5 essential tips for attractive vacation rental listings

Yuval Yossefy

January 7, 2016

Upload Professional Photos

Most online marketplaces are set up in a manner that highlights your pictures above all else. Search results with unattractive pictures are scrolled past, so it is definitely worth it to photograph your property professionally. (Airbnb even provides free professional photographers in major marketplaces; if you list there, definitely check if you’re eligible.)

If you can’t hire a professional photographer, make sure you get well-lit, wide shots of your apartment. For more tips about how to photograph your property, check out this blog post.

Write a Captivating Title and Detailed Description

The next point of contact with potential guests is through your title and description, so you must spend considerable time fashioning them. Your title should include the most relevant information about your listing (like neighborhood, nearby tourist attractions, and nearby events). By including these “search terms” you can better promote your listing on online marketplaces.

Your description should include as much information as possible about your property, while still keeping it interesting. Include interesting details to keep the reader engaged, while also highlighting the nearby attractions and restaurants. Most importantly, remain completely honest throughout the entire description. If your guests are disappointed because your description is not completely truthful, they will definitely leave upset and may even leave you a negative review.

Accumulate Positive Reviews

Guests want to be able to trust the host they choose, and positive reviews will provide them that sense of comfort. Make sure all of your guests leave satisfied, and be attentive to their concerns during and after their stay. Also, good communication before their arrival (or even before they book), can help prevent uncomfortable situations and make them feel listened to.

Early on, you may also want to drop your prices a little, in order to encourage more guests to stay with you and favorably review you. Definitely pay attention to other techniques for getting 5-star reviews, which can boost your listing’s attractiveness greatly.

Provide Clear Neighborhood Information

The location of your listing is especially important to most guests, who generally want to be in safe areas with attractions that match their interests. If you do not feel comfortable providing your address on your listing, definitely provide your neighborhood. Even more importantly, list your proximity to all relevant places in your area, including parks, theaters, restaurants, nightlife, grocery stores, public transportation, and shopping.

If you’re listing on Airbnb, pay attention to their Guidebook feature, which lets hosts suggest attractions that are near their listings. These suggestions then appear on their listing maps.

Create an Approachable User Profile

Once again, this helps potential guests trust you as a host, making them more inclined to book your listing. Upload a professional-looking photo of yourself, and write a short description of yourself so that your guests can learn a little about you. Also, if available, add verifications to your account, which show that the marketplace (a third-party) has also put in time to confirm your identity.

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