Airbnb Plus is the latest offering from Airbnb. They describe it as “a new selection of only the highest quality homes with hosts known for great reviews and attention to detail.” Right now, it’s an invite-only program in Nashville, though at some point they may begin taking applications again.

To be eligible for Airbnb Plus, you must have:

• Maintained an average rating of 4.8 over the past year

• No canceled reservations over the past year (unless there were extenuating circumstances)

We’ve put together a clear, user-friendly checklist of the amenities and features that are currently required to be accepted into the Airbnb Plus program. If you received an invitation or just want to get your listing ready for when applications open, this list is for you!

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Your Listing Must be Well-Equipped

Bedrooms

Airbnb Plus listings must offer at least one private bedroom (or studio) for guests. Each bedroom must have:

• Mattress that doesn’t sag or squeak

• Bed frame or covered box spring that elevates mattress off the floor

• Top sheet, bottom sheet, bedspread (or duvet with cover, comforter, or quilt), all correctly sized and matching

• 2 pillows for single beds / 4 pillows for full, queen, or king beds

• 1 luggage rack, drawer, or shelf for guests’ items

• Space for the guest to hang clothes with at least 4 (non-wire) hangers

Bathrooms

Airbnb Plus listings must offer at least one full bathroom that is private for guests. All bathrooms must have:

• Hot and cold water with strong water pressure

• Large mirror (cannot be handheld)

• At least 2 rolls of toilet paper

• 4 hand towels

• Hand soap, single bottle or new bar

• 2 bath towels per guest (minimum of 4 bath towels total)

• Shampoo and conditioner, 2 separate bottles

• Body soap, single bottle or new bar

Kitchen

Airbnb Plus listings must have a kitchen (if entire home) or kitchenette (if apartment, studio, or guest house) stocked with:

• Large knife for food prep, bread knife, and paring knife

• Cutting board

• No less than 4 utensil sets (set contains a fork, knife, and spoon)

• No less than 4 plates, bowls, glasses, and mugs

• Spatula

• Sponge or cleaning brush

• Dish soap

• Garbage can with bag

• At least one roll of paper towels

• Bottle opener and wine opener

• 2 pots and 2 pans of any size (if full kitchen)

• Stove top with at least 2 burners (if full kitchen)

• Microwave, stove top, double burner, single burner, or hot plate (if kitchenette)

• Full-size refrigerator (if full kitchen) or mini refrigerator (if kitchenette)

• Dedicated sink

• Hot and cold water with strong water pressure

• Bottled or filtered water (Brita suffices)

• Coffee, coffeemaker, and extra filters

• Sugar

• Salt and pepper

• Cooking oil (if full kitchen)

Equipment basics

• TV with functional cable or streaming capabilities

• WiFi with download speeds of at least 5 Mbps

• Iron and ironing board or steamer

• Air conditioning that sufficiently cools the space

• Heater or space heater that sufficiently heats the space

Guest check-in

• Digital check-in instructions featuring at least one photo of the check-in process

• Printed house manual containing emergency contact info, host contact info, WiFi login, and checkout procedures

• 24/7 check-in available after the guests’ check-in time via lockbox, keypad, doorperson, smartlock, or nearby host

Privacy and safety

• Entry to listing has a lock

• Entryway is well-illuminated

• Entry door closes and locks easily

• All bedrooms have a solid door with a lock

• Windows in bedrooms and bathrooms provide privacy, such as frosted glass or window coverings

• Smoke detector

• Carbon monoxide detector

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Your Listing Must be Well-maintained

• Furniture, decor, carpet, rugs, bedding, towels, and appliances are impeccably clean, in good condition, and free of stains, tears, and signs of wear

• All walls, floors, ceilings, windows, mirrors, finishes, fixtures, paint, and trim are free of visible cracks, chips, scuffs, mildew, and damage

• No signs of pests

• Lighting, appliances, and electronics are intuitive to use and work as intended

• Wires and cables are organized and hidden from sight

• Shower heads, faucets, cabinet handles, and other fixtures are properly installed, fully secure (not loose or cracked), and function as they should

• Outdoor spaces are free of clutter, dead plants, and excessive weeds

• Outdoor furniture is clean, undamaged, and fully functional

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Your Listing Must be Thoughtfully designed

• Each room has a 
cohesive style; furniture and decor are intentional and inviting

• There are design elements that reflect your personality and create a space that’s full of character

• Rooms are neither sparse nor cluttered

• Everything visible is aesthetically pleasing or useful to guests

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We hope this comprehensive and detailed list of Airbnb Plus requirements has been a help to you. We wish you much success on your hosting journey!

If you’re looking for management services, let’s talk.

In a recent post, we talked about a few myths and fears about Airbnbs and other short-term rentals (STRs) in Nashville. One of the city’s residents’ biggest concerns is that STRs can bring a certain amount of unrest to otherwise peaceful neighborhoods. Residents picture their nice, quiet streets overrun with bachelor and bachelorette parties. It is our job as Airbnb hosts to change this perception over time.

Being community-minded is still vital, even if you own a property that functions as a business for you.

First, after neighbors have signed your paperwork acknowledging that they understand they’ll be living near an STR property, make sure to follow up. Consider popping some chocolate into mailboxes with your business card (or that of your property manager) tucked into a handwritten note about your constant availability for concerns or questions that arise.

Make sure neighbors know that guests are screened and will respect the neighborhood.

In your note, be sure to mention that measures are being taken to ensure that safety and good behavior are priorities. You may even consider giving them an idea of the types of rules you intend to enforce, keeping the neighborhood a safe and happy place to be.

Make your guests aware of their responsibilities by creating a clear list of house rules.

Be clear with guests in the listing that your house and your neighborhood are to be respected. Be open about the fact that they’re staying in a residential neighborhood. Remind them that you love your neighbors and if they are loud or inappropriate in any way that disturbs the neighbors, they will be evicted immediately. Consider house rules that will still offer good guest experiences while safeguarding neighbors. For example, no smoking (even outside); enforced quiet hours; no additional guests besides those in the reservation; and absolutely no parties on the property.

Celebrate your neighbors and go the extra mile just like you would if you lived in the home.

Be intentional about putting small gifts (like candy or even just cards) into mailboxes during the holidays. If there are block parties thrown, be sure to attend and interact with neighbors. If you happen to know any of them personally, hear of a baby being born, or a wedding taking place, acknowledge the event any way you see fit.

In 2016, Nashville was voted the friendliest city in America by Travel + Leisure, and featured on Huffington Post for the same reason. In the end, this is about preserving Nashville’s core values of kindness and respect for others—the people who live here and our guests.

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Still have questions about making your neighbors happy with their relationship with you as an STR owner or struggling with other things that have popped up? Don't hesitate to contact us now. We'll work together to see how we can solve any issues stemming from managing your STR! 

“Nashville is building a name for itself as a millennial mecca with fashionable neighborhoods like The Gulch, 12 South, and East Nashville brimming with brewpubs, wacky ice-cream parlors, and hipster coffeehouses.”

— Men’s Journal

We couldn’t agree more. This, in conjunction with the fact that our city experienced a huge influx thanks to the Nashville TV show means that Nashvegas has become a buzzed-about destination overnight. In fact, Nashville was voted one of the best places to visit in 2017 by Travel + Leisure magazine. And who can ignore that, thanks to a plethora of bars and wide acceptance of day-drinking, we’ve also become a mecca for bachelor and bachelorette parties, which last year alone brought in a record high of 13.1 million visitors, raking in nearly $5 billion in visitor spending (Tennessean.com).

So how can you, an excited Airbnb host, take advantage of the massive influx of visitors our city is seeing?

Make Your Listing Stand Out.

Make sure all photos advertising your listing are high-quality. In fact, hire a photographer if necessary. You can use Airbnb's process to get a quote from someone, or post on your local Facebook page and see if there are local photographers looking for work. Additionally, make sure you use captivating descriptions and an eye-catching listing title. Make sure that each piece appeals to the groups you want to host and/or the events you want to bring people in for. Be sure to emphasize how close you are to key locations.

Be Responsive.

Nothing is more frustrating for a guest than to contact a host and to get a response days later or, even worse, no response at all. If you want to appeal to guests and to be competitive, you need to be quick to respond.

Turn on Instant Book.

Hosts with Instant Book turned on get higher ranking in searches. Don’t worry, you’ll still have control over who you rent to! Find more information on Instant Book here.

Make Your Listing Business Travel Ready.

This link offers the info on what amenities you must have for your listing to qualify as Business Travel Ready. Add any missing amenities, then update your listing to reflect all these items. At that point, your listing will automatically qualify as Business Travel Ready, which is a filter option guests can utilize when searching for a property that fits their needs.

Work Your Pricing.

Take a look at how much other hosts are charging in your area and make sure that your pricing is competitive.  Be sure to adjust for seasons and special events happening in town.

Advertise on Facebook.

If you’re willing to spend a little money to attract visitors to your property, a targeted Facebook ad is always a great way to get in front of those you’re trying to reach. Try targeting engaged men and women aged 21+ in the South. For a tutorial on Facebook ads, check out this great resource.

Be an Expert on All Things Local.

Make sure to stay on top of events, including big concerts, sporting events, and conventions happening in the area and mention them in your listing (and your ads). You may also consider mentioning some local businesses, teasing your local knowledge, and promising a guide will await them including only the best local spots, because our city stretches far beyond Broadway!

Of course, when visitors arrive, follow through on this promise with a quality city guide. Empower your guests to have an authentic local experience by promoting local businesses with a guide to the city. Don’t have the time or energy to make one of your own? No problem, you can use ours! You can find our Nashville Guide here.

You could also consider a gift basket to welcome guests including Christie Cookies, Olive & Sinclair Chocolates, and even a bottle of wine from Arrington Vineyards.

Write Reviews to Get Reviews.

When guests leave, encourage them to write you a review, since great reviews are your golden ticket to more visitors. A great way to do this is to be quick to review your guests. This often acts as a prompt, gently nudging them to write their review of their stay.

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We’re so fortunate to live in a city that people are flocking to. You have the power to take advantage of this exciting time in our city’s history—you just have to have the drive and the right tools.

You got this!

Haven't checked out our ebook yet? Please do! It's chock full of tips on starting your Airbnb. Maybe you're far enough along that you don't need it, but perhaps a friend does? You (or your friend) can grab it here free!