4 Simple Tips On How to Decipher An Airbnb Review!

In this post we are proposing 4 simple tips on how to decipher an Airbnb review. What is the difference between a good Airbnb review & a bad one? As seniors traveling we are starting to use more & more Airbnbs which we are loving but some of those reviews leave a lot to be desired or understood…

Cost of living is a prime concern of seniors traveling on a budget & Airbnbs are instrumental in that you are able to shop knowing up front the cost. Although initially we used more extended stay hotels, we are loving the choices & prices of Airbnbs! You can see up front the price so it makes ‘shopping’ for a location even easier. The problem I have with these rentals is not the rentals – but the guest reviews.

Two Types of Reviews

No matter what you are shopping for – whether it be for weekend house, hotel, product, services, etc. a lot of us go straight to the reviews to see what other buyers thought about that product or service.  Did the review get 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Stars? I want to know why!

1]  The lazy review may consist of one sentence – ‘it was nice’ or ‘it sucked’.

2]  The second type of review is the more detailed. This reviewer is willing to share the good, the bad & the ugly about his experience. This is really what I want to see to try to get a feel for that rental. I’m not saying these reviews won’t contain fluff but I think it gives me more than the two or three review as above.

What experience earned that product a 1 star or 5 Star from the reviewer? Was the reviewer concise in what was good or bad about the property. This is the Airbnb review I want to see – the one I NEED to see! 

Why a good Airbnb review is so important!

The photos are gorgeous & the amenities look great. It offers everything you could ask for but did you ask the right questions prior to making that reservation? Do not be in a hurry to reserve that first Airbnb that catches your eye. An awesome stay or a stay from hell can balance on that guest reviews you are reading. So how do we know what the guest really is saying without saying to much in his review? What is he saying or not saying? How do we know? 

As we move forward into our grand adventure of traveling we will continue to pass to you our lessons learned. Without further ado, lets check out how to decipher those Airbnb reviews.

4 Tips for Deciphering Those Airbnb Reviews

1] Was the Owner easily accessible?

For now, let’s just keep in mind that we are talking particularly about Airbnb guest reviews BUT these could easily be directed toward extended stays, hotels, house rentals, etc.  

a] Did the Owner leave contact number or info?

b] Was the Owner responsive to your questions?

c] Was the Owner quick to address/fix any issues, if any?  

2] Description of Neighborhood/Surrounding Property

What did the Review say about the location of rental? Bottom line, this is one of the most important issues. Be sure you know what type of neighborhood you will be in.

a] Was the neighborhood everything reviewer thought it would be? 

b] Watch for “up & coming neighborhood” wording. What’s up & coming about it? Construction? Heavy noisy traffic?   

c] Was the neighborhood walkable or would transportation be needed? Was transportation available?

d] Does the review state whether public transportation is available? What was his experience?

e] Did the neighborhood reflect the price you paid? 

3] Did the housing answer the Reviewers needs? 

a] Were ‘amenities provided’ accurate? Did it have everything as advertised, ie. towels, bedding, pots/pan, etc? Was everything in working order at check in? A/C & Heat if applicable. Good water pressure? 

b] Any issues with cleanliness? On this point lets get a little picky shall we? Any smells you can’t quite place? Or was it fresh air clean?

• Was the kitchen sparkling ready to be used? 

• Water pressure good in faucets & shower? i.e. “I love the shower head & the water pressure is fantastic!” would interest me.

• Furniture in as good or better shape than photos online? 

4] WiFi

Any issues with wifi? If so, what? Was review happy with strength or was he unable to work because of lack of strength?

A good Airbnb review…

should give you an OVERALL ‘feel’ of the property.  If you still have questions, you can send an email to the Owner with your questions. I have found them to be very open in their responses. 

Bottom line, you should enjoy your temporary home whether it is for a day, week, month – you just need to know how to decipher the reviews. These reviews can help you the consumer select your next ‘home’ away from home. It can also be used by the Owner to be sure his property stays up to date with what the consumer is looking for as well as allowing the Owner to toot their horn over a great review! 

I know a lot of reviews you just have to muddle through & hope the reviewer was honest in his critique or blessings of a property. Again, a clear & concise honest Airbnb review benefits both the consumer & the Owner! That is not that much to ask for reviewers.

Featured Image by Spacejoy on Unsplash.