Here is a list of things that the BelcoBox team recommends to make your Airbnb listing more welcoming. BelcoBox provides welcome boxes full of toiletries and amenities to break the ice and boost guest satisfaction.
1. Communication
One of the issues that might make your guest nervous about staying over is whether they will be able to find you, and your place easily. The simplest gesture to avoid this issue is to text them the day before and the day after, once they have checked in. This will help dissipate fears and seem available. By doing so, you will be able to solve any issues before it reflects poorly on your reviews.
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Get a Basket
Everything looks better in a basket! Fold the towels and put them on a table, and it will look fine. Roll them and put them in a basket, and you will give your home a high-end look! If you put all the items you provide to your guests in this basket, it will help them identify what they can use while helping you keep track of the amenities.
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Extra Blankets
If letting guest regulate the thermostat makes you a bit nervous, this is for you. Make sure you have extra fuzzy blankets. The fuzzier they are, the more they will want to cuddle up with them, and the less they will want to mess up with your heat. What’s best, what better memory than being crawled up in the blankets with a hot chocolate. Anyone can forget about the hardships of the midwestern winters.
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Areas of Interest
The quickest, easiest, and the most effective way to give recommendations is on a map. Luckily, Google Maps provides the most effective way to navigate any new city. It is a nice gesture as a host to provide your guests with local areas of interest, e.g. Restaurants, Shopping, Public Transit. However, if you are feeling extra nostalgic leave a paper map for your guests and let them keep it as a souvenir!
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A House Tour
If you want your guests to feel at home, just say it: “Welcome, this is your home” And soon after, show them around, even if it is a 20 sq feet studio. It is okay to state the obvious, but also, where are the kitchen utensils, extra pillows, blankets or towels and things like how to work the keys or the microwave. This will help them know they can use whatever is available to them, and it will make it easier for them to contact you.
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Fun Amenities
Your amenities say a lot about how much care you put into your space. Toiletries are the basic amenities, which are now required in some sites like Airbnb. You can use a BelcoBox, which contains all basic toiletries and a thank you note you can write to your guests. It is a very fun gift that is meant to make your guests more welcome! You can always provide coffee or sweets, but make sure is compliant with the local regulations, as some cities like Chicago don’t allow to give any food or beverages.
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A Personal Touch
No bed and breakfast is completed without a genuine personal touch. Things like a thank you card, a welcome note, or a message on a blackboard can go a long way. Keep it short and simple, encourage them to enjoy the city they are visiting and make yourself available to them.
These are the types of details that you will hardly find in a hotel. They are also the reason why people continue using home sharing as a way to travel. Because in a world full of digital distractions, human connection is what we all crave.
