Early Arrivals & Late Departures on Airbnb – How to Minimize Disruption and Keep Guests Happy

Tips & Education for Airbnb Hosts

If you haven’t had to deal with unexpected early arrivals or late departures from your Airbnb guests, consider yourself lucky.  Often, due to no fault of their own, Airbnb guests could find themselves in these situations.

Maybe they were expecting to meet with friends before checking in but found themselves stood up.  So instead of wandering around town lugging their suit cases around, they call you to check in early.  But you’re not done cleaning the place yet.  What do you do?

Or maybe they were expecting to check out but their flight was delayed and now have a extra time to kill. They’d rather stay than show up 6 hours early to the airport. But you need to clean and get the space ready for the next guest.  What do you do?

As you can see, early arrivals or late departures can be stressful for both the guest and host.  Follow these tips to make sure you are prepared for these situations.

Minimize Unnecessary Early Arrivals

It’s tough enough to deal with the unexpected early arrivals so don’t volunteer to take on unnecessary early arrivals.

Do not offer early arrivals directly on your listing.  This is the surest way to create insanity for yourself as a host.  Just imagine dealing with check-in requests that range from 12-4pm on any given day.

Coordinating and keeping track will be painful even for just one or two listings, a nightmare with more.

So in your listing, be specific and direct with your check-in language, something along the lines of: “Check in is anytime after 4pm.”

There is no ambiguity there.  Of course, if you’re doing physical check-ins, you may want to put an time range (e.g. 4pm-9pm) so you don’t risk frequently having to do late night check-ins.

Better yet, be among the growing number of happy hosts utilizing smart locks and keypad locks for remote check-ins.  So whether the guest arrive at 4pm or 4am, as long as they’re not an early arrival, they can let themselves in on their own.

We recommend that hosts use the lowest technology locks that gets the job done before considering high tech gadgets–keypad locks with fewer moving parts are less likely to break down, requires less frequent battery replacement, and often less explanation than their “smart” counterparts (esp if with less tech savvy guests).

Handle the Luggage for Both Early Arrivals and Late Departures

Your guests will have luggage.  And if they’ve traveled far to stay with you, chances are good they’ll have plenty of it.

Whether they’re arriving early or leaving late, your guests will show you immediate gratitude if you can unburden them of their luggage, even for a few hours.

It’s bad enough that they don’t have a place to check in to  yet or have no place to go after checking out.  Add to that loads of heavy luggage they have to take with them?

But it doesn’t have to be that way! As a host, you can have an easy fix–provide a way for them to stash their luggage while they wait.

How? Keep a large storage bin outside the house.  In the backyard.  On the patio.  Somewhere safe and accessible.  But make sure to use a combination padlock for added security. This simple solution will earn you grateful and happy guests.

Have Recommendations for Your Guests

Now that you’ve lighten their load by storing their luggage, go the extra mile by having fun recommendations for your guests to kill time while they wait.

Recommend things to do, foods to eat, places to see, things to do, where to get some work done, etc…

By doing so, you’re either making a great first impression with an early arrival or a great last impression with a late departure.


What are your hosting tips for dealing with early arrivals or late departures?

The Airbnb Hosting post Early Arrivals & Late Departures on Airbnb – How to Minimize Disruption and Keep Guests Happy appeared first on LearnAirbnb.com – Hosting Advice, Tips, & Resources.

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The Best Apartments in Memphis Near Nightlife

Memphis has world-class dive bars, eardrum-rattling music venues and swanky nightclubs. Want a crowded dance floor? We’ve got you. Want a quiet place to watch a game? Memphis has that, too.

So, if you’re looking for a new apartment that’s got lively nightlife close at hand, here are some of the best options in Memphis.

10. The Venue

Photo courtesy of The Venue

The Venue has a name that sounds like it’s in the middle of a lively music and nightlife scene. This retro remodel is located in the center of the Memphis’ Midtown neighborhood, you’re not far off. Residents here have a handful of restaurant and bar options just a short drive away on Union Avenue.

But the best nightlife might be at your complex, with a tiki bar room and heated indoor saltwater pool.

9. Dogwood Trace

Photo courtesy of Dogwood Trace

For folks in Southeast Memphis, Dogwood Trace is close to several neighborhood favorites. Prohibition Lounge is known for its packed event schedule, hookah service and nightclub vibe. B-N Bar & Grill offers more casual fare.

Slightly further away, you’ll find Clicks, a popular pool hall. And not too far North is the University of Memphis area, home to a variety of bars and clubs in the vicinity of Highland Row.

8. Tennessee Brewery

Photo courtesy of Tennessee Brewery

The Tennessee Brewery was itself a nightlife spot during the initial stages of its revitalization, as it played host to an event called Brewery Untapped. For many in Memphis, it was the first opportunity to check out the beauty of this historic space, which had been unused for years – and that certainly helped build buzz for its renovation and conversion into upscale apartments.

The Brewery offers riverfront access, some of the best views in the city and a variety of floor plans. It’s within walking distance of The Blue Monkey, a downtown bar favorite, as well as all the spots along South Main (and, there are a lot of them). It’s also among the closest on this list to some of the most beautiful venues on the far southern end of Downtown, like Loflin Yard and Carolina Watershed.

Related: The Best Apartments in Memphis for Coffee Lovers

7. 266 Lofts

Photo courtesy of 266 Lofts

The 266 Lofts are on a fairly centrally located block of South Front Street, putting a lot of Memphis’ best at your fingertips. Check out a tour of Old Dominic Distillery, then duck into The Gray Canary next door for upscale craft cocktails made with the whiskey you just saw being made. If you somehow need more after that, walk two blocks to Beale Street and go wherever the night takes you.

The 266 Lofts themselves even sponsor community events to help you try new things, develop new hobbies and make new friends among your neighbors. It doesn’t hurt that the building’s meticulously designed and maintained, and the lofts themselves are great examples of modern urban living.

6. Cabinet Shop Lofts – Memphis Downtown Lofts

Photo courtesy of Cabinet Shop Lofts

The Cabinet Shop Lofts are a rehabbed warehouse – this one over a century old – that’s been converted into a stunning three-story complex. It’s also a stone’s throw from No. 5 on this list, and that’s because this street’s got plenty going on.

Apart from what’s right there on your street, you can stroll down the block for easy access to everything South Main has to offer, including the venerable Earnestine & Hazel’s (often referred to as both America’s best dive bar and America’s most haunted bar) and the popular South of Beale (featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives).

5. The Edison

Photo courtesy of The Edison

At The Edison, you’ve got a choice. You can live in the high-rise, or you can choose a ground-level garden apartment. The ground-floor buildings feel quieter and quaint. The high-rise, with its excellent downtown skyline view, feels more like true urban living.

The Edison sits right at the dividing line between The Edge neighborhood and Victorian Village, meaning it’s convenient to both Downtown and Midtown. But, there are also nightlife spots right in the vicinity that have some serious character, including the Molly Fontaine Lounge and High Cotton Brewing.

4. Chisca Apartments

Photo courtesy of Chisca Apartments

The Chisca Apartments feature studios to three-bedroom spaces that have been recently restored to their former glory. And for nightlife, you can’t get more convenient than this.

Some of the best cocktails in town are served at Catherine & Mary’s, located on the Chisca’s first floor. Right around the corner, you’ll find Beale Street, offering a wide selection of bar and club experiences – not to mention drinks on the street itself.

3. Metro 67

Photo courtesy of Metro 67

With its design-forward style and luxe atmosphere, Metro 67 has more than 20 floor plans and top-notch amenities. It feels like the kind of living space that’s perfect for people who know their way around a city’s nightlife.

It’s right across the street from The Fourth Bluff. During warm-weather months, plenty of people hang out under the string lights, watching the tugboats chug their way down the Mississippi River.

The area of Downtown that Metro 67 occupies is home to a number of bars and clubs, including Blind Bear, The Brass Door and the infamous Paula & Raiford’s Disco, which is a disco, complete with a light-up floor and a crowd with enough energy to fuel the party all night.

Related: The Best Apartments in Memphis for Pet Lovers

2. Pembroke Square

Photo courtesy of Pembroke Square

Pembroke Square is just west of Beale Street and sports antique stained glass, high vaulted ceilings and century-old tile work. The building is at a crossroads between multiple nightlife-heavy blocks.

It’s a convenient distance from pretty much anywhere Downtown, but in the immediate vicinity are The Silly Goose, Bleu Restaurant & Lounge, Aldo’s Pizza, Local on Main Street, The Majestic Grill and Flying Saucer, to name just a few. The Flying Saucer just may have the widest beer selection in the entire city, so beer lovers, this one’s for you.

1. Gayoso House

Photo courtesy of Gayoso House

Gayoso House is in the same complex as Pembroke Square, so it offers the same easy access to everything Downtown has to offer. It’s also just as gorgeous, if not more so. It was built in 1842 as Memphis’s first luxury hotel. It wears that history on its sleeve, from the marble floors to the spiral staircases.

And after you’re done partying, you can still come back home and be responsible. Many of the community amenities are open 24/7, including the gym.

Methodology

We looked at all multifamily apartment complexes in Memphis with active listings on ApartmentGuide.com and rent.com and rated them on the number of nightlife-related businesses within a half-mile radius. We used an exponentially decreasing scale based on distance from the apartment. For instance, a bar across the street would score higher than one a quarter-mile away. Our establishment counts come from commercially available business listings and may not reflect recent openings and closures.

The post The Best Apartments in Memphis Near Nightlife appeared first on Rent Blog.

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3 Takeaways from Heather & Mike Bayer’s VR Success Summit in Toronto

3 Takeaways From Heather & Mike Bayer’s VR Success Summit

Last weekend I flew to Toronto to attend Heather and Mike Bayer’s Vacation Rental Success Summit.

It was well worth a transatlantic flight, for I personally got interesting insights, both as a property owner and as someone who’s passionate about our industry.
The takeaways were many for anyone attending. My 3 biggest were:

1. Meeting Likeminded People in Person

Likeminded VR Pros learning from one another every time. (left to right) Marcus Räder, Eric Mason, Deborah Labi, Rod Fitts, Sue and Richard Vaughton, Martin Picard, Maria Schuh, Jayne McCaw, myself

Managing your rentals can be not as easy at times: you feel the pressure of keeping up with constant changes affecting our day to day practice – restrictive regulations, increasing competition, pervasive OTAs rules – and question what should you do next to ensure you keep being successful at what you do.

You may feel lonely facing challenges that seem getting bigger as we move on and you sometimes lose mojo, get confused or get lost in a whirlwind of activities that reduce your productivity, focus and results.
You do well, then you plateau, get stuck and can’t figure out how to get back on track and move on to the next goal.
Getting outside of your microenvironment and challenging yourself to attend industry events like these makes you discover how many people are on the same boat, how many found solutions that got them back on track and how many peers share your same exact fears, frustrations and determination to succeed. It’s a relief, a realignment to your mission and a recharge.
You may think it’s weird to hear this from me, but I came up with the Vacation Rental World Summit to get together with fantastic, progressive people, surround myself with some of the best minds in the industry, learn from everyone how to be a better person, a better businessman and create a movement of likeminded people who regularly meet to discuss and share where they stand, where they’re aiming at and how to get there.

2. Stay Up To Date On What’s Coming And Learn From Industry Pros to Stay Ahead of the Game

Andrew McConnell – VR Trends and what they mean for your marketing

Another great takeaway is the possibility to learn what’s new and trending today, which products are coming out and can make our life easier – both from a PM and Host point of view -, which direction may take our future and how to prepare so we don’t get crushed or go out of business. Or even learn what the future will be to predict whether we still want to be part of it or is it maybe time to consider an exit strategy.

I found quite fascinating Andrew McConnell’s analysis of the actual situation and its future possible implications and scenarios.

The size of the industry is projected to reach $170 Billion by 2019, with $204 Billion spent by guests by 2025. Loads of cash is pouring into funding companies in this space and we’re already seeing a consolidation that will likely bring to convergence in the near future. You can expect the biggies to get bigger. You can expect to compete with companies that run at a loss to buy market share and set others out of business. And you can expect an eventual shakeout that will leave a trace, like in all economic cycles witnessed in the past.

What does this all mean to us? In such a dynamic and challenging environment, we’ll be expected to deliver professional standards with the personal touch that makes us stand out. At the same time though, we’ll have to make sure we won’t be everything to everyone, in fact we’ll need to be exactly the right thing to the right people.

In conclusion, we won’t want to compete against the big players to try and beat them, for we stand a better chance to thrive if we take advantage of their platforms to build awareness over our own brand and provide an experience that’s unique, authentic and unparalleled to all our guests, who then become our biggest fans, and raving ambassadors of our own rentals back home.

3. Enthusiasm