A Homeshare Owners’ Guide To Getting More Guest Reviews

What’s the number one reason a person decides to book a homeshare listing? Is it because it looks amazing with new paint and freshly cleaned carpet? Or is it because CuddlyNest has made it simpler than ever to book a homeshare listing? Sadly we can’t take all the credit – no, people do things because someone else has suggested them to.

Online reviews have changed how people shop, eat, and travel. Sites like Yelp and Goodreads dictate where people should eat and what they should read. Amazon reviews help people decide between different brands of socks, pots, and pans. Why should the homeshare property business be any different?

When guests leave reviews, the homeshare property in question becomes more likely to be used by others. Reviews let others know that this property was worth staying at – or not worth staying at if you’re unlucky. The problem is this: how do you get these guests to actually leave reviews?

Good and Bad News

While it’s true that we live in a very opinionated world, most people don’t share what they have to say through official channels unless they’re very, very satisfied or even slightly displeased. Sometimes no review can be good news in that it at least means a guest didn’t have a horrible experience.

But sometimes even an average review can help sway someone’s vote one way or the other. For instance, think about two almost identical vacation rentals. One has one review that lists it as an alright homeshare property. The house was clean but it wasn’t as big as they imagined. The other has no reviews listed. Which do you think will be chosen?

The other bad news is that it can be rare for guests to leave reviews – unless they’re prompted to. Usually if prodded, a guest will at least give a review out of obligation. You want to go above and beyond to the point where they want to tell you how incredible your property is, but sometimes the reality isn’t so sparkling. To get a review at all is a step in the right direction.

Keep service level high

First, revisit the above paragraph. While it’s good to get an obligatory five-star rating just because a guest wants to get an email out of their inbox, that’s not ideal. The best way to get ratings is to not take mediocrity for an answer – go above and beyond. When the service is stellar, a guest is more likely to leave a great review.

Reach out

Second, never forget to ask for a review. You’re going to be corresponding with the person who has booked your vacation beach house or holiday rental. Go ahead and ask them for a review and you’ll be amazed at how often they oblige you.

Make a feedback page

Use your website/Facebook page to make a dedicated feedback page where you direct your guests for posting reviews. This not only will formalize the process but also streamline it for your guests. You will get distracted and it will make the process seamless.

Give business cards

You also don’t have to leave things in a conversation or email chain. If you want to go above and beyond, leave business cards around the property in easily accessible locations. These can double as easy contact go-to’s, but including a small “Please Review Your Stay” prompt on these cards can boost your reviews.

Use videos

VRMB writes that “Video allows you to convey a sincerity that’s just not possible with text.” Shooting a video has become so easy. Grab your smartphone or a webcam and try rehearsing a 2-3 minute conversation with your guests when they are staying at your vacation place.

Get reviews on your listing page

Finally, make sure to always direct reviewers to CuddlyNest. Why? It’s great that a guest wants to tell you over the phone that they had a wonderful time, but this doesn’t help your business – other potential guests can see your verbal communication. Thank them for their kind words, but then direct them to your vacation rental listing website like CuddlyNest where they can leave a written review.

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