Great reviews are everything in this business. There is too much competition in the market to have bad reviews. I am a Superhost with Airbnb and have been involved with vacation home maintenance and marketing in many areas including the Fabulous Las Vegas area since about 2009. I also purchased, refurbished and opened a Victorian Airbnb in Pennsylvania. In 2009 the industry wasn’t brand new, but it was about to expand very rapidly. The concept of using your property as a short-term rental is a beautiful solution to being upside down in a home or for your second home. It’s also a way to finance an investment purchase.

Five Star reviews start with how you advertise your home, what expectations you set for your guests before they even arrive. This includes a very clear list of House Rules. This list should be easy to understand and follow. Make your rules available to everyone who is thinking about booking a stay at your short-term rental. I have found that having guest sign an agreement to those rules when they book helps in adhering to the rules.

Posting a cute welcome note with a couple reminders to not wear shoes in the house or that pets are not allowed inside should be about all you mention on posted signs. Guests don’t want to feel like they are constantly being told what they can’t do.

Keep in communication with your guests, offer them your cell phone so they can easily contact you if they have any questions. Drop by, if you can, to personally welcome them. This open communication helps house rules to be remembered and followed.

After guests check out the labor starts. You have to restore your home to a condition where it feels like a spotless hotel that’s never been stayed in by other guests. The inside of cupboards and drawers need to be cleaned and neatly organized. The inside of the refrigerator must be cleaned, pantry supplies restocked, all linen cleaned, beds remade, the home cleaned, the backyard cleaned, and all trash removed from the property.

For security, all doors, windows, and even the garage door must be physically checked to make sure they are all locked.

Being a host is a lot of fun and a great way to earn some money. Follow the laws of your community and offer outstanding customers service and you just might fall in love with this business.