Imagine that a person is going on a vacation to their dream destination. They just reach the beautiful housing they saw pictures of. They’re trembling with excitement as they’re opening the door, already thinking of dropping off their luggage to start exploring this wonderful place. Yet the moment they get inside the home they’ve rented for their vacation, they feel like they’re dreaming. Or more like having a nightmare. The floor is littered, there’s a grime layer of dust on the furniture. There’s a strange spill on one sofa, and an unpleasant smell lingers all around.
What is the worst scenario that you are afraid to confront? Pick up their bags right away and leave while asking for a refund.
Nobody likes living in a dirty house in normal times, let alone during a very well-deserved vacation. And if you’re a good Airbnb Host, you’ll want your renters to come up to a nice, clean, and welcoming home. If you wish to become a Superhost, you absolutely have to avoid getting bad reviews concerning the cleanliness of your house.
If you’re not sure how you can keep up with guests and have a clean property without spending thousands in cleaning fees, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’re going to go through the key factors to cleaning your house to ensure a great hosting experience. You’ll learn all of the tips to maintain a tidy and squeaky-clean space for your guests. So without further ado, let’s jump straight into the subject by starting with the basics.
What is Airbnb and how can you become a Superhost?
Before we can come up with the actual details on how to clean up your house, we’re going to start with some basics. You’ve probably already heard of it, but Airbnb is a popular online marketplace that connects travelers with hosts who offer unique accommodations worldwide. It’s a modern alternative to hotels, and it opens up a lot more options when it comes to renting. You can basically find any lodging depending on your budget, needs, and wants.
That’s how you can view Airbnb in the position of a customer, but did you know that you can actually work with them? If you have a property that you’d like to rent out, you can put it forward on the platform and become a host there. You’ll have to list your property alongside images to show what you’re offering. In many cases, this is very important because that’s how you’re going to convince your potential hosts. You’ll have to make the listing carefully, and if you feel a bit intimidated by the prospect, you can hire a professional copywriter to do the job for you. Travelers can then reach out to you and rent your space for the duration agreed upon. That’s where you can start, but your aim should be to become a Superhost.
If you’re wondering what’s the difference between the two, it’s very simple. Being a Superhost simply means that you have met a series of requirements set by Airbnb. That’s a clear testament to how great your lodging is, and it can in turn be very beneficial to you in the long run. As you’ve guessed, you’re not only going to get a nice title, there’s a lot of benefits tied to this label.
Travelers will be more likely to see your property because of the increased visibility you benefit from. They’ll also immediately be trustful of your listing and won’t hesitate that much when it comes to renting your space, especially since they’ll know that you’re being completely transparent. And more importantly, you’ve been verified already!
And to benefit from these, you’ll naturally have to meet some criteria to achieve a Superhost status. You’ll have to keep up the high ratings, on average having at least a 4.8 rating. You’ll also have to be able to maintain open and satisfactory communication. You’d have to keep up with great hosting standards, and that includes keeping a spotless environment. And like we’ve said it before, in this guide, we’re going to focus on how you can bring up your ratings with a clean property.
Your guests have just left the space and you’re wondering where to start cleaning. You can see the mess that’s waiting for you from all the corners of the house and you’re feeling a bit discouraged at the thought of having to go through all that by yourself. Well, don’t worry. If you break down the workflow into different pieces, you’ll definitely be able to bring back your property to a tidy and clean state.
We recommend that you start cleaning with the messiest space you can notice, or you can start with the areas that are most problematic to you. For example, if you have a hard time cleaning bathrooms, you can start with them so as to not feel discouraged when you reach them.
Tips to make cleaning as an Airbnb Superhost easy
If you truly want to offer the best stay to your guests, there is no easy way and no corners to cut when it comes to cleaning your home. We recommend that you always keep your cleaning supplies stocked in the house. Not only will it be easier for you to clean once you’re there, but it could also benefit your hosts. Some of them may want to clean a mess they made themselves.
As we said, try to keep a schedule and a checklist when it comes to cleaning. Learn to split the cleaning into different mini-tasks so it can get done in an orderly manner and you can check them off your list as you go. That way you’ll ensure that you haven’t forgotten anything.
Also, keep in mind to do a deep cleaning at least once a month to target the less noticeable areas that still accumulate dirt. And if you find yourself overwhelmed while trying to keep your house clean and tidy, we recommend investing in a cleaning service. At Welcome Concierge, we can help you find the right property manager who will take care of your house cleaning regularly and effectively. While that may be pricier than cleaning yourself, you at least ensure that your property is professionally cleaned before your guests arrive. And in the end, that can be a good investment if you wish to keep up with your Superhost status.
Why is cleaning important for Superhosts?
We’re never going to stop repeating it, cleanliness plays a vital role in becoming a Superhost. Any guest expects a clean and well-maintained space. Nobody will be looking forward to a messed-up place, even if it’s not your fault and if it has been a result of previous guests for example.
A person who is paying will not care about the reasons, they’ll only see that your property isn’t well maintained and that’ll directly impact their perception of you as a Host. That’s why providing a spotless environment is crucial for positive guest experiences. Cleanliness directly impacts your ratings and reviews, and ultimately, your success as a Superhost.
Becoming an Airbnb Superhost: The Qualities Required
As we mentioned above, becoming a Superhost on the Airbnb platform gives you several advantages including :
- More visibility for your listings: with the Superhost status, you increase the number of views on your house. Guests who want to find a host with this label will use the Superhost filter which means that your listing will probably stand out from those of your competitors
- Getting the Superhost label: this will build up trust with your potential guests since they know that you’ve got the Superhost status because you have great qualities that non-Superhosts have not
- Increasing your earnings: with higher visibility, you will get more reservations and thus you’ll make more money with your Airbnb business
- Getting exclusive rewards for your commitment: becoming a Superhost gives you the reward of a $100 travel coupon once a year. You will also get a bonus every time you refer new hosts to Airbnb that is increased by an extra 20 %.
To become a Superhost, there are some conditions required by the Airbnb platform which are :
- Hosting a minimum of 10 stays in one year
- Having 5-star on at least 80 % of your reviews
- Honoring most of the confirmed reservations
- Having a response rate of at least 90 %
Airbnb Superhost: Final Thought
As we get to the end of this guide, we hope the information we’ve provided will help you with the process and cleaning your house and reach the status of Superhost. Remember that even though the path is quite hard, the rewards and the benefits of being an Airbnb Superhost worth it.
FAQ
Can I make the guests pay for the cleaning?
You can demand a one-time charge to guests to ensure the cleaning of your house before they check in. This cleaning fee can also be integrated into the nightly rate.
Can I lose the Superhost status?
Yes, you can lose it if Airbnb notices that you no longer respect one of the conditions required for the Superhost status.
How will I be rewarded as Superhost?
The reward is a bonus travel coupon of $100 and an extra 20 % on top of the normal bonus if you get a new host to join and use the Airbnb platform.
