Now that we’re reaching the end of 2022 (time flies right?), we’re pretty sure that you also have your own plans to spend more time with your loved ones while your car(s) is out there making money for you.

To help you prepare and actually enjoy this year-end peak season (read: peacefully), here are 7 hosting tips prepared for you!

1. Service your car

It goes without saying that servicing your car will lower the risk of a breakdown, especially during an active booking.

There’s nothing more important than making sure your car is safe to drive and will not put your Guests in unwanted situations - even more so if it’s a long booking or your Guest is planning to drive out of town.

The last thing you want is for your year-end plans to get affected by a problem that could’ve been avoided by sending your car for regular servicing.

We found the ultimate car maintenance checklist for you to help you out.

2. Keep your car clean

Can you imagine being in a car full of rubbish and smells bad? How about sticky steering wheels or door handles? Smudgy entertainment display anyone? No, thanks!

Based on the Guest booking reviews data that we have analysed, we found that one of the top reasons Guests would drop that 5-star review is when the cars they booked are clean and comfortable to drive.

We’re not saying you should send your car to the car wash after each and every booking - throwing away rubbish, and wiping/sanitising the steering wheel, door handles, dashboard and other areas after a booking has ended goes a long way.

On the plus side, you’re also able to identify if there are any damages or missing items in the car while you’re at it.

But of course, if the car was returned in an undesirable condition, sending it to the car wash could be the solution.

Learn: How to report car cleanliness issue

3. Be responsive

Another frequently mentioned thing in 5-star reviews is friendly and responsive Hosts. Hosting is not just about sharing your cars with strangers, it is also an opportunity to build connections and build your customer base. Being helpful and understanding when dealing with your Guests will surely keep them coming back to book your car.

While there are many things to be celebrated this year, don’t forget to be available and responsive whenever you have an ongoing booking in case your Guest need any help or, who knows, ask if they could extend their trip 🤑

Being responsive to booking requests will also make you more competitive. Data shows that Guests have a tolerance level of up to 30 minutes to wait for a booking request to be responded to before they decide to withdraw and book with another Host.

With both cleanliness and communications covered, you’re already on your way to getting more 5-star reviews. Having great reviews on your listings will give a positive impression to future Guests and increase your chance of getting more bookings as well. Win-win-win!

4. Update your listing descriptions or prepare a simple guide

This is probably the simplest thing to do on this list but can have a huge impact. Updating your listing descriptions can help you communicate with potential Guests even before they book a car. 

Getting bookings late at night? Specify your time preference for bookings. Add hours when you’re more likely to check and respond to a booking so Guests don’t end up waiting or end up canceling their request. Ultimately, responding as soon as you can is key.

Though we don’t guarantee that this will help in all situations, it will enable you to have more control over the kind of bookings you can get and avoid having to reject booking requests which could impact your hosting performance.

Another thing you can do is to prepare a simple guide (1-pager) with how-to guides and car rules. Not all cars have the same functionalities or features, some are more advanced than others and some use a foot brake instead of a handbrake. Having a simple guide will help your Guests understand how to work the infotainment system for example, or where the fuel filler flaps switch is.

We’ve prepared a Car Manual template for you to get inspired.

Having these simple guides can help your Guest navigate how to operate the car better, reduce the possibility of pressing the wrong buttons and also reduce the questions coming to you.

5. Update your listing’s availability calendar

To avoid getting booking requests for dates that you don’t intend to share your car, always review your availability calendar. Nothing is more frustrating to a Guest than booking a car that seems to be available for booking but ended up getting their booking request rejected, or worse, unattended.

Rejecting bookings could really impact your Host performance and subsequently deter potential bookings.

Learn: How to update your availability calendar.

6. Install a GPS tracker

A GPS tracker is a small electronic device, that is installed in your car and used to track the location of your car in real time.

Installing a GPS tracker will enable you to track the whereabouts of your car during emergencies and unforeseen circumstances such as when your car is reported missing by the Guest - the tracker could aid in the retrieval of your car.

As of 1 October 2022, all listings on TREVO must have a GPS tracking device installed. You can install your own or subscribe to TREVO Track for a low monthly fee. Learn more about TREVO Track.

7. Have a P2P insurance coverage

All vehicles listed on TREVO must have active insurance coverage at all times. Car insurance is important for many reasons. It can help cover the costs of repairs if your car is damaged in an accident, and it can also help cover the costs of medical care if you or your passengers are injured.

While most car insurance doesn’t have protection for when you’re renting your car to another person, TREVO Shield’s P2P insurance protection can provide you with the assurance that you’re fully covered from the minute you hand over your car keys to the Guest. This includes up to 3 million in liability protection coverage as well as fire and theft coverage - all of which will help alleviate any hosting anxiety.

Learn: Handling accidents and emergencies | Managing car malfunctions during a trip

So there you go, 7 tips to make your hosting experience a bliss, not only during this holiday season but also throughout your journey with TREVO.

We hope that you’re enjoying this new way of earning money. Happy holidays and have an awesome New Year 2023!