Thanks so much for taking the time do this, really appreciated!
I already use the custom availability option (very useful) but hadn’t checked out the discount offers etc. Going to do that now.
Thanks again!
1 Like
Do you mean that you only allow to book 3 months out? Not that you asked ,) but I used to do that and then I realized that people send out save-the-dates for weddings 6 months ahead of time so I find it really worth it to at least open June and October (the biggest wedding months) up 6 months prior. We booked up most of October by the end of May but I notice a lot of my neighbors are still trying to book their dates in October now. I only mention it because I wish someone had told me, sorry if you already know and dont’ care 
1 Like
I used to limit it to 3 months as well but since eliminating that I actually got one booking for 6 months out for the holidays at a much higher smart price. They ended up cancelling because they didn’t want to follow the house rules and/or pay for the extra people but it worked out fine and I am still sure it will get booked closer to last minute and it will be at an even higher price because I have it increased based on it immediately following my current 3 month booking. Ironically this guest was a host herself…
1 Like
Thanks so much…essentially, this seems to be an excellent option more useful to hosts with multiple properties. I already do a lot of this with the plain old Calendar options.
Good to know I havent fallen irrevocably behind.
I do to, and usually I raise prices a bit hardly ever go down unless it is Thursday and no bookings for the weekend.
RR
1 Like
Yes, guests can book only less than 3 months before than check-in. I originally chose that window so that I could block dates for my own friends and family could only 3 months in advance. When I look at nearby listings, it looks like hosts that allow bookings farther in advance have a higher occupancy rate. Whereas hosts that allow bookings only 3 months in advance are getting a higher nightly rate. I’m in the middle of both. My sample size only the 10 listings within a 2-mile radius, though.
2 Likes
Ok, that’s really interesting. I know different places vary a lot. I think it’s the opposite here. I know I said it wrong, I didn’t mean that you hadn’t thought about it, just a long day, but was really curious. It was surprising to me when I first realeased dates so early here because I put much higher prices on those dates. I think they get booked at an oddly higher price because there are just some folks who want to book early but there isn’t as much competition so they’ll book at the higher price. Once everyone else opens up the dates, that’s when all of the “I’m putting my place $1 lower than yours” starts - I’m probably in a particularly annoying neighborhood ,) I get the best prices 4-6 months out and in the last two weeks. The wedding thing is working for me too because it’s something people will naturally pay more for - the price of my units are nothing compared to the taffeta dress they had to buy.
1 Like
One of my concerns is the guest that books at a higher rate early, then later sees a lower priced listing open up, and cancels the higher priced listing to re-book the lower priced listing.
Funny, I’ve got two groups coming for weddings by the end of the year. There’s a very popular wedding venue about 2 miles south of me and I just realized there currently aren’t any Airbnb listings closer than mine.
3 Likes
I had this same concern but have not had it happen. My theory is that people who want to book early, do it so they don’t have to worry about it later and so don’t go searching around later when the prices drop. If you’re that close to a wedding venue, I can’t help but think that you might could rake it in by releasing at least June and October 6 months out. People going to weddings seem to book and then communicate again 3 days prior. I totally understand the concern but is not what I’m seeing in practice. I don’t know. All of it’s just interesting to me.
1 Like
The “wedding season” in Phoenix is exactly the opposite of that, LOL.
1 Like
Oh. I didn’t realize you were in Phoenix. A June wedding sounds like a nightmare. Someone must do it…inside I would hope!
I was on instant book until I cancelled one guy who in February sneaked in my other house and took a room without paying .
I called Air and told them that I already reported this guy and here he books again. I even confronted him and he of course denied. But few other guests recognized him when I send them picture of him and these guests were not connected .
Anyway…Air told me I can’t be on Instant book anymore because I cancelled and it will come back after I do couple of non instant bookings .
Unfortunately it was when we hit slow season here and I was out of 300+listing not on IB . Ussualy at this time of the year I would get international students. Two year in a row I had Europians who stayed almost 6 months each.
Yesterday I checked what’s happening there and my listing doesn’t show . Check my calendar …all is open . Called Air…I just love when they tell.me they can see my listing .
Then I asked a friend to look and it’s not there I am almost done renting my rooms till and of December with Craigslist. Not an easy task with 7 of them. But I am getting there slowly but surely .
This year showed me that it’s basically impossible to rent through Airbnb for me when it’s slow here. And I know it won’t get better . Too many jumped into wagon . I am just surprised to see how low in pricing some people are willing to go.
We will see what winter will bring
1 Like
Sorry, should have been clearer. When I said “booking window”, I was referring to our actual booking window (average time in advance folks book) as opposed to the Airbnb availability window.
We are open twelve months in advance, mainly because of BDC. They do rank you down if your forward availability is short.
Airbnb guests (for us anyway) tend to book a couple of weeks in advance whereas BDC can be anything up to six months in advance. Unfortunately, the cancellation rate when they book that far ahead is higher. Given that the BDC nightly rate is a good bit higher, that’s bearable just now.
Only you know your local market, are there events where dates are released over three months ahead? Will your cancellation rate increase if you take bookings way ahead?
Lots of factors to consider.
JF
1 Like
I had air take away IB when I cancelled using customer service but they never told me. When I saw I was getting inquiries and not IB I called them and they told me it would be evaluated again in a week, so I took myself off IB for two days, turned it back on and it worked again.
RR
3 Likes
Thanks …I did …will try back in couple days . Today in my price range was 227 without instant book. I think busy season is coming 