How do I set up a Short Term Rental listing?
If you’re wondering how do I set up a Short Term Rental listing? It starts with creating a strong foundation. That means preparing the space properly, writing a clear and honest description, setting the right price, and making sure your calendar, rules, and guest experience are fully thought through.
Guests’ book based on trust and clarity, so every part of your listing needs to reflect exactly what you offer and how you operate. If you cut corners, it shows.
But if you get the basics right from the beginning, the rest becomes much easier to manage.
Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to help you set up your Short Term Rental properly.
1. Create Your AirBnB or Booking.com Account
To get started, go to airbnb.com or booking.com and sign up for an account. You’ll need to add a few basic details, including your full name, email address, phone number, and a clear photo of yourself.
AirBnb/Booking.com will also ask you to verify your identity with a government-issued photo ID. This helps build trust with guests and is required before you can list a property.
Ensure your profile appears genuine and includes a friendly photo and a concise bio.
2. Prepare Your Property
Before you go live, your property needs to be ready to host. This means giving it a thorough top-to-bottom clean, checking for any necessary repairs or safety issues, and ensuring it’s fully equipped with the basics a guest would expect.
If anything is broken, worn out or dirty, replace or fix it. You’ll also need to furnish it properly. Guests aren’t expecting a 5-star hotel, but they do expect a clean bed, seating, proper lighting, and some kitchen essentials if meals can be prepared onsite.
Additionally, ensure you have working smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher, and a first-aid kit as a minimum safety requirement.
3. Take High-Quality Photos
Photos are one of the biggest factors in whether someone books your property. You don’t need a professional photographer, but you do need to put in some effort.
Use your phone’s camera, ensure the place is clean and tidy, and take photos during the day with all the lights turned on. Open the blinds and let in as much natural light as possible.
Shoot from the corners of each room to make them appear spacious. Show every area, including bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, and any outdoor spaces such as balconies or courtyards.
Hide all personal items and clutter. First impressions matter, and strong photos can double your booking rate.
4. Write a Clear, Honest Description
When writing your listing, stick to the facts. Communicate to people what the property includes, its layout, and what they can expect.
List the number of beds and bathrooms, and mention any features that make the space stand out, such as ocean views, a great location, or fast Wi-Fi.
You should also include check-in and check-out times, information on whether pets are allowed, and any specific house rules you expect guests to follow.
The more information you include, the fewer questions your guests will have, and the more confident they’ll feel when booking.
5. Choose the Right Price
One of the most common mistakes new hosts make is setting the price too high or too low. Begin by reviewing similar listings in your area. Compare their charges with those for similar-sized properties offering similar amenities.
In the beginning, it’s smart to price slightly lower than your competition to get your first few bookings and build up good reviews. Once you have a few 5-star reviews, you’ll have more flexibility to raise your rates. Just remember to factor in Short Term Rental’s fees, cleaning costs, and any extra expenses.
If there are local events, holidays, or high-demand weekends, you can adjust your prices accordingly.
6. Set Your Booking Preferences
Short-term rental allows you to choose how bookings are handled. You can enable “Instant Book”, which allows guests to book without approval, or you can require manual confirmation.
You can also set rules regarding the duration of stay and block off any dates when the property is unavailable. Make sure you leave a gap between bookings if you need time to clean or reset the property.
If you’re hosting casually or travelling, keeping control of the calendar is key.
7. Tick Off Amenities and Set House Rules
Short-term rental will provide you with a comprehensive list of amenities, and you can select all that apply to your place. Guests expect amenities such as Wi-Fi, a kettle, basic cooking tools, heating or cooling, and a place to hang their clothes.
If you have extras, such as a washing machine, a smart TV, or free parking, be sure to list them. You’ll also want to set clear house rules. For example, you might not allow parties, smoking, or pets.
Keep your rules fair and realistic, but clear enough to avoid any confusion or disputes.
8. Keep Your Calendar Accurate
There’s nothing worse than receiving a booking request for a date that’s not available. Update your Short-Term Rental calendar regularly and ensure that any listings on other platforms are synced.
Blocking out dates when you’re unavailable helps prevent cancellations and maintain a good-standing account. Hosts who cancel often or have double-bookings quickly drop in Short Term Rental’s rankings.
9. Make Your Listing Easy to Find
Think of your title and description like an ad. Use keywords that people are likely to search for. For example, if your property is close to the beach, near the theme parks, or has great views, say so in the title.
Highlight if it’s good for families, couples, or business travellers. Short Term Rental’s search tool looks at your headline and description, so don’t waste space with fluff; say what it is and what it offers.
10. Complete Your Identity and Payment Details
Before Short Term Rental can send you any payouts, you’ll need to finish the verification process and add your bank details. Ensure that your name matches the one on your ID and that your payment information is accurate.
This step is simple, but don’t skip it; otherwise, you won’t get paid when bookings come through.
11. Reply to Guest Messages Quickly
Response time really matters. Short-term rentals require quick responses because they affect your visibility. Please respond within an hour, or ideally within minutes, whenever possible, especially to new booking requests.
You can use the Short Term Rental app on your phone and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a message. Even a brief reply, such as “Thanks for your booking. Let me know if you have any questions,” helps build trust and sets the tone.
12. Keep Improving the Listing
Once your listing is live, the job isn’t over. You’ll get feedback from guests that can help you improve the experience. If a few people mention the same issue, like tricky parking or noisy neighbours, add a note to the description.
Keep your photos up to date if you renovate or buy new furniture. Adjust your pricing and settings as needed. A listing that’s regularly updated performs better than one that’s been untouched for months.
Need Help Running Your AirBnB Short-Term Rental?
If you’re short on time or live remotely, we can handle the day-to-day operations for you. Holiday Property Service looks after over 450 short-term rental properties across the Gold Coast.
We provide professional cleaning, hotel-grade linen hire, restocking of consumables, and full guest changeovers. Our team keeps your property guest-ready year-round, so you don’t have to.
Short Term Rental Cleaning Management On The Gold Coast & Housekeeping Services Provided By Holiday Property Service
Enhance your time and efficiency by entrusting us with the comprehensive cleaning management of your Short Term Rental short-stay accommodation.
Holiday Property Service is a premier Brisbane holiday rental cleaning company in the short-stay rental market as well as throughout south-east Queensland, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Contact Us
Phone now and let’s chat about how do I set up a Short Term Rental listing? We can provide you with your holiday accommodation cleaning and short stay hire linen requirements, as well as your needs for Short Term Rental guest consumables and supplies: 1300 477 937 or email hello@holidaypropertyservice.com.au
Next Article: How to make the stay comfortable for guests of an Short Term Rental rental property
Return to: FAQs
