Top 10 Tips to Acquire Positive Guest Reviews and Prevent Negative Ones

Updated August 2024

Guest reviews are critical to the success of renting a vacation home.  The goal is to get as many positive reviews as possible and to continue to get current, new ones each season.

See our virtual meeting on How to Avoid a Negative Review:

Why are guest reviews so important?

• They build the trust and credibility so valuable to vacationers when doing business online.
• They provide significant, objective marketing value.
• They may improve the search order of your listing.

What can you do?

Here are some important tips to help you to greatly increase the number of positive guest reviews (and reduce the likelihood of your receiving negative ones).

1. Communicate

Be communicative and accessible to your guests before, during, and after their stay. This provides an important personal connection between you and may prevent misunderstandings. You are no longer an anonymous business contact but the kind and concerned owner who is invested in making sure your guests have a wonderful experience in your home.

2. Be proactive

Don’t assume your tenant will submit a review. Ask them for one! Whether in person, by phone, by email, or using your listing’s Request Form feature – don’t be shy! Studies have shown that 80% of travelers consider user reviews to be important when using travel booking sites.  Your guests understand the value of reviews!

3. Don’t delay

Strike while the iron’s hot, while the memories of their stay in your home are still fresh and compelling. Asking past guests for feedback six months after they have left your home is less likely to be met with success. Incorporate your request for feedback into your post-rental routine.

4. Make it easy for your guests

By far the easiest way for vacationers to submit a guest review is by emailing them using the Request Form from the Guest Reviews link in your Homeowner Center.

Although your guests may have the best of intentions when hearing from you by phone or in person, life gets in the way. However, if you send a quick email request using our request form, they can simply click the “Write a review” link.

5. Present a pristine home

The most common complaint from guests is about lack of cleanliness. Be sure to give your home a deep, thorough cleaning before the season starts, and maintain high standards of cleanliness at every turnover. Always use a professional cleaner. Homeowners who hire professionals to do turnover cleaning rarely receive negative comments about lack of cleanliness.

6. De-humidify

A close second in the complaint department has to do with mustiness, dampness and mold issues. Although it’s virtually impossible for homes in a seaside community like the Cape and Islands to be dry and free from mildew, here are some preventative measures you can take:

1. Get one or more de-humidifiers or window air conditioners.
2. Remove unnecessary carpets or rugs.
3. Air out the home frequently.
4. Remove trees near or around the house.
5. Direct downspouts away from the foundation.

7. Provide a bug-free home

Occasionally guests complain that the house was “infested” with bugs. We all know that a few bugs here and there hardly constitute an infestation and are to be expected in the summer. It is inexpensive and easy to exterminate a house before the season starts.  Add a professional exterminator to your professional service providers support team or simply use store-bought foggers and do it yourself. This way, if someone complains, you can let them know that the house was treated before their arrival, and you would be happy to have it treated again.

8. Provide an accurate and conservative listing

It’s simple: don’t oversell and under-deliver. Although your listing should certainly highlight your property’s greatest assets, once a potential guest expresses serious interest in your home, be sure that you point out any possible shortcomings or unusual features so that their expectations are managed properly and they experience only pleasant surprises upon their arrival. Read more about screening your tenants to assure a good fit.

9. Return the security deposit immediately

It’s their money – get it back to them right away. Homeowners often don’t realize how nervous guests get about the return of their security deposits.  A family could have enjoyed a fabulous time in your home and been all set to write you a rave review.  However, if they’ve had to wait overlong for their deposit, it could sour every bit of good will. Read more about security deposits.

10. Go above & beyond (It’s the “little things”)

Provide your guests with plenty of paper products, soaps and detergents, and even some basic seasonings. Leave a welcome gift of some kind such as fresh flowers, a bottle of wine, candies, local coffees, etc. The few dollars you spend will be well worth it.  Read more about welcoming your guests and treating your tenants as guests.

For a comprehensive look at our guest review policy and guidelines, features, and information about how to solicit guest reviews, submit an Owner Response, etc., go to our Guest Reviews Help Page.

Transferring reviews from another vacation rental platform

If you’ve listed your home on another site, you’ve undoubtedly worked hard to garner some great guest reviews from past guests.

To transfer reviews from another site onto your listing on WeNeedaVacation.com:

1. Go to the “Guest Reviews” link in your Homeowner Center and click on the “Enter new guest review” link.
2. Add the guest’s name and date of vacation. (We post only the first name and initial of last name.)
3. Paste their review from the other site.
4. Click on “Save” and the review will automatically be posted to your listing as “Homeowner entered.” OR, if you have their email address, you can click on the “Save & Request Confirmation” button instead of the “Save” button. An email template will appear enabling you to contact the guest to request that they grant permission for it to be posted on your listing on our site.  The guest can then simply click “I agree,” and the review will be posted on your listing as an actual guest review.

The bottom line is to never underestimate the value of positive guest reviews.  They really matter.