Short-term renting has become insanely popular in the last couple of years, mostly due to the rise of renting platforms like Airbnb. Compared to the monthly rentals, short-term rentals bring more money to the owner, but also provide a unique experience to the visitors to opt to rent it. However, there are many people out there who don’t want to risk it with regular hosts, but rather look up for a Superhost badge – proof that the host has been extraordinary in the past and that their guests all had amazing experiences. Getting the Superhost badge, however, takes some time and effort – and this guide will point you in the right direction.
Target Your Guests
You’re probably aware of this by now, but there’s simply no rooms out there that are fit for just about anyone. The first step you need to take is to find your own target audience and meet their needs with your rental. Every day, thousands and thousands of people are searching for apartments online, from backpackers, tourists, to business travelers. What you need to do is figure out which category best suits you and whose needs you can easily fulfill. In case you already started renting the place, you can keep an eye on the guest profile that it attracts the most – and invest in it to push it even further in that direction.
Your Rooms Need Personality
When people are looking for sterile, generic rooms, they’ll usually stay at a hotel. Renting a room through a platform like Airbnb means that you should add a unique essence to the apartment, something that tells a story about it. People that rent rooms this way usually want to learn more about the town they’re going, so adding some local art is a good direction to take. Try to customize the rooms and add your own sense of style, but don’t personalize it too much as your guests might feel uncomfortable.
Take Hygiene Seriously
Now, this is one of those things that can completely destroy your efforts to become a Superhost. One bad review in this direction and you’ll be feeling the consequences for years. If there’s one good thing about hotels it’s that they take their hygiene seriously and you should too. Declutter the space to give it a cleaner look and make sure there’s a lot of light coming in – as this will all impact the feeling of cleanliness. Also, it goes without saying that you should do a full cleanup before every check-in to ensure that the hygiene is at its best.
Let the Light In
If there’s one thing that can significantly improve the performance of any rental, it’s the natural light. This is why it’s important to have large windows or pick the right curtains since natural light will completely change how space looks. You can even place mirrors on the walls to make the space even more lit. You’ll also want artificial light in the form of lamps placed around the apartment. Try to go for energy efficient ones, as they won’t only save you money on your electric bill, but the soft light will have a better effect on your renters as well.
What Your Apartment Can’t go Without
There are some things that every short-term apartment needs to have, regardless of their Superhost badge. While you can go without the TV if you prefer it that way (rarely anyone watches a TV in a rental these days), you’ll still need to have an air-conditioning system installed, preferably a good one like Climacool. Your bathroom should have access to hot water and preferably a lot of it since that’s one point where tenants usually complain about. Having a stereo system is a nice addition as well and it’s something that won’t go unnoticed.
Improve Your Hosting Skills
The last point in this guide is actually you. There are a lot of things that make a great host and it’s not something that can be taught overnight. You need to find the perfect balance between a warm welcome and a host that doesn’t bore them to death. When your guests arrive, try to provide them (in short) with anything they need to know about the localities and ask them if they have any questions for you. You can even invite them for a cup of coffee, but don’t insist on it if they refuse. Try to be friendly without pushing it too hard and you might just score some excellent reviews.
Bottom Line
Getting a Superhost badge isn’t easy, it’s reserved for the very best hosts out there. However, it’s not impossible either and it all depends on you and your apartment’s performance. Don’t let anything ruin the few days that your guests are going to spend in your apartment and you should be well on your way towards it. Short-term renting isn’t easy as many people put it and it requires a lot of dedication and effort on your part to really get it going.