How we maintain 5-star Success in Short-Term Vacation Rentals on Airbnb + VRBO with 7 Keys Steps: Essential Tips from Experienced Hosts
A modern, luxury chalet nestled in a magical, 4-season region, situated in a small Quebec village called Lac-Supérieur. It is 75 minutes from Montréal and 6 minutes to the north side of Tremblant resort.
The 7-step approach that delivers our 5-star vacation rental ratings
Launching and managing a top-performing short-term vacation rental (STR) can be immensely rewarding, but it requires thoughtful planning and execution from the beginning, and a re-setting of approaches along the way.
As founders of Elevïn Design Group . . .
We’re Canadian twin brothers with a love for our short-term vacation rental business and the coaching we’re now providing to other property hosts on Airbnb, VRBO, booking.com and other rental platforms.
Our mentoring and digital resources have helped rental hosts optimize their properties in ways they hadn’t imagined.
With over 130 five-star reviews and recognition as Superhosts and a Guest Favourite on Airbnb, we turn ordinary rentals into exceptional guest experiences.
We are sharing how our 7-step approach to building, promoting and presenting short-term vacation rentals has allowed us to consistently achieve top-tier ratings in our own hosted stays.
#1: Tell a Unique Vacation Rental Story
Guests need to easily imagine themselves in your rental space and experience, and a top-tier short-term rental (STR) listing that reads 5-star must have your unique story and personality.
Discover the Special Selling Points: Our first step is to uncover what makes our property the gem that it is. This allows us to know, with clarity and intention, how to communicate the special points of our hosted stay to our guests.
Create a Captivating Narrative: We use unique storytelling techniques to highlight our rental’s magical features. This allows our hosted stay to stand out above all the rest. We use many parts of the narrative we have created to then develop our Guest Welcome Guidebook.
#2: build a compelling short-term vacation rental listing
A rental listing that accurately describes the features and amenities available to your guests while weaving in your story, establishes an important baseline for the start of your STR listing.
Optimizing Descriptions and Photos: We spend the time and effort to enhance our property descriptions and always invest in obtaining high-quality images that showcase our rentals in the best light.
Setting Clear Expectations: We develop detailed booking information, house rules and operational guides to ensure a seamless guest experience.
We have meticulously crafted a series of 8 marketing, communication and operational guidebook templates to help other short-term vacation rental hosts unlock exceptional value and elevate every aspect of the guest hosting experience. These templates have been game-changers for us, transforming our guest presentation experiences into coveted destinations. Preview our templates.
#3: Design for Comfort and Appeal
Design and functionality play a significant role in guest satisfaction.
Selecting and Arranging Furnishings: We have selected stylish, comfortable furniture and have created practical layouts that maximize space.
Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere: Our design elements focus on enhancing the ambiance and make guests feel at home.
We use our own Product Staging Sourceguide that contains a listing of over 175 household and design items we’ve placed in our own short-term vacation rentals, to curate and design our short-term vacation rental spaces. Scroll to view the gallery.
#4: Offer Thoughtful Extras
How a short-term vacation rental property flows and impeccably operates creates a series of guest “wow” moments. In our rentals, we are praised by our guests on the extras we provide that drive 5-stars.
Refine Bonus Amenities: We have identified and incorporated additional amenities that delight our guests and enhance their stay.
Develop Comprehensive Guides: We have created Guest Welcome and Property Operational Guidebooks with clear instructions to guests on the amenities, itineraries and services they can easily reference during their stay.
#5: Secure Your STR Property Management Team
Reliable property management is essential for maintaining your vacation rental and ensuring smooth operations.
Finding Trusted Service Providers: We have built a network of reliable professionals including cleaners, spa maintenance techs, lawn maintenance and snow removal labour. We found our team based on trusted referrals from locals. Having a stellar team provides us with the confidence knowing they’re helping to support our 5-star experience.
Creating Operational Guidelines: It is crucial to develop clear guidelines and checklists for our property teams to ensure safe, consistent and high-quality performance. In the end, they are often the last ones to “touch” your property before guests arrive. Setting explicit standards of presentation and service is key to “wowing” your guests upon arrival.
#6: connecting Guests to a World You Know
Guests expect top-tier STR hosts to have first-hand, “insider” knowledge of the best restaurants and activities in your area. Share your local experiences you want guests to have.
Personalized Experiences: We offer local recommendations for dining, activities and attractions based on our knowledge of the area.
Itinerary Guidebooks: We have meticulously crafted an Itineraries Guidebook for our guests with 1 to 5 day daily recommendations for dining and exploration. Our itineraries range from suggested visits to charming bistros to adrenaline-pumping adventures. Guests want to be “in the know”.
#7: developing a Guest Communication Strategy
Our short-term vacation rental properties are highly rated as "guest favourites" on platforms like Airbnb due to our timely and effective communication with guests.
Guests demand prompt and informative communication, and from the moment they book your property, they're eager to plan and anticipate their stay.
Pre-written scripts: We have developed a comprehensive messaging structure with scripts that respond to every aspect of the guest communication experience, from the initial welcome to the day of departure, facilitating smooth and memorable stays.
Message Scheduling: Automating your vacation rental messages involves setting up systems that send predefined messages to guests at specific times, or in response to certain triggers. In our 7-step mentoring for short-term vacation rental hosts, we help hosts write and automate guest messages.
Superhost 7-Step mentoring
Our mission is to help more short-term vacation rental hosts achieve greater success in their hosted stays. Our mentoring approach to rental hosts is unique. You get us - experienced entrepreneurs, brothers, real people. One-on-one guidance. Don't know where to start on your short-term rental journey? We do.
Learn more about our Superhost 7-Step Mentoring for Short-Term Vacation Rental Hosts.
Help us expand our global reach and get to other STR hosts!
Our blog mission is to share with other short-term vacation rental hosts around the globe the invaluable lessons we've learned on our real estate development and short-term vacation rental journey as Superhosts.
Follow us @twinsuperhostmentors and visit The Superhost Mentors on Facebook to join our community.
Our Best Selling Digital Marketing Templates for Short-Term Rental + Airbnb Hosts
About the Writer
Shawn Hernden
I’m one part of a sibling entrepreneurial partnership called The Superhost Mentors.
We’re twin brothers. One of us (me, Shawn) tours around the globe with Cirque du Soleil: a Canadian entertainment company renowned for its mesmerizing blend of circus arts, theatre and music. The other, Brad, has carved a path as a visionary entrepreneur in the world of real estate and design. Together, we co-own Elevïn Design Group and Hosted Stays and manage a portfolio of short-term rental and vacation properties that have become the cornerstone of our professional success.
We deliver aesthetically pleasing, comfortable interiors and provide exceptional guest experiences. We transform our properties into coveted destinations for travellers, earning the esteemed title of Superhosts on rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.
In a short period, we have earned over 125 reviews, 5-stars, and have been awarded “Guest Favourite” in offering one of the most loved homes on Airbnb.
Beyond our individual pursuits, we find ourselves inexorably drawn back to each other by the bonds of family. A shared passion for real estate and design has served as the connective thread that weaves our lives together.
Want to reach out ? Contact us.