How to Write and Automate Airbnb Host Reviews [+ 12 Templates]

Engaging with comments from hosts and guests is crucial, and facilitating this through a website where visitors can leave their comments by providing their name and email enhances the interactive nature of Airbnb host reviews.

Let’s be honest, with the millions of things vacation rental hosts have to worry about in a day, Airbnb host reviews are not very high on the priority list. Though it may seem inconsequential, taking the time to write host reviews could have indirect benefits for your vacation rental business that you may not even be aware of.

Once you get into the rhythm of creating host reviews, it becomes easy to incorporate into the running of your vacation rental. Especially if you choose to automate the process with superior all-in-one vacation rental management software like iGMS, an Airbnb Preferred Partner.

Read on to find out more about Airbnb host reviews and how to effectively create and automate them.

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Airbnb Host Review vs. Airbnb Guest Review

Like a double-edged sword, Airbnb has a two-way review system where guests are able to review hosts and their properties in Airbnb guest reviews, and hosts are able to review guests in return. 

After each stay, Airbnb hosts and guests have 14 days to review one another. These reviews stay hidden until both hosts and guests have written their reviews. Once both parties have submitted their reviews, Airbnb will publish them on the guest’s profile, the host’s profile, and the host’s listing as well.  

The Unspoken Benefits of Airbnb Host Reviews

While it is not mandatory to write a review, including it in the management routine of your Airbnb is good practice and could give your listings a competitive edge.

Here are some of the benefits of leaving regular host reviews on Airbnb: 

Increases engagement with guests on Airbnb

Creating reviews is another way for you to interact with your Airbnb listing and attract travelers to your property. Airbnb creates these opportunities specifically for you to engage with them, and participating is a great way to benefit your listing.

Guests who have stayed at your Airbnb will only be too happy to read good reviews about themselves and this impression may linger long enough to revisit your property in the future. 

Builds trust

The more you engage with your listing and your guests on Airbnb, the more travelers will trust you. 

Potential Airbnb guests will be able to see that you care enough to review each guest after their stay. They will translate that to how much you care about every aspect of their experience at your property, making them more inclined to make a reservation. 

Benefits the Airbnb algorithm to rank listings higher

Any increase in engagement on your listing through opportunities like reviews registers positively with the Airbnb algorithm. 

This is an advantage to hosts because it means that Airbnb will be more likely to rank those listings higher and, therefore, increase the number of bookings you are able to attract. It also won’t hurt on your journey to superhost status.

Helps the hosting community avoid problem-causing guests 

Leaving honest reviews about guests helps support your fellow hosts in the Airbnb community. 

Since all reviews can be viewed publicly, future hosts are able to see if a guest has been collecting multiple negative reviews and may decide not to accept their reservation. 

This is especially helpful when hosts want to avoid particularly bad guests who are known to damage property, break house rules, and otherwise negatively impact future earnings of their Airbnb.

In the same way, you will also be able to benefit from the feedback given by other hosts when deciding if you would like to accept a guest’s reservation or not. 

Guests are more likely to leave a review in return

The more reviews you leave about your guests, the more likely they will be encouraged to do the same — and this is great for your listing. As a major deciding factor for bookings, listings thrive on great Airbnb guest reviews. Therefore, the more you have on your listing, the better. 

How Do Airbnb Reviews Work?

With the two-way Airbnb review system, both host and guest are able to express their feedback fairly. Host and guest reviews are also released publicly at the same time. 

The reviews also cannot be edited afterward. This means that hosts and guests are free to be as honest as possible without fear that the other person may change their review after reading yours. However, both parties do have the option to respond to a review if they want to.

How to Leave a Review on Airbnb? 

Creating a review is quite simple and intuitive, and enables you to leave as detailed of a review as you would like to.

Leave a star rating

Rate your guests on a system of 1 to 5 stars on the basis of:

• Cleanliness – how clean and tidy they left your property
• Communication – how well did they communicate all important information with you
• Observance of house rules – how well they followed the house rules you set out

Leave a written review

The written section is where you can write a review specific to each guest. This part will be made public and should be well thought out and engaging It is also a good idea to state whether you would recommend the guest to other hosts so that they can be assured of potential guests. 

Add an optional private note.

This is private feedback that gets sent straight to your guest and will not be published anywhere public. Here you could send a personal thank you to your guest for choosing to stay at your Airbnb, or perhaps send them constructive feedback.

Would you host the guest again?

This is just a simple yes/no response that sums up your review. This section is not published anywhere and guests also do not receive it.

To read past reviews you’ve written or received, simply select the Reviews option on Airbnb. You’ll also be able to find any private feedback that guests may have left for you there.

How to Write a Great Airbnb Host Review [5 Rules to Nail It]

There are many different approaches you can take to write a great review about your guests. In the end, they all come down to these five rules:

Be specific

Writing a vague review, with no specific details comes across as impersonal and could have the opposite effect that a review is meant to have.

It could give the impression that you don’t really care about the review or the guest, thus wasting an opportunity to praise and engage with your guests.

Pointing out specific things you liked and disliked about a guest is not only beneficial to you, but it is also helpful to those reading it.

Be respectful

Sometimes, you may be put in a situation where the review you write about a guest is negative. This is where you have to strike a balance between honesty and sounding disrespectful or mean.

Be sure to choose your words carefully so that you are being honest, while still respecting the individual you are writing about. Remember, the review will be public and available for anyone to read. It is therefore a reflection on you as a host as well.

Praise the positives 

Wherever possible, bring more attention and enthusiasm to the positive aspects of the guests. People naturally respond kindly to words of praise and acknowledging the positive things you noticed in your guests really go a long way in leaving a lasting impression.

If they were polite to your neighbors, left the place exceptionally clean and tidy, or were simply an all-around pleasure to host and are highly recommended, pointing out these characteristics will elevate your review. 

Keep it short and simple

There is no need to write long essays about each guest unless you really have a lot to say or a specific story to tell. Those reading your reviews will appreciate you keeping what you have to say concise, while still getting your point across. 

Add a personal touch 

Make sure you use the guest name (spelled correctly) in each review. Also, mention something that stood out to you about the guest.

Pointing out personal things about each guest will make them feel special and like you really appreciated them. 

How to Navigate a Bad Review

It is not always easy to strike a balance between honesty and coming across as rude and ungracious when writing negative reviews. However, because the review reflects on your listing too, it is important to find this balance.

When writing a negative review, try to be as fair as possible. Consider things from your guest’s point of view too while expressing your own opinion.

It’s a good idea to avoid speaking out of anger or frustration, as this is often the time we tend to write something we may regret later. If you feel your emotions are heightened, it is better to step away from the review and come back to it at a later stage. Remember, the review is public, so other guests and hosts will be able to see what you say too.

Airbnb Host Review Templates

Here are a few review templates that you can use to review your guests and save time. Feel free to modify any review template to suit what you would like to say. Additionally, encourage your guests to leave a comment on your website about their stay, ensuring they provide their name and email for submission. This not only helps in building a transparent guest-host relationship but also enhances your online presence.

Positive Review Templates:

Airbnb review template 1

[Guest name] was a great guest and such a pleasure to host!

They were respectful to our neighbors and our property, leaving our place spotless at the end of their stay.

All communication with [guest name] was also a joy. There was no need to follow up on any outstanding information or payment.

We would be absolutely thrilled to host [guest name] again in the future.

Airbnb review template 2

[Guest name] is any host’s dream guest! From beginning to end, they were polite, respectful, and [genuinely lovely people / a genuinely lovely person]. 

They are welcome back any time and we hope they are able to visit again soon.

Airbnb review template 3

Communication was exceptionally easy with [guest name]. They were clear from the beginning with their questions, needs, and expectations, which made it extra easy for us to accommodate them.

Ten out of ten would host again! We would highly recommend [guest name] to other hosts too.

Airbnb review template 4 

[Guest name] was a five-star guest and a pleasure to host. 

During their stay, a [plate/glass/vase] broke, but they notified us immediately and let us know that we can charge their credit card to replace what was broken. 

Accidents are a part of life and we know they are inevitable, but we really appreciated their honesty in the situation.

We definitely would welcome them back to our [house/apartment]. They really were a great guest.

Airbnb review template 5

Their stay was short, but [guest name] was nevertheless a joy to host for the time they were here. Very polite, caused no problems, and left the place in a very clean and tidy state.

They are welcome back any time and we hope they book another visit soon.  Highly recommended to other hosts!

Airbnb review template 6

I would highly recommend [guest name]to any host. Their booking was last minute, but they were very easygoing and pleasant to interact with.

[Guest name], we hope to see you again soon! 

We definitely would recommend [guest name] to other hosts too.

Negative review templates

Airbnb review template 7

What was otherwise a pleasant experience hosting [guest name] was, unfortunately, let down by them smoking in a non-smoking house. We communicated this house rule clearly in our welcome letter and guest manual, however, our cleaner still walked in to find the house smelling of smoke and cigarette buds hidden in the garden. 

Hosts who value keeping their property smoke-free may need to be wary when accepting their bookings. 

Airbnb review template 8

While we do not mind cleaning up some dirty dishes after a guest’s stay, we were particularly disappointed with the state in which [guest name] left our kitchen. There were pots and pans that had burnt food stuck to the bottom of them. There was also discarded food that was left on countertops and the floor, and even food splatters on some walls. Other rooms were left messy too.

At the end of the day, while we love hosting our guests, this is still our home and we put a lot of care into keeping it in a beautiful state. 

We would therefore unfortunately not recommend this guest to other hosts.

Airbnb review template 9

Unfortunately, [guest name] proved to be a difficult guest before and during their stay.

We struggled to communicate with them beforehand and could not confirm their check-in time. Because of this, it was difficult to prepare properly for their visit.

During their stay, they kept asking for information that was clearly marked out in the guest welcome book and complained when we were not able to accommodate their last-minute special requests. 

Personally, we do not highly recommend them to other hosts, which is why we had to give such a low star rating.

Airbnb review template 10

[Guest name] was pleasant to interact with and we had no problems with any communication or arrangements. 

Our neighbors, however, complained about noise and loud music during quiet hours at night time on more than one occasion, which was disappointing to hear.  

We recommend other hosts be cautious if they are located in an area that observes strict quiet hours and has neighbors that are inconvenienced by noise at night. 

Airbnb review template 11

It was disappointing to see that [guest name] disobeyed a number of our house rules, including having a birthday party at our place and inviting in unverified guests. We naturally set our house rules to avoid risks to safety and damage. This party caused a safety risk to the people on our property and also resulted in a few broken items in the living room and dining room. 

We try to be as accommodating to our guests as possible, especially on special occasions like birthdays. However [guest name] chose not to disclose this information before their stay which was unfortunate.

We would not recommend this guest to other hosts and will not accept their bookings in the future.

Airbnb review template 12

We consider our home to be a family-friendly getaway. Unfortunately, we feel [guest name] and their family used this as a means to take advantage of us. Our place was left in an extremely messy state, with our bed linens, towels, and some other possessions strewn across the floor. We also found children’s drawings on our walls and a few broken glasses in the trash.

Since their stay, we have not been able to reach [guest name] for any sort of communication or apology.

Fellow host, please be cautious when accepting their future bookings. 

How to Automate Your Airbnb Host Reviews

You now know how to write a review with the best of them, and also have an arsenal of Airbnb host review templates to use. The next step is to save you tons of time by automating the entire review process. To achieve this, you’ll need guest automation software, like iGMS.

As an Airbnb Preferred Partner, iGMS offers a variety of robust vacation rental automation tools, including review management tools. By using our software you will be able to not only automate your host reviews but also your Airbnb guest reviews management as well.

Automating reviews will increase the number of reviews you can publish and will generate up to 90% more reviews in return.

With this review automation software, you will be able to build templates for reviews using predefined elements. Our tools also have the ability to:

• Publish the reviews directly from our software, without having to log in to Airbnb
• Remind you about how many days you have left to leave a review
• Notify you when a guest has written a review for you

These features mean your turnaround time for leaving reviews will skyrocket. This increases engagement and will help move your listings up the rankings on leading vacation rental platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.