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When you think about your vacation rental, what comes to mind? Does it feel fresh, inviting, and in line with what guests are looking for today? Or does it feel like something from the past? One common mistake many property owners make is adopting a design style that I like to call the “Grandma Look.” While this may have some nostalgic charm, it could actually be deterring potential guests from booking your property. Let’s dive into what the “Grandma Look” really is and why it might be turning guests away. What is the “Grandma Look”? The “Grandma Look” refers to a design style that feels stuck in another era—think old-fashioned rustic chairs, outdated beds, and heavily floral or pink quilt covers that only an older generation would find appealing. It’s the kind of décor you might find in an old farmhouse, complete with vintage furniture and heavy, frilly pillows that are best suited for a sleepy afternoon nap with a cup of tea—except they have no place in a modern, sought-after short-term rental. Add in old-style pillows, throw rugs draped over furniture, cheap-looking dining tables or coffee tables, and everything feels dated and out of touch. While this style might bring a sense of nostalgia for some, it’s not the kind of design that resonates with today’s travellers. Here’s the issue: Many of today’s guests are looking for modern, sleek, and functional spaces that allow them to unwind comfortably. The “Grandma Look” communicates a sense of being behind the times. When they see the outdated furniture, dated bedspreads, and overstuffed chairs, they might assume the property hasn’t been maintained or updated in years—and they could easily scroll past your listing without a second thought. Why Does the “Grandma Look” Matter? You might think, “It’s cozy, isn’t it?” Yes, it can be comfortable, but today’s guests are looking for something different. They want spaces that feel modern, inviting, and aligned with current trends. The “Grandma Look” can unintentionally communicate that your property hasn’t been updated in years—and this could be a dealbreaker for many. Here’s why this matters: How Does This Turn Guests Away? In today’s market, guests are increasingly discerning about the spaces they book. Even small details can have an impact, as explained in how your actions as a host can cost you bookings. They want to feel like they’re stepping into a place that’s been thoughtfully designed, updated, and well-maintained. If your property feels like something out of a bygone era, it can be an immediate turn-off, even for those who are just browsing. Imagine someone scrolling through listings. They come across your property, and the photos show heavy, floral quilt covers, old wooden chairs, and dated furniture. Instinctively, they might think, “This isn’t the type of place I’m looking for.” And that’s it—they move on to the next option. Common Features of the “Grandma Look” to Watch Out For: How to Avoid the “Grandma Look” and Appeal to More Guests Now, I’m not saying you need to throw away all your vintage finds. There’s a way to incorporate personality and character into your design while keeping it modern and inviting. Here are a few tips to update your space and make it more appealing to today’s guests. You might also want to look at how your design choices could be limiting your short-term rental bookings for more insight into what guests expect visually. Final Thoughts Updating your design doesn’t mean you have to give up all the elements you love. It just means making small changes that will help you meet the expectations of modern travelers. If you want to attract more guests and increase your bookings, it’s time to rethink the “Grandma Look.” A fresh, updated design will not only make your property feel more inviting, but it will also increase its chances of standing out in a competitive market. Need help making the change? I’m here to offer advice and guide you through the process. Together, we can create a property that appeals to today’s guests while keeping it cozy and welcoming.

Airbnb’s algorithm is designed to reward listings that perform well by offering guests a seamless, positive experience. However, if your listing doesn’t meet the platform’s standards or expectations, it can be penalized, affecting both your visibility and your booking rates. Understanding what Airbnb penalizes is crucial to ensure that your property remains competitive and continues to attract guests. Here’s a closer look at the most common factors that can hurt your property’s ranking on the platform—and ultimately, your bottom line. 1. Low Conversion Rates: When Views Don’t Translate to Bookings Airbnb tracks your listing’s conversion rate—the percentage of people who view your property and then make a booking. Ideally, you want at least a 2% conversion rate to ensure your listing is seen as desirable and relevant. If your listing receives many views but few bookings, it signals to Airbnb’s algorithm that something may be off with your property. This could be due to factors like pricing, poor-quality photos, or a lack of appealing details in your description. When conversion rates are low, your property will drop in search rankings, making it harder to secure future bookings. To improve your conversion rate, make sure your listing is fully optimized. High-quality photos, a compelling property description, and competitive pricing are key to ensuring that your listing stands out and attracts the right guests. Additionally, offering promotions or adjusting your rates based on market demand can help increase conversion and visibility. If you’re still struggling, it may be worth reviewing how your design choices could be limiting your short-term rental bookings—even subtle decor cues can influence whether guests move forward with a booking or not. 2. Cancellations: How Host and Guest Cancellations Impact Your Visibility Airbnb strongly discourages hosts from canceling bookings. While guest cancellations can affect a listing’s ranking, it’s the host cancellations that can have the most severe consequences. Airbnb’s priority is to build trust with guests, and a host canceling a reservation can damage that trust significantly. When a host cancels a reservation, it creates uncertainty for guests who are relying on the platform for a smooth and predictable experience. To avoid cancellations, be sure to maintain an updated calendar, communicate clearly with guests, and provide accurate listing details. Offering a flexible cancellation policy can also help reduce the likelihood of cancellations. 3. Idle Listings: Why Inactivity Can Hurt Your Ranking Airbnb rewards active listings—those that receive frequent bookings and are regularly updated. A listing that remains inactive for long periods without bookings sends a signal to Airbnb that the property is not in demand, which can hurt its search ranking. If your property isn’t being booked, Airbnb’s algorithm may assume it is undesirable to guests. This results in a lower placement in search results, making it harder to get future bookings. To keep your listing active, adjust your pricing to remain competitive during off-peak seasons, offer discounts, or use promotions to attract more bookings. Additionally, refresh your listing by updating photos or tweaking the description to keep it relevant and appealing to potential guests. 4. Bookings on Other Platforms: Why It’s Similar to an Idle Listing Airbnb values exclusivity, and when you list your property on multiple platforms, it can negatively affect your visibility on Airbnb. If your property is being booked more frequently on other platforms, it signals to Airbnb that your listing is not being prioritized on its platform, which can lower your listing’s ranking. Moreover, guests may also perceive listings that are cross-listed as less reliable because they can book and cancel on different platforms, creating a sense of instability around the availability of your property. To maintain a strong presence on Airbnb, consider focusing on optimizing your listing and limiting cross-platform bookings. If you want to maximize bookings, use a dynamic pricing tool or adjust your strategy for all platforms, but keep in mind that listing availability should be clear and consistently updated on each one. 5. Negative or Inconsistent Reviews: How Guest Feedback Affects Your Ranking Reviews play a pivotal role in determining your ranking on Airbnb. While positive reviews boost your visibility, negative or inconsistent feedback can hurt your position. Airbnb’s algorithm places more weight on recent reviews, so a string of negative comments can lower your search ranking and make it harder to secure bookings. Ensure you maintain high standards of service to keep positive reviews flowing and address any guest complaints quickly. 6. Lack of Communication: How Slow Responses Can Hurt Your Ranking Airbnb rewards hosts who are quick to respond to guest inquiries and booking requests. Slow or poor communication can result in negative guest experiences, which in turn can lower your ranking. Airbnb tracks your response time, and if you fail to reply promptly to messages or booking inquiries, your visibility will decrease. Being proactive in your communication with guests not only helps build trust but also ensures that they feel confident booking with you. A quick, informative response can be the difference between a booking and a lost opportunity. 7. Unclear Pricing or Excessive Fees: Transparency is Key Airbnb guests expect to see clear and straightforward pricing from the start. If your listing includes hidden fees, such as high cleaning charges or security deposits, it can create frustration and lead to cancellations or negative reviews. This hurts your ranking and visibility on the platform. To avoid penalties, keep your pricing transparent and competitive. Ensure that any additional charges, such as cleaning fees, are clearly listed from the beginning. A clear and fair pricing structure is essential for building trust with guests and maintaining a positive reputation on the platform. Why Airbnb Is So Hard on Hosts and Why It Favors Guests Airbnb’s primary goal is to foster trust on its platform, and while this can sometimes feel like the platform is harder on hosts than guests, it’s all about protecting the guest experience. Airbnb’s reputation hinges on providing reliable, high-quality accommodations to travelers, so maintaining guest trust is essential. If a guest’s experience is compromised—whether through…

When managing your short-term rental, it’s easy to get caught up in the basics—pricing, location, and amenities. But there’s one crucial element you may be overlooking: your property’s design. The design choices you make can deeply influence the type of guests you attract and, just as importantly, the ones you might unintentionally exclude. In this email, we’ll dive into how your design choices can either broaden or narrow your audience and impact your bookings. Did Your Design Choices Limit Your Audience? Your property’s design plays a big role in how welcoming it is to potential guests. While it’s important to create an aesthetic that feels cohesive and inviting, your design can also inadvertently limit the type of guests who feel comfortable booking your property. Let’s explore how gender and age assignment can shape your guest pool, as well as how less can often be more when it comes to design. Gender Assignment: Are You Excluding Half of Your Audience? Your design choices can inadvertently signal that your property is better suited to one gender over another, impacting your ability to attract a diverse range of guests. Does Your Property Feel “Too Feminine”?If your design features colours and patterns traditionally associated with femininity—such as pink bedspreads, floral wallpaper, or pastel furniture—it might appeal to some guests but could alienate others. While it might attract women travelling solo or in groups, it can make male travellers or mixed-gender groups feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. Example: A bachelorette party may find a pink-themed property ideal, but a family or couple may pass it over, perceiving it as overly gendered. Does It Feel “Too Masculine”?On the flip side, a design that leans heavily into darker tones, minimalist furniture, or industrial accents might be appealing to male travellers but could feel cold, sterile, or even intimidating to women or families. For many guests, comfort and warmth are key to feeling at home. Example: A solo female traveller might hesitate to book a property that has a “man cave” vibe, thinking it might not be safe or welcoming. How to Balance Gender AppealTo ensure your property appeals to everyone, aim for a design that is neutral yet inviting. Here are a few tips: By keeping your design gender-neutral, you’ll ensure that both men and women feel equally welcome, maximizing your booking potential. Age Assignment: Is Your Property Appealing to Only One Generation? The design of your property can either draw in or repel guests from different age groups. Younger guests often look for trendy, Instagram-worthy spaces, while older generations may seek out familiar, comfortable environments that evoke a sense of nostalgia. But if your design speaks too loudly to one age group, you risk alienating the others. Appealing to Younger GuestsMillennials and Gen Z guests are likely to be attracted to a more modern, fresh, and eye-catching aesthetic. These travellers tend to favour: But if your design focuses solely on a trendy, youthful style, you risk turning away older guests who might prefer something less edgy. Appealing to Older GuestsOlder guests, particularly Baby Boomers and Gen X, tend to prioritize comfort, familiarity, and warmth. They’re drawn to: But if your property looks too much like your grandma’s house—with floral patterns or old-fashioned wooden furniture—it could easily turn off younger guests who are looking for something fresh and contemporary. The “Rustic Grandma” Problem Even if you slap a “rustic” label on it, outdated or old-fashioned furniture can still feel like it belongs in another era. For example, if your property features vintage furniture like ornate wooden chairs or outdated quilts that your grandmother might have, it may not seem “charming” to everyone. To younger guests, it could come across as stale, and older guests might feel the space lacks the comfort and style they’re used to. Solution: Instead of leaning into overly dated or “rustic” decor, aim for a balanced mix that combines timeless comfort with modern touches. Think about: Why Guests Might Not Book Your Property Your property’s design can significantly influence whether guests choose to book, especially in the competitive short-term rental market. Design elements that you may consider minor could be the very reason a potential guest scrolls past your listing. Here’s why certain design choices might lead to missed bookings: Ultimately, guest opinions matter more than ever. In today’s market, where reviews and guest feedback play a crucial role, your design choices can have a direct impact on whether guests choose your property or not. By ensuring your design is universally appealing, functional, and welcoming, you increase your chances of standing out in a crowded market and securing more bookings. Less Can Be More In some cases, simplicity is key. Over-decorating or cluttering the space with too many items can overwhelm potential guests and reduce the overall appeal. By embracing a minimalist approach, you can create a calming, functional space that’s both inviting and practical. A streamlined, simple design can help your property feel more spacious, inviting, and comfortable, ultimately leading to higher guest satisfaction and more bookings.

The guest experience in short-term rentals is not just about providing a place to sleep; it’s about creating an emotional journey that guides guests from initial curiosity to ultimate satisfaction. One of the most influential factors that determine how your property is perceived is the positive-to-negative scale. This concept is rooted in human psychology, which dictates that negative experiences have a far more significant impact on our emotions and decision-making than positive ones. When managing a short-term rental, your goal is to tip the scale heavily in favor of positive experiences. However, understanding how small negative interactions can accumulate to have a large impact on guest satisfaction is crucial for providing the best possible stay and ensuring repeat bookings. Here’s a deeper look at how the positive-to-negative scale works and why it’s essential to your rental’s success. What Is the Positive-to-Negative Scale? The positive-to-negative scale is essentially the balance of experiences and emotions a guest encounters during their stay. From the very first moment they interact with your listing to the time they check out, every element contributes to this mental scale. These experiences aren’t just about what is presented on the surface, like clean sheets or a well-stocked kitchen. It’s about the overall emotional and psychological impact of everything they encounter during their stay. The Positive Side Positive interactions, though often small, compound to create an overall sense of satisfaction and delight. Think of the small touches: a personalized welcome note, extra amenities like a bottle of wine, or a well-thought-out guidebook to the local area. These little gestures make guests feel special, comfortable, and cared for. They confirm that the host is attentive and that the guest made the right choice by booking your property. The Negative Side On the other hand, negative experiences, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can disproportionately weigh down the guest’s perception of their stay. Imagine arriving to a door that sticks, a shower with weak water pressure, or towels that feel rough and thin. While any one of these might seem like a minor inconvenience, each one adds up over the course of a stay, leading guests to focus more on problems than on what’s going well. Example: The Ripple Effect of Negative Experiences Let’s consider a scenario that highlights how a single issue can set off a chain reaction of negative perceptions, even if it’s addressed quickly. The Situation: A Broken Showerhead Imagine a guest arrives at your property, tired after a long journey, looking forward to a refreshing shower. Upon turning on the water, they discover the showerhead is broken, producing only a trickle of water. Now, this is a problem that can easily be fixed. You quickly call your plumber, and they show up within an hour to replace the showerhead. Your cleaners are notified to return and address any issues immediately. However, the damage has already been done. The guest is left feeling frustrated and inconvenienced. Even if the issue is fixed within an hour, the negative impact on their experience persists. Here’s why: Why It’s Too Late to Fix the Damage In the example above, even though you addressed the problem quickly by sending the plumber and the cleaners back to fix things, the damage to the guest’s experience has already been done. Here’s why: How to Prevent the Negative-to-Positive Shift To minimize the risk of small issues snowballing into major disappointments, focus on proactive prevention and attention to detail: By understanding the positive-to-negative scale and proactively managing both expectations and experiences, you can create a stay that consistently exceeds guest expectations. Why the Negative Side Weighs So Much More Heavily Psychological Impact of Negative Experiences Human brains are wired to respond more acutely to negative experiences than to positive ones. This phenomenon is often referred to as negativity bias, which means that negative events or details register more strongly than positive ones of equal intensity. A guest may forget about the comfort of their bed, but they’ll remember a loud noise or a broken air conditioning unit, often far more vividly. How the Positive-to-Negative Scale Works in Practice Let’s break down some examples of how the positive-to-negative scale plays out in a typical short-term rental experience: The Ripple Effect: Why Fixing Issues May Not Be Enough One key aspect of the positive-to-negative scale is that negative experiences don’t simply cancel each other out with fixes. Once a negative event or inconvenience happens, the emotional impact lingers, even if the problem is addressed quickly. Here’s why: How to Tip the Scale Toward the Positive Understanding the positive-to-negative scale is key to crafting an exceptional guest experience. Here are some ways to tip the scale in your favor: Conclusion: Managing Guest Experience Through the Positive-to-Negative Scale The positive-to-negative scale is a psychological force that shapes your guest’s experience in powerful ways. The key takeaway is that it’s not just about minimizing negative experiences—it’s about intentionally crafting an experience where the positives consistently outweigh the negatives. By understanding how small inconveniences accumulate and how big issues can overshadow smaller positives, you can design an experience that maximizes satisfaction and encourages repeat guests.

If you’re considering buying a property in a strata scheme, whether it’s a townhouse, apartment, or unit in a shared building, there are some unique factors you need to know about. Strata living offers a range of benefits, but it also comes with its own responsibilities. Let’s explore everything you should consider before making the leap. What Is a Strata Property?  A strata property refers to a complex of buildings or land that is divided into individual units or lots. These could be apartments, townhouses, villas, or even duplexes. When you buy a strata property, you purchase the ownership of your unit or lot, but also share ownership of the common areas with other residents. Common areas typically include things like hallways, lifts, shared gardens, parking areas, swimming pools, and other shared amenities.  You own your unit or lot outright, but you have a shared responsibility for maintaining the common property and managing the building’s affairs. This is typically managed by the body corporate or the owners’ corporation—a group made up of the individual owners of the units. The role of the body corporate is to make decisions about the management of the building, and enforce rules and by-laws that govern how the property is used.  What Do You Own and What Do You Share?  Understanding the difference between what you own and what is shared is crucial in a strata setting: Private Property (Your Unit/Lot)  This is the portion of the property that you own outright. It could be an apartment, townhouse, or villa, and you have full control over what happens inside it, subject to any applicable rules and regulations. You can make decisions about your interior space (renovations, interior design, etc.), but you must comply with the strata’s guidelines.   Common Property This includes any area or space that is not individually owned. For example, shared hallways, exterior walls, roof, gardens, lifts, and stairwells are considered common property. All the owners in the strata jointly own these areas, and together they’re responsible for maintaining and managing them.  As an owner, you contribute to the upkeep of common property through strata fees, which are mandatory payments that go toward the maintenance and management of shared areas.  Understanding Strata Fees  Strata fees are regular contributions paid by owners of properties within a strata complex. They are essential for funding the management and upkeep of common areas. These fees are typically charged quarterly, but they can vary depending on the size and complexity of the building or complex. The money you pay in strata fees is placed into a fund that is managed by the body corporate. It is used to cover the day-to-day costs and larger-scale maintenance projects. The amount you pay is often calculated based on the size of your property (e.g., the number of square meters your unit occupies) and the proportion of the building that it represents. Failing to understand or plan for strata costs can result in serious financial strain, especially for those managing investment properties. It’s important to structure your property finances responsibly—running your property investing business at a loss is a bad idea, and unanticipated strata expenses can quickly add to that burden. There are three primary types of strata fees:  1. Administration Fund Levies (Operational Fees)  The administration fund is primarily used to cover the ongoing day-to-day costs associated with running the strata complex. These are the operational costs required to ensure that common areas are clean, safe, and well-maintained. Some of the most common items covered under this fund include:  Building Cleaning: Regular cleaning of common areas such as hallways, lifts, entryways, and outdoor areas.  Gardening and Landscaping: Maintenance of communal gardens, lawns, and green spaces.  Utilities: The cost of providing services like electricity, water, and gas to common areas (lighting, lifts, and pools).  Building Insurance: Premiums for building insurance that covers common areas against damage or destruction (e.g., from fire, storms, or vandalism).  Routine Maintenance and Repairs: Everyday repairs and small upkeep tasks, like fixing a broken light or cleaning a clogged drain in a shared space.  The administration levy ensures that the essential services that benefit all owners are maintained regularly without unexpected financial strain. Typically, this is the most common levy owners will pay, and it ensures the complex runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis.  2. Capital Works Levies (Sinking Fund Levies)  Capital works levies (often referred to as sinking fund levies) are used to save up for significant maintenance and repairs that arise less frequently but are nonetheless essential. These funds are meant to cover larger expenses that come up every few years and that cannot be paid for out of the administration fund.  Some of the major expenses covered under this levy include:  Roof Restoration or Replacement: If the roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, funds will be set aside to replace it.  Exterior Painting: Buildings require regular repainting to maintain their appearance and to protect against weather damage.  Major Repairs and Upgrades: These include repairs or replacements for aging plumbing, electrical systems, or structural issues that affect the integrity of the building.  Building Improvements: Adding new features like an elevator, or upgrading shared spaces such as the lobby or gym.  Capital works levies help avoid large, unexpected financial burdens by creating a savings pool for future repairs. Without these funds, the owners might be asked to contribute extra money (via special levies) when a large repair is required.  3. Special Levies (One-off Levies)  Special levies are additional fees that may be charged to owners if there’s a sudden need for repairs or upgrades that were not anticipated during the normal budgeting process. Special levies are typically imposed in the case of:  Emergency Repairs: For example, if a storm causes significant damage to the building’s exterior or a lift breaks down unexpectedly, special levies may be needed to fund the repairs.  Unforeseen Major Works: Sometimes, a problem that wasn’t foreseen during the annual budget process can arise, requiring immediate attention. For example, significant structural issues…