It’s no secret that higher host rankings for short-term rentals can positively affect your bottom line. After all, there is a reason why Airbnb and Vrbo respectively refer to top-ranked hosts as “Superhosts” and “Premier Hosts.” All you have to do to see for yourself is browse the listings in your favorite vacation spot, and the reviews speak for themselves. And based on what we know about the other industry trends, there is usually an actionable opportunity with every bit of information we extract from the Colorado short-term rental market. As such, Effortless Rental Group will highlight some of the things we can do to improve your short-term rental host ranking.
Simple Criteria for Improving Host Rankings
Before we lay out a few suggestions, it’s worth noting what criteria most vacation rental platforms use to determine host scores. Remember that most sites use sophisticated algorithms to assign rankings, but that doesn’t mean we can’t affect the data.
- Number of bookings per night
- Number of reviews—and it’s not just five-star ones
- Acceptance and response rates
- Average review rating
- Host cancellation rates
The Effects of Host Responsiveness on Ranking
As a rule of thumb, short-term rental platforms allow hosts to respond within 24 hours of receiving a reservation request. Still, if you’re hoping for higher rankings, taking action as soon as possible is necessary. In an ideal world, you’ll respond to inquiries within only a few hours. And this doesn’t just apply to reservations. Typically, anyone with a profile can give a review and a score, so even those who don’t stay at your place can impact how potential guests perceive you.
Cleanliness
Quite simply, people visiting a vacation rental expect the place to be cleaner than their own homes. For all we know, that’s part of the reason some people stay at vacation rentals. Regardless of their motives, the primary takeaway is straightforward. No one wants to feel like someone else has been there, and they don’t want to clean up after someone else. Having an unkempt property is a surefire way to receive low host scores.
Hospitality Isn’t Only for Hotels & Dinner Parties
A keen attention to detail can massively impact reviews and rankings. Think about all the times you stayed at a hotel or vacation rental. We’re willing to bet the little things stood out the most. Useful directories, guestbooks, a list of local amenities, travel brochures, and a few complimentary items like specialty snacks or toiletries will make guests eager to leave a positive review.
Your Effortless Colorado Vacation Rental Management Partner
As Colorado’s most trusted vacation rental management company, we cut through the busy work to ensure our client’s properties achieve the highest rankings and maximum visibility. When you go with us, you’ll get more from your listing and the peace of mind that comes with being in good hands. From high-touch guest service to data-driven marketing, we’ll make gaining a return on your investment effortless.
Find out how we can help you get the most out of your short-term vacation rental property by getting a free property evaluation today!