You’ve decided to finally turn your property into a Serviced Accommodation and you’ve rented it out on Airbnb or Booking.com but you’re finding that your reviews have been less than favorable?
It happens to the best of us when we first start out, not quite understanding the little touches that your guests would love and would make their stay with you more enjoyable and relaxing.
Top tips for improving your Serviced Accommodation
1. Give the guest all the relevant information a week before their visit.
This may seem like an obvious point but you’ll be surprised how many hosts don’t do this.
A week before your guest is due to visit, it’s a good idea to provide them with the following information:
Ways to access the property and the car park. Sometimes the car park is gated off and may be away from the property itself. Make sure all guests know exactly how to access it and provide them with any codes needed.
If you’re property is in a flat or a cul-de-sac then you need to give them clear directions as to where they’re going and which property they’re entering.
Inform them about the heating and how to use it.
Let them know where the fuse box is incase something blows the fuse.
2. Leaflets of fun things to do close by
You’ve seen them in tourist information shops or even your local supermarket. Rows and rows of leaflets advertising all sorts of places for kids and adults alike within driving or walking distance of the town. Next time you’re in these places, pick some leaflets up and leave them in your property.
7 out of 10 times your guests will be holiday makers and they most likely won’t know what the city has to offer. So give them a helping hand in planning their holiday and ensuring a return visit.
3. WI-FI Codes
Everyone has a bear minimum expectation of what they expect when they stay away from home and WI-FI is one of them. Your Serviced Accommodation will house not only families and holiday makers, but workers. people on business trips, or people working nearby on certain projects. All of your guests will except WI-FI within the property so make sure you have a strong connection with a trusted company.
4. Add those special touches
Just because you’re not a hotel doesn’t mean you can’t give your guests that little bit of luxury when they walk through the door. From a bottle of Champagne or prosecco to chocolates on the pillows.
If you know the stay is for a birthday or anniversary, how about some balloons?
These touches mean a lot to guests and it make the start of their stay that much better.
5. Keep an eye on online feedback
This is the best place to go as according to the Global Service Apartments Industry Reports, by the Apartment Service, 79% of consumers now value online reviews as highly as personal recommendations, and 80% of travelers use the internet to plan their trips.
6. Follow up with guests
After your guests have left the property, send them a message via the online platform they booked with. Ask them if they enjoyed their stay and if you could do anything differently.
If you have a survey for your guests at the end of each booking, make sure you offer them some sort of incentive to fill the form out.
7. Understand your clients.
By knowing who you are appealing to and perhaps even creating an “ideal customer” profile, you put yourself in a better position to know details such as the price that your customers are willing to pay and the accommodation requirements they are likely to have. Put in your due diligence to define the kind of clients who are be looking for accommodation near your property.
Building a successful serviced accommodation business is way more than just acquiring ‘good’ houses and putting them out for potential guests to notice. Serviced accommodation owners should have the kind of housing and customer service that makes clients fall in love, leaving them with the desire of making use of your provisions again and again.
Unless you plan on hiring a host to maintain the properties, remember you may have to be on call 24/7.
Comments