we are family of four plus a big fluffy golden retriever.
(1)
superhost expert * airbnb * california
helping hosts elevate their spaces, hosting and marketing
stay in our luxury garden guesthouse in oakland, california, featured in sunset magazine.
The secret to making your Airbnb stand out is ….
Sharing your personality!
Your space doesn’t have to be boring and cookie-cutter. You want to create a space that showcases your home’s unique style. Include decor that’s meaningful, like pictures of your favorite spots in town or your antique collection. ✨
💖 Those little details are what make your space stand out. Hosts, what are some ways you’ve incorporated your personality into your Airbnb?
Is it summer yet? ☀️ Here in Oakland summer means trips to the beach, evenings in the garden with friends and great takeout, and walks to our neighborhood ice cream shop (we love you ). What’s one thing in your summer routine that you love? ⛱️
Popular Opinion Alert! One of the best emails I get is from an Elevate Your Airbnb student excitedly telling me they’ve finished the course and are excited to start hosting. A recent student said, “I learned a LOT from it!” And another student said it was “Thought-provoking, well-organized, comprehensive.” See what all the fuss is about for yourself by visiting the Elevate Your Airbnb course page - the link is in my bio.
p.s. You can sign up to join anytime and we have monthly Zoom office hours for chatting about hosting with me and getting your questions answered.
Up for an adventure?
We’re planning to take our kids (6 and 8) to Europe for their first time in June. Biking in Amsterdam, staying on a houseboat, hiking in the Dolomites, and more.
I’m taking all recommendations and advice for traveling with kids. Got any?
If a contractor’s tools of the trade include a hammer, tape measure and a level, then my list would be extra sheets, a lint roller, our welcome book, and my phone!
I wouldn’t be able to survive hosting and coaching new Airbnb hosts without these. Whether it's calibrating Airbnb pricing and the calendar, figuring out the decor of a space, which furniture layout works, or how many sheets to buy, I love helping other hosts figure out what tools they need to succeed with hosting.
Tell me, what are three essential items that help you stand in your purpose in your life or business?
The tiny kitchen. It has everything we need in a luxury hotel stay. Enjoy a glass of wine in the garden or make a hot tea. Here’s what I’ve learned from my stays at the best hotels:
1. strong, local coffee and cream.
2. tea selection including herbal and caffeinated.
3. treats. come stay with us to find out what we surprise our guests with.
4. mini-fridge. we researched the most silent one!
5. wine glasses and bottle opener
6. basics: cutlery, dishes, cutting board, serving dishes, and a good knife PLEASE! one excellent knife is all you need - not six dull ones.
7. a beautiful cutting board for guests to make themselves a little picnic or cheese board.
8. extra delights, like chilled beer or sparkling water, or local honey to add to your tea.
9. clean dish towels and napkins.
10. the softest, cleanest towels and linens you can find.
Who else has the itch to travel?! The next chance I get, I’m going to take a weekend trip to the mountains. What location is on your traveling bucket list? Drop an emoji hinting at your dream vacay and let’s see if I can guess the location! Ready, GO!
Earlier this week I shared my brand essentials for creating an iconic Airbnb, and of course, photography was included.
Your place could have great style, location, furniture, etc, but bad photos can completely sway someone from booking. 🥴
These are my best tips for getting beautiful and realistic photos of your space.
📸Snap pictures that are straight-on, please don’t make me tilt my head to understand what the room looks like.
📸Take multiple shots of each room.
📸Use natural light when possible. This will give your space a realistic and warm look that you just can’t achieve with artificial light.
What are your tips for getting great Airbnb photos? Or do you have any photo pet peeves? 👇
You know those Airbnbs that look like the most gorgeous place to host an Instagram photoshoot and are always booked out months in advance?
You can host one of those, too. 😉
You’ll need to create a space that people recognize and want to be a part of. Your Airbnb has to be its own brand.
Your brand essentials should include:
✨ A name for your home
✨ Refining a unique style for your home
✨ Choosing colors that reflect the way you want your guests to feel during their stay
✨ Creating a listing that encapsulates your Airbnb brand
✨ Beautiful photos that help your future guest envision their upcoming stay
I know this is not an easy task. I did all this without any help, and it was A LOT.
But, you don’t have to do it on your own. My course, Elevate Your Airbnb, walks you through my proven process to create an iconic space with a fully booked calendar without all the stress.
🔗 If you want to learn more about this course, check out the link in my bio.
I love when Airbnb hosts who I’m working with are excited to ask deeper questions as they start to host.
These are some of my favorite q’s:
❔ What impact is this having on my community?
❔ How will this impact my neighbors?
❔ How can I support local businesses through my hosting?
❔ What does it mean to hire someone and pay a fair wage given the unpredictable schedule of cleanings?
❔ What’s my responsibility to my guests in terms of their safety?
So many hosts are in this game for one reason only – to make money. I host for the money, too. It’s a great source of income, but just like many other hosts, I ALSO care deeply about my community and my impact.
So, how can we improve this industry to fill it with conscious hosting practices? What other questions should we be asking?
I’d love and welcome your thoughts on this and any ideas you have for conscious hosting. 💙
I’m feeling so grateful today.
Your participation in my hosting course, Elevate Your Airbnb means more to me than you know. Truly.
Thank you to so many of you for taking the time to focus on expanding your knowledge on excellent hosting and for your thoughtful feedback.
I love hearing from hosts who have taken the course and are getting rave reviews from their guests or who finally make it to super host! 🎉
I’m seriously grateful to the many of you who have taken the course and to those of you who will!
As an FYI, you can sign up anytime through the link in my bio, and if you have any questions about the course please don’t hesitate to reach out! 🤗
Now, tell me, what’s on your gratitude list today? ❤️
I’ve noticed some new faces around here, so I thought I’d give you a little snapshot about me:
– I’m an Airbnb super host and a learning director by day (yes, it’s possible to have a full-time job and host your own Airbnb!)
– I live in Oakland, California. ☀️
– I love nerding out over interior design.
– Helping other hosts get started and become super hosts without all the stress brings me as much joy as sipping on a glass of iced coffee in the afternoon does 💙
☕ Are you also a coffee fanatic?
One part of writing an amazing Airbnb listing is knowing what your guests are looking for when booking a dreamy Airbnb.
Let’s dive into 5 things guests look for when booking an Airbnb apart from a specific neighborhood.
Photos! Is the place super clean? Does the space fit their trip needs?
The host. Are you a Superhost? If not, what are your reviews like and do you own other properties?
Reviews. Guests are looking for reviews – the good, the bad and the feedback.
The fees! After all the fees, is this home still within their budget?
House Rules. Does the check-in and check-out time work for them? Is the home pet-friendly?
As a guest what else do you look for when booking?
P.s. if something isn’t clear in the listing I email the host! Yup, I’m that annoying person asking questions, but if the host doesn’t or can’t answer then I know it’s not the kind of host I want to stay with.
We’ve all heard the saying communication is key… and it’s SO true especially as an airbnb host.
How well you communicate in your listing and throughout the whole process can make a huge impression on your guests. As the host it’s your job to keep the line of communication open.
Here are 5 times when it can be vital to communicate with guests:
💭 before booking – answer their questions and vet guests
💭 upon booking – immediately communicate and get connected with your guests
💭 before their stay – communicate expectations for both parties and instructions
💭 during their stay – check in with them, show that you’re available to answer questions or give recommendations
💭 before/at checkout – thank them for staying with you 🥰
If you want to impress your guests with a listing that really communicates what they need/ want to know and with amazing communication points throughout their stay, check out my Elevate Your Airbnb hosting masterclass. We dive into this + much more! Link in my bio.
🔖 Bookmark this post: my tips for ensuring guests feel safe in your home.
▫️ Communicate your cleaning policy with guests. Assure your guests that the cleaning fee is actually being used for cleaning. 🧹
▫️ Answer specific questions in your Airbnb listing and communications regarding parking, neighborhood rules, how to utilize the keypad locks, etc. Communicate with your guests that you are available to answer any other questions that may arise during their stay.
▫️ How will guests arrive late at night - are there motion-sensored lights and an easy keypad or smart lock? How can you help guests feel safe when they arrive after dark?
▫️Ask yourself this: am I ensuring the safety of ALL my guests? Are BIPOC guests safe from neighbors who might make snap judgments? Have I communicated to my neighbors when I know guests will arrive late, to assure them they are our guests?
▫️Communicate kindness and empathy. Show that you personally care about your guest and their experience. 💙
What makes you feel safe when booking/ staying at an Airbnb? Let me know below in the comments.
It’s the little things that make or break the guest experience.
❤️ Some of my most memorable travel experiences have been Airbnb stays where the host went the extra mile to make us feel welcomed.
💔 On the other hand, I’ve also had experiences where even a quick mop of the floors or a wipe of the faucets would have made my stay 10x better!
One rogue hair or dusty floor is all it takes to ruin the guest experience! Even though our house cleaner Ana does an amazing job, I always do a final check before I head out the door. ✔️
If you want to create a beautiful space and experience that will wow your guests and turn them into repeat guests, check out my Elevate Your Airbnb hosting masterclass. We dive into this + much more! Link in my bio.
I have to admit: Chocolate is my weakness. 😍 It’s not just me, right? Let me know if you are also a chocolate lover. 🍫
There’s nothing more delightful than a piece of dark chocolate with nuts (no toffee please). Just writing this post is making my mouth water.
I think that’s why I leave a bar of local chocolate for every guest ❤️
Would you be delighted to receive chocolate upon checking into an Airbnb? Or would you prefer another sweet treat?
👋 hey you, soon-to-be-Airbnb-host. Are you feeling a little lost on where to start with this new adventure?
Let me guess – you’re probably wondering what amenities should I have, how do I partner with local businesses, and what decorations should I purchase?
🤫 I’m going to give you a clue: you’re probably asking the wrong questions.
The real questions should be:
💙 Who is your ideal guest?
🌊 What experience are they looking for?
🚙 Why are they coming to stay?
💙 What would meet their expectations and what would go above and beyond to delight them?
Once you have these answers, you can figure out how to design a space that fits that ideal guest’s needs.
Let me know below: who is your ideal guest? 🌟
The kind of welcome that your guests receive often indicates what kind of stay they will experience. Here are some things I love to do to wow my guest when they first arrive:
🗝️ Set everything up that your guests will need upon arrival in a place that’s easy to spot. I call this the welcome station. This can include Wi-Fi info, the welcome binder, local recommendations, and anything else they need to complete their stay. Bonus points: make your welcome station beautiful.
💌 A handwritten note goes a long way in making a guest feel welcomed. Connect with them beforehand to help you personalize the note.
🍪 Leave a local treat for them to enjoy – a bouquet of flowers, fresh cookies, beer from a local brewery, etc.
As an Airbnb guest: what kind of details make you feel welcomed? 💓
Most of the time hosting is a dream. Extra income, meeting new people, supporting local businesses. What’s not to love?
Well, there is the very occasional guest who asks lots of basic questions that have all been addressed in the listing, check-in instructions, and welcome book. 🙃
I don’t mind communicating with guests - it’s actually one of my favorite parts of hosting. I love sharing my favorite food spots in the Bay and other recommendations, but logistical questions like, “Is there AC?” are a pet peeve of mine.
If you’re in the same boat as me, here are some of my tips for reducing the number of logistical questions:
🔅 Brief messages for the win! If your message is too long, it’s likely to get skipped or lightly skimmed over.
🔅 Bullet points are your friend. They help break up information and make it more reader-friendly, just like this.
🔅Repeat, repeat and repeat. I repeat my 3 simple house rules in my listing, check in instructions, and welcome book.
🔅Keep a running list of answers for questions you get asked often. A quick copy, paste, and edit will make your host job a lot easier.
🔅Automate messages so that every guest gets clear information upon booking, 24-48 hours before check-in, during their stay and at checkout.
Hosts, what else helps you facilitate communication with guests? Guests, what kind of information do you appreciate from your Airbnb host?
Hosting isn’t always pretty flowers and fluffing pillows.
Sometimes the AC breaks mid-way through your guest's stay or the toilet stops working 😭 A lot can go wrong.
Here are 5 things to try the next time an issue arises:
◽ Start by apologizing to your guests. Always apologize.
◽ Express empathy. You want to let your guests know that you understand what they’re feeling.
◽ Communicate your plan with them, even if it’s still an in-progress plan. Let them see that resolving the issue is your top priority.
◽ Depending on the magnitude of the issue, you can consider offering a partial refund.
◽ Food! Offer to buy your guests pizza or a gift card to a local restaurant. It can be really aggravating when something goes wrong during a guest's stay, and a meaningful gift like food can go a long way.
👉 Is there anything else I should add to my list?
p.s. you can sign up for my hosting course anytime - where I give you exact language to say to smooth over any guest situation.
So… what’s the secret to Airbnb Superhost status? I get asked this quite often. 😅
Truthfully, there is not one magical thing you do that will get you to achieve Superhost and maintain it. It’s a culmination of all the details you put into the space.
Let’s go through some of these details –
Cleanliness - your rental has to be squeaky clean. You can simplify this by creating a regular turnover cleaning checklist and a deep cleaning list. Following both of these lists will ensure your place is up to the cleanest standard.
Communication - check-in with your guests prior to their arrival and during their stay! This doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. A quick text will suffice or a personalized note that welcomes them. It’s all about connecting with your guests and making the experience smooth and welcoming.
Go the extra mile - surprise your guests with a special treat upon their arrival. Local coffee, sweet treats or fresh flowers can really help wow your guests and result in better reviews.
If Airbnb Superhost is on your 2022 list of goals, click the link in the bio for our free 10 Overlooked Airbnb Essentials. 🤩
By now you may have heard about Airbnb.org’s effort to help people fleeing Ukraine in this time of humanitarian crisis. If you haven’t heard about this, please keep reading for a short recap.
◽Airbnb.org is Airbnb.com’s site that partners with communities to offer housing during emergencies and times of crisis. They are currently working to house refugees from Ukraine.
◽ Airbnb has waived its booking fees in Ukraine. You can book an Airbnb or Airbnb experience in Ukraine and let the host know you won’t be staying there. This is a direct way to send money and support communities in Ukraine.
If booking an Airbnb is not accessible to you right now, there are other ways to help. Donate to organizations like International Rescue Committee, Fight for Right, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Fundacja Ocalenie, Kiev Independent, Polish Migration Forum and many more.
Feel free to drop other organizations you are supporting in the comments and share this. ↗️
Being an Airbnb host is such a fun and rewarding experience. One of our favorite things over the years has been the ability to uplift and support local businesses through the casita. 💙
Here are some ways we’ve done this:
💙 We’ve built a list of local recommendations to share with our guests, and we are constantly adding to it.
💙 We purchase a variety of items from local shops to have in the casita including wall art, plants, coffee, chocolate and beer.
💙 When guests stay more than 4-5 nights we’ll often splurge on a small bouquet of flowers from a farm nearby.
Hosts, if you have any recommendations for supporting or partnering with local businesses, we’d love to hear them!
Get your Bay Area on this summer - we are now taking bookings for July! Link in bio to book on Airbnb Plus. California poppies, redwood groves, and the best tacos await. What’s your favorite thing about the bay?
What year was your first stay in an Airbnb?
I first heard about it through a friend back in 2009 and started hosting in 2010! I was instantly enamored with the concept of connecting with people from all over by opening up our home to them.
At the time Airbnb was all about helping connect people with extra space to open their homes and welcome in people while making some side income. What a dream, right?
As it has grown and evolved, Airbnb has departed from its community-building roots.
Hosts have started buying urban property with the sole purpose of putting it on Airbnb. Buying up and hoarding houses and apartments that could be utilized for the long-term market.
These tactics hurt communities by driving up rental prices, especially communities of color.
So, what can you do as a host to help Airbnb get back to its roots?
Don’t hoard properties. Share your homes. Support small businesses in your area and share them with your guests! Be active in your community. Connect with your guests. Encourage them to be kind and caring guests during their visit in your home and city.
It’s the little things that make or break the guest experience.
One small, but impactful way to connect with your guests is to know WHY they are visiting.
Knowing this can help you create a personalized experience for your guests that will make them feel right at home.
If your guests are celebrating a special occasion, surprise them with flowers or connect them to a local bakery or photographer.
If your guests are visiting for a relaxing weekend – leave them a note with your favorite trail for a leisurely stroll.
Or maybe your guests are in for a fun, girls weekend – recommend your go-to appetizer and drink at a local business.
This small detail will help you create a connection with your guests and make them feel welcome.
What small details really wow you when staying at an Airbnb?
I often have hosts ask me what are the best ways to design and market their home.
Here’s my answer – What’s the story of your home?
Designing a beautiful and dreamy home starts with discovering the story behind your home.
Writing your home’s story will help you identify the feelings you want your guests to experience when they check-in.
Once you have this sorted out you can work on designing a home that evokes this feeling and creating a brand that attracts YOUR people.
Hosts, what’s the story behind your home?
this is a quick fun story and an ode to our local market: where our guests pick up the BEST picnic makings…
this morning our guest stood at the olive and meat counter staring overwhelmed by all the delectable gourmet options and she said out loud “I’m going to meet my daughter’s boyfriend’s parents for the first time and have NO idea what to get.” the customer next to her turned and said “you can’t go wrong with prosciutto and olives,” and then showed her which olives to get. They bought their items and a moment later our guest realized that the customer she was talking to was Alice Waters, renowned chef and California foodie celebrity. Now our guest has beautiful olives AND a fun Bay Area story to go with them.
here’s to market hall, where we spend too much money, each too much cheese and might run into the best chefs buying their prosciutto.
Airbnb hosts in Ukraine are being flooded with bookings from people all over the world who have no plans to visit. It’s an effort to funnel money to individuals as Russians bombard the country, cut off supplies and murder families.
If you’re hosting and want to support, please do. Or there are many good organizations to give to: International Rescue Committee, Fight for Right, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Fundacja Ocalenie, Kiev Independent, Polish Migration Forum and more.
Feel free to share this.
Wishing this nonsensical violence would stop.
❤️
I don’t know how guests get any work done in the casita with this comfy bed so close by. yes, we have a great work-from-home set up (complete with an electric sit-to-stand desk, espresso machine and view of the garden) BUT just remember: it’s also ok to stop and rest. mid-day naps and news breaks are also important.
take care of yourselves. ❤️
Details, details. So important when hosting! So, a few of you here are a few important details that help your potential guest find you on Instagram.
1. Location in your bio! Be specific about where you are located but also include the state (unless it’s a known locale like Las Vegas).
2. Include your location in your posts and tag your location in your stories and posts. . Like that! Or
3. show us the link of how to book your rental by including it in your bio.
4. make sure your IG account is public so that guests can view it and share it with others
5. include your first name in your bio so that guests know how to address you if they have a question.
6. in your bio, tell us a little about your space… are you a cabin or tiny house or urban loft or dog-friendly or on the beach?
As a guest - what else do you like to see in an airbnb listing’s Instagram account?
Happy hosting and posting!
Blooms by
summertime travel - are you booking it yet? when guests stay in our tiny house they usually hang out at the outdoor dining table. sometimes they get a visit from the star of the show, Mia, our golden retriever.
what would you eat at our backyard table? do you have a favorite oakland restaurant for takeout or a picnic?
It’s a bit chilly today (in the 40s!) but we are getting reservation requests for summer already.
May is now open on Airbnb Plus - link in bio to book! Here’s to more visits to see family and friends in 2022.
More hooks please! That’s my main piece of feedback for every Airbnb I’ve stayed in. I like to hang a snow-covered jacket, hats, and more. Yes, of course, I have much more feedback and many tips for Airbnb hosts - but this is the ONE thing that drives me crazy in an Airbnb. Why isn’t there a place to hang my towel? I firmly believe that you can never have too many hooks. I once stayed in a retreat center where I counted 36 hooks in the bathroom and it made me very happy. End of rant.
![We loved hosting Shira Gill] a few weeks ago and today on HER blog I’m sharing some of my top hosting tips. Whether you’...](https://img4.travelagents10.com/100/036/670144171000368.jpg)
We loved hosting Shira Gill] a few weeks ago and today on HER blog I’m sharing some of my top hosting tips. Whether you’re hosting relatives in your own home or hosting on Airbnb, the same best practices apply. Find out what I recommend splurging or saving on - link in my stories to her blog or visit Shira Gill]. And happy hosting! ❤️ xoxo from our tiny house in oakland california.
Trust is earned in the smallest of moments - not through heroic deeds or even highly visible actions but through paying attention, listening and gestures of genuine care and connection
- Brené Brown.
What are the small gestures you’ve appreciated when you’re away from home?
❤️ Happy Valentines Day ❤️ sending a hug from oakland california xoxo
Happy Almost Spring! We just opened the April calendar and the weather just changed - 70 degrees and sunny in Oakland. Who wants to book a getaway?! A solo retreat or weekend visiting friends perhaps. Come visit.
good news, friends. I’ve reopened my hosting masterclass!
For those of you who would like to take your listing to the next level - this is for you. It’s a beautiful online course plus you get a monthly live Zoom and all of my templates, checklists and a private FB group.
All the details are in my course page, link in my bio.
Join us - we can’t wait to meet you. - Diana
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