You know the drill: You clean like your mother-in-law is visiting, leave a bottle of wine and a handwritten welcome card… and then you get a 4-star review with the comment:
“Great place! Would definitely stay again :)”
Excuse me...what?! If “definitely stay again” doesn’t earn you a 5, what does?
As a longtime Airbnb Superhost (with more than a few gray hairs earned from chasing that perfect rating), let me tell you something: it’s not about granite countertops or Egyptian cotton sheets. It’s about clarity, comfort, and communication.
And no, you don’t have to grovel or text your guests 12 times a day to get there.
Here’s what really works.
1. Understand the Psychology of a 5-Star Review
Here’s the frustrating part:
To most guests, 4 stars means “great.”
To Airbnb? 4 stars means “this host is slipping.”
Airbnb expects you to maintain a 4.8+ average just to keep Superhost status. So unless you're making sure your guests know what 5 stars really mean, you’re playing a rigged game.
The fix? Set expectations—gently.
In your welcome message or checkout info, include a quick line like:
“If there’s anything we can do to make your stay 5-star worthy, let us know!”
It’s not pushy—it’s proactive.
2. Nail the First 10 Minutes
The clock starts the moment your guest walks in. Here’s what they notice immediately:
- Is it clean?
- Is it easy to find the WiFi?
- Does it smell like someone just febrezed over a problem?
Your first impression should feel like a warm hug from someone with excellent taste and very clear instructions.
My personal setup?
- WiFi magnet on the fridge
- Soft lighting on a timer
- A diffuser with “clean linen” vibes
- And for the overachievers—yes, the wine helps
3. Help Guests Help You
Look—I used to rely on the Airbnb welcome message too. Until I realized guests barely read it. They just want fast answers without digging through an app.
That’s where visual cues in the space matter. Not bossy signs taped to the wall—just simple, eye-catching reminders that say:
- “Here’s the WiFi.”
- “Here’s how to check out.”
- “Here’s what a 5-star rating actually means.”
Put them where guests will look (fridge, entryway, nightstand). Let the space do the talking.
4. Ask Without Sounding Desperate
Nobody wants to be that host.
But here’s the trick: You don’t need to ask for a review. You just need to make leaving one the obvious next step. How?
1. Include a kind goodbye message: “We hope everything was 5-star worthy. If not, please give us a chance to make it right.”
2. Leave a subtle review reminder in the space. Something like: “Love your stay? Reviews help us keep hosting awesome guests like you.”
That one sentence has earned me dozens of glowing reviews without a single, awkward conversation.
5. Reviews Are Earned… But They Can Also Be Engineered
If you treat every stay like a mini hotel experience with your personality sprinkled in, while reducing friction and clarifying expectations, those 5 stars become the default and not the exception.
That’s where I’ve found STR Spot tools (like the review explanation and checkout checklist magnets) to be lifesavers. They're not shouty or salesy. They just sit there on the fridge, quietly doing their job while you do yours.
Final Thoughts
Hosting is hospitality meets psychology. Guests want ease, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction.
Give them what they need before they ask, make it obvious without being pushy, and don’t overthink it.
Because fluffy towels are nice.
But 5 stars?
Those come from smart communication.
Want to Make 5-Star Reviews a No-Brainer?
Check out our best-selling review explanation magnets designed to earn stars without saying a word.