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Except for residents of Victoria, domestic travelers from across Australia can visit New South Wales, which means there are still many opportunities for Airbnb hosts in Sydney to generate a rental income from their properties. However, you will probably need to modify your hosting practices to attract guests in these unusual times. Below are some suggestions on how you can do this while ensuring the safety of your guests remains your top priority.
Recommended COVID-19 Airbnb Marketing and Management Practices
There are several ways to make your properties more attractive to prospective guests, some of which may involve changes to your booking/cancellation policies and some of which are related to practical concerns such as social distancing and sanitation.
- Consider Offering Penalty-Free Late Cancellations – Providing your guests with a little more flexibility as far as cancellations are concerned could go a long way to alleviating fears about late changes to travel plans resulting in significant financial loss. If a no-penalty policy for late cancellations is not practical, a reduced penalty or longer penalty-free cancellation period may represent a good compromise.
- Efficient Refunds – By promptly processing all refund requests, you will encourage guests to book with you again when they can travel freely. Encouraging guests who cancel bookings to book again may not be something you would typically consider a priority. Still, in these times, it is important to adopt a pragmatic approach and maintain good relations with prospective guests.
- Intensive Cleaning – You must follow all government and industry guidelines about Airbnb cleaning protocols while the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing. Best hygiene practices, including deep cleaning between visits with anti-bacterial and virucidal products, must always be observed. Cleaners should wear face masks while cleaning their property and not be present whenever guests arrive.
- Consider Changing Key Collection Procedures – If you currently meet your guests to hand over the keys to your property, reviewing this arrangement may be a good idea to reduce the need for social contact. At the very least, wear a face mask and ensure that keys are disinfected after each guest hands them back and before you hand them over to new guests.
- Discounts for Long Stays – If you don’t currently offer discounts for weekly or monthly bookings, you may consider introducing them, at least for now. Longer bookings mean less cleaning in between visits and could make it easier for you to maintain a decent occupancy rate in the current environment.
If you would like help adapting your Airbnb management procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, consider letting us manage your property or properties for you. We offer an all-inclusive professional Airbnb management service in Sydney that takes the hard work out of generating an income from short-term rentals in the city.
