Getting 5-star reviews on Airbnb means meeting what the guest expected in each of the seven things they're asked to rate: overall, cleanliness, accuracy, check-in, communication, location and value, as listed in Airbnb's ratings guide. Each category is a separate question, so each one can cost you a star on its own. Go through them one at a time and look for the spots where a stay could surprise a guest.
Why do 5-star reviews on Airbnb matter so much?
Ratings affect where your listing shows up. Airbnb says the search algorithm weighs ratings and reviews among other signals, and that higher quality listings with better ratings and reviews tend to rank higher. Superhost status requires a 4.8 or higher overall rating. And a listing needs at least 5 reviews in the last 4 years, with 1 review in the last 2 years, to be eligible for the Guest favorite label.
The overall rating is its own category, not an average of the other six. A guest can rate every category well and still give four stars overall because of one bad moment.
Cleanliness: what does the guest actually check?
Airbnb's standard is that the home should be free of health hazards like mould and pests, and of extensive dust, pet dander and dirty dishes. Guests look further than that. They notice the places a quick clean skips.
- Under the bed, behind the toilet, the shower drain, the top of the fridge.
- Hair of any kind, anywhere. It reads as "not cleaned" even when everything else was.
- The smell when the door opens. A stuffy apartment feels dirty before anything is seen.
One habit covers most of this. Someone other than the cleaner checks the apartment before each arrival, with a short written list.
Accuracy: are the photos telling the truth?
Accuracy asks whether the home was represented with up-to-date photos and info, and whether everything was in good working condition. A listing that was accurate the day it went live drifts as the apartment changes, so check it against the apartment every few months.
- Replace photos after any change: new sofa, repainted wall, removed balcony furniture.
- Say plainly what guests will mind: a third-floor walk-up, street noise, a small second bedroom.
- Test what the listing promises. If it says "fast Wi-Fi", run a speed test between stays. If it lists an air conditioner in every room, check each one works.
A drawback mentioned up front is one the guest agreed to when they booked.
Check-in: is it easy at 23:00, in the rain, with luggage?
Airbnb asks one short question about check-in, was it easy? Walk through it the way a tired guest arrives, at night, with bags, reading your instructions on a phone.
- Send arrival instructions a day or two before, not on the morning of arrival.
- Photograph the building entrance, the right door and the key box. Written directions alone are hard to follow in the dark.
- Have a plan for when the lock code or key box fails, and a person who can be reached.
- Mention the lift, the stairs and where to park before the guest has to ask.
Communication: how fast is fast enough?
The category asks whether the host responded to messages promptly. Superhosts must reply to 90% of new messages within 24 hours, but a guest standing outside the door is counting minutes.
Speed matters most at three moments: just before arrival, during check-in, and when something breaks. A short reply that says "I've seen this, a technician is coming at 10:00" beats a long, friendly reply two hours later.
Location and value: can a host change them?
Partly. Airbnb's location question is whether the guest was made aware of safety, transportation, points of interest and things like noise. That part is in your hands. A short local guide and an honest note about the busy street do more than any adjective.
Value asks whether the stay was worth the price. Every missing towel, slow reply and unmentioned staircase pulls it down. So does a nightly rate well above what the apartment delivers. Reviews are one part of a listing's performance, and the rest is in the Airbnb listing optimization guide.
Questions owners ask
Can I ask a guest for a five-star review? Not for a specific score. Airbnb's review policy says hosts may not pressure or incentivise anyone to influence a review, and reviews may not be given or withheld in exchange for something of value, like a discount or a refund. A thank-you message after checkout that doesn't ask for a rating keeps you clear of that.
When will I see a guest's review? Guests and hosts have 14 days after checkout to write a review. It's published when both of you have submitted one, or when the 14 days end, whichever comes first.
Should I reply to a bad review? Yes, if you can keep it calm. Airbnb lets you post a public response to a published review, as long as it follows its review policy. Keep it short, factual and aimed at the next guest reading it, rather than at the guest who wrote it.
Does Superhost status need a perfect rating? No. Airbnb asks for a 4.8 or higher overall rating, replies to 90% of new messages within 24 hours, at least 10 reservations (or 3 totalling at least 100 nights) and a cancellation rate under 1%.
Mert's own Airbnb rating is 4.98. If you'd rather hand all of this to someone else, here's how Airbnb co-hosting in Israel works, and Mert's two plans are here.
