Taking the plunge into short-term rental seems straightforward... until the first hassles start. Bad travelers, wasted time, stolen items, miscommunication...
We often learn the hard way, but at egeed.com, our mission is to avoid just that.
So here's a digest of the 10 most common mistakes made by new hosts, with concrete advice and tools to get off to a good start.
And above all: test egeed for free for 30 days can already change everything.
1. Not defining clear house rules
This is basic, and yet... too many hosts leave travelers in the dark. The result: heating on full, fridge full, door unlocked, etc.
Solution: Set up a clear payment module on egeed, which every traveler receives automatically. You can specify:
- Toss the trash (as well as the exact location on a map)
- Lock the door
- Empty the fridge
- Turn off appliances
- Turn down heating or turn off air conditioning
- Return keys to key box
Travelers aren't careless by nature: they're just on vacation, not in their surroundings. They need to be guided simply and clearly.
2. Putting too many dishes, pods or consumables
This is a mistake that many make. I've experienced it myself: when you put in 24 spoons, 20 coffee pods and stocks of sugar... you risk never seeing them again. Not out of malice, but because some travelers help themselves as if in a hotel.
My personal rule: I set a set of 6 to 8 place settings, and a limited quantity of consumables (coffee, sugar, tea). It's easier to count between two travelers, and it limits waste.
3. Neglecting listing photos
Dark or unflattering photos, and your gorgeous rental becomes invisible on platforms.
Solution: Take bright, professional photos and preferably during the day.
4. Mishandling negative comments
When you get a bad review, it's hard to take. It's frustrating, sometimes unfair. But responding hot, aggressively or defensively is a mistake that can cost you dearly.
On Airbnb, responses are public. What you write isn't just for the unhappy customer, but for all future travelers. Your response shows your level of professionalism.
Examples of a bad response:
"This customer is acting in bad faith."
"He hasn't understood a thing."
"This comment is totally wrong."
What future travelers read:"Okay, if I have a problem, he's going to blow me off."
To do instead:
- Stay calm, professional, polite.
- Acknowledge areas for improvement (even if it's hard).
- Show you take feedback seriously.
- Explain what you've put in place to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Example of correct answer:
"Thank you for your feedback. I am sorry that the apartment did not live up to your expectations. Following your comment on cleanliness, I have changed the cleaning team to ensure a better level of service."
So you turn an average review into proof of your ability to listen and improve. And that reassures future travelers.
5. Underestimating the time (and importance) of housekeeping
Clean accommodation doesn't mean "quick and dirty". A forgotten hair in the shower or an un-emptied dustbin, andyour bill plunges.
Solution: Prepare a complete housekeeping checklist to print out or send to your service providers.
6. Wanting to launch on too many platforms right from the start
It's a classic mistake when you're just starting out: wanting to be everywhere at once - Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo, etc. The result: poorly synchronized calendars, double bookings, cancellations... and unhappy customers.
My advice: start with Airbnb only. It's the most intuitive, the most powerful platform, and the one that will let you focus on what's important: providing a great experience for your travelers and garnering good ratings.
7. Thinking everything is intuitive for travelers
Heating, air conditioning, oven, connected TV, parking, gate code... it seems obvious to you, but not to everyone.
Solution:Thanks to egeed, you can create explanatory sheets with photos or videos for all your equipment. Result: fewer messages, less risk of breakage, and happier travelers.
8. Setting the wrong price
Too high a rate leaves you with an empty rental, too low a rate attracts the wrong profiles.
Solution:Test dynamic pricing, and adjust according to the season. On egeed, we recommend tools like PriceLabs to automate all this.
9. Responding too slowly (or too late) to travelers
A response that's too slow turns people away. Even if you're busy, at least show that you're present.
Solution: With egeed, your traveler has access to all the information about the accommodation and can even ask questions directly to your guide. Traveler queries drop by an average of 70% in apartments equipped with an egeed digital guide. Try it for free for 30 days :)
10. Thinking it's passive income
No, short-term rental is not 100% passive. You have to structure everything, automate, delegate... and monitor.
Solution:With the right tools like egeed and pricelabs, you can really professionalize your business and get as close as you can to 100% passive income.
Conclusion
Being a good host doesn't have to be complicated... as long as you avoid basic mistakes. With a little experience, method, and the right tools (like egeed), you can turn your accommodation into a 5-star machine.
Are you just starting out? Struggling to structure your business? Want to save time without sacrificing quality?
You're just starting out?
Try egeed free for 30 days, and discover how to simplify your life as a host.
