How to write an Airbnb Host Review [with templates]

Key Takeaways

Importance of Positive Reviews: Positive reviews are a cornerstone of success for short-term rental businesses on Airbnb. They boost property visibility, drive booking rates, and pave the way to Superhost status, which attracts discerning guests.

Impact on Airbnb Search Rankings: Airbnb’s search algorithm heavily considers reviews. Properties with a strong positive review profile, combined with factors like location, amenities, and pricing, are more likely to rank higher, resulting in increased bookings.

Crafting Effective Reviews: Well-written reviews are essential for both hosts and guests. Hosts should provide specific, positive, and balanced feedback. Guests should highlight the host’s strengths, property cleanliness, and effective communication.

Handling Negative Feedback: When faced with negative reviews, hosts should remain calm and professional. Acknowledging the issue, providing context, and offering solutions demonstrates a commitment to quality service and helps maintain a positive reputation.

A crucial part of any short-term rental business strategy is writing and receiving positive reviews as an Airbnb host. Properties with positive reviews get more bookings than those with an average rating simply due to social influence. This is why knowing how to write a well-articulated host review can mean all the difference for a successful Airbnb listing.

As a property manager, mastering the art of writing reviews is essential, but so is receiving reviews. They help to build your property’s reputation and can lead you to superhost status. It adds to the Airbnb community and helps you attract quality guests, lock in repeat bookings, and improve your ranking on the platform.

Contents

Why Writing Effective Airbnb Host Reviews Matter

Leaving a review is a useful and powerful tool for Airbnb hosts and property managers. It’s one of the unique ways to communicate with your guests and even appeal to future guests who are researching properties.

Reviews help boost your booking rates and your property’s visibility on the platform. Many guests rely on past reviews to make their decisions, so seeing a positive review about your property and your response to that guest’s review helps to get your property booked.

Did You Know: There are specific factors that influence Airbnb search results?

Quality: Higher ratings, reviews, photos, amenities, and customer service boost ranking.

Popularity: Listings with more guest engagement (saves, bookings, messages) rank higher.

Price: Competitive pricing compared to similar listings increases visibility.

Location: Proximity to popular landmarks enhances search ranking.

Airbnb Search Rankings

Apart from appealing to guests, reviews also play a crucial role in the ranking system of Airbnb’s search results. Much like how simple SEO works on Google, the same applies to Airbnb. The platform uses an algorithm that considers several factors, including the quantity and quality of your host reviews.

Properties with more positive reviews are likely to appear at the top of Airbnb search results. Property location, photos, and Airbnb must-haves like amenities are also highly valuable.

Writing a Good Review

Writing a good Airbnb guest review is essential for the platform’s community. Other hosts utilize your experience with a particular guest as an indication of what to expect. Try following an easy formula for constructing a strong and effective review.

1. Be Specific: Leave clear details and examples of what a guest did well. This helps other hosts understand what to expect. Mention if they followed the house rules, were clean, and respectful, and communicated effectively.

2. Positivity: Regardless of minor issues that may have come up during their stay, focus your comments on positive aspects. This will come off as professional and supportive.

3. Balance with Feedback: If there is a need to leave some constructive feedback, make sure you do it professionally and politely. Of course, you must be honest, but you need to balance anything that may be interpreted as negative with positive points. This helps to avoid sounding too critical.

Host Review for Airbnb Guest Templates:

Template 1

“It was a pleasure hosting [Guest’s Name]. They were respectful of the house rules, kept the apartment clean, and communicated well throughout their stay. I would gladly host them again!”

Template 2

“We had an excellent experience hosting [Guest’s Name]. They left the property spotless and were easy to communicate with. Highly recommended!”

Leaving 5-Star Reviews for Hosts and Why They Matter

Receiving a 5-star review as an Airbnb host is more than a nice compliment, it is critical to the success of your listings. Getting consistent 5-star reviews not only enhances your hosting credibility but also attracts more bookings. Potential guests are more inclined to book a property with excellent reviews because they associate it with high-quality service.

How to Compliment an Airbnb Host

Once you have left a property and need to write a review for an Airbnb host, focus on the specific strengths of the property but also of the property manager. Complimenting the host on their communication skills, friendliness, helpfulness, and problem-solving skills will provide valuable information for other guests.

1. Focus on the Host’s Strengths: Acknowledge their efforts and any personal touches that they have left. This might include a guest welcome pack or gift, recommendations, or a friendly greeting upon arrival.

2. Cleanliness: Mention the cleanliness and upkeep of the property. Discuss how the space is maintained, especially if there is a garden or swimming pool.

3. Communication: Effective and timely communication is key. If the host was responsive and helpful, make sure to mention that in your review.

Airbnb Review Template Samples:

Template 1

“Thank you, [Host’s Name], for a great stay! The house was spotless, and your thoughtful touches made us feel right at home. We appreciated your quick responses and helpful recommendations.”

Template 2

“Staying with [Host Name] was a pleasure. The location was perfect, the home was cozy and clean, and [Host Name] was always available to answer our questions. Highly recommended!”

Template 3

“Our stay at [Host Name]’s place was fantastic! The apartment/house was impeccably clean and well-stocked with everything we needed. [Host Name] was very accommodating and provided great local tips. We can’t wait to come back!”

Template 4

“[Host Name] went above and beyond to ensure we had a comfortable stay. From the spotless rooms to the thoughtful touches, everything was perfect. We’d love to stay here again!”

Should I Leave an Honest Review on Airbnb?

It might be difficult to leave an honest review, but it is crucial for both the host and any future guests. Giving feedback helps to improve the property and services, and also informs other hosts and guests of the realities of this booking. While it is important to remain honest, you also want to balance any negative honesty with positive elements.

Pro Tip: Start a review on a positive note, and then follow with the issue you had. It shows respect but also gets your point across without being too critical or aggressive.

Example Templates for an Honest Airbnb Review

Template 1

“While we valued the location and amenities of the property, we had some challenges with [name the issue]. However, [Host Name] was quick to respond and tried their best to resolve the problem.”

Template 2

“We loved the apartment’s location and how clean it was upon arrival. There was an issue with the Wi-Fi connection during our stay, but [Host Name] quickly provided a solution.”

Template 3

“The house/apartment was charming, and the host was friendly and helpful. However, we did find the bed to be uncomfortable. Overall, we enjoyed our stay but perhaps the mattress can be upgraded for future guests.”

Template 4

“The space was just as described, but we had some trouble with the heating which led to an uncomfortable first night. But, the host was very responsive and brought extra blankets the next day.”

How a Host Should Respond to a Bad Airbnb Review

Receiving a bad review can be disheartening, but try to differentiate between constructive criticism versus a disgruntled guest. What’s most important is to respond quickly, showing that you take their feedback seriously and are committed to providing high-quality service.

How to Write a Well-Constructed Response

1. Stay Calm and Professional: It’s important to never respond in anger or defensiveness.

2. Acknowledge the Issue: Begin by acknowledging the problem or concern that the guest had. This shows that you’ve taken the feedback seriously and are not dismissing their experience.

3. Provide Context of the Issue: Explain what the problem was briefly without making excuses. This will help future guests understand the situation better and know that you did your part to address it.

4. Offer a Solution: Conclude your response by explaining any steps you’ve taken to fix the issue.

Example Responses to Negative Guest Reviews

Template 1

“Thank you for your feedback, [Guest Name]. We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. We’ve noted your concerns about [specific issue] and have already taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Template 2

“We’re sorry to hear that the bed was uncomfortable, [Guest Name]. Comfort is a top priority for us, and we’ve since replaced the mattress based on your and other guests’ feedback. Thank you for helping us improve.”

Template 3

“We’re sorry to hear that some of the amenities were not functioning properly during your stay, [Guest Name]. We’ve since fixed the [specific amenity, e.g., air conditioning, Wi-Fi, etc.] Thank you for your patience, and we hope to host you again in the future.”

Template 4

“Thank you for your feedback, [Guest Name]. We’re sorry to hear about the [specific issue] during your stay. We’ve addressed this concern to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We appreciate your input and hope to welcome you back for a better experience.”

Crafting the Perfect Airbnb Host Review to Enhance Your Experience

Writing true and effective reviews on Airbnb is not just a task but a real opportunity to leave your opinion and help other hosts and potential guests in their decision-making process.

The key is to be honest and always remain professional. By following the templates and tips we provided, we hope that you will leave impactful and beneficial reviews.