guest requires transport services from the airport to your property, you can always try to pre-book taxi for your guest. Likewise, if you know that your guest likes to drink beer, offer them a bottle or two in the fridge for their refreshment.
Related: What Can Hosts Do to Improve the Airbnb Experience of Their Guests?
In conclusion
As you can see, the Airbnb super host status is feasible, so every host on Airbnb should strike to achieve it. After analyzing the financial benefits of the super host program, I strongly believe that the hospitality standard that the program has created will act as a benchmark for the general rental market in the future.
It is true that Airbnb can set a standard ‘rules’ on how every property should be rated. However, we are aware that no two properties are alike nor are there two hosts who will offer similar experience. Everyone has their own standard ‘rule’ on how their travel should be rated. For this reason, hosts should be cautious and never give up on achieving the super host status.
Meanwhile, if you are looking to buy the best Airbnb rental property in the US in 2018, check out how Mashvisor’s Property Finder can help you out.
