Six “C”s of Great Hosting: How to Actually Earn Those 5-Star Reviews
Owning a vacation home or short-term rental is exciting.
Owning a vacation home or short-term rental that quietly helps pay its own bills? Even better.
So, you list it on Airbnb or VRBO… and then you notice something strange: Some places are booked solid with glowing 5-star reviews. Others sit there like the last mystery casserole at the potluck—technically available, but nobody’s touching it. Same platform. Same city. Similar property type. Very different results. It’s not luck.
After years of hosting, reading every review (yes, even the long ones), and walking through hundreds of turnovers, we noticed our happiest guests kept talking about the same things over and over again.
That’s how this simple framework was born:
The Six “C”s of Great Hosting:
Clean, Cute, Comfortable, Complete, Convenient, Communication
When you build your guest experience around these six pillars of hosting excellence, you don’t just “have a listing.” You have a hospitality business that earns trust, repeat bookings, and 5-star reviews that’ll make your day – like this one from our guest, Jaclyn:
“To be honest, there aren’t enough nice things I can say about Launi and Joe and their place! They really did think of everything. The house was exactly as pictured, cute and quaint! The touches that they have done make it warm and inviting! Little footstools near all the chairs, mirrors exactly where they needed to be – if you have a daughter you know… A little basket in the closet with the honor system in case you forgot something. Comfortable beds, extra linens, a pack n play & toys even though we don’t have small children. You know it is good when your husband comments on all of the touches.. 10/10 would recommend. Easy instructions and communicative!! Had a beautiful stay!”
Clean: Where Trust Begins (and White Socks Tell the Truth)
Cleanliness isn’t optional. It’s the price of admission. One guest, Ashley, summed up what we’re aiming for:
“We really enjoyed our stay in Auburndale! The location was perfect—less than 10 minutes from the baseball field where my son was playing, which made things so convenient. The house looked exactly like the photos and was spotless upon arrival. I’m a tough critic when it comes to cleanliness, and this home truly exceeded my expectations. It was not only clean but also very comfortable and thoughtfully set up.”
That’s the goal: spotless and thoughtfully set up. And “clean” doesn’t mean “looks okay in listing photos.” It means the place passes the white-sock test. Guests may not travel with white gloves, but they absolutely pack white socks—and those tell the truth by the end of night one.
It’s also the places you never think about… until a guest does. Under the beds. Behind the dresser. Inside drawers. On top of the fridge. (True story: we once found a guest’s debit card up there. If your cleaner hasn’t seen the top of the fridge in six months, neither has a cleaning rag.)
Modern guests also notice the products you use. Non-toxic toiletries and cleaning supplies aren’t just trendy—they quietly say, “We care about what you breathe and put on your skin.”
If you walked into your property today as a paying guest, would you exhale and drop your bags… or immediately start a mental cleaning checklist?
Dave – “This home is pristine. Perfectly decorated and extremely clean.”
Cindy – “Beautiful and tastefully decorated boho-chic modern home. We loved the details – they thought of everything from the sippy cups to having environmentally friendly cleaning products. Super clean home.”
Cute / Chic / Classy / Curated: Design That Stops the Scroll
Pick your word, but know this: Design matters. Our online objective is to get people to click on our listing, click “See More” and then either book it or save it to their wish list.
Great STR design isn’t about copying a Pinterest board. It’s being intentional and well thought out.
- It takes cues from your location: lakes, orange groves, raceways, beaches, historic downtowns, “Old Florida” charm—whatever’s special about your area should gently show up in your colors, textures, and artwork.
- It mixes new, vintage and secondhand pieces, so the house feels warm and collected, not like it was assembled in one 2 a.m. online order.
- It leaves breathing room. Surfaces aren’t buried in knick-knacks. There’s space for guests to put their stuff.
Guests rarely write, “The design was cohesive with a strong sense of place.”
Instead, they say things like:
“Incredibly curated home with thoughtful finishings.” or “Beautifully and tastefully decorated home. Loved all the details and the little extras.” or “the décor had a delightful boho chic vibe” or “Beautiful clean house with breathtaking aesthetics!” or one of my favorites from Rachel “Beautiful, clean, and relaxing – the home far exceeds all expectations of an Airbnb. Anywhere you sit or lay down is comfortable, the decor is modern and lovely and the outdoor space is peaceful and refreshing!”
Different words, same message: they felt the design, even if they didn’t analyze it – when that happens, it translates into an experience, not just a stay.
Comfortable: “Everything We Need and Nothing We Don’t”
Clean gets them in the door. Comfort makes them want to stay longer. Think less “fancy hotel lobby,” more “I could live here.” That means good mattresses (for every bed, not just the primary), pillows that don’t feel like pancakes, linens that don’t sandpaper your face, and enough truly comfortable seating for everyone. If your place “sleeps 8” but your sofa and chairs comfortably seat 4, guests notice. And if your dining chairs wobble like a baby giraffe, it might be time to replace them.
Lighting matters, too. Overhead lights for tasks, softer lamps for evenings, and window coverings that actually let people sleep past sunrise if they want to. Temperature control that works—plus fans, blankets, and throws—helps guests tune the house to their version of “cozy.”
When guests say the place felt like a “home away from home,” or rave that it had “everything we needed” – you’ve nailed comfort.
Mark – “It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Spotless and perfectly staged and very comfortable.”
Joseph – “We had a great stay! So clean, so comfortable, so convenient!”
Convenient: Make Their Trip Easier, Not Busier
Convenience starts with location. Being near major demand drivers—sports complexes, hospitals, raceways, downtowns, universities, business hubs—matters more than the extra throw pillow.
Call those out clearly. Many of our best reviews start like this:
“The location was perfect—less than 10 minutes from the baseball field…”
But convenience doesn’t stop at the address. For your guests, this trip is usually about something: a tournament, a race, a wedding, a medical appointment, a family visit. Your job is to make everything surrounding that easier, not more complicated.
That looks like:
- Check-in that’s simple and obvious, ideally with keyless entry.
- Arrival instructions that make sense in the dark, after a long travel day.
- House and local information that’s organized and written in normal human language.
The fewer little frictions they hit—“Where do we park?” “How does this TV work?” “What’s the Wi-Fi again?”—the more they remember why they came in the first place.
Quintana – “Everything was fast and easy.”
Complete: When Guests Say, “They Thought of EVERYTHING”
This is where good hosting becomes great.
A complete stay is one where guests don’t have to run out for basics. They walk in, drop their bags, stock the fridge, and they’re set. Evelyn had this to say about one of our homes –
“I’ve stayed at houses around the world but Launi and Joe’s attention to detail and anticipation of needs are unmatched; they thought of EVERYTHING! We just put some things in the refrigerator, unpacked, and had the best weekend!”
That means a kitchen you can actually cook in and is well-stocked with things like cooking oils, salt, pepper, a few staple spices, decent knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, and a solid coffee/tea setup. It means having plenty of essentials: towels, linens, pillows, blankets, starter toiletries, laundry pods. And it means the thoughtful little extras: nightlights, phone chargers, a flashlight, umbrella, fly swatter (because one determined bug will sneak in) and diffuser.
Safety is part of “complete,” too: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, basic first-aid kits, emergency contacts posted somewhere obvious and pool safety equipment if your property has a pool.
Complete and Accurate Listing –
Provide detailed descriptions and high-quality photos of the property. Be proactive in answering guests’ questions before they even have to ask. Make it easy for guests to find pertinent information by organizing the listing clearly and concisely. Caption your photos with descriptions that explain about that particular photo.
Nobody books you just because you remembered a corkscrew. But they will remember it if they have to run out and get one. And they do remember how effortless the weekend felt if they had everything they needed and then some.
Communication: Human, Helpful, and Just Enough
Finally, communication is the thread that runs through everything. You don’t have to be a 24/7 concierge, but your guests should feel like there’s a real person on the other end who wants them to have a great stay.
Clear, friendly instructions before arrival. A warm welcome message. One check-in after they settle (“Anything you need, just let us know”). Fast, kind responses when they ask a question. That’s it. No essays required.
And remember: as soon as they book, you have their phone number. If they’re standing on the porch and the code isn’t working, a thirty-second phone call beats a twenty-message back-and-forth every time.
A quick welcome video or a short clip showing how to use a quirky feature can also save everyone time (and earn you a surprising amount of goodwill).
The sweet spot is: “We’ve got you if you need us.”, not “We’re watching you.”
“House was exactly as listed, hosts were easy to communicate with and very responsive. Will definitely book again.” – Kevin
“Instructions from our hosts were very clear and easy to follow and it was great of them to check in on us to ensure we had everything we needed. We will definitely be back!” – Doug
Why This Matters (Especially If You’re Busy and Successful)
If you’re juggling work, family, and life, you don’t need another job disguised as “passive income.” Owning a short-term rental or vacation home is not passive. It takes planning, preparation, and usually a small team of people who genuinely enjoy hospitality and care about guests having a great experience.
The good news? You don’t have to guess. Walk through your property with the Six “C”s in mind: Clean, Cute, Comfortable, Complete, Convenient, Communication. Be honest about where you are strong and where you are “fine.” Then improve one small thing at a time.
Over time, those small, intentional upgrades add up—to better reviews, better guests, and a property you’re proud to share… that also helps pay for itself without turning your life upside down
