In this final part of my Airbnb and holiday rental tips, let’s look at how to make the most of your holiday rental through professional marketing photographs, dealing with unfavourable reviews and ensuring a fast service turnaround between check-outs and check-ins. (see Part One) and (Part Two).
Interior design and styling by Catriona Archer
Important things to achieve in photographs include:
- Be sure sheets and pillowcases on the bed are straight and well ironed. Don’t forget to de-clutter! As a professional stylist, I know first-hand the difference a well styled room makes to the final image. One easy trick is to think about where you want the eye to settle within the image and simplify the styling elsewhere.
- Many consider using a slightly wider lens to photograph a room to make it look bigger, but beware – This can over-distort the room.
- Generally, photographs taken at chest height rather than eye height work better. The walls, windows and furniture should have a strong vertical and horizontal edge.
- Getting the lighting right is a key element in showing a room off to its best.
- An open door leading through into another room often gives a more interesting dimension. It also highlights the overall flow of the interior to potential guests.
- Add some close-up shots on your website, to convey the ambience and mood of the property.
Styling by Catriona Archer
The value of professional photographs
In this image-obsessed, social-media, online-world, good images are a key marketing tool. It’s amazing the difference some expert styling and a professional photographer can make in showing off your property to its best. These images should be updated as any major improvements are made to the property – Not only is it an easy strategy to reconnect with potential guests, but it also makes sure that guest expectations are met once they arrive.
Styling by Catriona Archer
Keeping a faster service turnaround
- Unless you provide a daily cleaning service, be sure that there are sufficient cleaning supplies at-hand for guests to use for any mishaps.
- A well styled holiday rental should be welcoming but not cluttered. Although some thoughtful accessories are important, avoid too many trinkets and dust-makers. It is useful to remember that not all guests will have the same taste as you, so it is often best to keep the décor relatively generic.
- Be sure to check all drawers, the oven and microwave thoroughly after guests check out… Easily forgotten!
- A Cleaning Tick List for general service turnarounds gives peace of mind -This should be detailed and include ceiling cobwebs. Cobwebs are easily overlooked when cleaning, but glaringly obvious when a guest is lying in bed!
- A Seasonal Tick List is also helpful for a more thorough cleans (Checking the Fire Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector, dusting lampshades and spotlights, deep-cleaning mattresses, pillows and duvets etc.).
- Regularly clean the windows.
- Store excess bedlinen in or close to the bedroom for ease.
- Replace any kitchenware breakages and check all lightbulbs at every changeover.
Interior design and styling by Catriona Archer
Gaining positive reviews
I hope this three-part article will help you achieve favourable reviews for your holiday rental or guesthouse. However, no matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to please everyone all the time and sometimes the guest accusation is misdirected. Remember that an unfavourable or lukewarm review is not personal, sometimes it is an opportunity to improve the business. Never reply to negative reviews in haste – A sincere and considered reply, assuring the guest that their views have been taken onboard and acted upon swiftly helps re-gain their trust. It also assures other readers that good customer service is important to your business.
Finally, browsing through the visitor book is very insightful for guests to share helpful tips to one another. It’s also an inexpensive tool to harness positive reviews and encourage future guests to offer the same. It is also a very handy social media tool, particularly if a particularly amusing or impressive review can be shared online – A fail-safe way of validating and advertising your business.
On this note, may I take this opportunity to wish your business every success!