How to Spot Why Your Airbnb Listing May Be Bad (And How to Fix It)

As a host, ensuring your Airbnb listing is compelling and accurate is essential to attracting guests and maintaining high occupancy rates. If your property isn’t performing as expected or you’re getting fewer bookings, it’s time to evaluate your listing. Using key insights from The Professional Holiday Home, here are some common reasons why your Airbnb listing may be underperforming and how to fix it.

1. Misleading or Vague Descriptions

One of the most common problems with underperforming listings is that the description doesn’t match the reality of the property. Overly vague or exaggerated descriptions can lead to guests feeling misled, resulting in negative reviews and lost bookings.

How to Fix It:

• Be honest and detailed. As highlighted in The Professional Holiday Home, transparency is key. Accurately describe the space, amenities, and location. Mention any potential downsides, such as street noise or limited parking.
• Set realistic expectations. It’s better to pleasantly surprise your guests than to under-deliver. Avoid marketing fluff and focus on facts.

2. Verbose or Overly Long Descriptions

While it’s important to be descriptive, long, wordy descriptions can overwhelm or bore potential guests. Guests want clear, succinct information that helps them make a quick decision.

How to Fix It:

• Keep descriptions concise. Focus on highlighting the key features of your property in clear, simple language. Avoid unnecessary detail and ensure the most important points—like location, amenities, and unique features—stand out.
• Break up text. Use bullet points to outline amenities and lists for house rules, making your listing easy to scan.

3. Outdated or Low-Quality Photos

Photos are often the deciding factor for guests when choosing an Airbnb. If your photos are outdated, poorly lit, or don’t showcase your property’s best features, potential guests might skip over your listing.

How to Fix It:

• Invest in professional photography. According to The Professional Holiday Home, high-quality photos can significantly increase your bookings. Capture every room and highlight unique features like stunning views or cozy nooks.
• Show the property in its best light. Ensure that the photos accurately represent the space, avoiding wide-angle lenses that distort the size of rooms.

4. Not Having the Right Hero Shot

Your “hero shot” is the first image guests see when browsing listings, and it’s your one chance to capture their attention. If this photo doesn’t immediately stand out, guests may scroll right past your listing.

How to Fix It:

• Choose a standout image. As noted in The Professional Holiday Home, your hero shot should emphasize the unique selling point of your property. Whether it’s a stunning view, a stylish living area, or a beautiful outdoor space, select the image that highlights your property’s best feature.
• Test different hero shots. If your listing isn’t getting the clicks it should, try changing the hero shot to something more eye-catching or better aligned with your audience.

5. Inconsistent or Negative Reviews

If your Airbnb listing has mixed or negative reviews, this can severely impact your bookings. Guests rely heavily on feedback from previous guests to decide whether they should book a property.

How to Fix It:

• Respond professionally to negative reviews. Address concerns and communicate improvements to future guests.
• Identify recurring issues. If reviews mention consistent problems, make the necessary changes, whether it’s improving cleanliness, updating furniture, or resolving communication issues.

6. Unclear Pricing or Hidden Fees

Unexpected costs are a major turnoff for guests. If your pricing is unclear, or if there are hidden fees that show up only at the last minute, potential guests may leave your listing without booking. Guests often dislike seeing separate cleaning or service fees added at checkout.

How to Fix It:

• Be transparent with pricing. Clearly list the price per night and any additional charges upfront. Where possible, combine fees into one total price to avoid guests feeling surprised or haggling over separate cleaning or service fees.
• Consider competitive pricing. Review similar listings in your area to ensure your prices are competitive for the market and season.

7. Poor Communication and Guest Interaction

If guests mention communication issues in reviews, or if you’re slow to respond to inquiries, it could be affecting your bookings. Poor communication can lead to frustration, lost bookings, and negative reviews.

How to Fix It:

• Respond quickly. Aim to reply to messages within an hour or two, even if it’s just to acknowledge the inquiry and promise a more detailed response later.
• Use automated messages. Set up automated responses for booking confirmations, check-in instructions, and reminders to streamline communication and ensure guests feel supported.

8. Overly Strict or Long House Rules

Guests want to know what’s expected of them, but too many rules or overly strict ones can deter bookings. Long lists of do’s and don’ts make guests feel unwelcome or that their stay will be too restrictive.

How to Fix It:

• Keep rules reasonable and concise. Only include essential rules such as noise restrictions, smoking policies, and check-out procedures. Avoid overwhelming guests with long, unnecessary lists.
• Highlight important rules. Use bullet points to make essential rules easy to find and understand. Keep the tone welcoming rather than overly strict or harsh.

Improving Your Airbnb Listing

By reviewing your listing and following the guidelines outlined in The Professional Holiday Home, you can make your Airbnb listing more appealing and increase your bookings. For additional strategies to enhance your listing or property, download our free eBook or get a free consultation here.