Airbnb is changing the way people travel. By offering short-term rentals, it has helped millions of people find unique places to stay in cities across the globe. But while many travellers are happy to use Airbnb, others aren't quite sure how the review system works. So here's everything you need to know about Airbnb reviews.
When someone books a room or property on Airbnb, they have the option to write a review about their experience. These reviews help hosts improve their listings, while guests can use them to decide whether or not to book a property.
In fact, Airbnb uses reviews as part of its algorithm. When someone searches for a listing, the site displays both positive and negative reviews next to each listing. As a result, hosts can see exactly how many people had a good or bad experience during their stay.
How Do Airbnb Reviews Work?
Reviews work differently depending on the type of booking. For example, guests can comment on the location and their full experience, while others simply provide feedback on the cleanliness and location of the property.
We're living in the age of the trust economy. That means something very simple: customers care about reviews. Studies show that 92% of customers consult reviews before making a purchase decision.
Airbnb is no exception. While the idea of staying at a stranger's house might sound off-putting at first, it works when you see 5-star reviews posted by people like you. Guests trust online reviews posted by fellow guests and see reviews as an indication of the quality of the property.
When you have quality Airbnb reviews, you'll naturally get the trust of potential guests. Just like in other industries, quality reviews mean a higher demand for your services.
Can You Remove or Delete Airbnb Reviews?
As an Airbnb host, you are not allowed to delete negative reviews posted by your guests. If one of your guests posts something inappropriate, you can use the "Report" button under each listing to flag it. After reviewing the complaint, Airbnb will contact the guest directly and ask them to change the review.
How to Respond to Airbnb Reviews
- Stay calm
- Allow 24 hours before you write your review (at least) or better still…..
If the review is likely to be contentious, publish it 13 days and 20 hours after the checkout! - Be detailed. If the review is good, respond, specifically to what the guest liked.
- If the review is negative, thank the guests for their feedback, and if necessary apologise.
- Don’t take bad reviews personally, we all get them from time to time.
- Most importantly it’s your review average that counts, so one or two negative reviews actually don’t matter.
How Can I Get More Airbnb Reviews?
Here are a couple of steps you can take to get more reviews on Airbnb.
Leave a Review for your Guest.
When you leave a review for your guest, they will get an email from Airbnb notifying them that their host has left a review. This will motivate your guest to leave you a review.
Ask for feedback in a check-out message.
When your guests are leaving, send a message thanking them for their stay. While you're at it, ask if they can leave a review. Here's a template you can use for check-out messages.“Thanks so much for staying with us. We loved having you. We hope you have safe travels home. Please provide us with feedback to let us know how we did so we can improve in the future.”
I hope this was helpful, and please do keep an eye on out for more tips from us at Prestige Hosts.
