As an Airbnb host, you probably like a negative review as much as a parking ticket. It stings. You don’t really want to look at it. Actually, you just kind of want to get on with your life and pretend it didn’t happen.
That’s how I felt a couple of times. But negative reviews can be really bad for your Airbnb business. It’s super important to face them and take action – in a professional way.
Here’s why you shouldn’t ignore bad reviews, all wrapped up in a mini article aka list:
1. Fewer bookings
Bad reviews scare guests away, meaning fewer bookings for you.
2. Lower pricing
Guests won’t want to pay much for a place with bad rep, meaning less income for you.
3. Goodbye Superhost status
Lose too many stars and you can kiss that Superhost badge goodbye.
4. Invisibility
Negative reviews push your listing down the search results, making it harder for guests to find you.
5. No repeat guests
Happy guests come back. Unhappy guests don’t. That’s simple math.
6. Less long-term bookings
Guests won’t commit to longer stays if they’re unsure about your place.
7. More customer service
You might spend more time answering messages from worried guests.
8. Guest quality
A place with bad reviews and a low price could attract guests who won’t care much about your property.
There might be more downsides that I haven’t experienced yet. But these are the main challenges you’ll face if your strategy is to ignore bad reviews (or don’t react in a professional way).
Sounds bad, I know. But you can totally turn things around by creating a 5-star listing, putting together a high-quality space, responding promptly, and showing your guests that you’re committed to making things right. Here’s how I handle bad reviews.
