I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but when we book an Airbnb we feel much better when we see the superhost status of the host. It’s a slight difference that makes us feel we’re going to have a smooth stay. And since it’s likely there are others who feel the same, it’s a good idea to set your sights on becoming a superhost. So let’s talk about what it takes to become a superhost as well as the strategies we used to get there.
First: The Requirements
There are 4 metrics used to measure whether you qualify for being a superhost or not:
- Your overall rating has to be a 4.8 or higher
- A response rate of 90% or higher
- EITHER 10 completed stays or 100 nights booked over 3+ stays
- Have a cancellation rate of less than 1%
And all of the metrics have to be met within a 1 year period. Every 3 months the system will check your stats to see if you qualify. Meet all the requirements and you’re all set!
A Race To Superhost
In our case, we launched our first Airbnb in February of 2023. Since the system looks every 3 months, we had just under 2 full months to get to superhost status. The race was on!
Luckily, we were able to hit all of the parameters before March 31st and in just 2 months from starting were superhosts. There were definitely some hiccups (as you can see in the screenshot above our rating is 4.8, the bottom of the requirement) along the way, but it’s very achievable as long as you are putting in the effort.
What Are The Benefits To Becoming A Superhost?
Other than my short anecdote about how we feel about choosing an Airbnb to stay at, what are the benefits to having that superhost badge?
Well, for starters, you get the superhost badge. And that can be a great trust symbol to guests, potentially helping secure more bookings. Additionally, if you run into any issues, you’ll have access to superhost support. While I’m not a huge fan of Airbnb support, I do think it helped slightly based on the issues we addressed both before and after.
You’ll also potentially be featured in Airbnb promotional emails, get an additional referral bonus when a host signs up through you, and a $100 Airbnb voucher if you maintain superhost status for a year.
Aside from the trust factor, the most interesting feature I found of being a superhost is early access to new features. As Airbnb improves their product, you’ll be able to test out new features.
Things To Look Out For
Let’s take a look at some things we learned along the way:
Do Not Cancel!
I would argue the most important factor in becoming and maintaining superhost status is to never cancel. Now, there could always be factors outside of your control, but I would do everything possible to prevent that cancellation rate from rising. Keeping it below 1% means for every 100 stays you can have only 1 cancellation. And if you have one shortly after starting you’ll have to get to 100 stays just to get back down below the 1%.
There are certain circumstances that allow you to cancel without being penalized, and I would familiarize yourself with them. But I would exhaust all other options before initiating a cancellation request to prevent you losing the chance to become a superhost.
Be Sure To Answer All Messages
Another important factor is your response rate. Essentially your response rate is measuring how well you respond to messages within a 24 hour window. If a message comes in from any person (doesn’t have to be a guest), you have 24 hours to respond. If you do not, your response rate goes down.
We learned about this on a trip we took out of the country. In the time it took us to get over there, get settled, and have wifi, over 24 hours had passed. And guess who got a message within those 24 hours? Be sure to have your phone handy in case guests decide to send you a message!
One other thing to note is that the response rate takes into account the last 30 days worth of messages. And if you don’t have at least 10 messages within 30 days, it will look at the last 10 messages you’ve received to determine the percentage. Just something else to keep in mind as you navigate Airbnb messages.
Another important thing we found is Airbnb seems to be good at knowing when a conversation has ended. So you don’t always have to have the last message in order to keep the response rate. Just be sure to respond timely to the first message and answer any follow-ups if necessary. It will benefit you to have good communication with guests anyways, especially when it comes to getting good reviews. Which brings us to the next piece:
Keep Those Good Reviews Flowing
The lowest rating you can have is a 4.8 to qualify for superhost. And as you can see in the screenshot above that’s right where we were. We found it hard to please everyone, but it’s not impossible to keep your rating up high. We had our fair share of issues, but good communication, working with guests, and sometimes providing them with compensation to make up for those issues helped us minimize bad reviews.
For example, the AC was having some issues during a guest’s stay. To make up for it, we provided her with a gift card she could use to go out to lunch while things were being addressed. We don’t bribe guests for good reviews, but we want to make things right if something does come up. And it will, so be prepared to make things right one way or another!
Keep in mind that it gets easier over time. A 4 star review has a much greater impact with only 10 total reviews versus 100. And if you’re getting quite a few bad reviews, be sure you are using that feedback to improve your property.
A Note About The Amount Of Stays
We talked a bit about the other 3 parameters to becoming a superhost, but the amount of stays is also a factor. And for us it worked out really passively. We were able to hit the minimum requirements just days before the deadline of the first quarter.
This will likely happen over time, as it seems as long as you aren’t in a very small market that 10 stays (less than one a month) will happen eventually.
However, as we continue to grow our content library we will be covering some ways we used to get to 10 stays quickly in more detail. But for now, here’s some cliff notes:
- High quality photos: visually appealing properties simply perform better. Go with a professional for these, and be sure to show them some examples beforehand to really get the photos you’ll need.
- Reel guests in with a good title: highlight the best part of the place, give a brief description if possible, and possibly include amenities. Take our listing title for example: Centrally-Located Cozy 2 BR Home W/ Queen Beds
- Be better than the competition: take a look around at similar sized listings. And then beat them with better amenities, photos, descriptions. Be better at everything.
- Get good reviews: communicate with your guests, help them with any issues, and give them a reason to leave 5 stars. The first few are crucial, so overdeliver!
I Wish You The Best!
I hope this post helps you on your journey to becoming a superhost. Just remember to put the guest first and all the pieces should fall into place. And remember to never cancel and always answer those messages!